The parts most suitable for soup are the head, neck, shank, and all the unsightly parts. After the bones are broken and the meat boiled from them, the liquor is used for soup, while the meat, picked or cut to pieces, will make an excellent stew seasoned with potatoes, turnips, sweet herbs, one tablespoonful of butter and the same of meat flavoring.
It is well always to keep brine on hand for corning beef. All the parts not desirable for roast or steak had better be corned.
The beef, after being dressed, should be hung up by the hind legs, with a smooth, round piece of timber sufficiently strong to hold the weight, passed through the legs at the hock, or run between the tendon and bone, with short pegs to keep the legs stretched apart. Then with a sharp axe, standing behind the suspended beef, split it down the backbone, severing it in half. Then pass a knife through the ribs, leaving two or three short ribs on the hind-quarter. Sever the backbone with an axe. Then cut with a sharp knife straight across the parallel line with the spinal bone, which piece must be divided into two pieces, the sirloin and steak. Then take off two rounds, or three, according to the size of the animal, cutting with a sharp knife, and cutting the bone with a meat saw or axe, as near the joints as possible, which leaves the shin-bone.
The fore quarter then is divided into four pieces, after taking off the shoulder, which may be divided into three or more pieces.
The loin of veal is the nicest part, and is always roasted.
The fillets and knuckles may be stewed and roasted.
The latter is nicest for soup.
The breast may be stewed or roasted.
The cutlets are nicest from the legs or fillet.
The head is a dish for soup, stew or pie.