Mrs. Beeton's Dictionary of Every-Day Cookery: The "All About It" Books

asparagus is done, dish it upon toast, which should be dipped in the water it was cooked in, and leave the white ends outward each way, with the points meeting in the middle. Serve with a tureen of melted butter. _Time._—15 to 18 minutes after the water boils. _Average cost_, in full season, 2_s._ 6_d._ the 100 heads. _Sufficient._—Allow about 50 heads for 4 or 5 persons. _Seasonable._—May be had forced from January, but cheapest in May, June and July. [Illustration: BOILED ASPARAGUS.] [Illustration: ASPARAGUS TONGS.] ASPARAGUS-PEAS (Entremets, or to be served as a Side Dish, with the Second Course). _Ingredients._—100 heads of asparagus, 2 oz. of butter, a small bunch of parsley, 2 or 3 green onions, flour, 1 lump of sugar, the yolks of 2 eggs, 4 tablespoonfuls of cream, salt. _Mode._—Carefully scrape the asparagus, cut it into pieces of an equal size, avoiding that which is in the least hard or tough, and throw them into cold water. Then boil the asparagus in salt and water until three-parts done; take it out, drain, and place it on a cloth to dry the moisture away from it. Put it into a stewpan with the butter, parsley, and onions, and shake over a brisk fire for 10 minutes. Dredge in a little flour, add the sugar, and moisten with boiling water. When boiled a short time and reduced, take out the parsley and onions, thicken with the yolks of 2 eggs beaten with the cream; add a seasoning of salt, and when the whole is on the point of simmering, serve. Make the sauce sufficiently thick to adhere to the vegetable. _Time._—Altogether, ½ hour. _Average cost_, 1_s._ 6_d._ a pint. _Seasonable_ in May, June, and July. ASPARAGUS PUDDING (a delicious Dish, to be served with the Second Course). _Ingredients._—½ pint of asparagus peas, 4 eggs, 2 tablespoonfuls of flour, 1 tablespoonful of _very finely_ minced ham, 1 oz. of butter, pepper and salt to taste, milk. _Mode._—Cut up the nice green tender parts of asparagus, about the size of peas; put them into a basin with the eggs, which