The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-07-20
Uncle Sans Cook Book.

Uncle sam mas special COOK DOCK OF
his own, which he has designed for the
use of army cooks in garrison and
camp. 1t was published in 1896 and is
q volume of three hundred pages.
Strangely enough the dishes prepared
in Spanish style are favored by Uncle
Sam, who gives several recipes rarely
included in ordinary cook books. There
are such dishes as Spanish stew, Span
ish steak, Estifado salza, frijoles, stuffed
chiles, tamales, tortillas, chile con
carne, Jambalaya and Spanish fried
rice. "Chile con carne," favorite dish
with epicures, is prepared, according |
to Uncle Sans method out Of these in
gredients Round steak, q tablespoon
full of hot drippings, two spoonfuls OF
rice, one cup of boiling water, two
large red peppers dry, one half pint
of boiling water; salt, onions and flour.
"Cut the steak" says Uncle Sam, Gin
small pieces. Put in frying pan
with hot drippings, hot water and rice;
cover closely and cook slowly till ten
der. Remove seeds and part of veins
from peppers. Cover with one-half
pint of boiling water and let them
stand till cool. Then squeeze them
with the hand until the water Is thick
and red. II not thick enough add
| little -four. Season with salt and lit
tie onion if desired. Pour sauce on
meat and serve very hot"
The methods of cooking in camp are,
of course, much simpler than in the
garrison, the recipes being all adapted
for speedy preparation in the field.
Each regiment has its cooks, assistants
and kitchen police whose duties are
"the preparation of vegetables and
food; the setting of the tables and plac-
ing the food thereon, and the removing
and cleansing of the dishes after each
meal and all work incident thereto, and
such work as the steward may pre-
SCRIBE"
In the cavalry it is usual to allow the
cooks to ride with the wagons or pack
trains. When both wagons and packs
are provided the cooks ride with the
latter, and have on the pack mules suf-
ficient rations and utensils with which
to prepare meal upon arrival in camp.
When no transportation is provided,
which may occur in marches, in the
presence of the enemy, troops are re-
quired to carry their rations. A soldier
can carry three days subsistence-the
infantry man in the haversack or pack
and the cavalryman in his saddlebags.
Under such conditions only bacon,
hard bread, coffee, sugar, salt and pep
per can be carried, with various forms
of compressed foods. The regulation
meat can, tin cup, knife, fork and spoon
are all the cooking utensils for this in
dividual cuisine.
The receipts for camp cookery are of
| patr that tho
full housewife would be somewhat taken
back if she were obliged to prepare
food as directed. For instance, when
the soldiers arrive in camp, Uncle Sam
says, "the dough for bread may be
mixed on a rubber blanket" and he
also states that, elf breakfast is delayed,
pans and kettles can be thrown into
the wagon dirty and carried to the next
camp, where warm water will be avail
able to cleanse them"
Coffee is one of the most welcome
beverages to the soldier, and Uncle
Sam gives directions for parching or
roasting it, saying somewhat brusquely !:
"Coffee requires great care and atten-
ton in roasting-don't leave it to do
something else" To prepare it accord
ing to the camp method cold water is
put into coffee boiler, allowing a good
quart to every man. Add to it the cof-
fee ground fine (two quarts of ground
coffee to fifty men) and when the
whole boils remove it from the fire ten
minutes to settle.
Here is a receipt for "feld Bread"
, baked in a frying pan by Uncle Sans
method: "Take five quarts of -four
and one and two-thirds tablespoonful
of yeast powder; mix thoroughly while
, dry, adding a little salt to suit the
: taste. Then mix in well one table,
, spoonful of drippings or lard; then add
! water in small quantities at time un.
til a biscuit dough is made; knead
, slightly. Grease the frying pan and
set it over the hot embers until the
grease begins to melt; put the dough,
! rolled to the thickness of half an inch,
in the pan and set it on the fire. Shake
the pan every few moments to prevent
! the dough from sdhering; after the
, crust has formed on the bottom take
the bread out of the pan and set it up
right on edge, close to the fire, turning
. it occasionally to be sure that it is
, baked through"
A somewhat weird dish that Uncle
, Sam has named GA Camp Morsel" is
prepared in delightfully."- simple styls as
follows: "Take can of mackerel and
can of salmon or lobster; chop with
raw onions and pickles and pour vine-
gar over"
} As to the soup, Uncle Sam says:
Chang the camp kettle on the crane
and use cover to keep out the ashes,
sand or dust. If any fresh lean meat
ia available. put in q small piece after
cutting off every particle Of fat. After
breakfast build fire under the camp
kettle and let the meat boil in an album
dance of water for two hours or longer
or until the meat is almost ready to
drop to pieces; then add potatoes and
onions all cut up and simmer until the
vegetables are done. While boiling
frequently skim from the top every
particle of fat that arises. When done
season with pepper and salt to taste,
and eat hot"
On board the United States battle
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