Barley

It sometimes happens that milk disagrees with a delicate infant so seriously that it is necessary to substitute some other article of diet for a few days. I have known barley water to be used, in such cases, with great success.

2 cups boiling water.

2 tablespoonfuls pearl barley - picked over and washed.

A pinch of salt.

2 teaspoonfuls white sugar - not heaping.

Soak the barley half an hour in a very little lukewarm water, and stir, without draining, into the boiling water, salted very slightly. Simmer one hour, stirring often, and strain before sweetening.

Arrowroot+

1 cup of boiling water.

1 " fresh milk.

2 teaspoonfuls best Bermuda arrowroot, wet with cold water.

1 small pinch of salt.

2 even teaspoonfuls white sugar, dissolved in the milk.

Stir the arrowroot paste into the salted boiling water; stir and boil five minutes or until it is clear; add the sweetened milk, and boil ten minutes, slowly, still stirring.

If the child has fever, or cannot digest milk, substitute hot water for it. It is, however, a dangerous experiment to forbid milk altogether for an infant. I should rather diminish the quantity, putting in, say, one-third or one-fourth as much as the receipt names, and filling up with boiling water.

Rice Jelly+

1/2 cup whole rice, well-washed and soaked two hours in a little warm water; then added, with the water, to that in the kettle.

3 pints cold water.

1 small pinch of salt, put into the water. Sweeten to taste with loaf sugar.

Simmer the rice half an hour ; then boil it until it is a smooth paste, and the water is reduced one-half. Strain through double tarlatan, sweeten, and give to the child.

This is an admirable preparation for an infant suffering with weakness of the bowels. If there is no fever, you may put one-third part milk, boiled with the rice. Give a few spoonfuls every hour or half hour.

Milk and Bread+

1/2 cup boiled milk.

2 tablespoonfuls stale Graham bread.

A very little sugar.

Crumble the bread into the boiled milk, sweeten, and when cool enough, feed to the child with a spoon.

Wheaten Grits+

4 tablespoonfuls grits (cracked wheat) soaked in a little cold water one hour, and then put into the kettle.

1 quart boiling water. 1 cup milk. A pinch of salt.

Boil the soaked grits in the quart of water one hour, stirring up often; add the milk and boil half an hour longer. Sweeten to taste, and if the child is well, pour cream over it. This is designed for children over a year old. It is slightly cathartic ; especially if the milk be omitted, and is most useful in regulating the bowels. When this can be done without drugs, it is far better.

Hominy and Milk+

1/2 cup small hominy.

1 scant quart of cold water.

Pinch of salt.

Boil one hour, stirring often. While hot, mix some soft with new milk, sweeten to taste and feed to baby with a spoon.

This is also relaxing to the bowels, and should not, be given if the child is disposed to summer complaint.

Graham Hasty Pudding+

1 cup Graham flour, wet up with cold water.

1 large cup boiling water and same quantity of milk.

1 saltspoonful of salt.

Stir the wet flour into the boiling water, slightly salted. Boil fifteen minutes, stirring almost constantly. Add the milk and cook, after it has come again to a boil, ten minutes longer. Give with sugar and milk for breakfast.

Eaten with cream, nutmeg, and powdered sugar, this is a good plain dessert for grown people as well as children.

Rice Flour Hasty Pudding

Is made as above, substituting two heaping tablespoonfuls rice flour for the Graham.

Milk Porridge

2 cups boiling water.

2 " milk.

A good pinch of salt.

Boil the paste in the hot water twenty minutes; add the milk and cook ten minutes more, stirring often. Eat with sugar and milk, stirred in while hot.

Mush And Milk

1 cup Indian meal, wet up with cold water.

2 quarts cold water. Salt to taste.

Boil two hours; stirring often with a wooden spoon or a stick.

To be eaten hot with milk and sugar.

Condensed Milk

This is perhaps the safest substitute for the "good milk from one cow," which few mothers in town can procure. Keep the can in a cool place and mix according to directions.