Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-01-01
Teaching Children TO Cook.

Teaching Children to Cook.
II is generally supposed that small
children, from their volatile tempera-
ments and forgetfulness, can not be
taught or trusted with cookery. Miss
Corson has proved quite the contrary.
Last year she had class of children
from the New York Home for Soldiers
, families; this year ten of them do the
entire cooking for the inmates, at least
$50, in that institution. In all the
classes of the New York cooking school
no pupils are more industrious, helpful.
and intelligent than the little children
from the mission schools and charitable
institutions.
In point of fact, the children's classes
are the most charming and useful and
important, for the wholesome effect they
will have on the strata of society they
represent. The artisan course of instruc-
tion for these little folks and elder girls
comprises the preparation and cooking
OF simple dishes. setting tile table, bring
ing in the dinner, waiting Mt table, re-
moving and washing soiled dishes, and
regulating the kitchen and dining room
let us go and take peep Mt the chill
dren. A little flock, under the guidance
OF kindly matron, is passing down to
the basement: we enter with them.
How merrily they babble as they divest
themselves OF hats and shawls! What n
ripple and trill of childish laughter as
they strive for the first rows OF seats! !
Listen; n sudden hush, settling down
in seats, and n smoothing of aprons, as
Miss Corson appears, and, 0offing bon
net and cloak, takes her position behind
the table, with CHEEKY Good after
noon, children"
The lesson of the day, says the black
board, is Fried Fillets of Founder, :"
"Maitre d'Hotel Butter" Grilled Fish
Bones" and Caramel Custards."
Two or three girls are usually chosen
different ones Mt each lesson-to assist
in making the dishes; so when the ma
terial was laid on the table. and the les
son announced, Miss Corson said, "W hat
little girl is anxious to help me cut the
| fillets?-some one with strong hands"
A dozen hands were held up at once.
Selecting one of the eldest girls, who
came around and stood by her side, Miss
| Corson, taking up "A sharp, thin bladed
| knife, deity cut off the whole side piece
or fillet of the fish entire, and then hand
| ing the knife to the watchful girl at her
side, gave minute directions from time
to time. which were followed so accu-
rately that the remaining three fillets
were soon lying, skin side down, on the
counter. Miss Corson. then taking the
knife, showed the class how to cut the
fillets clean from the skin.
Meanwhile e another little girl is called
for TO make the breading. With flushed
| checks and an air impo rtance, n wee
| little thing steps ufp, seizes the roller,
and vigorously rolls the bread crumb-
| - layr .f 4.
full of water, and retires. The elder girl,
who by this time has prepared the re-
naming fillets. breads them, dips them
in the egg, and in the bread again. and
lays them on dish. in readiness to be
fried n delicate brown in smoking hot
lard.
Now. children. you observe that we
have nice bone left; shall we throw it
away, or Use it? | think it would he
nice grilled. We will take some mus
tard, salt pepper, salad oil. and vinegar
make a paste of them. and spread IL
over the bone. Then let us boil il on an
oiled gridiron, and afterward serve it
with sprigs Of parsley or slices of lemon.
Now. besides the fillets from the fish.
we have this. making two delicious
dishes where people commonly make
but one"
The children looked very wise. little
hungry for the coming feast, and ex-
ceedingly interested. An unusual aut-
ter took place, however, when two little
girls were called for TO make Lemon
custards," and one TO make "Maitre
d'Hotel Butter" All the hands went up
at once Mt the mere mention of custards.
The fortunate girls who were chosen
marched around behind the counter, and
the resigned remainder subsidized into
placid attention.
One of the little maids beat the eggs
Justify. while the other. sweetening and
flavoring quart of milk according to
direction, set il on the fire to boil, stir
ring 1t carefully; then n sieve was held
over the beaten eggs, the milk with its
lemon rind ard sugar strained thertin,
then poured into cups. which were
placed in baking pan with hot water
surrounding them. The little girl then
cautiously slid the pan into the oven,
her face aglow with pride in the safe per-
formance Of her task. Meanwhile the
third little damsel had chopped her
parsley, mixed IL with an ounce OF but
ter, n teaspoonful OF lemon juice, and a
little salt and pepper. after which she
retired to ber seat, and another small
child came forward TO drop the fillets
in the smC king lard. All the class
waited for the lemon custards, casting
troubled glances at the clock. As they
were slowly drawn forth from the oven
and placed upon the table, the lesson
concluded. the children crowded around
TO taste and receive their shares of Il
finished results of the lesson. Little tin
pals popped up mysteriously to receive
the well-earned dainties. Hats and
shawls were hastily donned. the little
ones hurried out of doors. and pausing
on the pavement, cooed and huttered
with satisfaction over the contents ol
their little pals like so many doves In
/. a dovecote pecking corn.-F. II. Ftydn
in Harper's Magasine.
Killing q Thousand Rats.
The yalle;o (Cal Chronicle saws: A