The Myrtle Reed Cook Book

by Myrtle Reed

SALADS

SALADS AND DRESSINGS

FRENCH DRESSING

Put a pinch each of salt and paprika into a small bowl. Rub the inside of the bowl with cut garlic if desired. Put in four tablespoonfuls of the best olive-oil and stir until the salt is dissolved. Add one tablespoonful of vinegar and stir and beat until no separate globules of oil are visible. Cider vinegar or any of the flavored vinegars may be used. Sometimes three tablespoonfuls of oil are used to one of vinegar.

SEASONINGS FOR FRENCH DRESSING

To [French dressing] made according to directions given above may be added at discretion anchovy essence, anchovy paste, celery salt, celery pepper, chilli pepper, curry powder, pounded cardamon seed, minced chervil, minced chives, chutney, capers, grated cheese, caviare, minced garlic, onion, horseradish, mustard, either made or dry, Worcestershire Sauce, mushroom, walnut, or tomato catsup, mint, parsley, thyme, savory, sage, marjoram, tarragon, minced olives or pickles, shrimp essence, sardine paste, chopped truffles or pimentos.

FRENCH DRESSING FOR FRUIT SALADS

Prepare according to directions given for [French dressing], using lemon-juice or wine instead of vinegar and omitting the paprika. Fruit-juice, claret, white wine, port, sherry, Madeira, Rhine wine, and lime-juice are all used in dressing for fruit salads. If additional seasoning is desired, add powdered cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger or mace, or chopped candied fruits. For some salads sweet wine may be used in the dressing.

MAYONNAISE

Put an earthen bowl into a larger one containing cracked ice. Break into it the yolks of two fresh eggs, add a pinch each of salt and paprika, and half a teaspoonful or more of dry mustard. Mix thoroughly and add oil drop by drop at first. A clear spot forming upon the egg is the test of the proper quantity of oil. Use a silver teaspoon for mixing and beat constantly. If the Mayonnaise should curdle, put it on the ice for an hour, or add a few drops of lemon-juice. When a cupful or more of oil has been used and the dressing is stiff enough to cut with a knife, add the juice of half a lemon, or more, according to taste. Cover with paraffine paper and keep on ice until ready to serve. For fruit salads, omit the mustard and pepper and at the last fold in a little cream whipped solid. Veal or chicken jelly may also be mixed with Mayonnaise. Chopped sweet herbs, pickles, olives, capers, onions, garlic, shrimp paste, horseradish and caviare are used to season Mayonnaise. Chopped olives, pickles, and capers, with a little onion or garlic, if desired, make [Tartar Sauce] when added to Mayonnaise.

BOILED DRESSING—I

Bring half a cupful of vinegar to the boil, with two teaspoonfuls of sugar, half a teaspoonful each of salt and mustard, and a dash of pepper. Thicken with one-fourth cupful of butter creamed with a teaspoonful of flour, and cook until smooth and thick, stirring constantly. Take from the fire, and add the yolk of an egg well-beaten. Cool, and if desired add a cupful of sweet or sour cream or buttermilk.

BOILED DRESSING—II

Beat the yolks of two eggs with a tablespoonful of sugar and a teaspoonful each of salt and mustard. Add gradually half a cupful of melted butter or oil, the beaten whites of the eggs, and half a cupful of lemon-juice or vinegar. Cook in a double boiler until it thickens, stirring constantly.

CREAM DRESSING

Beat two eggs until light, add a teaspoonful of sugar, a teaspoonful of butter, three tablespoonfuls of vinegar, with salt, mustard, and cayenne to season. Cook until thick in a double boiler, stirring constantly, and adding gradually four tablespoonfuls of boiling tarragon vinegar. Take from the fire, cool, and add a cupful of whipped cream just before serving.

SOUR-CREAM DRESSING

Mix one cupful of thick sour cream with two tablespoonfuls each of lemon-juice and vinegar, one tablespoonful of sugar, a teaspoonful each of salt and mustard, and pepper to taste.

EGG DRESSING

Beat three eggs, add gradually two tablespoonfuls of oil, a teaspoonful of sugar, and salt, white pepper, and cayenne to season. Add half a cupful of boiling vinegar, mix thoroughly, and cook in a double boiler until thick.

GERMAN SALAD DRESSING

Mix half a cupful of sour cream with a tablespoonful of sugar, a dash of pepper, a teaspoonful each of salt and mustard, two tablespoonfuls of bacon fat, and half a chopped onion cooked in half a cupful of boiling vinegar.

CLUB DRESSING

Chop very fine two hard-boiled eggs, two pimentos, half a small onion, a small bunch of chives, and one small root of garlic. It cannot be too fine. Rub to a paste with a spoon, add six tablespoonfuls of oil, two of tarragon vinegar, and salt and paprika to season.

CURRY DRESSING

Rub the yolk of a hard-boiled egg smooth with four tablespoonfuls of oil, one tablespoonful of tarragon vinegar, and a pinch of curry powder.

RAVIGOTE DRESSING

Put into a double boiler the well-beaten yolks of two eggs and a tablespoonful of butter. Cook until it begins to thicken, then add another tablespoonful of butter and cook to a cream. Season with minced chives, chervil, tarragon, and parsley.

FISH SALADS

ANCHOVY AND EGG SALAD

Rub a salad bowl with cut garlic and fill with crisp lettuce leaves. Put anchovies and sliced hard-boiled eggs on top and serve with [French dressing].

ANCHOVY AND PEPPER SALAD

Skin and bone six anchovies and chop very fine. Mix with a Spanish onion sliced very thin, two shredded sweet Spanish peppers, and a slice of bread cut into dice. Mix with [French dressing] and serve on lettuce or cress, adding more bread if desired.

CLAM AND CELERY SALAD

Cut clams into small pieces, season with onion-juice, mix with shredded lettuce or celery, and serve on lettuce with [French dressing] or [Mayonnaise]. Either cooked or raw clams may be used.

SARDINE SALAD—I

Arrange on a bed of lettuce, sardines and shrimps, alternately. Season with minced onion, chopped pickle, capers, and hard-boiled eggs. Pour over [French dressing], season with tomato catsup, and serve cold.

SARDINE SALAD—II

Bone and flake drained sardines and put on tissue paper until the oil is absorbed. Mix with three times the quantity of finely cut celery and marinate in [French dressing]. Drain and serve on lettuce or cress with [Mayonnaise].