a hot fire,
after which drain well; then fry a shallot colorless in some butter,
together with an onion, sprinkle over them a little curry and add some
of the oyster juice, seasoning with salt and red pepper. Pound the
oysters to a good firm paste, moistening them with a little of their
juice, and strain through fine tammy cloth. Warm them over the fire, but
do not let them boil; add a small quantity of thickening of potato flour
mixed with a little water. When about to serve incorporate some cream
and fine butter, garnishing with some chopped oysters and mushrooms,
mixed with breadcrumbs and herbs. Add a little seasoning of salt, pepper
and nutmeg, some raw egg yolks, and roll this mixture into ball-shape
pieces, place them on a well-buttered baking sheet in a slack oven and
poach them, then serve.

~BLACK BEAN SOUP~--Wash one pint of black beans, cover with one quart of
cold water and let soak over night. In the morning pour off the water
and pour over three pints of cold water. Cook, covered, until tender,
four or five hours, add one tablespoonful of salt the last hour, rub
through a strainer, add the strained beans to the water in which they
were boiled, return to the soup kettle. Melt one tablespoonful of flour,
stir this into the hot soup, let boil, stirring constantly; add a little
pepper, slice thinly one lemon, put all the slices into the tureen and
pour the soup over. Serve very hot.

~CHESTNUT SOUP~--Peel and blanch the chestnuts, boil them in salted
water until quite soft, pass through a sieve, add more water if too
thick, and a spoonful of butter or several of sweet cream. Season to
taste and serve with small squares of bread fried crisp in butter or
olive oil.

~CHICKEN GUMBO, CREOLE STYLE~--For about twelve or fifteen, one young
hen chicken, half pound ham, quart fresh okra, three large tomatoes, two
onions, one kernel garlic, one small red pepper, two tablespoons flour,
three quarts boiling water, half pound butter, one bay leaf, pinch salt
and cayenne pepper. To mix, mince your ham, put in the bottom of an
iron kettle if preferred with the above ingredients except the chicken.
Clean and cut your chicken up and put in separate saucepan with about a
quart or more of water and teaspoonful of salt; set to the side of the
fire for about an hour; skim when necessary. When the chicken is
thoroughly done strip the meat from the bone and mix both together; just
before serving add a quart of shrimps.