“Paper bags when cooked properly contain new flavours you never
would imagine was there. It is considerable nourishing, as none
of its juice escapes. You can learn to cook one by reading
Instructions and becoming utterly fearless.”
My heart make happy laugh. I shall cook some of these paper bags for
that dear Swingle family so they will forgive me for my previous
food. So I read this book and learn how do-so. I am incomplete in the
American language, but this is how I understand him to say:
_“How to Cook Paper Bags_
“Select one paper bag which is fresh and tender. Medium-size
kind are most delicate, as large-size kind are apt to be
tough, especially in the fall. Butter this bag inside and salt
tastefully. Use meat or whatever pork chops are in icebox to stuff
bag with. Add one vegetable until satisfied. The bag is now ready
to roast.
“Next take one oven. Heat it to hotness of about 300 thermometers.
Poke Hon. Bag inside this and see what happens. Occasionally make
peek into oven to observe how bag behaves. If Hon. Bag catch
afire, put out. Do not be discouridged. When he is sufficiently
cooked, remove out and chop with shears. Serve hot. You will be
surprised to taste it.”
I follow this literary directions with faithfulness peculiar to
Samurai. First I got one small, young paper bag which formerly
contained string beans. I supposed from what I read in that Book that
paper bags should be stuffed like turkeys to make nicest roast. So I
fill him with following food which I obtain from icebox:
1 lbs complete beafstake knifed into small pieces
½ bottel tomatoes catch up
Representative beets, onions, carots and potatus
Plentiful water moistened to taste
That Swingle kitchen contain one gas-stove of 40 horse-power capacity
and includes one oven which is easily het up to angry rage. I light
this oven. Great heat arrive. Then I place Hon. Paper Bag carefully in
one drip-pan, pour over it some slight water, so it wouldn’t burn, and
poke inside oven. Then I set down thoughtful and await the future.
Mrs. S. W. Swingle arrive to kitchen with question-mark expression in
her blue eye.
“What we shall have for dinner, Togo?” she ask out nervely.
“Ah, Mrs. Madam! If I should tell you, you would cease to be surprised.
Yet it is something exalted I shall offer you. So different from those
monotonous foods previously experienced!” All this I spoke.
That lady retreat away expectfully.
I watch this cookery by alarm clock to see it shall not be too long.
Hon. Book say “When bag are stuffed with meat, cook 25 minute. When
stuffed with vegetables, cook 20 minute.” I figure this arithmatic
with lead-pencil. That bag was stuffed with both meat and vegetables,
therefore 20+25=45. That bag must cook 45 complete minutes to be
sifficiently delicious.
At end of 14 minutes I take slight peek to oven. O sakes! You would not
know Hon. Bag for himself, he was so swole. He contain more uplift than
one quart yeast. He was so baloonical in shape that I fear he might
float upward containing meat and vegetables. Therefore I prick him
slightly with fork.