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Mrs. Lincoln's Boston cook book

1884

Page 152 · 3 recipe records on this page

Presented as published in 1884. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
To dress Fowls or Birds for Broiling, — Singe, wipe, and split down the middle of the back ; lay open, and then remove the contents from the inside. Cut the tendons in the thigh, or break the joints, and remove the breastbone to facilitate the carving. To Carve Poultry. — Place the fowl on the platter, with the head at the left. Put the fork in across the breast- bone. Cut through the skin round the leg joint. Bend the leg over and cut off at the joint. Then cut off the wings, and divide wings and legs at the joints. Carve the breast in thin slices parallel with the breastbone. Some prefer to cut it at right angles with the bone. Take off the wish-bone ; separate the collar-bone from the breast ; slip the knife under the shoulder blade, and turn it over. Cut through the cartilage which divides the ribs, separat- ing the breast from the back. Then turn the back over, place the knife midway, and with the fork lift up the tail end, separating the back from the hodij. Place the fork in the middle of the backbone, and cut close to the back- bone, from one end to the other, freeing the side bone. As soon as the legs and wings are disjointed, begin to serve, offering white or dark meat and stuffing as each prefers. Do not remove the fork from the breastbone till the breast is separated from the back. Use an extra fork in serving. If all the fowl be not required, carve only from one side, leaving the opposite side whole for another meal. 256 The Boston Cook Book. Gravy for Roast Poultry and Game, — Put the giblets^ or neck, liver, gizzard, and heart, on to boil in one quart of waterGravy for Roast Poultry and Game ^ and boil till tender, and the water reduced to one pint. Mash the liver, and if desired chop the gizzard, heart, and meat from the neck. Pour off the clear fat from the dripping-pan, and put the settlings into a sauce- pan ; rinse out the pan with the water in which the giblets were boiled, and pour this water into the saucepan and put on to boil. Put three or four tahlespoonfals of the fat into a small frying-pan ; add enough dry flour to absorb all the fat, and when brown add the giblet liquor gradu- all}', and stir till it thickens. Season with salt and pep- per. If not smooth, strain it ; pour half of it into the gravy boat, and add the chopped giblets to the remaining half, and serve separately, as all may not care for the giblet gravy. Koast Turkey. Clean as directed on page 252. Stuff with soft bread or cracker crumbs highly seasoned with sage^ thyme ^ salt,, and pepper ; moisten the stuffing with half a cup of melted butter,, and hot water enough to make it quite moist. Add one beaten egg. Some use salt pork chopped fine, but stuffing is more wholesome without it. Oysters, chestnuts,, chopped celery, stoned raisins, or dates make a pleasing variety. Roast Turkey