WHEN COOKING MEAT

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1076, 13 September 1930, Page 20

WHEN COOKING MEAT

PREPARE IT CORRECTLY Although meat figures fairly largely in the diet of the average individual, it is often cooked with a surprising lack of knowledge. During the process of baking, for example, many cooks will take a fork to ascertain how far the joint has already progressed, with the result that the juices escape and the meat is dry and flavourless when served. As soon as meat is delivered at the house it should be hung by a hook !n the larder safe—not placed on a plate. A dish should be set immediately beneath it to catch the drips, and of course the joint must be cooked as early as possible. Some cooks pride themselves on washing meat before cooking it. This is all wrong, as it spoils both goodness and flavour. The right method is to wipe it with a clean damp cloth, dredge it with flour, -and rub a lump of salt over it before placing it on the oven grid. Though meat for roasting should be placed at first in a very hot oven, that for boiling must go into cold water and be brought very gradually to simmering point. The cheaper the cut, the longer it will need for cooking. Boiling makes for toughness. It Is slow cooking which loosens the tissues and makes for tenderness. You can avoid using the oven proper for ’Toasts,” by placing the meat inside a “Dutch Oven” on a boilerring. The cover will conserve the | juices given off in the steam, and help j to produce nourishing, tasty dishes. CULTIVATE OPTIMISM If you're poor, make the best of itDon't cook stodgy puddings because : you think other things are more exi pensive. Appetising dishes can be made with humble ingredients, providing a little thought and care is brought to bear on the matter. If you're lonely, make the best o : it. Go to the library and ask the ! librarian's advice about books wortn I reading. If you're living in a city and you ache to live in the country, don stare out of the window at the P**®" ments and the tram-lines. Folio those tram-lines for a while. and ® e out as far as you can. Also, there are many spots in a town park whicn are quieter, even than the country •itself. Look for your country: 11 won't come looking for you. If you’re nervous of being on all the lights, switch ou the wir alone, make the best of it. Ttu“ less or the gramophone, and make cup of tea. Make the bes. of everyth* ll *' Nothing is ever so bad that it couldn be a lot worse. You've got prectotr little mouev—but you might have non at all: You've got too much wor to do—but. things might be worse, you might have none! _ Make the best of things, and they will adjust themselves after a bit.