MUSCLE OF YOUNG ANIMALS.—The muscle of an undeveloped animal contains more water than does the muscle of a mature animal. It is also lacking in flavor and usually contains little fat. The meat does not keep so well as that of a mature animal; therefore it should be used at once and not allowed to hang.

[Illustration: FIGURE 65.—CUTS OF VEAL.]

CUTS OF VEAL (see Figure 65). =================================================================== " NAME OF CUT " FORM OF CUT " METHOD OF COOKING " =================================================================== " A. Loin. " Chops. " Sauteing. " " " Thick Pieces. " Roasting. " " " " " " B. Leg. " Steaks—veal cutlets " Sauteing. " " " or veal steak. " Stewing. " " " Thick Pieces. " Roasting. " " " " " " C. Knuckle. " Whole. " Stewing. " " " " Soup-making. " " " " " " D. Rib or Rack. " Chops. " Sauteing. " " " Thick Pieces. " Roasting. " " " " " " E. Shoulder. " Thick Pieces. " Stuffing and Roasting. " " " Whole. " Braising. " " " " " " F. Neck. " Thick Pieces. " Stewing. " " " " " " G. G. Breast. " Thick Pieces. " Roasting. " " " Whole. " Stewing. " " " " " " Sweetbreads " Whole—in pairs. " Parboiling and " " (thymus glands) " " Sauteing, Broiling, " " —"Throat" and " " etc. " " "Heart" " " " " Sweetbreads. " " " ===================================================================

VEAL.—Veal is the muscle of the calf or young cow. It has the characteristic qualities of undeveloped muscle. Because it is lacking in flavor, it should be seasoned with herbs and spices, or served with a sauce of pronounced flavor. It is also improved by adding some fat, or some meat containing considerable fat such as pork. A calf is usually killed when it is six or eight weeks old. The season for veal is spring; it can usually be purchased, however, throughout the year. The muscle of the veal should be pink in color, and the fat, white. The meat of a calf less than six weeks old is lacking in color.

The connective tissue in veal is abundant, but it is easily changed to gelatine by cooking. Veal is generally considered difficult of digestion.

VEAL CUTLETS (STEAK)

Clean the meat; then remove the bone and tough membranes. Cut the meat into pieces for serving. Cover the bone and the tough pieces of meat with cold water and cook at a low temperature. (This stock is to be used in the sauce.) Small pieces of meat may be put together by using wooden toothpicks for skewers. Season the veal with salt and pepper. Roll in dried bread crumbs, dip in beaten egg, then in crumbs again. Put 2 tablespoonfuls of drippings or other fat in a frying pan. Brown the cutlets in the fat. Remove the veal; in the frying pan prepare the following:

SAUCE FOR CUTLETS

3 tablespoonfuls drippings 1/4 cupful flour 1/2 tablespoonful salt 1/8 teaspoonful pepper 2 cupfuls stock or water 2 tablespoonfuls chopped parsley 1 teaspoonful Worcestershire sauce

Make a brown sauce, using all ingredients except the Worcestershire sauce (see Brown Sauce). Add the cutlets to the sauce, and cook them at simmering temperature for 1 hour or until tender. Just before serving, add the Worcestershire sauce.

Beef may be prepared in the same way.

VEAL WITH EGG DRESSING

1 pound veal steak, sliced thin 2 eggs 3/4 cupful flour Salt and pepper

Cut the meat into pieces of suitable size for serving. Brown each piece in fat. (Use scraps of fat cut from the meat.)

Mix the egg, flour, and seasoning. Spread both sides of each piece of meat with the egg mixture. Again brown the pieces of meat in fat. Then add boiling water and let the meat cook at simmering temperature for at least 2 hours. Serve hot.

Beef may be substituted for veal.

POTATO PUFF

2 cupfuls mashed potatoes 2 tablespoonfuls milk 1 tablespoonful butter or substitute 1 teaspoonful salt Pepper 1 egg

Mix all the ingredients except the egg. Separate the egg, and beat the white and the yolk. Beat the yolk into the potato mixture; then add the white by cutting and folding-in. Turn into a buttered baking-dish or drop by spoonfuls on a buttered baking-sheet. Bake until the egg is cooked and the top brown. Serve at once.

The egg may also be added unbeaten to the potatoes, and the entire mixture beaten vigorously.

QUESTIONS

Why is cold water, rather than hot, used for making meat stock?

How does veal stock compare in color with beef stock? What is the stock called that is made from veal?

Why is this meat cooked at simmering rather than at boiling temperature?

Why is it desirable to use parsley and Worcestershire sauce with veal? Is it desirable to use Worcestershire sauce with beef or mutton? Explain your answer. Why is Worcestershire sauce not cooked with the brown sauce?

Locate veal cutlets or veal steak (see Figure 65). To what cut of beef does it correspond?

What cut of veal corresponds to the tenderloin cuts of beef?

How does the cutting and the using of the rib section of veal differ from that of beef?

What are the prices per pound of each cut of veal? Arrange in tabulated form and record the date.

From U.S. Department of Agriculture, Bulletin No. 28, tabulate the percentage composition of veal cutlets or veal steak. Compare with the percentage composition of beef steak (see Figure 68).

Potato Puff may be prepared from either hot or cold mashed potatoes. Should the temperature of the oven be the same for each? Explain your answer.

What is the purpose of the egg in the potato mixture?

Which would give the better result when added to the potato mixture, beaten egg or unbeaten egg? Give the reason for your answer.

How many persons will the Potato Puff recipe serve?

From U.S. Department of Agriculture, Bulletin No. 28, tabulate the percentage composition of fresh potatoes (see Figure 62) and boiled potatoes. How much nutriment is lost by boiling one pound of potatoes? By what method can potatoes be cooked in order to retain the most nutriment?

Give reasons for combining veal and potatoes.