Foods and home making

What cereals are cooked in the factory ? Corn flakes, puffed rice, and Shredded Wheat are examples of a third group of breakfast cereals. These cereals are thoroughly cooked in the factory, usually by steaming or baking. They may be eaten without any further cooking at home. Such foods are known as the ready-to-eat breakfast cereals. Shall we buy ready-to-eat or uncooked cereals ? When cereals are cooked in the factory, the cooking process requires work and special equipment. It is to be expected, then, that more will be charged for ready-to-eat cereals than for the un- cooked cereals. Some of the ready-to-serve cereals cost almost four times as much as those that require cooking in the home. If strictest economy has to be practiced, the uncooked cereals should be bought, provided the fuel required to cook them is not too expensive. Cereals can be very successfully cooked in the fireless cooker. (See page 56.) This is an economical method. On the other hand, if a homekeeper is burdened with duties, it may be wise for her to buy ready-cooked breakfast foods. Occasional use of ready-to-eat cereals adds variety to the break- fast menu. For young children, the home-cooked cereal is advised. Shall we buy package or bulk cereals? Cereals that are to be cooked may be purchased in bulk or in packages. Bulk cereals are cheaper; package cereals are probably cleaner. Which shall you select ? Cereals need to be well cooked. This thorough cooking sterilizes the cereal, i.e., destroys bacteria which may have got into the cereal from handling or contact with dust. Notice whether the bulk cereal has been stored in 52 Breakfast the grocery store in a clean place ; if it has, it seems unneces- sary to buy the more expensive package food. Because the ready-to- eat cereals are not cooked in the home or, at most, are merely heated to crisp them, it is well that these cereals come in package form. How should breakfast cereals be cooked? Ce- reals are dry foods. They must have water added to them to cook them and to make them taste good. They also need salt. Three ingredients — water, salt, and cereal — are all that are needed in preparing a plain breakfast cereal. The utensil needed is a double boiler. (See Figure ?o.) In case you do not have a double boiler, two pans, one larger than the other, may be used for cooking cereals. Let us see how to pre- pare breakfast cereals. Figure 20. A Double Boiler Two pans, the upper one being made to fit into the lower, make a double boiler. The lower pan holds water ; the upper pan, the food to be cooked. When a double boiler is placed over a flame, the food in the upper is cooked over water which is kept boiling in the lower pan. BREAKFAST CEREALS 3 cups boiling water 1 teaspoon salt 1 cup rolled oats or § cup Cream of Wheat, Wheatena, farina, or Ralston Fill the lower part of a double boiler about a third full of boiling water. (We find that for most double boilers this quantity of water in the lower part is sufficient. If the utensil is filled more than a third full, the water usually boils over.) 53 Buying and Cooking Cereals In the top part of the double boiler, put 3 cups boiling water and 1 teaspoon salt. Place this part of the double boiler directly over the jiame. When the water boils, slowly add the cereal, stirring the mixture as it is added. Keep on stirring and cook the cereal for 10 minutes.