This section is from the book "Practical Cooking And Serving", by Janet McKenzie Hill. Also available from Amazon: Practical Cooking and Serving: A Complete Manual of How to Select, Prepare, and Serve Food [1919].

Eggs poached in a dish are said to be shirred; when the eggs are basted with melted butter during the cooking, to give them a glossy, shiny appearance, the dish is called au miroir. Often the the eggs are served in the dish in which they are cooked; at other times, especially where several are cooked in the same dish, they are cut with a round paste-cutter and served on croutons, or on a garnish. Eggs are shirred in flat dishes, in cases of china, or paper, or in cocottes. A cocotte is a small earthen saucepan with a handle, standing on three feet. These are usually of Sarreguemines ware. The china cases are in various styles; some are provided with a saucer upon which the case rests for serving. When paper cases are used, a second larger case receives the case in which the egg is cooked.
Mix two tablespoonfuls, each, of bread crumbs and chopped chicken, or ham (or use bread alone) with cream to make a batter; season with salt and pepper. Line a buttered cocotte, or case (china, or paper) with the batter, break an egg into the dish, and, if desired, cover with batter; bake on a folded paper in a dish containing hot water, until the egg is set. Serve from the dish.
Sauté a handful of chopped mushrooms with a little onion juice in butter five minutes; add a little chopped parsley, sprinkle the same on the bottom and sides of a buttered shirrer or cocotte, and break the egg into the dish; sprinkle with the fine herbs and cook as above, basting two or three times with melted butter.
 
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