There are one or two ways in which preparations for meals may be simplified. For any large meal but especially for dinner served late in the day, as many preparations as may be, should be made in the morning or at luncheon time. When making the menu for a meal do not select things which conflict; for instance, a roast of meat and a delicate pudding cannot be baked at the same time. Likewise, it is inconvenient, not to say unappetizing to have the meat and vegetables and dessert for a meal all boiled or all baked or all fried. Try not to have two things for the same meal which will be spoiled if they are not served the instant they are cooked. At the end of this chapter about food, I have the desire to put a little verse which often runs in my head when I am getting meals. "_Though o'er the board the constellations shine, Austere the feast for time's retainers spread; Laughter the salt of life, and love the wine, Sleep the sweet herbs, and work the bitter bread._" A TIME TABLE ====================================================== |_Method._|_Hours._| _Minutes._ --------------------+---------+--------+-------------- Asparagus | boiled | ... | 20-30 Beans, lima | boiled | ... | 45-60 Beans, string | boiled | ... | 45-60 Beef | roasted | ... | 12 per lb. Beefsteak | broiled | ... | 6-10 Beef, corned | boiled | ... | 20 per lb. Beets, young | boiled | ... | 45-60 Beets, old | boiled | 3-4 | ... Bread, wheat | baked | ... | 40-60 Bread, corn | baked | ... | 40-45 Bread, brown | steamed | 3-0 | ... Cabbage | boiled | ... | 15-35 Cauliflower | boiled | ... | 20-35 Cake, sponge | baked | ... | 45-60 Cake, plain | baked | ... | 30-40 Cake, fruit | baked | 2-3 | ... Cake, layer | baked | ... | 10-15 Carrots | boiled | ... | 35-45 Chicken | roasted | ... | 20 per lb. Chicken | broiled | ... | 20 Chicken | boiled | ... | 15-20 per lb. Celery | boiled | ... | 20-30 Chops | broiled | ... | 6-10 Cookies | baked | ... | 10-15 Corn | boiled | ... | 12-20 Custard | baked | ... | 15-20 Duck | roasted | 1-0 | ... Dumpling, apple | boiled | 1-0 | ... Eggs, soft | boiled | ... | 3 Eggs, hard | boiled | ... | 15-20 Eggs | fried | ... | 5 Fish, boiled or | baked | ... | 10-15 per lb. Fish | fried | ... | 10-20 Gingerbread | baked | ... | 20-30 Ham | boiled | ...