Arrowroot Milk Gruel

One Serving

Heat a half pint of milk in a double boiler; add a half dozen raisins split into halves, and a teaspoonful of arrowroot moistened in two tablespoonfuls of milk; cook until thick, and strain. This may be served hot or cold, or, if preferable, without sugar; but in certain cases, as phthisis, for instance, cream may be added; at another time, sugar; never both at the same time, as they are apt to cause flatulency.

Farina Milk Gruel

One Serving

Put a half pint of milk in a double boiler, or in a saucepan and heat it over hot water; sprinkle in a tablespoonful of dry farina, stir and cook for twenty minutes. Add a saltspoonful of salt, strain, and use hot or cold.

German Flour Gruel

Put one pint of flour into a small strong muslin bag, tie, leaving very little room for swelling. Put this into a saucepan of cold water, bring to boiling point and boil five hours. When done, strip off the bag, take off the damp outside "skin" of the ball and let it stand in a dry place over night.

To use: Grate enough to make two tablespoonfuls, moisten it with a little cold water, then add a half pint of boiling water and stir until it reaches boiling point; boil about two minutes, take from the fire and when cold add a half pint of fresh milk and a pinch of salt.

This makes an exceedingly nice "bottle food" for infants when starchy foods are admissible.

Barley Gruel

One Serving

Put a half pint of milk in a double boiler, add one level teaspoonful of barley meal moistened in a little cold milk; soak an hour, and cook for at least twenty minutes. Take from the fire, add a grain of salt, and cool.

With cream, this makes a nice supper soup for children or the aged.

Black Currant Gruel

Stir two tablespoonfuls of black currant jelly into one quart of boiling water, boil rapidly fifteen minutes, strain and add two teaspoonfuls of arrowroot moistened in a little cold water; bring again to boiling point and stand it near the ice to use as wanted.

Useful in cases of diarrhoea.

Blackberry Gruel

Wash two tablespoonfuls of ordinary rice through several cold waters; add one quart of water, bring to boiling point and keep it just below boiling point, for one hour. Strain, add one whole clove, a bit of cinnamon one inch long, a half teaspoonful of dry Jamaica ginger and a half tumblerful of blackberry jelly or jam, bring to boiling point and cover in a warm place for a half hour. Strain through two thicknesses of cheesecloth and stand near the ice.

This is very useful in cases of acute or chronic diarrhoea and in dysentery. It is nutritious and astringent.

Rice Gruel

Follow the directions given for Barley Gruel, using a tablespoonful of rice flour in the place of a tablespoonful of barley meal.

Lentil Milk Gruel

This is used considerably in the German hospitals for nursing mothers.

1 pint of milk

2 level tablespoonfuls of lentil powder

A saltspoonful of celery seed A saltspoonful of salt

Put the milk in a double boiler, add the meal moistened in a little cold water, soak an hour, add the celery seed and salt, cover the saucepan and cook thirty minutes; and it is ready for use. This will make two meals. Divide it and put one part aside to cool; reheat at serving time.