A Nursery Meal

Pap was the most basic of nursery foods, ubiquitous from weaning through to young childhood. It was usually made with water, but could be made with milk. A typical recipe was one or two pieces of bread crust or two to three tablespoons of crushed rusk or unsweetened biscuit, simmered briefly in water, then puréed with a teaspoon of sugar. Queen Victoria was weaned onto bread and milk – simply boiling milk poured over pieces of white bread. Porridge was another alternative. All were usually eaten for breakfast.