FoodNetArchive

Lessons in cooking through preparation of meals

1912

Page 6

Presented as published in 1912. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
Two cups of flour in ordinary pie crust requires four ounces (one-half cup) of sliortening. Two cups of flour in cookies requires four ounces (one- half cup) of shortening, or less. Two cups of flour in cake requires about three ounces of shortening. Two cups of flour in short cake requires two ounces (one- fourth cup) of shortening, or more. Two cups of flour in tea biscuits requires one-half to one ounce (one to two tablespoons) or more of shortening. In yeast doughs less shortening is used — from one-half to an ounce to two cups of flour. The tenacity of the gluten is required to hold the carbon dioxide gas slowly formed by the yeast, hence too much shortening prevents proper rising. Shortening for batters may be melted and mixed in, but in doughs which are to be rolled — pastry, cookies, short cake, biscuit, etc. — the fat should be cold and hard and cut into the flour with a knife, or rubbed in with the tips of the fingers. FLAVORING The flavoring materials most commonly used are salt, sugar, spices and extracts. The fine art of cookery con- sists of developing the full natural flavor of the foods them- selves and in combining them in pleasing ways. The amount of salt to be used depends, in general, on the total volume of the food. When food tastes salty, too much has been used. A safe proportion is one teaspoon salt to one quart of liquid in soups, sauces, or to one quart of flour in doughs, and for cereals one teaspoon to each pint of water used. When the flavors are delicate, somewhat less salt is used, and with strong flavors, somewhat more. Cakes in which much salt butter is used do not need more salt. The quantity of sugar to be used depends on the taste desired. Foods served frozen need more sweetening than when at ordinary temperatures. On the other hand, foods that are served warm taste somewhat sweeter than when at ordinary temperature. xu LESSONS IN COOKING FOOD PRINCIPLES The nutritive part of foods or "food priaciples" are the pro- teins, fats, carbohydrates, water and salt. Proteins contain nitrogen, carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, and sometimes phosphorus and sulphur. They make up the greater part of the muscles and organs of the body and are needed in food for the growth and repair of body tissue. Proteins are also used by the body as "fuel" to keep the body warm and give muscle and other kinds of energy or power. The proteins make up a considerable proportion of meat, eggs, cheese, skim milk, beans, peas and nuts, and are present in lesser proportion in all food products except the pure fats, sugars and starches. Fats contain carbon, hydrogen and oxygen only. The fats and oils are concentrated fuel foods and yield to the body 2^4 times the heat and energy given by like weights of dry protein or starch or sugar. Carbohydrates or starch, sugar and a few gums and substances like them contain carbon, hydrogen and oxygen only. The hydrogen and oxygen are in the same proportion as is found in water, hence the name carbo-hydrates. Cellulose or woody fibre is also a carbohy- drate, but as it is not digestible it is not a food for man. The carbohydrates, like the fats, are fuel foods and yield warmth and the power to do the work to the body when oxidized by the air brought in by the lungs. Excess of food over the requirements of the body, if digested, is stored as fatty tissue for use, if need be, as fuel.