This section is from the book "The Epicurean", by Charles Ranhofer. Also available from Amazon: The Epicurean, a Complete Treatise of Analytical and Practical Studies on the Culinary Art.
Cut into large squares, each one inch in size, the yellow stalks of a head of celery; blanch them in water, drain and place in a saucepan with a quart of white broth (No. 194a), au ounce of butler and a coffeespoonful of powdered sugar; cook so that the liquid reduces, and when the celery is done add to it a pint of bechamel sauce (No. 409), some grated nutmeg and salt. Just when serving incorporate two ounces of fresh butter; pour into a vegetable dish and garnish around with bread croutons shaped like small hearts (Fig. 40) and fried in butter.
Suppress the outer hard stalks from eight or ten tender, but not too large celery heads; cut the remainder into four or.five-inch lengths and pare the roots to a point. Wash them carefully and blanch for twenty minutes; refresh and range them in a saucepan to cover with unskimmed broth (No. 194a); lay a buttered paper or a thin slice of fat pork on the top and cook very slowly. Drain, wipe well, pare and dress them on a dish; mask over entirely with a half-glaze sauce (No. 413) reduced with Madeira wine, or else an espagnole sauce (No. 414) with marrow, or a veloute sauce (No. 415) reduced with mushroom essence (No. 392) and buttered when ready to serve.
 
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