RADISHES.—­Wash thoroughly young and tender radishes, and arrange in a glass dish with the taper ends meeting.  Scatter bits of cracked ice among them.  An inch of the stem, if left on, serve as a convenience in handling.

CYMLING, SUMMER SQUASH, OR VEGETABLE MARROW.

DESCRIPTION.—­The vegetable marrow (sometimes called cymling) is thought to be a variety of the common gourd, from which also the pumpkin and winter squash appear to have been derived.  It is easily digested, but on account of the abundance of water in its composition, its nutritive value is very low.

PREPARATION AND COOKING.—­When very young, most varieties need no preparation for cooking, aside from washing thoroughly.  After cooking, the skin can be easily rubbed off and the seeds removed.  If more mature, pare thinly, and if large, divide into halves or quarters and scoop out the seeds.  Summer squashes are better steamed than boiled.  If boiled, they should be cooked in so little water that it will be quite evaporated when they are tender.  From twenty to sixty minutes will be required for cooking.

RECIPES.

MASHED SQUASH.—­Wash, peel, remove seeds, and steam until tender.  Place the squash in a clean cloth, mash thoroughly, squeeze until the squash is quite dry, or rub through a fine colander and afterward simmer until neatly dry; season with cream, and a little salt if desired, and heat again before serving.  A teaspoonful of sugar may be added with the cream, if desired.

SQUASH WITH EGG SAUCE.—­Prepare, steam till tender, cut into pieces, and serve with an egg sauce made the same as directed for asparagus, page 256.

STEWED SQUASH.—­Prepare, cut into pieces, and stew until tender in a small quantity of boiling water; drain, pressing out all the water; serve on toast with cream or white sauce.  Or, divide in quarters, remove the seeds, cook in a double boiler, in its own juices, which when done may be thickened with a little flour.  Season with salt if desired, and serve hot.

WINTER SQUASHES.

The winter squash and pumpkin are allied in nature to the summer squash.

PREPARATION AND COOKING.—­Select squashes of a firm texture, wash, break in pieces with a hatchet if hard-shell, or if the shell is soft, divide with a knife; remove all seeds, and boil, stew, steam, or bake, as preferred.

To boil or steam, from thirty minutes to one hour’s time will be needed; to bake, one to two hours.

RECIPES.

BAKED SQUASH..—­The hard-shell varieties are best for baking.  Wash, divide, and lay, shells downward, on the top grate of the oven, or place in a shallow baking dish with a little boiling water.  Boil until tender, serve in the shell, or scrape out the soft part, mash and serve with two largo tablespoonful of cream to a pint of squash.  If preferred, the skins may be removed before baking, and the squash served the same as sweet potato, for which it makes a good substitute.