FoodNetArchive

Original White House Cookbook

1887

Page 41 · 8 recipe records on this page

Presented as published in 1887. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
Scald the oysters in their own liquor, beard them, and lay them on a cloth to drain thoroughly. Break the eggs into a basin, mix the flour with them, add the milk gradually, with nutmeg and seasoning, and put the oysters in a batter. Make some lard hot in a deep frying pan ; put in the oysters one at a time ; when done, take them up with a sharp pointed skewer and dish them on a napkin. Fried oysters are frequently used for garnishing boiled fish, and then a few bread crumbs should be added to the flour. STEWED OYSTERS. (In Milk or Cream.) Drain the liquor from two quarts of oysters ; mix with it a small tea- cupful of hot water, add a little salt and pepper and set it over the fire in a saucepan. Let it boil up once, put in the oysters, let them come to a boil, and when they “ruffie” add two tablespoonfuls of butter. The instant it is melted and well stirred in, put in a pint of boiling milkStewed Oysters (In Milk or Cream) and take the saucepan from the fire. Serve with oyster or cream crackers. Serve while hot. If thickening is preferred, stir in a little flour or two tablespoonfuls of cracker crumbs. PLAIN OYSTER STEW. Same as milk or cream stew, using only oyster liquor and water instead of milk or cream, adding more butter after taking up, OYSTER SOUP. For oyster soup, see Soups. DRY OYSTER STEW. Take six to twelve large oysters and cook them in half a pint of their own liquor ; season with butterDry Oyster Stew and white pepper ; cook for five minutes, stirring constantly. Serve in hot soup plates or bowls. Fulton Market, New York. BOSTON FRY. Prepare the oysters in egg batter and fine cracker meal ; fry in butter over a slow fire for about ten minutes ; cover the hollow of a hot platter with tomato sauce ; place the oysters in it, but not covering ; garnished with chopped parsleyBoston Fry sprinkled over the oysters. Boston Oyster House. SHELLFISH. 71 BEOILED OYSTERS. Dry a quart of oysters in a cloth, dip each in melted butter well pep- pered ; then in beaten egg, or not, then in bread or cracker crumbsBroiled Oysters, also peppered. Broil on a wire broiler over live coals three to five minutes. Dip over each a little melted butter. Serve hot. ROAST OYSTERS IN THE SHELL. No. 1. Select the large ones, those usually termed “ Saddle Eocks,” formerly known as a distinct variety, but which are now but the large oysters selected from any beds ; wash and wipe them, and place with the upper or deep shell down, to catch the juice, over or on live coals. When they open their shells remove the shallow one, being careful to save all the juice in the other ; place them, shells and all, on a hot platter, and send to table hot, to be seasoned by each person with butterRoast Oysters in the Shell No. 1 and pepper to taste. If the oysters are fine, and they are just cooked enough and served all hot, this is, par excellence, the style. OYSTER ROAST. No. 2. Put one quart of oysters in a basin with their own liquor and let them boil three or four minutes; season with a little salt, pepper and a heaping spoonful of butterOyster Roast No. 2. Serve on buttered toast. STEAMED OYSTERS. Wash and drain a quart of counts or select oysters; put them in a shallow pan and place in a steamer over boiling water; cover and steam till they are plump, with the edges ruffled, but no longer. Place in a heated dish, with butter, pepper and salt, and serve. Baltimore Style. STEAMED OYSTERS IN THE SHELL. Steamed Oysters