Camping and woodcraft - Scoutmastercg.com

ICONCENTRATED FOODS 165nfen dlilerent brands of commercial bouillon cubesv,-ere analyzed, with the result that the best showed62% salt, 5.25% water and fat, 28% meat extract,4.7570 plant extract, and from this they ranged ondown to the poorest, with 72^0 salt, 8.5% water andfat, 8.17% meat extract, 11.33% plant extract.Theplant extract " is useful because of its flavoring properties,but has slight, if any, nutritive value." As forthe semi-solid meat extracts sold in jars, the chemistreported that they "are not concentrated beef. Theyare stimulants and flavoring adjuncts, and have onlya slight food value, owing to the small amount ofprotein (muscle-building food) \vhich they contain."On the other hand, one can make for himselfa real meat extract, in which much of the nourishmentof beef or veal or venison is concentrated inthe form of littlecubes of a gluey consistency fromwhich a strengthening soup can quickly be prepared.Take a leg of young beef, veal, or venison (oldmeat will not jelly easily). Pare off every bit offat and place the lean meat In a large pot. Boilit steadily and gently for seven or eight hours, untilthe meat is reduced to rags, skimming off, from timeto time, the grease that arises. Then pour thisstrong broth into a large, wide stew-pan, place itover a moderate fire, and let it simmer gently until Itcomes to a thick jelh\ When It gets so thick thatthere may be danger of scorching It, place the vesselover boiling water, and stir It very frequently until,when cold, it will have the consistency of glue.Cut this substance Into small cubes and lay themsingly where they can become thoroughly dry. Or,if 3'ou prefer, run the jelly Into sausage skins and tieup the ends. A cube or thick slice of this glaze, dis'solved In hot water, makes an excellent soup. Asmall piece allowed to melt In one's mouth isstrengthening on the march.This is a very old recipe, being mentioned InByrd's History of the Dividing Li?ie, and recommendedalong with rockahominy. The above can bernade in camp, w^hen opportunity offers, thus laying