Allow water to boil, mix corn meal with 3 or 4 teaspoonfuls of cold water. As soon as water begins to boil, stir briskly until gruel begins to thicken. Then place on a cooler part of the stove, and cook gently for 2 hours, replacing water as it evaporates. Strain through a coarse sieve if it lumps.
3 tbs. (1 oz.) farina 1/2 cup rich milk 1/2 cup boiling water 1/4 cup cold water 1/4 tsp. salt
Mix farina into a paste with cold water. Stir into boiling water, allow to cook for half an hour (if water boils out, add boiling water). Add milk, and place the saucepan in a hot water bath (double boiler); allow to cook half an hour longer, stirring occasionally.
2 tbs. (1 oz.) rice 1 pt. boiling water 1/2 tsp. salt
Soak rice for 1 hour in cold water. Sprinkle into the briskly boiling water, taking care not to stop the boil. Allow to cook until tender; test by pressing a grain between thumb and finger; there should be no hard center. When the rice is done, turn it into a colander and allow water from cold faucet to run over it to wash off surplus starch. Return to saucepan place on stove where moisture can be dried out of the rice without burning it.
4 tbs. rice 1/4 tsp. salt 3/4 cup water 3/4 cup milk
Wash rice and soak it in cold water for 1 hour (or overnight). Place in an earthenware baking dish, cover with the milk, water and salt. Cover and set in the oven; allow to cook until all of the moisture is absorbed (if the rice is not done by the time the moisture has evaporated, add more milk, or milk and water, and continue until the grains are tender). If the given amount of moisture is not absorbed by the time the rice is tender, drain off the surplus and return the dish to the oven for a few moments. Each grain should be separate, when the dish is prepared correctly.
1 slice bread, toasted 1 tsp. butter 1/4 cup milk, heated 1/6 tsp. salt
Toast the bread on both sides and butter; place in a deep plate and pour over it the hot milk.
1 slice bread 1/4 cup thin cream 1 tsp. flour 1 tsp. butter 1/4 tsp. salt
Cream butter and flour together cold, and stir into hot milk. Stir until the mixture begins to thicken, cover the boiler and allow to cook for 15 minutes. Slice the bread and cut into cubes; toast a delicate brown, and pour over it the cream sauce. Strain the sauce if there are any lumps.