What to eat and when

by Susanna Cocroft

The cheeses poor in fat are more difficult to digest as they are harder and not so easily masticated.

Contrary to the prevalent idea, a properly made Welsh rarebit is more easily digested than uncooked cheese.

One should use judgment, in eating any highly concentrated food, not to eat too large a quantity.

Smierkase, or cottage cheese, is coagulated casein. It contains thirty-three per cent. of protein, twenty-four per cent. of fat, and five per cent. of salts.

The thickening of the milk, or the coagulation of the casein, is like that produced by lactic acid.

Skimmed milk, as shown by the table, contains the same amount of protein as fresh milk, but more sugar and more ash, the difference consisting almost entirely of less fat, which has been removed in the cream.

Buttermilk. There is less fat, protein, sugar, or ash in buttermilk than in skimmed milk; it is therefore less nourishing, but it requires less digestive effort. The sugar has partially fermented and the lactic acid is freed. It is the free lactic acid which gives the pungent taste.

Buttermilk made by lactone or Bulgarian tablets and fresh milk is as nourishing and as desirable as that made in the process of butter making, and it has the advantage of being fresh. When the whole milk is used it, of course, contains the same amount of fat, protein, sugar, and ash as the milk. It is of value in cases of poor digestion of protein and fat, and in chronic stomach trouble. It has been claimed that the bacilli in buttermilk made from the Bulgarian tablets prevent putrefaction in the large intestine. This is disputed, however.

Clabbered Milk. The casein in clabbered milk coagulates and if kept in a hot place the coagulation continues until the water, sugar, and salts are separated. Clabbered or loppered milk is wholesome. It may be sweetened or salted and flavored to taste.

Whey is the watery portion of milk from which the casein has been removed in the process of making cheese. It is a palatable drink and may be flavored with a little nutmeg and sugar or salt. Invalids usually relish it. Beef tea or egg yolk may be added to it.