Revised, Corrected, and Enlarged, and with entirely new Coloured Plates, expressly prepared for the work. MRS. BEETON'S HOUSEHOLD BOOK MANAGEMENT. (Part I. published May 1st, 1863.) Each part contains 96 pages, and one of the new Coloured Cookery- The Book will be completed in 12 Parts, price 6d. each, and the price of the completed Volume is 7s. 6d. LONDON: S. O. BEETON, 248, STRAND, W.O. EXTRACT FROM PREFACE. WHAT moved me, in the first instance, to attempt a work like this, was the discomfort and suffering which I had seen brought upon men and women by household mismanagement. I have always thought that there is no more fruitful source of family discontent than a housewife's badly-cooked dinners and untidy ways. Men are now so well served out of doors-at their clubs, well-ordered taverns, and dining-houses, that in order to compete with the attractions of these places, a mistress must be thoroughly acquainted with the theory and practice of cookery, as well as be perfectly conversant with all the other arts of making and keeping a comfortable home. In this book I have attempted to give, under the chapters devoted to cookery, an intelligible arrangement to every recipe, a list of the ingredients, a plain statement of the mode of preparing each dish, and a careful estimate of its cost, the number of people for whom it is sufficient, and the time when it is seasonable. For the matter of the recipes, I am indebted, in some measure, to many correspondents of the "Englishwoman's Domestic Magazine," who have obligingly placed at my disposal their formula for many original preparations. A large private circle has also rendered me considerable service. A diligent study of the works of the best modern writers on coolery was also necessary to the faithful fulfilment of my task. Friends in England, Scotland, Ireland, France, and Germany, have also very materially aided me. I have paid great attention to those recipes which come under the head of "COLD MEAT COKERY." ment belonging to the Cook I have striven, too, to make my work something more But in the departthan a Cookery Book, and have, therefore, on the best authority that I could obtain, given an account of the natural history of the animals and vegetables which we use, as food. I have followed the animal from his birth to his appearance on the table; have described the manner of feeding him, and of slaying him, the position of his various joints, and, after giving the recipes, have described the modes of carving Meat, Poultry, and Game. Skilful artists have designed the numerous drawinga which appear in this work, and which illustrate, better than any description, many important and interesting items. The coloured plates are a novelty not without Value. Besides the great portion of the book which has especial reference to the cook's department, there are chapters devoted to the other servants of the household, who have all, 1 trust, their duties clearly assigned to them. Towards the end of the work will be found valuable chapters on the "Management of Children"-"The Doctor," the latter principally referring to accidents and envergencies, some of which are certain to occur in the experience of every one of us; and the last chapter contains "Legal Memoranda," which will be serviccable in cases of doubt as to the proper course to be adopted in the relations between Landlord and Tenant, Taxgatherer and Tax payer, and Tradesman and Customer. These chapters have been contributed by gentlemen fully entitled to confidence: those on medical subjects by an experienced surgeon, and the legal matter by a solicitor. I wish here to acknowledge the kind letters and congratulations I have received during the progress of this work, and have only further to add, that I trust the result of the four years' incessant labour which I have expended will not be altogether unacceptable to Bome of my countrymen and country women. ISABELLA BLETON |