Oats.
Pease of all sorts, and the best in the World; I never heard of, nor did see in eight Years time, one Worm eaten Pea.
Garden Beans.[265]
Naked Oats,[266] there called Silpee, an excellent grain used insteed of Oat Meal, they dry it in an Oven, or in a Pan upon the fire, then beat it small in a Morter.
Another standing Dish in New-England.
And when the Milk is ready to boil, they put into a pottle of Milk about ten or twelve spoonfuls of this Meal, so boil it leasurely, stirring of it every foot, least it burn too; when it is almost boiled enough, they hang the Kettle up higher, and let it stew only, in short time it will thicken like a Custard; they season it [{89}] with a little Sugar and Spice, and so serve it to the Table in deep Basons, and it is altogether as good as a White-pot.
For People weakned with long Sickness.
It exceedingly nourisheth and strengthens people weakned with long Sickness.
Sometimes they make Water Gruel with it, and sometimes thicken their Flesh Broth either with this or Homminey, if it be for Servants.