Broiled Steak.—Trim and wipe steak, which should be at least 1 inch thick. Rub broiler with fat, arrange steak with thickest part in center of broiler. Have fire clear and very hot, but without blaze. Hold steak close to fire. Turn every ½ minute, that it may sear quickly. When ½ done season with salt and pepper. Steak 1 inch thick will broil in 4 minutes.
Panned Steak or Chops.—Trim and wipe steak. Heat frying-pan until it smokes all over. Rub bottom with a bit of fat. Lay in steak and turn every 10 seconds. Keep pan very hot. Season when ½ done.
Mutton and pork chops, ham and bacon, may be panned in same way.
If hot platter for steak is rubbed with a cut onion it will give a delightful flavor to the meat.
Broiled Ham and Poached Eggs.—Cut slices of boiled ham of equal size; broil on a gridiron over a clear fire; lay on a hot dish. Lay on each a poached egg, neatly trimmed, and serve.
Beefsteak Pie (French style).—Take a nice piece of beef, rump or sirloin, cut in small slices; slice also a little raw ham; put both in a frying-pan, with some butter and small quantity chopped onions; let them simmer together a short time on the fire or in the oven; add a little flour and enough stock to make sauce; salt, pepper, chopped parsley, and a little Worcestershire sauce as seasoning; add also a few sliced potatoes, and cook together for about 20 minutes; put this into a pie-dish, with a few slices of hard-boiled eggs on the top, and cover with a layer of common paste. Bake from 15 to 20 minutes in a well-heated oven. All dark-meat pies can be treated precisely in the same way. If poultry, leave the potatoes out.
To Boil a Ham.—A blade of mace, a few cloves, a sprig of thyme, and 2 bay-leaves. Well soak ham in large quantity of water for 24 hours, then trim and scrape very clean; put into large stewpan, with more than sufficient water to cover it; put in mace, cloves, thyme, and bay-leaves. Boil 4 or 5 hours, according to weight; when done, let it become cold in liquor in which it was boiled. Then remove rind carefully, without injuring the fat; press cloth over it to absorb as much of the grease as possible. It is always improved by setting in the oven for nearly an hour, till much of the fat dries out, and it also makes it more tender. Shake some bread raspings over the fat. Serve cold garnished with parsley.
Boiled Mutton or Lamb.—Trim and wipe the meat. Have ready kettle of rapidly boiling salted water. Immerse meat, boil hard 5 minutes, then reduce to gentle simmer. Allow 12 to 15 minutes per pound. Lamb should always be well done; mutton may be rare. A little rice may be added to water to keep meat white; if a few vegetables are also added the pot liquor will make a good thick soup.
Boiled Corned Beef and Turnips.—Select a piece not too salt. The brisket is a good cut for family use when not too fat. Cook beef in plenty cold water. Bring slowly to boil. Cook 18 minutes to the pound after it begins to simmer. When fully ¾ done put in a dozen turnips, peeled and quartered. When both beef and turnips are thoroughly done dish out the beef, and lay the turnips, unmashed, about it. Serve with drawn butter, having as a base the pot liquor. Remaining liquor will make a good soup for next day’s dinner.
Pork Chops with Tomato Gravy.—Trim off skin and fat; rub the chops over with a mixture of powdered sage and onion; put small piece butter into a frying-pan; put in the chops and cook slowly, as they should be well done. Lay chops on hot dish; add a little hot water to gravy in pan, 1 large spoon butter rolled in flour, pepper, salt, and sugar, and ½ cup juice drained from can tomatoes. The tomatoes themselves can be used for a tomato omelet. Stew 5 minutes and pour over the chops and serve.