The search for 'Clues to Good Cooking' continues!

The Recipes (Note: in the cookbook, the recipes are not in the same order as the contents page!):

• Hong Kong Fortune Cookies
• Near East Fruit Kabobs
• English Popovers
• French Quiche
• Versailles Au Chocolat
• German Kalbsrouladen
• Greek Baklava
• India Bhapa Doi
• Mexican Stew
• Old Mexico's Guacamole Salad
• Polynesian Punch
• English Style Chips with Herbs
• Chinese Shrimp Cakes
• West Indies Salad

Featured Recipe: Mexican Stew

Ingredients:

1 pound ground round beef or chuck
1 15-ounce can kidney beans
1 can tomato soup
1 soup can water
1 teaspoon chili powder
Cooking Oil

Directions:

Cover the bottom of a skillet with cooking oil. Crumble the meat into it. Cook over medium heat until brown. Add beans, soup, water, and chili powder. Stir well. Heat the mixture until it boils, then lower the temperature. Cover the skillet and cook slowly for 30 minutes.

Serves 4.

Give a taste of intrigue to this recipe by adding 1/2 cup chopped onion and 1/2 cup diced green pepper at the same time you add the beans, soup, water, and chili powder.

Jenn's Sleuthworthy Recipe Investigation:

If you have the first printing of the cookbook, be sure to note the missing ingredient of tomatoes in Italian Salsa Di Pomidoro. I'd also add basil to this recipe and no freshly ground pepper! I find black pepper is best added to cream sauces rather than tomato sauces!

I would substitute tomato sauce for the tomato soup and I would definitely add the onions mentioned in the tip. I never brown ground beef or chuck in oil! I find that this meat has plenty of fat which must be drained after browning the meat! I would also add more chili powder--up to a tablespoon or more to suit your taste and a little bit of garlic salt(If you prefer regular salt then I would use that and some garlic powder.)

Overall Comments:

With the exceptions noted above, this chapter of international recipes appears to be ok! I'd recommend Hong Kong Fortune Cookies for the fun of trying out the sample fortunes mentioned in the recipe!

The search continues for 'Clues to Good Cooking' in Chapter 7...

If you have tried one of the cookbook recipes and would like to submit comments or tips please e-mail here, and your comments or suggestions will be placed in the chapters with the recipes you are commenting on.