The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1877-02-07
FoOD FOR THE SICK.
Some Useful Hints About Appetizing
Dishes for InvaIids.
springfield Republican,


springfield Republican,
When forced to lie upon beds of pain, a
tempting dish is often more agreeable to us
than anything else but the cheering visit of
the doctor, or the sweet sympathy OF friends
and their kindly offerings of flowers. And,
indeed, it is often more desirable than even
these pleasing attentions, for life frequently
depends entirely upon the nutrition OF the
body. Yet one will turn with lOathing
from cup of badly prepared beef tea, and
the leathery toast and the thick, dis
gushing bowl of porridge, which so
often compose the bill of fare for the sick
room, and are not attractive to the palate. A
school for teaching nurses how to cook
would seem to be oEite as desirable as the
lectures given to them at Bellevue hospital,
for hardly one in ten can even give patient
cup of tea redolent with the true aroma.
Not cup of teal' you exclaim. no" We
repeat it, mot even a cup of tea" Just try
this method of making tea, and taste 1t with
dainty sips, and see for yourself how differ
ent is its flavor from that drawn in the COM
mon way:
HOW TO MAKE 4 DELICIOUS CUP or TEA.
Scald out the teapot turning out
all the water and put in as many
heaping teaspoonfuls as you desire
10 make .cupfuls Place the
tea pot upon the stove, and count fifty
seconds. Then pour in a teacupful of boil
ing water to every two teaspoonfuls of tea,
and if it is 0olOng or Hyson tea do not let
it boil at all, but place it upon the back part
of the stove or upon the elevated boiler for
five minutes to become infused in the water,
and then weaken it to the taste. II the
patient likes milk or cream Iii it, large
proportion of that will make the draught
more nutritious than if weakened with
water But if tfetea is English breakfast
or black tea (either of which is far more
wholesome than the other kinds) 1T should
be STEPPED from eight to 10 minutes, accord
ing to its strength, and then prepared by
turning unto the cup the cream and then the
tea. By slightly roasting the leaves of the
tea in the pot before the water is added 10
them very pleasant flavor is produced
How TO PREPARE EGG TOAST.
And. while the tea is being drawn thinly
cut slice of toast can be well browned-but
not bUrned-and an egg or two can be drop
ped irtO boiling water in which one tea
Spoonful of vinegar has been poured, and
little salt added to it. Pour one tablespoon
full of boiling water over bit of butter as
large as walnut turn it over the toast, and
if it is very dry dip the whole of it into the
melted butter and water, soaking the crusts
completely. Skim out the eggs as soon as
the whites are firmly set. and put them upon
the feast. Edge the plate with few sprigs
of fresh, green parsley, or some sweet gera-
mum leaves, and serve upon salver COW
cred with a white napkin, and an invalid
will usually eat of it with great relish.
BEEF TEA
This, also, is an article rarely met with in
perfection, for the curdled mess that is most
frequently prepared as such is not palatable
to many invalids, as both the eye and tongue
reject it. We must cater to the pereeptive
faculties ofthose who are i'll in every pos
sible way Thus ii is essential that every
article of food should be prepared in the
daintiest manner, and be served upon the
Il. I'll
affords. To prepare the tea take pound of
beef from the incest cut of the rump and cut
il up into little pieces like dice, pour over
them pint of cold water and sprinkle lit
tie salt upon the meat; let it soak one
hour. Then take a spoon and press out
the Juices as much as possible. Put
the meat and liquid into a granite
ware saucepan, and heat it very slowly,
not letting it boil up violently at all.
and scarcely simmerng for the whole two
and half hours that it needs to cook in or
der to extract the juices thoroughly. Strain
it through a cotton cloth, pressing the meat
so as TO squeeze out all Its goodness III 1T Is
desired to be of extra strength, to each half
cupful of this tea add a quarter of tea
spoonful of ''Liebig's Extract of Beef"
This does not detract from its flavor The
least atom of red pepper also makes it more
palatable to many. When beef tea in
liquid form is disagreeable to patient, take
the skin of beet and boil it slowly in two
or three quarts of water until hardly pint
remains. Add to it, after it is slightly sea-
soned with SALT wine glass of sherry or
Madeira, and it will be a jelly when cold,
and can be eaten with greater ease For
children this is also the best way to give
nourishment, and instead of salt little
sugar can be added, as children possess a
fOndness for sweet food.
CHICKEN TEA
There is not nearly so much nourishment
in chicken tea as in that prepared from beef,
yet ii is more relished by patients with a
delicate appetite. Thewhole fowl need not
be boiled, as it is the jelly that is required,
rather than the meat, and the white parts
are most deficient in that matter. SO cut
the breast, and save it for grill or brOiled
dish on toast Take the skin off, and tear
away all fatty portions, then boil the re-
mainder very slowly for three hours-net
letting 1T '.gallop' at all-and season with
salt and little pepper For this purpose
an old fowl IS better than a tender chicken,
as it possesses more gelatinous matter.
Chicken Jelly can be prepared in the same
way by adding half as mEch sherry as chick
en- tea If itdOes not jelly In "a hours boil
1t down again.
TRIBE ON TOAST.
Triple Is now considered as good food for
invalids can be prepared, and if it is well
cooked it is decidedly appetising, but it must
be served smoking hot on a NeFy thin slice OF
toasted bread. Select tender piece of the
honey consb, and rub a bit of butter over the
heated bars Of the gridiron, then brown the
tripe on both sides, dipping it into little
butter and water TO haste it well as it cooks.
Have hot plate close at hand AND as soon as
1t is cooked well eat it up into the finest
strips Season with pepper and salt, and
serve on the toast Keep it covered tightly
with a hot plate while carrying ii to the sick
room.
VI scETERAs.
Aad this is a preeaation which should al
WAYS be observed in T.renarinO meals for the