FoodNet

Domestic science (Clark, Cornell home economics)

1911

Page 72

Presented as published in 1911. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
The waitress is made responsible for silver, glass and china, and she is expected to keep them clean and intact. To do this, she must have proper ap- pliances. There must be a place for everjdihing and everything must be kept in its place. Ample closet-room must be provided, in order that there need be no crowding of china, etc., or of piling up many delicate dishes. There should be tables in the pantry so that when the dining-room table is being cleared it will not be difficult to dispose of the dishes. The sink must be broad enough, and the water faucets high enough, to prevent danger of striking the dishes against the projecting faucets. If the sink is narrow and the faucets low there should be a large tray of galvanized iron, which should be placed on the table to hold the dishpan. This precaution will be found to lessen greatly the danger of breakage. Having plenty of hot water, soap and towels, and all other appliances, the waitress must do her part to protect the table ware, etc. She shoiild THE DINING-ROOM AND SERVING 177 observe the following rules : — the water in which the glasses or china are put first must not be too hot; a few pieces only must be put in the pan at a time, and heavy pieces must not be placed on delicate ones; each piece must be wiped with care, and pressure on fragile articles of glass or china avoided; care should be taken that no sharp hard substance, as a grain of sand, is on the table or dish-cloth or in the dish-pan ; delicate glass and china must not be exposed to extremes of heat or cold, as for instance, a hot sub- stance should not be put in a cold dish and a cold substance, such as a frozen mixture, must not be put into a dish that has not been thoroughly and gradu- ally chilled. A scrupulous observance of these little points wUl save a great deal of trouble and expense. Okdeh op Lesson 1. Importance of the dining-room. 2. Care of the dining-room. 3. Setting the table. 4. Menus. Notes There is not time in one lesson of 1^ hours to pre- pare a meal and serve it and to discuss all these matters sufficiently. In the second-year course, two lessons should be devoted to it, one to the making of menus, and the other to the cooking and serving of a meal. In discussing the table, the class should be arovmd the table and the necessary dishes should be at hand,. so that everything may be definite. Even though a meal is not to be prepared and served in this lesson, this topic can thus be more effectually discussed. 178 DOMESTIC SCIENCE When an arrangement for the table has been decided upon, and each point of it illustrated as taken up, remove the dishes, and call on certain girls to set each place at the table while the rest of the girls act as critics. During this time ques- tions may be asked in review about each thing that is done. Breakfast Menu. Fruit Cereal, cream or milk, and sugar. Meat or eggs. Potatoes. Bread and butter. Drink. If it would be of assistance, the teacher might find out from the pupils their usual breakfast. The safest way to do this is to ask them to write for you beforehand just what they had for breakfast on that day. This brings you in touch with their mode of living. If they belong to the poorer classes, the treatment of parts of the subject woidd differ some- what from that in classes of wealthier girls. If they belong to the poorer class it would be absxu'd to urge fruit and finger-bowls. Recommend a glass of water for a first course. The cereals should be urged, for they are cheap, nourishing, and easily prepared.