The Laurel Health Cookery: A Collection of Practical Suggestions and Recipes for the Preparation of Non-Flesh Foods in Palatable and Attractive Ways

prepare them attractively and palatably. Suggestions Only strictly fresh eggs should be used for any purpose. There is danger in stale eggs. The beaten raw egg is usually considered the most digestible, but there are some with whom lightly cooked eggs, as “Eggs in the Shell” agree best, and still others upon whom the soft yolk acts almost like poison, who can take omelets or scrambled eggs better, where the whites and yolks are thoroughly mingled (when cooked in not too large a quantity of oil). Occasionally we find a person with whom the white of the egg disagrees; but very seldom. Try taking the beaten white of an egg when you have a sour stomach. It is very soothing, also, to an irritated, sensitive stomach. The white of an egg relieves the pain and prevents inflammation when applied quickly to a burn or scald. A few sliced Brazil nuts or filberts or broken pieces of other nuts added to omelets or scrambled eggs aid mastication. Salt should not be put into the water for poaching eggs; it renders them less digestible. The cooked yolk of the egg is most digestible when cooked long enough to be dry and mealy, and the white when just jellied. Never use milk in scrambled eggs or omelets. The casein of the milk hardens with cooking and renders the eggs tough; besides, the flavor of the eggs is much finer with water, and omelets are lighter. Cream spoils the flavor though it does not toughen the egg as does milk. Always bake soufflés, puff omelets, cakes, all things to be made light with egg, slowly, and well from the bottom, so that they will stay up, after rising. Serve soufflés and puff omelets as soon as done. For custards or any thickening, beat eggs just sufficiently to mingle, not to a foam. Drop yolks of eggs in cold water to keep them from drying up when whites only are desired, and lift carefully from the water with a teaspoon when ready to use. Add a trifle of salt to whites of eggs before beating;