Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-05-05
Corn Meal in the Household.

The statement was made some time
since that corn meal was not known to
more than One-half of the people of the
United States" If that is a fact, We are
not living up to our ''hghts;' every
housekeeper ought to know the possibili-
ties in corn meal, as no other grain is
richer in food values, and it has the larG-
est per cent of albuminoids, is Il fat
producing food, and great reStorcr of
waste tissues. Indeed. the Indians, from
whom We inherit the maize, fully apprc
cidLe 1t. depending on this grain to
great extent for their sustenance; even
making of it quite a fetish, celebrating
the harvest by their yearly corn dance.
writes "A correspondent of the Country
Gentleman.
We of the Empire state, fully alive to
our great resources. making such an i'm
portant factor in our body polite. cannot
claim for our section the historical sig
nificance that corn has in the East or
South, nor can We compete with the West
when We consider the great acreage Civ
en- to its production. Yet, as for its use
in the household, we truly say We know
its value with an experimental knowl-
hasty pudding, our rye and injun'' loaf,
with he satisfaction of a New England
or; and shall We ever forget the delicious
hoe cake made by coIored Isabel. and
breakfast when we Were children, made
like in Souf befo' de wah?" Its golden
richness would fairly melt in your
mouth; We never wasted any pity on
Poor Uncle Ned who hadn't any teeth
for to eat de hoe cake" as teeth were
not especially necessary.
Brook trout would fall from grace if
not first rolled in corn meal before frying
in hot fat, and it is needed to roll the
slices Of eggplant also.
We still enjoy mothers old-fashiOned
Indian pudding. Take two cupfuls Of
cold mush. beat ii with three eggs. add
salt sweeten to taste with molasSes-onc-
| half Cupful will be sufficient. flavor with
alspice. add one pint of milk bake until
| II is brown on top. eat either hot or cold.
the latter way Is best, as there is then
| formed a Jelly. which makes it delicious.
| Corn meal blanC-mange Il think | first
| found the receipt in Marion Harland $
| Common Sense in the Household Is a
| To one pint of boiling milk stir III slowly
| five tablespoonfuls of corn meal farlna.
Then add the yolks of three eggs and
| one-half Cupful OF sugar; remove from
eggs turn into moulds or cups. first dip
| ping them in cold water. To be eaten
cold. with whipped cream and Jelly.
| Johnny cake mullins. brown bread
| and griddle cakes give such variety to
| the bill Of fare. The pone Of the South
| anu the corn dodger of the West are very
| similar in construction. The sweet white
corn meal is mixed with either hot Or
| cold water. nodded with the hands. and
| baked on hot grddle, or in the oven.
Nothing else is added and if they are
| baked 20 minutes. with just the right
| heat. and are nodded neither too soft nor
too stiff. they come out Il delicate brown:
| Split them, add butter, close again anu
serve. No receipt can be given for these
cakes: it is an art inherited or acquired.
| The nutty flavor Of the meal is thus re-
| tanned as in no other way.
/ The old-time "hoe-cake" was prepared
| in same manner, only. as hollow-wlre
vas scarce. and the great plantation hoe
| was always present. it was slipped from
| its handle. heated on the Goals before the
! big fireplace, the cake placed upon it and
baked.
Corn meal farina makes very palat-
able breakfast dish. The old-fdshioncd
"Samp' of our grandmotherS days IS
impossible to obtain in our section. but
we grind enough in our coffee mill for a
good meal now ana then. Stir the Samp
into boiling water Immediately after
| breakfast. and leave to boil and bubble
on back of range all day long, with fire.
quent strings. unless the kettle be set on
| wire protection mat. The "hulled-corn
| man used to come our way with his
| wagon once every two weeks. We al
| ways on that one day had hulled corn
and milk for luncheon. Now you pur-
| chase il canned from our best groceries.
| Corn meal j. a necessity in the house
hold where there are little ones. Give
| them a taste. and 1.-THE children will cry
for it, You. who have no practical
knowledge Of its use. wake up to your
| lost opportunities. surprise Your family
with some light, flaky mullins; no longer
| neglect the old stand-by-giYe this sub
ject your earnest study.