SOME IDEAS FROM SWITZERLAND

New Zealand Listener, Volume 7, Issue 179, 27 November 1942, Page 11

SOME IDEAS FROM SWITZERLAND

EAR Aunt Daisy,-In a recent Listener you appealed for subStitute recipes for potatoes. I am really glad I can help you with this, as you have often helped me in times past. I can truly say that potato shortage does not embarrass me. I come from Switzerland, and here are some of the things we eat instead of potatoes. Yeast Pancakes 1 lb. flour; 1 pint of milk; 1 egg; a teaspoon salt; 42 oz. compressed yeast. Mix the salt and flour in a basin, make a hollow in the middle, pour in the lukewarm milk which has been thoroughly mixed with the yeast and egg. Stir until

all the flour is stirred in; then beat for a few minutes, and let the dough rise, well covered, in a basin for about an hour. Stand it in a warm place. Drop tablespoonfuls into the frying pan, and fry brown on both sides, for about ten minutes. They require to be served with rather moist vegetables, or stew, etc. These pancakes are delicious, and crunchy, and very satisfying. This quantity makes about 20 pancakes. Bread-balls Take about a small loaf of stale bread, and cut away the hard crusts, top and bottom. Soak well in cold water, and then squeeze dry. Melt loz. butter in a pot, gently fry 1 tablespoon onion, and the same amount of parsley. Add the squeezed bread, and stir well over the fire until it forms a ball. Take off the fire, and when cool, add salt, nutmeg, etc. to taste. Then add 2 tablespoons of dry breadcrumbs, and 3-4 eggs well beaten. Roll the mixture into balls-it should make about 25 or 30and put them into boiling salted water. Keep the lid on the pot, and let them boil gently about 5 minutes. Cook an "experimental ball" first, to make sure the mixture is right. Should it fall to pieces, add more breadcrumbs. (Mine have always behaved, though!) Semolina Slices Bring to the boil 1 cup of water and 1 cup of milk, with salt to taste. When boiling add 1 cup of semolina. Stir briskly until the mixture leaves the sides of the pot. Take off the fire, add cheese, parsley, or chives if liked, also ul. beaten egg. Spread about an inch

thick on a flat dish and let it get cold. Cut into even wide fingers, dip in beaten egg, and fry golden brown. Rolled Oat Omelettes Make a very stiff porridge. When cold, add 1 egg yolk per small cup of porridge. Then add any seasoning such as pepper, nutmeg, salt, etc. Beat egg white stiff, and fold in lightly. Fry omelettes of this batter. Don’t make them too large or too thin, Chive Balls These are ever so good. Half a cup of butter; 1 cup of hot water; 1 cup of flour; 3 eggs. Place the butter and water on to heat, and when it boils, add the flour, and stir until the mixture forms a ball. Remove from the heat, add one egg immediately. When cold, add ‘the other two eggs, salt and pepper to taste, and 2 tablespoons of chopped chives. Drop teaspoonfuls of the mixture into hot deep fat, and fry golden brown. Makes about 20 balls. These are only the most popular potato substitutes in our family. I can let you have more recipes, should you care for them. Framing Pictures Here is a brainwave. I was not able to get passe-partout for framing some pictures. So I bought sticking plaster instead. And what a neat and pleasant job it made! , Please can you tell me how best to clean these sticking plaster frames, as they have become soiled by flies. "Swiss M iss" (Frankton). Very many thanks for your kindness in telling us of some of your own Swiss dishes. The Daisy Chain will be very pleased to try them, I know. Now for cleaning the marks from the sticking plaster--methylated spirits or turpentine is best for this. Moisten a cloth slightly, and rub the marks. Do not let the plaster get too wet with the spirits, though, as it may make the plaster come off. That is one way to remove sticking plaster from the skin-soak it in methylated spirits! If the sticking plaster is white, you could perhaps sponge it with warm ‘soapy water, and a good bath cleaner, or cleaning soap. Peroxide or ammonia would also help to clean it. Would it be a good idea to have coloured passe-partout substitute frames, by painting the sticking plaster with different coloured Indian Inks? ~ 7