Chop up some celery, onion, potatoes, and parsley stems. Simmer in water slowly for 30 minutes. Strain, and prepare with butter and flour. Add plenty of chopped parsley. Finely cut cauliflower, string beans, and peas can be prepared in the same manner. For people with delicate stomachs the pulp of the vegetables should never be pressed through. BREAD SOUP. No. 1. Soak some stale white and black bread in boiling water for half an hour. Put on to boil with more water. Cut up a few apples with the skin and add a stick of cinnamon, a little sugar, salt, and some lemon rind. Simmer for 30 minutes or longer. Press through a colander and add some cold soaked raisins or currants and a piece of butter, also the yolk of an egg, if desired. BREAD SOUP. No. 2. Prepare like the foregoing. Leave out the apples. Add hot cream or milk in place of butter and egg. Use dried soaked currants or prunes, if desired. BREAD SOUP. No. 3. Prepare as the foregoing. Add imported root beer, omit the apples, and use more sugar. Strain and add hot cream or the yolk of an egg and butter. Good for constipation. BRAN SOUP. No. 1. Use equal parts of stale bread and bran. Prepare like the foregoing. Leave out the egg. BRAN SOUP. No. 2. Prepare like the foregoing. Use more water, and strain. Melt some butter, thicken with mixed flour, add the hot broth gradually. When done, remove from the fire and mix with soaked cold raisins and a few drops of lemon. BRAN SOUP. No. 3. Use one cup of bran, four cups of water, four tablespoons of milk sugar. Strain and thicken with butter and flour as directed for Bran Soup No. 2. Omit the fruit. A little lemon may be used if desired. Good for invalids. CHAPTER V. CEREALS, NOODLES AND DUMPLINGS. BUCKWHEAT GROATS. Wash one cup of buckwheat groats several times with cold water, add about six cups of boiling water and two teaspoonsful of salt. Boil rapidly for 20 minutes or until it thickens, then allow it to cook 50 or 60 minutes longer on the stove or in the oven. Serve with hot cream. Cooked or stewed dried prunes may be eaten with it, or added to the mush just before serving. Buckwheat is a winter food. People who suffer from eruptions on the skin after eating buckwheat should let it alone. STEEL CUT OATS. Prepare the same as buckwheat groats. Rolled oats may be used instead. ROLLED OATS WITH CRANBERRY SAUCE. Boil two cups of rolled oats with a quart of water and a teaspoon of salt for 20 minutes. Cover and set in the oven, or cook on the stove for about 40 minutes. Remove from the fire, add a piece of butter and a few drops of lemon juice. Serve on soup plates, pour over it cranberry sauce, prune or apricot jam. Eat cold boiled bacon with it, or raw celery or nuts at the end of the meal. It is good for dinner or breakfast. RYLAX WITH PRUNE JAM.