The Modern Housewife Or Ménagère : Comprising
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t — Characters to Servants. The following ob- servations have been forwarded to us for publication “ The giving a character to a servant Is one of the most ordi- nary communications which a member of society is called on to make, and, aB the learned Mr. Starkie observes, Is a duty of great importance to the Interests of thepublio.: and In respect of that duty a person offends grievously against the interests of the oommunlty In giving a good cha- raoter where it Is not deserved, or against justice and humanity in either injuriously refusing to give a character, or in designedly misrepresenting ‘one to the detri- ment of the individual.’ The following rules are sug- gested for the consideration of masters and mistresses not acquainted with the law in suoh cases:—Knle 1, No magistrate has any jurisdiction touching the charac- ter of a domestic servant, and the common threat of a master or mistress being summoned for not giving a cha- racter is absurd. Kule 2. It has been clearly deolded that a character, honestly and bona fide given by a master or mistress to any person making the usual inquiry, is a pri- vileged sommunisatlon, and unless Inconsistent with truth, or actual malice can be proved by evidence, no damages can be sustained. But it must be carefully borne in mind that however truly or honestly the character may be given, an action at law can be brought against the master or mistress, and the ladies of the family put to the anxiety and trouble of appearing In court, as well as the lady to whom-the character Is given. And, although the servant may be immediately defeated, and the case stopped by the judge, you will find yourself some £60 or £60 out of pocket by your victory. Kule 3. The only safe course, when a mas- ter or mistress cannot in sincerity and truth recommend a 1 a 71 * la " Ciiri' I sub* prove i and, Ann UNIVERSITY LIBRARY ng to LEEDS date. Bird,’ r nor Classmark: t no i also i well .both their their aeon < con- lown, v&ats ftifoi I 0106 01122 - 1/ A isf.ro The University Library Leeds The John F. Preston Collection of Cookery Books The Gift of Mr. Preston 1962 MODERN HOUSEWIFE. Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015 https://archive.org/details/b21531961 A A'- AJj BY THR LATE MADAME SOYER ENGRAVED HY IJ..B 11 A Ijl., FROM. THE OR1 GIN DRAWING the iMotimi ?I)ou5cimfc OR COMPRISING NEARLY ONE THOUSAND RECEIPTS FOR THE ECONOMIC AND JUDICIOUS PREPARATION OP EVERY MEAL OP THE DAY, AND THOSE FOB THE NURSERY AND SICK ROOM; WITH MINUTE DIRECTIONS FOR FAMILY MANAGEMENT IN ALL ITS BRANCHES. Illustrated fottlj lEugrabtiigs, INCLUDING THE MODERN- HOUSEWIFE S UNIQUE KITCHEN, AND MAGIC STOVE. ALEXIS _SOYER, AUTHOR OF “ THE GASTRONOMIC REGENERATOR,” (REFORM CLUB.) FOURTEENTH THOUSAND. LONDON: SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, & CO., STATIONERS’ HALL COURT; OLLIVIER, PALL MALL. 1850. The Author of the Gastronomic Regenerator, anxious to find a Companion for his first and only Son, who has enjoyed an uninterrupted success from his birth, has, after five months of extensive research, met with one who, he in the Modern Menagere (Housewife), trusts, will be deemed equally deserving of praise as her Mate, being confident that they both will live in most perfect harmony in every family where their services may be required. jwp < 1 / TO Begs to introduce herself, and hopes she may prove A Useful Adviser. ' ' — Bifrons Villa, St. J W , September 29th, 1849. Eloise, Dearest, Please in your name, and also in mine, return our sincere thanks to our friends, and especially to the fair daughters of Albion, for the flattering recep- tion they have given to our culinary correspondence, or gastronomic journal, with which I beg of you espe- cially to couple that powerful organ, the public press, which in a few days, like the commotion of an earth- quake, has shaken the domesticated nerves of thou- sands of housewives throughout the United Kingdom, merely to inform them that I, “ Mrs. B.,” and you, “ Mrs. L.,” humble but domesticated women, have had a friendly correspondence respecting housewifery in all its branches; the echo of which, believe me, Eloise, has done more in a few days, than half a cen- tury could ever have accomplished for us in our happy but obscure sphere; therefore you must not •VI be too proud of our success, for be well convinced that it is more due to the iron tongue of the press than to the brain that has conceived it. A Second Edition is already wanted, say you—“ I can hardly believe it,”—and that in less than a fort- night. At all events, the only novelty in this one must be confined to corrections, which I can assure you, thanks to you and the printer’s carelessness, are tolerably therefore, follow your numerous ; pub- lisher’s advice, and cause the steam press to issue, as quickly as possible, 6000 copies, which will form the Second Edition. With the greatest esteem, I remain, ever yours, Hortense. P.S.—I have forwarded you one of the Magic Stoves, which I have just received from Gardner’s. I had this morning one on our breakfast-table, and cooked in a very short time, at a trifling expense, two of Soyer’s new mutton chops (No. 452), four sausages, and eight pieces of very thin bacon, and also in the were eight to breakfast, and fat fried two slices of bread ; we all enjoyed this extraordinary novelty. earlier that which You reproach me for not sending you one ; I intended for you has been taken by the Marquis of N. and party of to Egypt, with the view of having a dinner cooked on the top the Pyramids. CONTENTS PAGE Introduction. Dialogue between Mrs. B and Mrs. L her Friend and Visitor . ix Letter No. I. XV Letter No. II. xvi Breakfasts .... 1 First Series of Receipts 2 Letter No III. 26 Early Luncheons . 27 Letter No. IV. ib. The Nursery Dinner . 29 Letter No. V. ib. Comforts for Invalids . 34 Puddings for Invalids . 51 Fish for Invalids . 54 Meat for Invalids . 56 Poultry for Invalids . 59 Culinary Correspondence . 62 Letter No. VI. ib. Letter No. VII. 63 Letter No. VIII. ib. Letter No. IX. 66 Letter No. X. ib. Letter No. XI. 67 Roasting, Baking . 68 Boiling, Stewing, Braising . 69 Frying .... 70 Sauteing .... 71 Broiling .... 72 Sauces .... 73 Soups ..... 88 Fish ..... 110 Fish Sauces .... 143 Removes .... 150 Letter No. XII. 164 Vlll CONTENTS PAGE Poultry . 183 Flancs ..... , 201 Entrees, or Made Dishes . 202 Letter No. XIII. .... 228 Letter No. XIV. .... 230 Dishes with the Remains of Lamb and Pork . 235, 241 Eggs ...... # t 275 Garniture for Omelettes 279 Entrees of Game .... 280 Roasts—Second Course 289 Savoury Dishes .... 298 Letter No. XV. .... 310 Shell-fish . ib. Vegetables ..... , . 319 Of different sorts of Pastry . 333 Jellies ..... 350 Puddings in Moulds .... 354 Puddings boiled in Cloths 355 Plain Baked Puddings in Dishes . 357 Removes—Second Course # 359 Souffle ..... 361 Dessert ..... , . 367 Letter No. XVI. .... , . ib. Compote ..... 368 Compotes of Fruit simplified . 372 Salads of various Fruits . , 382 Letter No. XVII. .... 387 Letter No. XVIII , . 389 Letter No. XIX. .... 394 Beverages for Evening Parties . ib. Letter No. XX. .... 396 Letter No. XXI. .... 398 Conversation on Household Affairs . ib. Bills of Fare ..... 406 Letter No. XXII.—A New Aliment . , . 411 Carving ..... 413 Letter No. XXIII.—The Septuagenarian Epicure . 414 Index ..... 417 Addenda—Soyer’s Anti-Cholera Diet, Sauces, and Nectar, &c. 433 INTRODUCTION. DIALOGUE BETWEEN MRS. B and MRS. L , HER FRIEND AND VISITOR. Mrs. L. I have now, my dear Mrs. B., been nearly a fortnight at your delightful Villa, and I must say, with all truth, that I never fared better in my life, yet I am considered somewhat of an epicure, as is likewise my husband but, of course, our means being rather ; limited, we are obliged to live accordingly. Mrs. B. Well, so must we; and I assure you that, during the first few years of our marriage, our pecu- niary resources were but small, but even then I managed my kitchen and housekeeping at so moderate an expense, compared with some of our neighbours, who lived more expensively, but not so well as we did, that, when any of them dined with us, they flattered me with the appellation of the ‘ Model Housekeeper,’ and admired the comforts of our table, but would leave with the impression that I must be the most extravagant of wives. Now, believe me, I have always prided myself, whether having to provide for a ceremonious party, or dining by ourselves, to have everything properly done X INTRODUCTION. and served, that, if any friends should come in by ac- cident or on business, they were generally well pleased with our humble hospitality, and that without extra- vagance, as my husband is well convinced; for, when we dine with any acquaintance of ours, he is very eager to persuade them to adopt my system of management; for though he is no great judge of what is called the highest style of cookery, yet he does not like to live badly at any time, as he very justly says, it matters not how simple the food, —a chop, steak, or a plain boiled or roast joint, but let it be of good quality and properly cooked, and every one who partakes of it will enjoy it. Mrs. L. Nothing more true ! Mrs. B. But since you talk of limited income and economy, let me relate to you a conversation which occurred a few years ago between Mr.