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].
Parsnips are at their best in the spring (the sweet flavor developed in the ground through the winter being entirely wanting in the fall). To prepare, wash and scrape until clean and cook until tender - it will take about an hour - cut in halves they will cook in less time. When tender put into a hot serving-dish, sprinkle with salt and put over them butter, in bits. Or simply scrub the parsnips with a brush and cook until tender, then throw them into cold water to remove the skins; cut in slices, dip in flour and sauté in hot salt pork fat.
Mash the parsnips, after boiling and removing the skin, season with salt, pepper and butter. Flour the hands or dip them in cold water and shape the mixture into small cakes. Dip these cakes in flour and sauté in hot salt pork fat or butter.
 
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