The Art of Living in Australia Part 41

PRESSED BEEF

* 10 lbs. Thick Brisket of Beef, Corned or Fresh--1s. 6d.

* 1 f.a.got of Herbs *

* 1 stalk Celery--1/2d.

* 1 Onion *

* 2 Carrots *

* 1 Turnip *

* 40 Peppercorns--1 1/2d.

* Total Cost--1s. 8d.

* Time--Four Hours *

Bind the beef with tapes to keep it a good shape. If it is corned, put it on in cold water; if fresh, in hot stock or water, and bring to the boil, then skim carefully and put in the vegetables and peppercorns.

Simmer very gently indeed for four hours, then take it up. Take off the tapes, slip out the bones, and put it into a dish; place a piece of board on the top and some heavy weights and leave till the next day, then turn out and serve with a salad. If fresh meat is used for this dish the liquor may be used for soup, or the bones may be put back when removed from the meat and boiled without the lid very quickly for an hour. Then strain off and stand away till the next day; it should then be in a strong jelly. This may be cut into blocks and put round the meat.

CURRIED CHOPS

* 2 lbs. Chops--5d.

* 1/2 oz. Curry Powder--1d.

* 1 oz. b.u.t.ter--1d.

* Lemon Juice *

* 1/4 lb. Rice *

* 1/2 pint Gravy or Water--1d.

* 1/2 oz. Flour *

* 1 Apple *

* 1 Onion *

* Salt--1d.

* Total Cost--9d.

* Time--Three Hours.

Trim some of the fat away from the chops. Put the b.u.t.ter into a stewpan, put in the chops and brown them quickly; take out, chop up the apple and onion, and fry that too. Sprinkle with the curry powder and flour, pour in the stock or water and stir until it boils, then put back the chops, bring to the boil, and simmer very gently for three hours. Dish carefully, boil up the gravy, and if it is not thick enough boil quickly without the lid for some minutes. Season with salt and lemon juice and pour over the chops. Boil the rice by directions given elsewhere; rinse out a small mould or cup in cold water, press the rice into it, and turn out. Serve this in a separate dish, but send it to the table with the curry.

BEEF A LA MODE

* 6 lbs. Leg of Beef or Silverside--9d.

* 1 Calf's Foot--4d.

* 2 Onions *

* 2 Carrots *

* 1 Turnip--1d.

* 1 f.a.got of Herbs *

* 40 Peppercorns *

* 1 blade of Mace *

* 6 Cloves *

* Salt--1d.

* Total Cost--1s. 3d.

* Time--Five Hours.

Have the foot well chopped up, put it on in cold water, bring it to the boil. Let it boil for five minutes, then take it up and sc.r.a.pe and wash it well, lay it in a stewpan with the beef cut into pieces. Cover with cold water and bring to the boil, put in the spices tied in a piece of muslin, and let it simmer very gently for three hours.

Slice up the vegetables and put them in, and continue simmering altogether for about five hours. Take up the foot, take out all the bones, and cut into pieces; put back the meat of the foot into the saucepan, take out the spices, season with salt, remove the fat, boil up, and serve. This dish is always better for being made the day before it is wanted, as the fat can be more easily removed.

BEEFSTEAK ROLLS

* 1 lb. Of Beefsteak--2d.

* Bread and b.u.t.ter--1d.

* 2 Cloves *

* 1 Onion *

* Stalk of Celery--1/2d.

* 1/2 pint Gravy *

* 1 oz. b.u.t.ter *

* 1/2 oz. Flour *

* Salt--1d.

* Total Cost--41/2 d.

* Time--Two Hours *

Take a thick steak and split it open, cut it into strips five inches wide by three long. Cut some very thin bread and b.u.t.ter the same size seasoned with pepper and salt, lay it on the steak and roll it up, thread on a skewer and dust with flour. Put the b.u.t.ter into a frying-pan, and when it is hot put in the rolls and fry them quickly; take out and lay in a saucepan, cut up the onion and fry in the same b.u.t.ter as the rolls were fried in. Shake in a teaspoonful of flour and pour in the gravy; stir until it boils, then pour over the rolls. Put in the celery and cloves, and simmer very gently for two hours; take up the rolls on a hot dish and slip off the skewers, boil up and flavour the gravy. Remove the fat and pour round the meat. Veal or mutton is also very good prepared in this way.

BEEFSTEAK STUFFED

* 1 1/2 lbs. Of Beefsteak--4d.