Milk, cream, butter, salt and sugar are admissible in
hygienic and vegetarian dietary, but in most of the recipes
here given are not included. The reasons why they are
not, are given in some of the various chapters — but it may
be well to say here as well as elsewhere that in all cases
salt can be added if desired, or milk substituted for water.
Recipes without these ingredients are not plentiful, while
the culinary world swarms with those that contain them,
and any cook will, from the store-house of experience,
make these additions if demanded for their own taste ;
but few will venture on the experiment of leaving them
out without a distinct formula evolved from someone's
knowledge of results.
We are not sufficiently aggressive to assert that our
way is superior to every other hygienic method. Were
there not diverse opinions the world would stagnate for
lack of " cranks '' who seem quite necessary to grind out
and set adrift a vigorous new thought now and then.
Some believe in fruit alone ; others call fruit and bread an
ideal diet. Still others discard the cereals and insist that
fruit and nuts are " natural food." Another class would
add to these, vegetables that ripen above the earth, thus
increasing the variety of their bill of fare, while retaining
its purity. The last and by far the larger class accept
;54 THE FAT OF THE LAND.
all these and from beneath the soil bring forth also a
-less refined order of edibles with which to increase the
variety and satisfy the mental demand for additions and
changes that seem essential to their necessities. To all
^of these w^e are indebted for much of hygienic truth and
many helpful suggestions, but we ask each to welcome
any newer thoughts that the future may present. Few of
us can safely assert that we have found the ultimate and
^demand that the world conform to our finished standard.
When this is done by any sect or individual, progress
• ceases with them, but the wheels roll on, and the con-
. stantly upturning facts hold little in common with left
"^behind theories.
The farther we are removed from an Edenic diet the
.more we incline to add substances that are foreign to the
natural productions of the earth, and have drifted farther
from the fat of the land. By thus creating a new appe-
vtite for variety we have created a demand for various
substances which as said above are admissible, but which
.used to excess as they almost invariably are, have proven
positively injurious and the cause of much disease in the
human family. It will not be denied that to both milk
and butter have been directly traced ' several forms of
disease which if cows were in their natural, healthy state,
might have been avoided, and which non-use of these
products would most certainly eliminate.
The man now-a-days who is afraid of trichinae is not
pronounced an idiot, and soon the w^oman who is afraid
of feeding tuberculosis to her baby may receive similar
charity. Meantime those whose surroundings make it
possible for them to venture and whose training and
uiesires lead them to the use of these articles, may rest
MILK, CREAM, BUTTER, ETC. 55
assured that the author feels no disposition to condemn,
and recognizes in them a fellow-searcher after the best in
food. It is the province of this book to assert that one
can live, and live well, even after excluding from their diet
all animal products, but also to -recommend that this
change be made gradually.
The developments of science have brought to us perfect
substitutes as this book will clearly show. Even com-
mercial sugar, so injuriously adulterated, can be entirely
dispensed with, substitutes furnishing abundant and
healthful supplies. A little salt for " savor " would do no
appreciable harm, until substitutes for that are thoroughly
understood and appreciated.
Page 20
Presented as published in 1896. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
Milk, cream, butter, salt and sugar are admissible in hygienic and vegetarian dietary, but in most of the recipes here given are not included. The reasons why they are not, are given in some of the various chapters — but it may be well to say here as well as elsewhere that in all cases salt can be added if desired, or milk substituted for water. Recipes without these ingredients are not plentiful, while the culinary world swarms with those that contain them, and any cook will, from the store-house of experience, make these additions if demanded for their own taste ; but few will venture on the experiment of leaving them out without a distinct formula evolved from someone's knowledge of results.
We are not sufficiently aggressive to assert that our way is superior to every other hygienic method. Were there not diverse opinions the world would stagnate for lack of " cranks '' who seem quite necessary to grind out and set adrift a vigorous new thought now and then. Some believe in fruit alone ; others call fruit and bread an ideal diet. Still others discard the cereals and insist that fruit and nuts are " natural food." Another class would add to these, vegetables that ripen above the earth, thus increasing the variety of their bill of fare, while retaining its purity. The last and by far the larger class accept
all these and from beneath the soil bring forth also a
-less refined order of edibles with which to increase the variety and satisfy the mental demand for additions and changes that seem essential to their necessities. To all
of these we are indebted for much of hygienic truth and many helpful suggestions, but we ask each to welcome any newer thoughts that the future may present. Few of us can safely assert that we have found the ultimate and
demand that the world conform to our finished standard. When this is done by any sect or individual, progress
• ceases with them, but the wheels roll on, and the con-
. stantly upturning facts hold little in common with left
"^behind theories.
The farther we are removed from an Edenic diet the
.more we incline to add substances that are foreign to the natural productions of the earth, and have drifted farther from the fat of the land. By thus creating a new appetite for variety we have created a demand for various substances which as said above are admissible, but which .used to excess as they almost invariably are, have proven positively injurious and the cause of much disease in the human family. It will not be denied that to both milk and butter have been directly traced ' several forms of disease which if cows were in their natural, healthy state, might have been avoided, and which non-use of these products would most certainly eliminate.
The man now-a-days who is afraid of trichinae is not pronounced an idiot, and soon the w^oman who is afraid of feeding tuberculosis to her baby may receive similar charity. Meantime those whose surroundings make it possible for them to venture and whose training and
desires lead them to the use of these articles, may rest
MILK, CREAM, BUTTER, ETC. 55
assured that the author feels no disposition to condemn, and recognizes in them a fellow-searcher after the best in food. It is the province of this book to assert that one can live, and live well, even after excluding from their diet all animal products, but also to -recommend that this change be made gradually.
The developments of science have brought to us perfect substitutes as this book will clearly show. Even commercial sugar, so injuriously adulterated, can be entirely dispensed with, substitutes furnishing abundant and healthful supplies. A little salt for " savor " would do no appreciable harm, until substitutes for that are thoroughly understood and appreciated.