The Country Housewife and Lady's Director in the Management of a House, and the Delights and Profits of a FarmBradley, Richard
Science
The Country Housewife and Lady's Director in the Management of a House, and the Delights and Profits of a Farm
Bradley, Richard
Cooking -- Early works to 1800; Cooking, English
What I learn'd else from the above mention'd Gentleman, concerning the
preparing of Mushrooms for eating, was, that they should be always used
when they are fresh gather'd, and then only such as are without Worms,
which may be easily perceived by cutting their Stems cross-wise; and also
that as soon as the Peel is pared off, and the Gills, let the large
Mushrooms be cut into pieces, of the bigness of Nutmegs, and thrown into
Water, as well the Stems as the Caps, for they are both good; then wash
them well, and stew them a Sauce-pan, without putting any Liquor to them,
or Spice, or Salt, till they have discharged a great deal of their own
Liquor, and, begin to grow tender; you will then find them shrink into a
very narrow compass, and must have the greatest part of the Liquor poured
from them, with which you may make the Mushroom-Gravey abovemention'd. The
Mushrooms being thus prepared, put to them a Seasoning of Pepper, Salt,
Mace, and such other Ingredients as will not rob the Mushrooms too much of
their own natural Flavour, and stir them frequently till they are enough;
then put a little White-wine and Butter to them, and they will make an
excellent good Dish: or else they may be made brown with some burned
Butter, or be made into a Ragout. As for the broiling of the Caps of the
large Mushrooms, the same Person's Receipt directs to rub the Caps with
Butter on both sides, and strew Pepper and Salt on them, and broil them
till they are quite hot through, turning them two or three times on the
Fire, they will make their own Sauce when they come to be cut. Another way
which he directs, is to make a pretty thick Batter of Flower, Water, or
Milk and Eggs beaten together with some Salt and Pepper, to dip them in,
and then fry them like Tripe; and for their Sauce, he recommends Butter, a
little White-wine, and some of the Mushroom-Gravey, to be well mix'd
together.
Some of my Acquaintance, who have try'd these Directions, approve of them;
and, for my own part, I think them as agreeable as any that I have eaten:
but as the Taste is not alike in every one, I shall add an Observation or
two more of Monsieur _Garneau's_, concerning the Mushroom, which I think
not unworthy our notice. The Mushroom, says that Gentleman, is not only a
good Groundwork for all high Sauces, but itself a good Meat to be dress'd
after any manner, either to compose a white or brown Fricassee, or fry'd or
broil'd, or baked in Pyes with common Seasoning, and stands in the room of
Flesh better than any thing that has yet been found out.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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