What is bread water, and what is it used for?

It is a simple drink from the section "Care of the sick and invalid cookery" in Stor kokebok (1914). Toasted wheat bread is steeped in boiling water, and the liquid is strained off - a mild, easily digestible drink for the sick.

How much bread and water should I use?

40 grams of wheat bread to 1/2 liter of boiling water. That makes one portion.

Why should the bread be toasted first?

Light toasting gives the drink color and a mild toasted flavor. The bread is then placed in a jar and doused with the boiling water.

When should the drink be strained?

Let it steep and grow cold, and only then strain it. Allow about an hour in all.

Bread Water

Bread water from Erken's invalid cookery chapter: 40 g lightly toasted white bread doused with 1/2 l boiling water, left until cold and strained. A cooling drink for the feverish.

Source: Henriette Schønberg Erken, Stor kokebok, 1914-utg. s. 660 (falt i det fri)

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About the dish

A simple, cooling drink for the feverish, from the chapter on nursing and invalid cookery in Henriette Schonberg Erken's "Stor kokebok" (1914). On the same page Erken notes that the feverish want a great deal to drink, and that boiled water becomes flat in taste but can be freshened by whisking it long with a fork.

How to make it

1
Toast the bread
Toast the bread slices lightly, so they take on a faint color but do not burn.
2
Steep
Place the bread in a jar or jug and pour the boiling water over it. Cover.
3
Strain
Let it stand until the drink is completely cold, then strain it. Serve cold.

Changes from the original

Quantities are kept but rendered in modern measures (grams, liters). An unclear fraction in the OCR ("2 l.") is interpreted as 1/2 liter, the usual amount for this type of invalid drink.

Tidsmaskin – hva endret seg?

Velg to utgaver og se hva Henriette Schønberg Erken la til, fjernet eller endret mellom dem.

Fra1914 1949 Modernisert

Til1914 1949 Modernisert

1914 (korrekturlest, s. 660) → 1949 (korrekturlest, s. 793)~50% av teksten endretfjernetlagt til

40 gr. hvetebrød ½ l. kokende ~~vand.~~ vann. Brødet ristes ~~let, lægges~~ lett, legges i krukke, ~~overheldes~~ overhelles med ~~vandet. Siles, naar~~ vannet. Siles når det er koldt.

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Frequently asked questions

What is bread water, and what is it used for?: It is a simple drink from the section "Care of the sick and invalid cookery" in Stor kokebok (1914). Toasted wheat bread is steeped in boiling water, and the liquid is strained off - a mild, easily digestible drink for the sick.
How much bread and water should I use?: 40 grams of wheat bread to 1/2 liter of boiling water. That makes one portion.
Why should the bread be toasted first?: Light toasting gives the drink color and a mild toasted flavor. The bread is then placed in a jar and doused with the boiling water.
When should the drink be strained?: Let it steep and grow cold, and only then strain it. Allow about an hour in all.

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