One thing about Mrs Beeton's recipes is that the ones most appealing to a modern palate use only a few, readily available ingredients. If you have ready access to a lobster, that is, in the case of her simple canapé recipe. Or, you could use a crab, particularly if you are able to catch one in your crab pot. Otherwise, I'd recommend using a can of crabmeat. No-one will know the difference.
Mrs Beeton evidently expected her devotees to buy a ready cooked lobster tail, as her recipe does not mention cooking it. The canapés can be made ahead of time and are really a no fuss, no frills recipe, except for the mandatory garnish. I've reproduced the exact text of Mrs Beeton's instructions, but for today's busy cook, I'd recommend using a sliced baguette for the croutons, in the interests of economy and even less fuss.
Lobster Canapes. - INGREDIENTS for dish for 4 persons - 12 small croutons fried in butter, a little lobster butter, the tail of a small lobster, oil, capers, pepper and vinegar. AVERAGE COST, 10d.
Fry the croutons and when cold spread them with the butter. Cut small slices of the lobster and soak in oil and vinegar for a few minutes. Lay a slice on each crouton and give a seasoning of pepper and cayenne, put 2 or 3 capers on the top and serve on a flat dish, on a stamped paper, garnished with parsley and watercress.
SEASONABLE AT ANY TIME
Mrs Beeton's recipe for lobster butter appears earlier in her recipe book, under the heading "Butter," along with Anchovy Butter, Fairy Butter, Malted Butter and Montpelier Butter:
Lobster Butter. - INGREDIENTS - Lobster coral, fresh butter, salt and cayenne.
Rub down in a mortar the coral and add to it the butter, blending well together till a deep red colour is obtained; add cayenne and salt to taste, put it into pots and tie over closely.
SEASONABLE AT ANY TIME
Whether one would want to use 'lobster coral' in this way, rather than simply scoffing what is for most people a luxury ingredient, is of course up to the individual. It would however make a very tasty butter, which could then be put to use in other recipes. Particularly Mrs Beeton's, as they feature butter as an ingredient more often than not.
The canapés made by me with a crab went down a treat; I'll certainly be using Mrs Beeton's recipe again and thank her for making it so simple out of ingredients that were mainly in my kitchen pantry. I just need a supply of watercress...
