Wash well a tea-cup full of pearl barley; put it in a sauce pan, with two quarts of water, and a small cup full of raisins; boil it to a quart; then strain, and add sugar, nutmeg, and lemon juice, to your taste.
OATMEAL GRUEL.
Mix smoothly a dessert spoonful of meal, with two of cold water; pour on a pint of boiling water, and let it boil for fifteen minutes, stirring all the time; sugar or salt may be added as preferred. Wine is sometimes used.
CORN MEAL GRUEL.
Wash several times in cold water, three tablespoonsful of corn meal; pouring off the water as it settles; then pour on a quart of water, and boil, stirring all the time; add a little salt; strain and sweeten, adding butter, wine, and nutmeg.
ARROW ROOT.
Mix a dessert spoonful of arrow root smoothly, in a little cold water; pour on it a pint of boiling water; let it boil five minutes; then sweeten to your taste, and add nutmeg and wine. If richer food is required, this can be made in the same way, with milk instead of water.
WINE WHEY.
To half a pint of boiling milk, add one glass full of sherry wine, and a little sugar; let it boil until the curd has separated, and strain through a fine sieve.