Foods and home making

It was stated on page 287 that it was a good plan to eat two salads a day. Since luncheon and dinner are the two meals at which salad is commonly served, this is another reason why a salad should be eaten for dinner. Why should cabbage, tomatoes, and carrots be used in salads ? The complaint is sometimes made that vegetables are high in price and make food bills high. It is true that some vegetables are expensive. They are not, however, nearly so expensive as meats. Fortunately, cabbage, which is such a nourishing vegetable, is one of the least expensive. The carrot is another nourishing but inexpensive vegetable. When tomatoes are in season, they are often among the cheapest vegetables. In winter you may use canned tomatoes, which are among the cheapest canned vegetables. How are some simple cabbage and tomato salads made? Cabbage may be served with either an uncooked or a cooked dressing. The uncooked dressings are easily and quickly made. A recipe for a cabbage salad prepared with uncooked dressing follows : CABBAGE SALAD WITH CREAM DRESSING 3 cups finely shredded cabbage \ cup sugar 1 teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons vinegar £ teaspoon paprika f cup cream or top milk, sweet or sour Put the seasoning, sugar, and vinegar in a mixing bowl. Stir to mix. Then add the cream and top milk. Make sure that the water is drained well from the cabbage. Add the cabbage to the dressing. Mix with a fork. Pour the salad into a bowl or into sauce dishes for serving. Sprinkle paprika over the salad. You may garnish with pimiento. Yield : 6 medium servings. Here is a relish that is much better for you than cucumber pickles. 436 Dinner TOMATO AND CELERY RELISH 2 cups tomatoes, peeled and diced 1 cup fresh cucumbers, pared and 1 cup celery cut into pieces diced 1 recipe French dressing (see page 290) Have the vegetables crisp and cold. Add the French dressing just before serving. Yield : 6 servings. How is coleslaw prepared ? It is important that cabbage be cut into fine, short shreds for salad making. Finely-shredded cabbage with a salad dressing is usually called coleslaw. COLESLAW On page 292, a recipe for cooked salad dressing is given. This dressing (previously made and cooled) may be used in making coleslaw. Mix the dressing with shredded cabbage. Use 3 cups cabbage (pressed into the cup in measuring) for 6 medium servings. How are gelatin dishes made? Some of the salad plants make very tasty and attractive salads when combined with gelatin. The basis for most gelatin salads is lemon jelly. Before we can make these salads we need to know how to use gelatin. The dry, granulated or pulverized gelatin which is found at market looks very different from the clear glistening gelatin desserts and salads which are served at the dining table. It would seem that this dry substance must be dissolved in order to make clear jelly. Let us learn whether to use hot or cold water to dissolve it. Experiment 30: To show the effect of cold water on gelatin ( Class Experiment) . (a) Put I teaspoon of gelatin into an enamel or aluminum cup. Press the dry gelatin with a spoon. Is it hard or soft? ( b ) Add 2 teaspoons of cold water to the gelatin. Cover and let stand a few minutes. Press the moistened gelatin with a spoon. How does it compare with dry gelatin as to hardness? (c) Does cold water dissolve gelatin ? Salads and Desserts for Dinner 437