BACHELORDOM

CONTENTS

CHAP.PAGE
[I.]The Chafing Dish1
[II.]Preliminaries19
[III.]Soups38
[IV.]Fish54
[V.]Flesh and Fowl79
[VI.]Vegetables and Salads108
[VII.]Eggs and Savouries138
[VIII.]Sauces159
[IX.]Sweets and Oddments177
[X.]Amenities of the Table 192
[Index]207

THE·CULT·OF·THE·CHAFINGDISH···

CHAPTER·1·THE·CHAFING·DISH

“There does not at this blessed moment breathe on the Earth’s surface a human being that willna prefer eating and drinking to all ither pleasures o’ body or soul.”—The Ettrick Shepherd.

Every bachelor has a wife of some sort. Mine is a Chafing Dish; and I desire to sing her praises.

My better half—I love to call her Chaffinda, and to dwell upon the doubled consonant—is a nickel-plated dish on a wrought-iron stand, with a simple spirit-lamp wherewith to keep herself warm. I bought her at Harrod’s Stores for twelve shillings and ninepence—and she has sisters.

It has been borne in upon me that many quite nice folk may be glad to learn something of the possibilities of Chaffinda. Whether married or single, there are moments in the life of nearly every man and woman when the need of a quick, hot, and light little meal is worth much fine gold. To such I would politely address myself.