Introduction
It’s a warm summer morning, and Bettina and
Sister-In-Law Polly linger at the breakfast table. After marveling at how
Polly’s daughter gobbles Bettina-style cream of wheat (“Will you look at the
way that child eats her cereal!”) the two women take the conversation in an
unpleasant direction.
Perhaps it’s the heat? In short order Bettina
disparages the town (“I’m ashamed to say that we have no certified milk in this
town. Isn’t that dreadful?”), her neighbors (“Why, I’ve seen women who just
moved to town…leave an order for milk with the first dairy wagon that happens
to drive down their street!”), and housewives in general (“Shouldn’t you think
that women would insist on knowing all about the food they are giving their
children?”).
Fortunately Polly is a sturdy soul--a lesser mortal
might collapse under this misogynist broadside.
“I try to know as much as possible about every article
of food and clothing that I buy,” she hastens to assure Bettina—then completes
the bonding process by declaring “You are the right kind of sister-in-law to
have, Betty. I quite approve of Bob’s choice!”
Part 1
The
Menu
Molded
Cream Of Wheat
Raspberries
Sugar
Cream
Poached
Eggs On Toast
Coffee
Alas my husband and son aren’t around to share this
bountiful repast (they left early in the morning to visit a family friend).
Given my son’s aversion to cooked cereals, though, I doubt he’s shedding any
tears over this!
Preparing the Meal
Molded
Cream Of Wheat
We
have a real classic here—but with a Bettina twist!
Decisions, decisions…I have the option of cooking the
wheat with either milk or water. Since I’m not too enthusiastic about this dish
anyway I normally would go with water to make it less formidable. However, the
cereal has to be thick enough to hold together in a mold and so (regretfully)
I’ll have to cook it with milk.
Whisking the cereal into the boiling milk.
This
really thickened quickly—as in, less than a minute! The instructions on the box
say to cook it for 2 ½ minutes, Bettina says to double that, but—no way. If I
cooked this stuff for five whole minutes I’d have to chip it out of the pot!
Very
VERY dry.
Two tablespoons cold water (presumably to thin it out a bit).
Raspberries
placed at the bottom of the cup.
And
then just spoon the cereal on top.
Side
view.
Now
it’s to be swathed in plastic wrap and chilled in the refrigerator.
Later
Cereal,
extra raspberries for garnish, and a tableknife (it’s the moment of truth).
Loosening
the sides.
Perfect!
Poached
Eggs On Toast
Toast
for one *sigh*
This
lone egg looks pretty sad too!
My
handy-dandy egg poacher.
Here
I’m boiling water in a skillet and will clamp the egg poacher on top.
This
egg looks great (that is, if you happen to like poached eggs).
I
generally slip the egg in the skillet of water as soon as it’s firm around the edges.
It seems to have sprouted a tail...
Not
exactly a picture-perfect egg, but I really don’t care as long as the yolk
isn’t too runny.
The
assembled product. Hmm….
Cream
and Sugar
I’m
not sure if this is meant for the cereal, the coffee, or both.
Coffee
Percolator at the ready.
Spooning
in the coffee.
Placing
the lid on the basket.
Putting
the assembly into the pot.
Then
snap on the lid…
…and
go!
How It Looked
Bon Appetit!
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