Put a pinch each of salt and paprika into a small bowl. Rub the inside of the bowl with cut garlic if desired. Put in four tablespoonfuls of the best olive-oil and stir until the salt is dissolved. Add one tablespoonful of vinegar and stir and beat until no separate globules of oil are visible. Cider vinegar or any of the flavored vinegars may be used. Sometimes three tablespoonfuls of oil are used to one of vinegar.
SEASONINGS FOR FRENCH DRESSING
To [French dressing] made according to directions given above may be added at discretion anchovy essence, anchovy paste, celery salt, celery pepper, chilli pepper, curry powder, pounded cardamon seed, minced chervil, minced chives, chutney, capers, grated cheese, caviare, minced garlic, onion, horseradish, mustard, either made or dry, Worcestershire Sauce, mushroom, walnut, or tomato catsup, mint, parsley, thyme, savory, sage, marjoram, tarragon, minced olives or pickles, shrimp essence, sardine paste, chopped truffles or pimentos.
FRENCH DRESSING FOR FRUIT SALADS
Prepare according to directions given for [French dressing], using lemon-juice or wine instead of vinegar and omitting the paprika. Fruit-juice, claret, white wine, port, sherry, Madeira, Rhine wine, and lime-juice are all used in dressing for fruit salads. If additional seasoning is desired, add powdered cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger or mace, or chopped candied fruits. For some salads sweet wine may be used in the dressing.
MAYONNAISE
Put an earthen bowl into a larger one containing cracked ice. Break into it the yolks of two fresh eggs, add a pinch each of salt and paprika, and half a teaspoonful or more of dry mustard. Mix thoroughly and add oil drop by drop at first. A clear spot forming upon the egg is the test of the proper quantity of oil. Use a silver teaspoon for mixing and beat constantly. If the Mayonnaise should curdle, put it on the ice for an hour, or add a few drops of lemon-juice. When a cupful or more of oil has been used and the dressing is stiff enough to cut with a knife, add the juice of half a lemon, or more, according to taste. Cover with paraffine paper and keep on ice until ready to serve. For fruit salads, omit the mustard and pepper and at the last fold in a little cream whipped solid. Veal or chicken jelly may also be mixed with Mayonnaise. Chopped sweet herbs, pickles, olives, capers, onions, garlic, shrimp paste, horseradish and caviare are used to season Mayonnaise. Chopped olives, pickles, and capers, with a little onion or garlic, if desired, make [Tartar Sauce] when added to Mayonnaise.
BOILED DRESSING—I
Bring half a cupful of vinegar to the boil, with two teaspoonfuls of sugar, half a teaspoonful each of salt and mustard, and a dash of pepper. Thicken with one-fourth cupful of butter creamed with a teaspoonful of flour, and cook until smooth and thick, stirring constantly. Take from the fire, and add the yolk of an egg well-beaten. Cool, and if desired add a cupful of sweet or sour cream or buttermilk.