Mussels are good during the winter months only. They should be of medium size, heavy, and perfectly fresh. Remove the shells carefully; wash the mussels and soak in cold water for ten or fifteen minutes, then drain.

Fried Mussels

Mussels may be fried and served like oysters.

Stewed Mussels

Wash; and open the mussels until you have one quart. Then put them into a hot pan and stew for five minutes; add two tablespoonfuls of butter, dust them with a table-spoonful of flour, add six whole pepper-corns and stew gently for ten minutes. Then add a half cupful of cream and the well-beaten yolks of two eggs. Take from the fire and season with pepper and salt.