If the cooking is done on an ordinary coal range the fire holes should be kept closed and the heat received through the top lids; if a gas range be employed, the gas jets should be kept low, and not allowed to flare round the utensil. When cooking is being done on the top of the range with wood, coal, gas, or oil as the fuel, an asbestos mat placed underneath will modify the heat. The asbestos mat may also be used in the oven. If the heat must be intense for other food in progress of cooking at the same time as an earthenware dish is in the oven, the heat may be controlled by placing the casserole in a pan of hot water which can be lowered in temperature by occasional supplies of cold water added to the hot water.

The adoption of these simple precautions will make easy the use of earthenware utensils. Marmites, ramequins, cocottes, au gratin dishes, and soufflé cases all come under the head of casseroles.

Soup en Marmite

SOUP RECIPES

“Give zest and flavor to a mess of pottage”

BROWN SOUP WITH FORCEMEAT BALLS

Melt the butter in a large marmite, let it get brown, then brown in it the onions, cut in rings; remove the onions from the pot, and brown the flour in the butter; then add the water and the kitchen bouquet, stir till smooth, allow this to boil, put back the onions, and add the vegetables cut into neat pieces, the meat cut up into small pieces, and the seasoning; simmer for one and a half hours, remove the meat, and rub through a sieve as much of the vegetables with the soup as possible.

Put the soup back into the marmite with the meat and some forcemeat balls (made as undernoted); simmer again for fifteen minutes, skim off the fat if necessary, and serve in small fireproof dishes.