Simple Italian Cookery

BEEF SOUP STOCK
( Brodo di Carne )
1 pound of round of beef 2 quarts of water 2 small, new carrots, or 1/2 of an old carrot 1/2 pound of beef bones 2 small potatoes 1 onion 1 tomato, fresh or canned Parsley
Boil the beef, bones, and vegetables in two quarts of water over a
slow fire—adding pepper and salt. Skim occasionally, and after two
hours add two tablespoons of sherry; then strain through fine
soup-strainer or cheese-cloth. This is the basis of all the following
soups, except when otherwise stated.
To make this stock richer, add a turkey leg to above receipt; boil one
and a half hours, then add one-half a pound of finely chopped beef.
Cook for half an hour longer, then strain.
To make meat jelly, add a little gelatine to the soup stock five
minutes before straining.
To give a good dark color to the stock, add a few drops of caramel,
which is prepared in the following manner:
Put three tablespoons of granulated sugar into a saucepan with a
little water, and until the sugar has become dark and reddish; then
add a little more water and boil again until the sugar is melted.
Strain and pour into a bottle when the caramel will keep perfectly for
several weeks.
CHICKEN BROTH
( Brodo di Capone )
This is made like the meat stock, substituting a fowl in place of the
beef and bones.
RICE SOUP
( Minestra di Riso )
Meat stock 2 tablespoons of rice
Cover the rice with water and boil for ten minutes; then drain and add
to the stock (after it has been strained), and boil for five or ten
minutes more.