Household Hints

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 294, 14 September 1910, Page 6

Household Hints

A REMEDY FOR SORE THROATS. An excellent gargle is made of bammamelis (witch haze), glycerine and water, three teaspoonsful of hot water, two of witch hazel, and one of glycerine. Children should be taught how to gargle the throat. There are not a few adults who declare their inability to use a gargle. It is mere fancy on their part, and the indulgence of it may cause them unnecessary suffering when sore throat is contracted; a timely gargle at this time will frequently arrest inflammation. A handy gargle can be made of the water drained from scalded sage leaves —a good handful —some vinegar, and if procurable half a giass of port wine. The prevailing custom of wearing fur necklets out of doors and then suddenly removing them on coming into the house is a prolific source of sore throat. It is wiser never to begin to wrap up the throat much, because this renders it very sensitive to cold. Women accustomed to wear low bodices in the evening say their uncovered necks cause them no discomfort. It is surprising what custom can effect in this direction, and in endless other ways besides. For an incipient cold onion gruel.is most excellent. Slice a large onion and boil it in the quantity of water required for gruel. When the onion is tender drain off the water and put in sufficient fine oatmeal to thicken, previously mixed smooth in cold water; add a small lump of butter and two or three peppercorns. Boil the gruel for a few minutes, then add salt to taste. Some persons mince the onion fine and add it to the gruel.

RECIPES. Lettuce - Celery Soup.—This is a delicious combination. Use the white tops and coarse stalks of celery. Put one cupful of it after it has been cut into tiny pieces into a stevvpan and three cupfuls of cold water; stew gently until celery is tender, adding enough water to have at least two cupsful when done. Mash celery throueh a coarse sieve and put this and the water in which it was cooked on the fire again, and add two bunches of lettuce. This should be cut into shreds with scissors and then chopped rather fine. Add one minced onion and one tablespoonful of minced parsley and a blade of mace. Simmer slowly 20 minutes, then add this to a cream sauce, made of one teaspoonful of butter, two of flour, and one cupful of milk. When ready to serve add one-half cupful of cream mixed with one well-beaten egg yolk. Do not strain. Apple Compote.—Required: Six or eight apples, three-quarters of a pound of lump sugar, one small pot of red currant jelly, crystallised cherries, ratafia biscuits. Peel, core, and halve some good apples of equal size, put them into cold water at once to keep their colour. Make a syrup with the sugar and one pint and a-half of water; flavour to taste, and then put in the apples and allow them to cook slowly till tender. Lift them out carefully, and arrange on a glass dish. Add the jelly to the syrup, reduce it by quick boiling, strain, and pour round the apples. Decorate with crystallised cherries and ratafia biscuits, and serve cold. Stewed Knuckle of Veal with Sharp Sauce.—A small knuckle of veal, one carrot, one onion, half a head of celery, 20 peppercorns, a bunch of sweet herbs, and a small blade of mace. For the sauce half a pint of melted butter sauce, one dessertspoonful of tarragon vinegar, one large tablespoonful of chopped piccalilli. Well wash and scrape the veal, place it in a saucepan, cover with cold water, and boil up. Skim thoroughly, and then add the vegetables, spices, and herbs. Simmer gently for two hours or longer, according to the joint, and serve with the sharp sauce poured over. To make the sauce, have the melted butter sauce made with water, and then stir in the tarragon vinegar and pickle. Heat, and it is ready for use. Peach Dumplings.—Take one cupful of flour, one teaspoonful of butter; mix with a little milk and drop from teaspoon into hot syrup; cover and boil ten minutes, and serve with whipped cream. Ginger Wafers. One-half cupful butter, one cupful sugar, two teaspoonsful ginger, one saltspoonful soda, one-half cupful milk, one pint flour, spread it thin on a buttered tin, and bake in a moderate oven. Cut while hot into squares.

The Commissioner of Crown Lands notifies the sale by auction on September 30th, at his office in Auckland, of a section in the Rangaroa village settlement. Plans may be seen at the local post office, or be obtained from him.