In Mrs. Lincoln's Kitchen

From Miss Eliza Leslie's Cookbook, used by Mary Lincoln, wife of Abraham Lincoln, a
commentary on how to make some excellent food.

         Fried Cauliflower  

Miss Leslie

Having laid a fine cauliflower in cold water for an hour, put it into a pot of boiling water that has been slightly salted, (milk and water will be still better,) and boil it twenty-five minutes, or till the large stalk is perfectly tender. Then divide it, equally, into small tufts, and spread it on a dish to cool. Prepare a sufficient quantity of batter made in the proportion of a table-spoonful of flour, and two table-spoonfuls of milk to each egg. Beat the eggs very light, then stir into them the flour and milk alternately; a spoonful of flour, and two spoonfuls of milk at a time. When the cauliflower is cold, have ready some fresh butter in a frying-pan over a clear fire. When it has come to a boil and has done bubbling, dip each 

tuft of cauliflower twice into the pan of  and fry them a light brown. Send them to table hot.

Broccoli may be fried in this manner.

This cookbook is available on Project Gutenberg if you are interested and there are hundreds of wonderful recipes.  I find it to be a treasure for great meals. Her directions are plain and easy to follow if you know how to cook. Some of her commentary is fun to read. She has very definite opinions.