Cut 2 middle-sized onions in slices, put them in a stewpan with an ounce of butter, and fry them till done without taking colour; add a small tablespoonful of flour, and moisten with a teacupful of milk: season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg, give a boil, toss the eggs up in the sauce, and serve. The same may be served with tomato sauce.
No. 64.—Eggs with Tomato Sauce.
Proceed as for curried eggs, using tomato sauce instead of curry.
No. 65.—Rarebit a la Soyer, with Sherry or Champagne.
Cut half a pound of rich cheese in small dice; put in a stewpan 2 pats of butter with a teaspoonful of mixed Durham mustard, a little salt, half a teaspoonful of pepper, one wineglass of sherry or champagne; put on a slow fire, stir gently with a wooden spoon till properly melted, though not stringy, which might occur if turned too quickly; have a nice toast half an inch thick done at the last minute, pour your cheese over and serve. Leaving it a few minutes in an oven is an improvement.
No. 66.—Fried Potatoes.
Fried potatoes being much lighter for supper than baked ones, would be an excellent introduction to the London supper bill of fare. I shall also observe that a potato when well fried does not retain a particle of grease, and therefore is not rich, or likely to be so, when properly done. Where a quantity are required, put in a wide stew-pan, three or four pounds of either lard, beef, or mutton fat;—see receipt No. 20, page 544, how to clarify the two last. Set it upon the fire, and while heating, peel a pound of potatoes about the size of a large egg, cut them in thin slices crosswise upon a clean cloth, to absorb the moisture, taking care they are well separated; when the fat is hot, “but not burning,” which you will ascertain by its giving out a light smoke, or else dip your finger in cold water and let a drop fall in the fat—if it hisses it is then at a proper heat; throw in the potatoes, and keep moving them with a skimmer to prevent them sticking together; in about three or four minutes they will be cooked and well fried, of a pale gold colour; take; them out upon a cloth, sieve, or colander; sprinkle scientifically with salt, and serve plain, or upon a napkin, or round a steak, fillet of beef, &c.
No. 67.—Fried Potatoes with Maitre d’Hotel Butter.
While in the colander, and just having been fried, add to a portion of potatoes about half an ounce of maître d’hôtel butter, toast till melted, and serve either plain or round steak.
No. 68.—Fried Potatoes with Cayenne Pepper.