[2]. TIE THEM IN INDIVIDUAL BUNDLES, PUT INTO WATER TO BE COOKED, WHEN
DONE, SEASON WITH REDUCED MUST OR RAISIN WINE AND CUMIN, SPRINKLE
WITH PEPPER, ADD A LITTLE OIL, AND WHEN HOT, CRUSH POLYPODY AND NUTS
WITH BROTH, ADD THIS TO THE RED-HOT PAN, INCORPORATING IT WITH THE
BEETS, TAKE OFF THE FIRE QUICKLY AND SERVE.

[1] This formula wanting in Tor.

[2] V. Ingenious method to skin tender root vegetables,
still in vogue today. We remove the skin of tender young
root vegetables, carrots, beets, etc., by placing them
in a towel, sprinkling them with rock salt and shaking
them energetically. The modern power vegetable peeler is
really built on the same principle, only instead of salt
(which soon melts) carborundum or rough concrete
surfaces are used, against which surfaces the vegetables
are hurled by the rotary motion; often enough, too much
of the skin is removed, however.

[70] BEETS A LA VARRO
_BETACEOS VARRONIS_ [1]

VARRO BEETS, THAT IS, BLACK ONES [2] OF WHICH THE ROOTS MUST BE
CLEANED WELL, COOK THEM WITH MEAD AND A LITTLE SALT AND OIL; BOIL THEM
DOWN IN THIS LIQUOR SO THAT THE ROOTS ARE SATURATED THEREBY; THE
LIQUID ITSELF IS GOOD DRINKING. IT IS ALSO NICE TO COOK A CHICKEN IN
WITH THEM.

[1] G.-V. _Betacios_; Tor. _B. Varrones_. Probably named
for Varro, the writer on agriculture.

[2] Roots on the order of parsnips, salsify,
oysterplant.

[71] ANOTHER LAXATIVE
_ALITER AD VENTREM_

ANOTHER VEGETABLE DISH, PROMOTING GOOD HEALTH; WASH CELERY, GREENS AND
ROOTS, AND DRY IT IN THE SUN: THEN ALSO COOK THE TENDER PART AND HEAD
OF LEEKS IN A NEW [1] POT, ALLOWING THE WATER TO BOIL DOWN ONE THIRD
OF ITS VOLUME. THEREUPON GRIND PEPPER WITH BROTH AND HONEY IN EQUAL
AMOUNTS PROPERLY MEASURED, MIX IT IN THE MORTAR WITH THE WATER OF THE
COOKED CELERY, STRAIN, BOIL AGAIN AND USE IT TO MASK THE [cooked]
CELERY WITH. IF DESIRED, ADD [the sliced root of the] CELERY TO IT
[2].

[1] V. "new," i.e., cook leeks in a separate sauce pan;
NOT together with the celery, which, as the original
takes for granted, must be cooked also.

[2] V. We would leave the honey out, make a cream sauce
from the stock, or, adding bouillon, tie same with a
little flour and butter, and would call the dish Stewed
Celery and Leeks. The ancient method is entirely
rational because the mineral salts of the vegetables are
preserved and utili