Reform Cookery Book Part 20

The NEW VEGETABLE FOOD EXTRACT which possesses the same nutrient value as a well-prepared Meat Extract.

2 oz. pot, 7-1/2 d.; 4 oz. pot, 1/1-1/2; 8 oz. pot, 2/-; 16 oz. pot, 3/4.

_The Ideal basis for high-cla.s.s Vegetable Soups._

_HORS CONCOURS_

Universal Cookery and Food Exhibition 1907.

MARMITE

THREE GOLD MEDALS AWARDED

Cookery Schools and Teachers are invited to apply for Free Samples, Recipes, and full particulars to

THE MARMITE FOOD EXTRACT CO., Ltd., 59 Eastcheap, London, E.C.

WILL YOU TRY A CUP OF TEA

that, instead of injuring your nerves and toughening your food, is Absolutely Safe and Delightful? 2/2, 2/10, and 3/6 per lb.

THE UNIVERSAL DIGESTIVE TEA

is ordinary tea treated with oxygen, which neutralises the injurious tannin.

Every pound of ordinary tea contains about two ounces of tannin. Tannin is a powerful astringent substance to tan skins into leather. The tannin in ordinary tea tans, or hardens, the lining of the digestive organs, also the food eaten. This prevents the healthful nourishment of the body, and undoubtedly eventuates in nervous disorders. On receipt of a postcard, The Universal Digestive Tea Co., Ltd., Colonial Warehouse, Kendal, will send a Sample of this tea, and name of nearest Agent, also a Descriptive Pamphlet compiled by Albert Broadbent, Author of "Science in the Daily Meal," &c.

AGENTS WANTED.

THE BEST SOUP THICKENER.

ROBINSON'S PATENT BARLEY

Also Best for Making BARLEY WATER, CUSTARD, BLANC MANGES, &c.

KEEN ROBINSON & CO., LTD., LONDON,

Makers of Robinson's Patent Groats for making Gruel.

BEVERAGES.

We have not s.p.a.ce to go into the question of beverages at any length. A few good "drinks" are given under Invalid Dietary, and I would just say that the juice of a squeezed lemon, orange, or other fruit juice is much better than any effervescent or chemicalised beverage. There are, however, some excellent pure fruit-juices now on the market, among which one may mention

Pattinson's Fruit Syrups

and essences for various temperance drinks as being specially good. Many are proscribed on the score of health, &c., from the use of

Tea and Coffee,

but as these will remain first favourites for a long time to come, the first essential is to have them properly prepared, so that there is little if any ill effect. Where tea is most largely and constantly used, as in China and j.a.pan, it is said to be quite innocuous. This may be partly owing to the more wholesome and rational way in which those people live, partly also to the finer quality of tea available, but very largely to the method of preparation. Various devices have been patented to save trouble in changing from one pot to another, but as most of these are rather complicated for daily use, we are glad to learn of a tea which can be prepared in the old comfortable handy way without any ill effects, and this boon seems to be furnished in the

Universal Digestive Tea,

prepared at the Colonial Warehouse, Kendal. By a process--which, by the way, is not kept secret--the tea is treated with oxygen in such a way that the hurtful tannin is neutralised, while none of the other properties are affected in any way. There is certainly no loss of flavour, and no difference that one can discern from the usual, but specially good tea--a fact which will appeal to ordinary tea-drinkers, of whom there are still a majority. For any further information regarding this tea, I would recommend readers to a little pamphlet compiled by Albert Broadbent, Esq., food specialist and lecturer, whose writings on the food question, &c., are well known. It is ent.i.tled "The cup that cheers." It explains the process of treatment, and gives medical and a.n.a.lytical testimony in its favour from various authorities of very high standing. The best proof is in the drinking, however, and one may have a sample pound or more carriage paid.

INVALID DIETARY.

The whole of the previous part of this book has been devoted to the contriving of the several meals usual in a work-a-day household and under ordinary circ.u.mstances. But exceptions will occur in the "best regulated families," and although much may be done to prevent illness by pure, nouris.h.i.+ng, well-cooked food, one must be prepared for emergencies as they come.

Of course, most of our friends will be only too ready to pounce upon us when illness comes into the house, with their "I told you so" comments. In the first place it will be owing to their low diet and want of proper nourishment that father has got influenza, or Tommy mumps or measles--beef-fed persons _never_ have these affections--(which shows what an enormous proportion of vegetarians there must be)--and in the second place, now that there is illness, you _must_ fall back on beef-tea, port-wine, and other "generous diet," to get up and sustain the patient's strength. However callous or deaf you might be to the supplication for the flesh-pots from those in health, you cannot, must not shut your heart to the call of the weak or suffering.

And woe betide us if we are heretic, and the patient does not recover so quickly as we could wish (if he does, we shall be suspected of having surrept.i.tiously called the orthodox nostrums to our aid, but that by the way), so that it behoves us to give the critical and censorious as little room for their strictures as possible.

Now, what are we to get for that erewhile _sine qua non_ of the sick room,

Beef Tea?

Well, before we come to the non-flesh subst.i.tutes, which are more similar in some ways to the ordinary beef-tea, we will consider what is given in the earlier stages when the stomach rejects nearly all nourishment.

Pure Fruit Juices

can usually be retained and a.s.similated by the most debilitated. The refres.h.i.+ng and restorative properties of orange, grape, and similar fruit juices are generally appreciated, though many people hold the extraordinary belief that these are best when almost all the nourishment has been fermented out of them as in ordinary wine; but not so many even of the more advanced among us, as yet, realise the wonderful healing and anti-toxic possibilities of fresh fruits, more especially grapes. Pure grape juice has been found to act with such destructive force upon disease germs of various kinds as would appear little short of miraculous.

To prepare, press out with squeezer and strain, dilute or not with hot or cold water according to the condition of the patient. The juice of an orange to a tumbler of water makes an excellent tonic drink where there is feverishness and debility of the digestive organs, and a teaspoonful or more of lemon juice may be used in the same way.