POLLY AND THE CHILDREN
"WILL you look at the way that child eats her cereal!" ejaculated Polly
at the breakfast table. "And I simply can't get her to eat it at home!
In fact, on warm days like this, she won't eat any breakfast at all."
"I like Aunt Betty's cereal; it looks so pretty," explained little
Dorothy gravely, looking down at her plate of moulded cereal surrounded
by plump red raspberries.
"I hope you don't mind my serving it cold today," said Bettina. "It
seemed so warm yesterday that I cooked the cereal and put it in moulds
in the refrigerator."
"No indeed! The change is a regular treat for the children. They like
fixed-up things like this, and it certainly does give anyone an
appetite."
"Well, in hot weather, no one feels much like eating, anyhow, so I try
to make things as attractive as I can. And I want the children to have
just what they like. . . . You needn't be afraid of this cream, Polly.
We buy it from a neighbor, and I am absolutely sure that it is both
clean and good. I'm ashamed to say that we have no certified milk in
this town. Isn't that dreadful? And people keep on buying it of dairies
that they don't know one thing about! Why, I've seen women who had just
moved to town, and who knew nothing about conditions here, begin
housekeeping by cleaning house thoroughly from top to bottom, and at the
same time, leave an order for milk with the first dairy wagon that
happened to drive down their street! And they buy groceries and meat
from the nearest stores without knowing that three blocks away there
may be other stores that are better, cleaner and less expensive.
Shouldn't you think that women would insist upon knowing all about the
food they are giving their children? It seems to me that much common
sense in a housewife is a great deal more important even than knowing
how to cook and sew."
"I think that knowing how to plan and buy is more important than knowing
how to do things with your hands," said Polly. "After all, it's the
result that counts. You're a wonder, Bettina, because you have a useful
head and useful hands, too, but I haven't. So I try to know as much as
possible about every article of food and clothing that I buy, and to be
sure that I am getting the very best value from Tom's money, but I don't
know how to cook or sew or trim hats or embroider. I like friends and
babies and outdoor exercise, but I'll confess that I don't like
housework."
"Well, Tom and the children seem to be perfectly contented and happy,
and so do you. Therefore, you are a successful housekeeper."
"You are the right kind of a sister-in-law to have, Betty! I quite
approve of Bob's choice!"
The breakfast that morning consisted of:
Moulded Cream of Wheat
Raspberries
Sugar Cream
Poached Eggs on Toast
Coffee
BETTINA'S RECIPES
(All measurements are level)
=Wheat Cereal= (Three portions)
1 C-wheat
2 T-cold water
1/3 C-raspberries
Cook the wheat according to the instructions on the package, only cook
twice as long as the directions suggest. Mix cereal and cold water. Add
boiling water slowly. This method prevents lumping. Wet individual
moulds with cold water, place raspberries around the inside of the mould
and fill with the wheat. Allow to remain in mould for fifteen minutes.
Remove from mould, surround with more berries and serve. If desired
cold, chill in the refrigerator. Cereals may be cooked in a double
boiler or a fireless cooker.
=Method of Cooking Cereals=
Put the water and salt in the upper part of double boiler and place
directly over the flame. When the water boils, add the cereal very
slowly, stirring constantly. Cook for five minutes directly over the
fire. Place the upper part in the lower part of the double boiler
containing boiling water, and cook the required time. All cereals must
be thoroughly cooked.
_AUGUST._
_Twenty little jelly-glasses, twenty pots of jam,
Twenty jars of pickles and preserves,
Making other wealth than this appear a stupid sham,----
Ah, you dears! What color, gleam and curves!_
[Illustration]