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Liver Patties
Scald 1/2 pound calf's liver, let stand few minutes, then drain, wipe dry and dust with flour which has been seasoned with salt and pepper. Brown in hot bacon fat. Chop the liver fine, mix it with 1 cup seasoned mashed potatoes, 1 tablespoon chopped parsley, 1 teaspoon chopped sweet pickles and 1 tablespoon melted shortening. Place in 4 buttered ramekins or custard cups, cover with buttered bread or cracker crumbs, and bake in hot 450 degrees oven 10 minutes.
A small baked liver-and-potato dish built for a convalescent's tray, and the method is oddly modern: the liver is cooked twice, once in the pan and again in the ramekin.
- Scalding the liverPouring boiling water over the slices firms the surface and draws off some of the blood and the strong metallic edge liver can carry. Drain and dry it thoroughly or the seasoned flour will turn to paste instead of coating.
- Do not overcook the browning stageThe liver only needs a quick browning in the hot fat, since it goes into a 450F oven afterward. Liver taken past medium turns grainy and dry, and no amount of potato will disguise it.
- Bacon fat and shorteningBoth were pantry staples in this period. Bacon fat is worth keeping for the flavour; the tablespoon of melted shortening that binds the mixture can be butter, and butter suits the dish better.
- "Hot oven"The original conveniently gives the number: 450F. Ten minutes is enough to set the patties and colour the crumb topping. Watch the crumbs rather than the clock at that heat.
- RamekinsFour small ramekins or ovenproof custard cups, as the recipe directs. Butter them well and set them on a baking sheet so they are easy to move in and out of a hot oven.
- Seasoning for an invalidSeasoning -- The teaspoon of chopped sweet pickle and the parsley are doing all the seasoning work in an otherwise mild mixture. Be freer with salt, pepper and a little onion softened in the bacon fat if you want more of it.
- YieldFour small ramekins, meant as a single light portion each. As a main course for healthy appetites, count it as two servings with something green alongside.