Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1899-11-16
NURSERY COOKERY.
FOR THE BABIES.
BY Christine Terhune Herrick.

continued Ifuif td6t NCNhst
AS | said. there is not much opportu-
pity for the mother TO exercise herself IN
the department of nuEsery cookery dur
ing the first six or eight months Of her
baby's life. This is her chance to aeeu-
mufate knowledge for the future. When
the baby reaches the age when ne can
have the addition of cereals to his Iood'
there viii be room enough and 10 spare
for the mother to give attention 70 the
Dreparation of these. Few and far be-
tween are the maids who can be trusted
10 cook long enough or eafefully
enough the cereals that are to be given
into the charge of an infants digestive
organs.
Among several other simple things that
the most ignorant cook is supposed 10
know how to prepare-and never does
is oatmeal porrfdge The oatmeal should
be carefully selected in the first place.
ana those brands avoided that declare
boldly on the wrapper that they need no
more than from three to i've minutes
cooking to fit them for the table. Be.lef
and practice Of this heresy are respon-
sible for most Of the ill-cooked cereals
found on hotel and boarding tables and
even IN private families
OATMEAL P0RRIDGE.
Put four heaping tablespoonfuls of
fine ground oatmeal into double boiler
with three cups Of warm water and a
half teaspoonful OF salt Let 1t stand at
the back Of the stove overnight. In the
morning, fill the outer vessel with boil
ing water, move TO the front Of the stove
and cook for from half an hour to an
hour Less cooking than the half hour
il should never have. Beat IT hard just
before taking from the pot and il 1t is
too stiff to pour very readily, thin II
Withholding water to the desired consist
ency
poRRIDGE or CRACKED WHEAT
OR GRITS
This porrIdge requires longer and more
thorough cookery than even oatmeal
Like the latter. II should be cooked in a
double boiler Allow two cups OF warm
water TO three tablespoonfuls Of the
cracked wheat. and let II boil steadily at
the side OF the stove for four hours. II
should be cooked the day before it is TO
serve as a breakfast porridge. and
warmed and sailed to taste the next
morning.
Mothers make a mistake when they
confine themselves too long to one va
riety Of breakfast cereal instead Of al
ternating them Both appetite and di-
gestion are benefited by the occasional
change.
While the cereals may be cooked in the
same way for older children as for In
fants the latter should not eat them In
the same fashion as the former. The old
er children need more starches and can
digest d larger quantity Of these than
their baby brothers and sisters. Conse-
quently their porridge may be eaten in
equal proportions with the milk and
cream. OF there may even b. less Of the
| latter than Of the former With the little
ones but recently graduated from an
! entirely milk diet, the cereal should be
! given in smaller proportions. To begin
/ with. II is often prudent TO strain the
/ porridge. which should have been made
/ very soft in cooking, and to give the child
/ what passes through the sieve. freed
from the husks which might irritate the
child's intestines. When he has become
| accustomed TO the new article of food
the unstrained porridge may be added
TO the milk. ia the proportion Of table
| spoonful Of the cereal 10 a halfpint Of
the milk. and the quantity Il the cerea
may then be increased by slow degrees
a Lar ge variety Of different kinds OIL
foods Is not desirable for young baby
His palate has not YET become accus
toned to many articles of diet and doei
not feel a craving for a succession o
surprises craving that grows viii
years and cultivation and reaches il
fullest development in the mature cpl
cure. Sun. it is beneficial to the child
health to have an occasional change n
his bin of fare. and TO substitute once II
a while farina or rice porridge Tor III
grits or oatmeal. watching carefully 4
see whether the innovation causes tn
child discomfort or produces any othe
unusual effect Ia all new dcpar turei
In diet the mother should be on the alert
and note for her own use and the benef
of the baby the results Of even a Sigh
change of food.
Ito be continued next week.