A simple course in home economics for rural schools

One day a peculiar thing happened in the life of the cave people. The family, young and old, were seated about the fire eating their venison and berries. A small child dropped his piece of meat into the burning coals and began to cry, "Oh my meat has fallen into the fire; it will burn up like wood. What shall I do?" An older member of the family, with a pair of wooden tongs, plucked the meat from the fire. It looked plump and juicy. It smelled good. The cave man tasted it and smacked his lips. It was delicious. The meat was more tender and better flavored. All dropped their meat into the fire, and cooking was instituted. Our ancestors were all out-of-door cooks from this time on for many years. They broiled their meat on green, forked sticks over the burning coals, and wrapped their meat and tubers in moist clay and roasted them in the ashes. Is it any wonder we still love to get away from conventions and eat in spirit with our primitive ancestors ? The following requirements are necessary for a good picnic meal : A carefully planned variety of foods, which meet the demand of a balanced meal. Foods which require open-fire cooking as a usual thing. All food should be carefully prepared and well packed at home. Simple Courses in Home Economics 139 A juicy food and a suitable beverage should always be provided. The following are suitable picnic menus: Picnic Luncheon {Out-door Fire.) Bacon to broil Potatoes or corn on the cob to roast Bread and butter sandwiches Peach pickles Cake Fruit Picnic Breakfast {Out-door Fire.) Fruit Eggs to scramble Bacon to broil Bread and butter Picnic Luncheon {No Fire Necessary.) Fried chicken Jelly Bread and butter Cake Keferences Fruit Milk The Cave Dwellers, K. Dopp. Camp and Trail, E. S. White. Camp Cookery, Royal Baking Powder Co., New York. Boy Scout Manual, Chapter on Cooking Out of Doors. . Story of Ab, Stanley Waterloo. Lesson Plan Teacher's Aim: To give meaning and significance to the picnic and the picnic meal. Pupil's Aim: To plan food for an out-door picnic, luncheon or breakfast. 140 Bulletin of tlie University of Texas Leading Questions in Lesson: Why does everybody love to go on a picnic? What is required to make a picnic successful? What should be kept in mind in planning- a picnic meal? What foods can be carried to cook on the open fire? How can we improvise in the woods utensils for cooking of this food? Discuss the making and wrapping of sandwiches and cookies. Determine on a suitable time to have a picnic. Related Work Mathematics: Determine amount required for picnic meal planned. Estimate the cost. Physical Geography: Study location of picnic grounds. Study sources of water. Discuss the advisabality of various waters for drinking and cooking purposes. English: Write a description of the first out-of-door cooking. Write a treatise on the lesson and copy recipes in note book, or on cards. Read "Cave Dwellers," K. Dopp. "Story of Ab," S. Waterloo. Recipes Apple Jelly CaTce V-L butter — melt sugar egg — well beaten • Combine these ingredients then add the following mixture : flour 4 t. baking powder Simple Courses in Home Economics 141 Lastly add 1 C. milk Beat well Bake in layers. Build cake using the following as the filling. Filling 1 C. sugar 2 large apples — grated Juice 1 lemon