Household Hints

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 266, 8 June 1910, Page 3

Household Hints

HOME-MADE WEDDING GIFTS. A home-made wedding present used to stir up feelings of anything but gratitude in the heart of the bride. It probably took the form of a cushion of mediocre downiness and startling hues, or of a perfectly useless set of "duchesse mats," either of which has to be drawn into prominence when the donor arrived en visite, and which — between-times —suffered from judiciously meted out neglect. Now that embroidery has become a special cult, however, a gift which is evolved expressly by clever fingers is a totally different matter. The mere fact that it is unique and distinctive counts, moreover, for much in these days, and the beautiful needlework pictures which are a favourite gift at present are nothing if not works of art.

HIGH HEELS AND POINTED TOES. It always has been, and probably will be, impossible (says "Nursing Times") to persuade the majority of women that nature did not intend them to wear shoes with high heels, narrow treads, and pointed toes. It is quite possible to walk with comparative comfort and dignity to and from a carriage in such shoes, but.it certainly is not possible comfortably to earn one's living in them The narrow points cramp the toes together, cause corns, and prevent a firm and steady grip of the ground being obtained, while the high heels throw the weight of the body forward upon a part of the foot not not constructed to bear it, with ~ the result that the ligaments in the "waist" of the foot become stretched and weakened, and allow (he bones forming the instep to sink down towards the sole.

RECIPES. Prune Soup.—Wash and soak one and a-half pounds of prunes overnight in four pints of water, and the following day simmer them gently for two hours with one thinly sliced lemon and a stick of cinnamon, and half an hour before serving the soup add a cupful of sago and sugar to taste. The sago must be thoroughly dissolved and enough water added to make the quantity two quarts. Remove the cinnamon before serving the soup. Tomato Paste. —Three large tomatoes, three ounces each of grated cheese and bread crumbs, half an ounce of butter, half an onion (chopped finely), cayenne and salt to taste. Peel the tomatoes, and mash them in a saucepan with the butter and onion. When cooked add the eggs, and stir till thick. Season lightly, and, when off the fire, stir in the cheese and breadcrumbs. Pour into pots, and use for sandwiches.

Irish Potato Cakes.--Half a pound of boiled potatoes (passed through a sieve), three-quarters of a pound of flour, one ounce and a-half of butter, one ounce of yeast, a pinch of salt, one pint of milk. Warm the milk and dissolve in it the yeast and butter, stir into the potato, and, when well mixed, knead in the flour. Put it by the fire to lise for an hour or so. Then shape into small cakes and bake in a moderate oven. Serve hot, split and buttered.

Delicious Semolina Pudding —One pint of milk, one ounce and a-h'alf of semolina, two eggs, sugar and flavour ing to taste. Boil the milk and sprinkle the semolina into it, and simmer till it thickens, stirring so that it does not burn. Let it cool a little, then sweeten and flavour, and stir in the yolks of the eggs. Pour into a greased pie-dish and bake for fifteen minutes. Take out, and cover with the whites of eggs beaten to a Htiff broth. Return to the oven to colour slightly, and serve.