THE HOUSEWIFE’S CORNER

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVII, Issue 4505, 18 December 1909, Page 3

THE HOUSEWIFE’S CORNER

* To Our Lady Friends : ! RECIPIES. ; Christmas Plum Pudding,— l lb £ of suet; 2 lbs seeded raisins ; Ilb r of currants ; 1 lb of flour ; i lb of moist sugar; 1 oz. of almonds; a round of bread grated finely f a j little lemon and orange peel ; \ a i [teaspoonfulof mixed spice : 8 eggs; f a little salt; £ a teacup of water. , Boil 5 hours. Christmas Cake,a6lbMixturelf lbs of flour ; 1| of butter ; 1| of sugar ; 1J lbs of currants ; 10 ozs 1 mixed peel ; 1 doz. eggs ; 2 ozs chopped almonds. Beat the butter 1 and sugar to a cream, add eggs separately (unbeaten), beat well altogether, then add flour and lastly fruit, peel and almonds. Bake in a good oven for 2 to 3 hours. , Icing for Cake.— To every lb. of icing sugar allow the whites of 4 eggs and 1 oz. of cornflour. Beat the whites to a strong froth, and gradually sift in the sugar, then add the cornflour. Beat the mixture well until smooth ; then with a broad knife lay the icing equally over the cake. It should be placed in a very cool oven, and the icing allowed to dry and harden, but not to colour. Add a little cochineal if pink icing is required.

HINTS FOR THE HOUSE. When peeling apples drop them in cold wafer as they are done, and they will never turn brown. A nice way to fry cold potatoes is to dip them in egg and then bread crumbs, and fry until brown. A little cornflour mixed with the salt will prevent it cakiDg in damp weather. SELECTIONS. OLD CHRISTMAS. The very spiritof the old-fashioned Christmas which unhappily has argely passed away, breathes again in the graphic verses from the pen of the great Sir Walter Scott. In the 26th line the word “ underogating ” means that the nobleman, “ without losing his dignity,” may at this festal season play at games with the bumble villager. Heap on more wood ! —the wind is

chill: But let it whistle as it will, We’ll keep our Christmas merry still. Each age has deem’d the new-born

year The fittest time for festal cheer. And well our Christian sires of

old Loved when the year its course bad roll’d, And brought blithe Christmas back

again Yith all his hospitable train. Domestic and religious rite Gave honour to the holy night ; On Christmas Eve the bells were

ruDg; On Christmas Eve the mass was

sung. That only night in all the year, Saw the stoled priest the chalice

rear. The damsel donn’d her kirtle sheen, The hall was dressed with holy

green ; Forth to the wood did merry-men

m g0 >. To gather in the mistletoe. Then open’d wide the baron’s hall To vassal, tenant, serf, and all ; Power laid his rod of rule aside, And ceremony doff’d his pride. The heir, with roses in his shoes, That night might village partner choose; The lord, underogating, share The vulgar game of “ post and pair.” All hail’d, with uncontroll’a delight And general voice, the happy night, That to the cottage, as the crown, Brought tidings of Salvation down.