About a Bouquet.
Take one bay leaf, one sprig of thyme, two cloves, and one stalk of well-washed celery, place round these six sprigs of parsley, fold and tie them so that the cloves, etc., cannot fall out.
About Onion Juice.
Onion juice is obtained by grating an onion on a coarse grater, after peeling it. Press hard, and each stroke will give one drop of juice.
About Maccaroni and Spaghetti Paste.
For every quarter of a pound of flour use one egg and two tablespoonfuls of warm salted water. Take as much flour as needful, make a hole in the centre, and put in the water and the eggs. Beat them up with a spoon, mixing the flour in gradually, then knead well. Roll the paste into very thin sheets, and place them on a clean cloth to dry for half an hour. This paste will not keep more than one, or one and a half days, and must always be put into boiling water or broth to cook. If soaked before cooking the flavour is spoiled.
About blanching Maccaroni and Spaghetti.
Put an earthenware pot, filled with water, on the fire, add two tablespoonfuls of salt, and boil. Put in three-quarters of a pound of fresh maccaroni, twisting it round carefully so as not to break it. Boil for seventeen minutes, then remove from the fire; drain, and put it in cold water; drain again, and it is ready for use. Spaghetti are blanched the same way.
About Croûtons.
To make croûtons, cut bread into whatever shape you want. Take off the crust, dip the pieces into melted butter, and toast in the oven, turn often in order to colour evenly, or fry them in boiling oil or fat. They must be crisp and of a light brown colour.