The state herald., 1907-04-26
FOOD FOR THE BABY
METHODS OF COOKING TO GET
THE BEST RESULTS.
Barley and Oatmeal Cruel Should 30
Made Fresh Every Day-Proper
Preparation Of Nourish-
Ina Beef Juice.

How are some of the foods we are
to give our babies to be cooked"
asked young mother the other day
when told to put barley cruel with
the milk formula.
To a woman who has much expert.
ence with babies this may seem n
foolish question; but, indeed. how is
one to know until one is told? And
i was glad that my young friend
asked frankly about this, that all
mothers should know how to make.
She has never had occasion to know
until recently. and now that l am tell.
Ing her l mean to add the ways of
cooking to some other things that
may be given to small infants.
Gruels being first on the dietary
list, let us begin with them. They
are made, of course, with a cereal
and boiled until all the nourishment
is extracted. Then the liquid Is
strained of and is digested without
difficulty, as rule. Barley and oat-
meal are the first given. and barley
is preferred In the milk formulas
unless there is constipation; then oat-
meal is better. Both grains are
ground into flour, and when making
the guel try to get -four. using the
grain only when the flour is not to
be had.
Make barley cruel by mixing tea
spoonful of the flour into a smooth
paste with little cold water Have
boiling In double boiler a pint of wa
ter, and into this pour the flour paste.
taking care to keep 1t smooth. Let
this boil for 20 minutes very slowly
and strain II lumpy. To the same
quantity of boiling water take two
tablespoonfuls of oatmeal -four. II
the grain is used instead. two table.
spoonfuls of the barley would be re-
quircd, or three tablespoonfuis OF oat.
meal.
Cruel put into the modified milk
should be made fresh every day and
kc-,t cold until used For barley wa.
ter. which is given sometimes wlRn
tho stomach Is In a delicate state.
there are prepared extracts in the
market. or II may be made by slowly
boiling a cup OF the grain and a quart
OF water. As the water boils away
II should be renewed until the
strength OF the grain has been extract
ed. Then strain. and II the liquid Is
thick thin with boiled water.
Beef juice is early put on the baby's
food list. and while easily prepared.
II should be done carefully. The
round is the juiciest part OF the beef.
and n pound Of this should be boiled
Just long enough to heat II through.
Then cut into bits and squeeze either
through meat press or an ordinary
lemon squeezcr.
Salt slightly. and II heated when
given set the cup containing II Into
another OF hot water. II heated too
long II curdies.
Farina, given at some time 20 all
small children. requires the most
careful cooking-certalnly twic> the
time that the directions given. In
preparing all cereals for babies never
forget that they cannot be over,
cooked and the chances are tina, they
will be underjone. When th!, hap
pens they form soggy mass "a the
little stomach.
When an infant IL old cnoush 10
have an egg to eat. always prcrare II
by coddllng. which renders II 30 much
more dlgcstlblc. To do this place the
csg In boiling water and draw back
Immediately where the water wia not
boil. Let stay In this water for six
minutes. The cooking win thls be
far more even.
Broths are strong extracts OF meat
aud the principle of cooking all Ss the
snme; always use cold water. let II be
long time coming TO the boil and
u on simmer instead OF boiling. This
extracts the good OF the meat with
ont wasting the liquid. Broth made
with water that Ia boiling when poured
over the raw meat ls worthless
Washington Star,