Page:The White House Cook Book.djvu/249

 EGGS AND OMELETS.



THERE are so many ways of cooking and dressing eggs, that it seems unnecessary for the ordinary family to use those that are not the most practical.

To ascertain the freshness of an egg, hold it between your thumb and forefinger in a horizontal position, with a strong light in front of you. The fresh egg will have a clear appearance, both upper and lower sides being the same. The stale egg will have a clear ap- pearance at the lower side, while the upper side will exhibit a dark or cloudy appearance.

Another test is to put them in a pan of cold water ; those that are the first to sink are the freshest ; the stale will rise and float on top ; or, if the large end turns up in the water, they are not fresh. The best time for preserving eggs is from July to September.

TO PRESERVE EGGS.

THERE are several recipes for preserving eggs and we give first one which we know to be effectual, keeping them fresh from August until Spring. Take a piece of quick-lime as large as a good-sized lemon and two teacupf uls of salt ; put it into a large vessel and slack it with a gallon of boiling water. It will boil and bubble until thick as cream ; when it is cold, pour off the top, which will be perfectly clear. Drain off this liquor, and pour it over your eggs; see that the liquor more than covers them. A stone jar is the most convenient one that holds about six quarts.

Another manner of preserving eggs is to pack them in a jar with layers of salt between, the large end of the egg downward, with a thick layer of salt at the top ; cover tightly and set in a cool place.

Some put them them in a wire basket or a piece of mosquito net and dip them in boiling water half a minute ; then pack in sawdust. Still

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