Of Lima Beans

Proceed for green Limas as for green peas.

Of Sweet Corn

It is made like that of green peas.

Of Asparagus

Cut the eatable part of the asparagus in pieces, and proceed as for puree of green peas.

Of Potatoes

Steam a quart of potatoes, and then mash them well; put them in a saucepan with half a pint of milk, two ounces of butter, and salt; set on the fire, stir now and then, take off and use. It takes about fifteen minutes after being set back on the fire.

Another Way

Proceed as above, using broth or water instead of milk.

Of Jerusalem Artichokes

Prepared as potatoes.

Of Carrots

Clean well, and cut in slices, a dozen middling-sized carrots; put them in a stewpan with four ounces of butter, and set on the fire; when about half fried, cover with broth or water; season with half a bay-leaf, a small sprig of thyme, one of parsley, a small onion, and a clove stuck in it; when the whole is well cooked, throw away onion, clove, bay-leaf, and thyme, mash the rest through a colander; then put back on the fire, with a little butter; simmer for about two hours, stirring occasionally, and it is made.

In case it should turn too thick, add broth or water.

The longer they are simmered, the better the taste.

Of Turnips

Proceed as with carrots in every particular.

Of Celery

It is always made with turnip-rooted celery. Clean the celery well, wash and cut it in pieces, and prepare as puree of carrots, adding a teaspoonful of sugar.

Of Cauliflowers

Separate the branches, and throw them in boiling water and salt; boil two minutes and drain. Put them on the fire with broth or water, enough just to cover them, two or three stalks of parsley, and salt to season.

Boil gently till tender; remove the parsley; mash through a colander; put back on the fire with a little butter and white pepper, simmer about ten minutes, stirring now and then the while, and it is ready for use.

Instead of butter, some cream may be added.

Of Pumpkin

Made exactly the same as that of cauliflowers, after the pumpkin is peeled and cut in pieces.

Of Squash

Same as pumpkin.

Of Spinach

Clean the spinach, and cut off the stem; the leaf only is good; wash and drain it; put cold water and a little salt on the fire, and throw the spinach in at the first boil. When tender, drain and drop immediately in cold water; drain again, and then chop it very fine. After being chopped, it may be mashed through a sieve, to have it finer; put it back on the fire without any water at all, and when it gets rather dry, add a little flour; stir and mix; add again a little gravy or good broth; stir, then salt to taste, and it is ready for use.

If the spinach is young and tender, it takes only two or three minutes boiling before chopping it.

From the time it is put back on the fire, it takes about five or six minutes to finish it.

Of Sorrel

Proceed as with spinach in every particular.

Of Mushrooms

Clean well and cut in pieces a quart of fresh mushrooms; soak them in cold water, in which you have put the juice of a lemon; drain, and chop them fine. Put a stewpan on the fire, with a piece of butter the size of a duck's egg; when melted, put your mushroom in; when half fried, add the juice of a lemon, finish trying, then cover with some roux-sauce; let simmer till it becomes rather thick, strain and use.

Of Onions

Peel, quarter, and blanch for eight minutes, a dozen onions. Drain and put them in a saucepan with four or six ounces of butter, according to the size of the onions; set on a slow fire, stir now and then till well done; then season with salt, a little flour, stir for two minutes to cook the flour, and mix it thoroughly with the rest; take from the fire; add cream, little by little, stirring the while. It does not require much cream to make the puree of a proper thickness. Mash through a sieve or fine colander, add a pinch of sugar, and it is ready for use.

It makes an excellent puree, and is good served with nearly every kind of meat.

Made with white onions, and properly mashed through a sieve, it looks like cream, and is almost as white as snow.