Part 36 (1/2)

=Principles of cooking.=

1. The protein is affected as in all other foods where it occurs.

2. The fat is melted.

3. Connective tissue quickly softened.

To avoid the breaking of the fish it may be wrapped in cloth for boiling, and the water should simmer only. The coating of small fish or slices of large fish with beaten egg and crumbs tends to hold it together. In all cases avoid overcooking. Fish is done when a fork easily pierces it and separates the flakes of flesh from the bone.

=1. Boiled fish.=

Use thick pieces of large fish for boiling, or if small fish are used they may be boiled whole. Add salt and vinegar to water in proportion of 1 tablespoonful of salt and two of vinegar to three quarts of water. Use enough water to cover the fish. Wrap the fish in cheesecloth to prevent breaking apart, and plunge into boiling water. Do not let the water boil after fish is in. The fish is done when the flesh leaves the bone or when the flesh flakes apart easily. The usual time for a thick piece is 30-40 minutes.

_Mock Hollandaise sauce._

b.u.t.ter 3 tablespoonfuls Flour 3 tablespoonfuls Eggs 2 Milk 2 cups Salt 1 teaspoonful Lemon 1/2 to 1.

Make as for white sauce, adding the beaten eggs just before taking from fire and stirring until well thickened. Add lemon juice just before serving. This sauce is suitable for boiled fish and vegetables.

=2. Left over fish.=

Fish may be picked apart, mixed with cream sauce, and served as creamed fish or served as an escallop.

_Escalloped fish._

2 cups left over fish, picked over and freed of bones.

1 cup thin white sauce, dried bread crumbs b.u.t.tered.

b.u.t.ter a baking dish and line with crumbs. Add a layer of fish, using half, and cover with half the sauce. Cover with a layer of crumbs. Add another layer of fish, sauce, and crumbs, making this last layer of crumbs quite thick. Place in a hot oven and leave until crumbs are brown and fish is heated through.

_To b.u.t.ter crumbs._

Melt a little b.u.t.ter in a saucepan and turn the crumbs in, stirring them over and over with a spoon until all the crumbs are coated.

=3. Baked fish.=

Almost any medium sized fish is suitable for baking. The favorites are bluefish, shad, haddock, and halibut, sliced.

Clean the fish, seeing that all scales are removed. Stuff and sew.

Shape with skewers to form a letter S and place upright on a baking pan or lay fish on side. If the fish is not a fat kind, put strips of salt pork over it and in pan or cut gashes in fish and lay strips of pork in them. Dredge with flour. Bake one hour for a three-pound fish, in a hot oven, basting frequently with the tried-out fat. Serve with drawn b.u.t.ter or Hollandaise sauce.

_Fish stuffing._

Dried crumbs 1 cup Melted b.u.t.ter 1/2 cup Salt 1/4 teaspoonful Pepper 1/8 teaspoonful Onion juice A few drops Parsley} 1 teaspoonful Capers } each, finely Pickles } chopped

Mix ingredients in order given.

=4. Creamed codfish.=

Soak the fish in cold water, and pull it apart with knife and fork. Put it in a saucepan of cold water, allow the water to heat slowly, and stop the heating just before the water reaches the boiling point. Pour off the water, shake the saucepan over the fire, add a thin white sauce, No. 2, and reheat. Serve on toast if desired.