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

or _Dessert_.--The dessert comprises ripe _fruit_, _sweet dishes_ (these are also served as _entremets_, according to taste), _pastry_ (except meat-pies, _terrines_, and _pains_), _salads_ of fruits, and cheese. The latter is always served the first (_see_ Cheese). After cheese, there is no rule for serving the other plates of dessert; it is according to each one's taste. _Punch_ is served after the _entrées_ or after the _relevés_ of fish, according to taste. _Early Breakfast_.--We are of opinion that everybody ought to eat as little meat as possible, and drink no wine, beer, or any other liquor at an early breakfast, no matter what the sex or age may be, except when prescribed by the physician in case of sickness, debility, etc. The food may be selected from the following: _bread_ and _butter_, _eggs_, _omelets_, fried _fish_, fried _vegetables_, _sardines_, and _fruit_, according to the season. As for meat, in case it should be eaten, it ought to be cold, such as fowl or veal, cooked the day before. Muffins, and other cakes or pastes, served warm, are very bad for the stomach and teeth. The beverage ought to be either coffee, with milk, chocolate, cocoa, choca, or cold water, but do not by any means drink tea at breakfast; it is too astringent. Although cold meat is not by far so injurious as warm meat for breakfast, it ought, nevertheless, to be as little partaken of as possible, and especially by the young. _Late Breakfast, Lunch, Tea, and early Supper_.--At these meals the following dishes may be served: Every dish served as a _hors-d'oeuvre_, _calf's_ head and feet, bear _hams_, _head-cheese_, _eggs_ cooked in any way, _omelets_, _mutton_ chops, _veal_ cutlets, fried _fish_, ripe _fruit_, boned _birds_, _ham_, cold _meat_ of any kind, _oysters_, _pâté de foies gras_, _salads_ of chicken, or any other birds, and of lobster, _sandwiches_, _sardines_, fried _vegetables_, _sweet dishes_, and _pastry_. _Late Supper_.--This being the last meal taken before retiring, persons should be careful about what they eat then, especially those who take no bodily exercise, or retire soon after it. Some are not aware