Six or seven pounds from a round of beef are generally selected;
however, there is a cut from the shoulder which answers very well for an
_à-la-mode beef_. If the round is used, extract the bone. Make several
deep incisions into the meat with a thin sharp knife; press into most of
them lardoons of pork about half an inch square, and two or three inches
long; in the other cuts, and especially the one from whence the bone was
extracted, stuff almost any kind of force-meat, the simplest being as
follows: Mix some soaked bread with a little chopped beef-suet, onion,
any herbs, such as parsley, thyme, or summer savory; a little egg,
Cayenne pepper, salt, and cloves. Press the beef into shape, round or
oval, and tie it securely.
Put trimmings of pork into the bottom of a large saucepan or iron pot,
and when hot put over the meat; brown it all over by turning all sides
to the bottom of the pot, which should now be uncovered. This will take
about half an hour. Next sprinkle over a heaping table-spoonful of
flour, and brown that also. Put a small plate under the beef, to prevent
burning, and fill the pot with enough boiling water to half cover the
meat; throw over a saucerful of sliced onions, carrots, some turnips, if
you like, and some parsley. There are iron pots, with tight iron covers,
which are made expressly for this kind of cooking; but if you have none
of this description, you will now have to cover the one used with enough
covers, towels, etc., to make it tight as possible, so that the meat may
be cooked in the steam. Let it cook for four or five hours, never
allowing the water to stop boiling. Watch it, that it may not get too
low, and replenish it with boiling water. When the meat is done, put it
on a hot platter; strain the gravy, skim off every particle of fat, add
two or three table-spoonfuls of port or sherry wine, also pepper and
salt, if necessary, and pour this gravy and selected pieces of the
vegetables over the meat.
Baked onions (see page 201), placed around the beef as a garnish,
complete the dish for a course at dinner.