If you have cream in plenty, use half cream and half milk. The soup will be much smoother if it is strained a second time, after the milk has been boiled with it.

Mock Bisque.

1 pint of stewed tomatoes.

1 pint of milk.

1 tablespoonful of flour.

1 tablespoonful of butter.

1/2 teaspoonful of soda.

1/4 teaspoonful of pepper.

1 teaspoonful of salt.

Reserve half a gill of the milk and put the remainder on to cook in the double-boiler. Put the tomatoes on to cook in a stewpan. Mix the flour with the cold milk and stir into the boiling milk. Cook for ten minutes; then add the salt, pepper, and butter. Stir the soda into the hot tomatoes and stir for half a minute; then rub through a strainer. Add the strained tomatoes to the thickened milk, and serve at once.