The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1901-08-01
TOO MANY COOKS.
An EsGissh womss's Experience In
snsstisg Up = Dssssnctiveiy
American Dtsh.


A bright Englishwoman travelling
recently in America showed herself
40 appreciative OF all good things
American that she was met every
where with the utmost eagerness to
afford such information and cxplana-
ton as she desired. At home she was
the owner OF a beautiful estate where
she entertained largely, and IL oc-
currd TO her that she might offer an
agreeable variety to her English
guests and a welcome "Reminiscences
Of home to American friends II she
could carry back to her cook some
recipes for dishes distinctively Amer
lean. She broached the idea while
lunchiDg with three of her new Yam
kee acquaintances. They were most
responsive. says Youths Companion.
"Beans!" cried the lady from Bos-
ton. instantly. "My dear, beans!"
But we have beans in England" re-
marked the Englishwoman. "And I
really shouldn't imagine they afford
ed much opportunity for"
"Fine cookery? But they do, l as.
sure you. Boston baked beans are
quite different from any other beans.
Our beans"
"Chowder!" interrupted explosive
ly the lady from Rhode Island. smit-
ten with sudden happy thought.
"Bcans are nothing to Il. Clam
chowder! There's no dish so purely
and deliciously American as a good
clam chowder-none. IL originated ID"
maybe II did and maybe IL didn't !"
broke in the Maine lady, unexpected
ly. "It's disputed question:: but
succotash is sure. Succotash Is In
dian beyond n doubt--real. native.
aboriginal Indian. It's the one In.
dian dish. The Indians"
"No more than hominy and chow
der. Chowder Is Indian, too. First
you want your clams-good. fresh
ones"
81 don't admit that Indian dishes
ore as typically American as some
others. We're not Indians. and our
ancestors weren't. Now with baked
beans it's different. The distinction
is"
And just there the cooks began 10
stir the broth and mix II: perfectly
fresh on,s, you know, and milk and
corn and onions and potatoes and
pilot-crackers. Some people don't
put in corn, but l think"-"taught
the settlers. It's corn and beans to-
gether, and really most appetizing
when"-"baked for hours and hours
as slowly as possible; and they come
out the loveliest brown, and so ten
der and rich"-"firc OF driftwood and
smother il under with seaweed and
roast the ears In the ashes to eat
with it"-"every Sunday morning all
over New England since nobody
kn ows when'--"the most characters.
tic kind Of n Yankee good time. Till
you've been to n Rholc Island clam.
bake you actually can't imagine
"why, when it's so simple. most peo.
pie don't mix their beans and corn
In the right proportion. don't know:
but they don't, although everything
depcnds"-''sure you'd be delighted
-"say IL was simply delicious
"never tasted such tempting mouth.
full in your life"-"just sniff Is
enough to make You hungry as a
there's nothing else In the
world one wants to eat so much of
it's almost shocking!"
The English lady recorded in her
notebooks:
"succotash.-A popular American
dish invented by the Indians; n kind
of fsh-stew, prepared with maze.
beans. seaweed and the variety OF
mussci called clam. II Is simmered
overnight In the oven in deep earth.
en- pot, and is customarily served on
Sundays throughout the states"