Hand-Book of Practical Cookery, for Ladies and Professional Cooks: Containing the Whole Science and Art of Preparing Human Food

end, and nine-sixteenths of an inch at the other end. No. 2. One inch and a half long; one inch and a half in diameter at one end, and six-eighths of an inch at the other. TRUFFLES. Truffles are found in Europe and Africa, where they were first discovered. The truffle is neither an animal nor a vegetable, although it has been classed among the fungi, which has root, and the truffle has neither root nor stem. The truffle is used for stuffing and flavoring only otherwise it is not of much value. On account of their scarcity, and the difficulty in finding them, they are rather costly. We think truffles may be compared to lace--both are dear, and neither has an intrinsic value. VANILLA. Is a native of America, extensively used for seasoning creams, pastry, etc., to which it gives a delicious flavor. Although a native of America, all the extracts of vanilla, as well as others, were formerly imported; but within a few years Americans have found out that they are able to distil also, and "Burnett's Extract of Vanilla" is better known to-day all over the country than any other. VEGETABLE SPOONS. Vegetable spoons are used to cut potatoes, carrots, and turnips; there are different shapes, round, oval, carrot-shape, plain, and scalloped. We give here only two, being sufficient to explain their use. The first (_a_) is of an oval shape, and makes the cut _c_; the second (_b_) is round, and makes the cut _d_. [Illustration] When the vegetable is peeled, place the spoon on it, the convex side up; holding the vegetable in your left hand, press on the spoon with your left thumb, and in order to cause it to cut the vegetable while turning it with the right hand, first half way or rather when the half of it is inside of the vegetable, stop, turn it the other way, causing it to cut the vegetable also, then raise it up without turning at all and you have in the spoon a piece of vegetable of the shape of the spoon, and as