Luncheon Soup
Grate about 2 tablespoonfuls of cheese, for the strength and flavor of the cheese must be taken into consideration. Place over the fire in a small agate pan to melt, adding a little milk to keep it from burning. Place I quart of milk in a double boiler, add a little vermicelli and let it boil till the vermicelli softens; the vermicelli is used in preference to macaroni because it softens more easily, but left over macaroni and cheese can be used in making this soup, adding a little more cheese if necessary. The soup is more delicate if the macaroni has been made without tomato sauce, but even with the tomato a delicious soup is possible. Stir the grated cheese into the milk and vermicelli, then add carefully 2 well-beaten eggs, stirring them in slowly, so that the soup will not curdle. Stir till the eggs are cooked and the soup thickens slightly, then serve at once with saltines, A little paprika or cayenne can be used by way of seasoning, but most cheese requires no salt.
Split or Dried Pea Soup Pick over and thoroughly wash i pint of dried yellow or green peas. Cover with cold water and soak over night. Drain, rinse and drain again. Add 2 quarts of cold water, put on the back of the fire, heat slowly and boil gently until they break and are mushy. This will take at least three hours, probably longer. When they begin to break cook together in a frying-pan I large onion chopped fine, ½ cupful of chopped carrot, 2 tablespoonfuls of chopped turnip, 2 stalks of cut celery and 2 tablespoonfuls of dripping.
Cook slowly and when light brown add 2 tablespoonfuls of flour and stir until it is absorbed. Add this gradually to the soup, stirring until it thickens, season to taste with salt and pepper and simmer for another hour. Rub through a sieve and return to the fire. If too thick add boiling water until of the right consistency. Boil up once and it is ready. To this there may be added some strained canned tomatoes; or at another time a ham bone or any cooked meat bone that may be in the pantry. Lentil and black bean soup may be made in the same way.