WOMEN'S NOTES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 182, 3 July 1937, Page 12

WOMEN'S NOTES.

NEEDLEWORK. , i (By Aliss Alary Tallis.) 1 Get ready for summer.—Unless your ; holiday will be spent where you can . I bathe straight from the house —and even [ then on “day-out” excursions—you will want, for carrying swim-suit and cap, a roomy waterproof bag. A good i idea is to make this from two large : pretty face-cloths, striped in various . pastel colours and to buy two match- ; I ing towels at the same time for a i bathing-wrap en suite. These towels can usually be picked up cheaply at the summer sales. To make the bag, lay the two face-cloths together, wrong sides touching, and seam on the right •side down the lower half of each and along the bottom. Line with a single ! strip of American cloth matching one lof the stripes in the towelling. Lay this inside the joined face-cloths, and seam all thicknesses together down the lower half of each side to form a bag. Bind over the upright seams down the sides and also hind Die side openings. Set the tops of hag and lining into large wooden handles. The matching bathing wrap is simplicity itself, and as the towels are not cut they call he taken to pieces after the holiday for ordinary bathroom use. Seam the towels together side by side. Four inches below the top edge (the strips go inn downwards) form a casing by stitching a wide tape right across oil the 'wrong side. Run a length of thick white piping cord through this to draw up the wrap round the neck. If vour holiday is to he spent chiefly lazing in the garden at home, or in a punt, an American cloth cushion which laughs at rain and dew and. is easily wiped, will he a comfort-making asset. It requires J yard of American cloth, a scrap in a contrasting colour for the applique, and kapok or shredded newspapers for stuffing.. Cut two 18-inrh squares of American cloth. For the applique trace a suit- . able bold des’gn from a magazine or from a simple applique transfer, and j cut nut in the contrasting colour. Ap- ; ply it to the centre of one cushion j square bv overcasting it down with j black embroidery wool. Overcast the two squares together in the same way, and stuff.

HEALTH. Coffee is a nerve sedative. —Coffee is very similar to tea in its effects, Caffein and theein are almost identical. Coffee is slightly more stimulating and exciting then tea, and causes insomnia in a proportion of people. In many cases it is taken far stronger than is tea. and black coffee contains more of the drug than does tea. Breakfast coffee is usually weaker, and is more nourishing than tea because it contains so much milk. Many people in Europe and America rely on coffee as their stimulating and nerve sedative, and they do very well on it. It is only taken in New Zealand in relatively small amounts and, on Lhe whole, tea is a more suitable drink 'or general use in this climate. Cocoa ind chocolate contain the bronin, which is similar to theein ami caffein. It is more nuitritious than either tea or '•offee, but is similar in other respects. The question of excessive drinking of cocoa docs not arise in New Zealand, ns its use is very limited. Any of the above-mentioned beverages can bo taken in excess with ill-effects on the nerves and digestion, and the individual capacity to absorb any of them is variable. Oil the whole, their use is beneficial, but they must be taken fresh and not in strong solution. If they cause tremors or insomnia the quantity should be reduced. AYitli proper care they are beneficial to mankind. COOKING. New and tasty for slipper. —Beef Eggs: Alince 4oz. cooked beef and add a pinch of salt, pepper and } toaspo.onftil of onion powder, or 1 small onion chopped. very fine, and 1 teaspoonful of mixed herbs; make the mixture moist by adding just enough gravy, or something similar. Alasli Jib. of cold potatoes and add 1 well-beaten egg; mix this very thoroughly with the potatoes and form into egg-shapes. Alake a well in the centre and put m a little of the mixture (meat), cover with potato and remould into an ogg 6hape. Fry in piping hot fat until golden brown each side. Spaghetti and tomato: This docs not need a great deal of attention during the cooking. I Break Jib. of spaghetti in lengths of \ about 4 inches, put into fast-boiling salt water, add 1 teaspoonful of I powdered garlic and cook until tender, which will take about 20 minutes. | Pour off the water, stir in enough tomato puree to taste and pile on a ! hot dish. Serve with it a howl of grated cheese ; Parmesan for preference but cheddar is verv good. Some people object to garlic in food, but that may be because the flavour has ' been too strong: if garlic is used with discretion it makes the dullest dish aj gastronomic delight. Tomato tit hits: These are served in rameqtiins. Slice ! 2-3 tomatoes, allowing 2 slices for each i ramoquin, and fry them gently ini butter, but do not fully coolc. Put one in each ramequin, pour in some of the

hot butter; break an egg over it, and put another slice of tomato on this, shake a teaspoonful of grated cheese over, and cook for 4 minutes in a moderate oven.