Smothered Chickens with Mushrooms.
Split a pair of young, full-grown chickens down the back. Lay them, breasts upward, in a dripping-pan; pour over them a great cupful of boiling water in which have been melted two tablespoonfuls of butter. Invert another pan over them, covering closely, and cook in a steady oven until they are tender and of a mellow russet hue. An hour is generally sufficient. Baste very often, twice at the last with butter. Keep the fowls hot upon a chafing-dish while you add the rest of the can of mushrooms opened yesterday—each mushroom sliced into thirds—to the gravy, with browned flour and pepper. Simmer ten minutes; pour a little upon the chickens, the rest into a boat.