Domestic

New Zealand Tablet, 24 August 1911, Page 1657

Domestic

By Maureen.

Bur Bags.

Newspapers folded to "several thicknesses and sewn into large bags are very useful for protecting furs. Moths have a great dislike to printers’ ink. Care should be taken to sew up the top of the bag as securely, as the sides. , .

Very Good Lemonade.

To make good lemonade: Dissolve 31bs of sugar in* 3 pints of boiling water; add 4oz of citric acid and loz of soluble essence of lemon. Bottle and use when required. To use, put one tablespoonful of the syrup in a tumblerful of cold water.

Rhubarb Leaves.

Few people know that rhubarb leaves are as wholesome as turnip tops or spinach. They should be boiled in the usual way, and, like turnip tops, partaken of in moderation.

Swiss Eggs.

Butter eight china baking cases, put a small teaspoonful of grated cheese at the bottom of each one, and add a little seasoning. Break eight eggs carefully, keeping the yolks whole; drop one in each case, cover with a small teaspoonful of grated cheese, add a little seasoning; place a small piece of butter on the top, and bake until set. Serve hot.

Ermine Fur.

Ermine fur, so popular just now, may be cleaned at home very effectively. Moisten some bran slightly with warm water, use a piece of white flannel for rubbing purposes, and continue until the bran is dry. Then take a piece of fine white muslin, dip it in the same warmed bran, and rub again. Shake repeatedly to remove all dust, and put in a white muslin bag before covering with newspaper.

To Clarify Fat for Frying.

It is always advisable to have a nice bath of fat ready for deep frying, as so many appetising dishes may be prepared in this way. Get from 41bs to Gibs of'fat scraps, cut it up into small pieces, put in a stewpan, and cover with water; allow to boil till all the water evaporates and the fat is left, the skin and pieces rising to the top. The scum should be frequently removed, and when the water has all evaporated the bubbling will have ceased and the liquid becomes quite still. Allow this to cool, and strain into a clean bowl ready for frying. When using deep fat, the same bath may be used for fish or sweets without in any way affecting the fat, providing care is taken to strain each time after using.

Flannels.

Flannel well washed the first time will be soft and satisfactory for the whole time of its wear afterwards. Even a wrong method of washing will have far less effect upon it than upon new flannel, because it has settled into the form it will keep; the hairy edges on all the fibres have also settled themselves down, so to speak, and will with difficulty become entangled unless downright bad usage forces them to be so. Cold water rinsing will always cause shrinking and fetting. The rinsing must always be done in softened, slightly lathered water, not in plain water. A little soap-jelly and borax must soften this final water. The garment must be hung up by the band. Even rightly washed flannel will felt in drying if hung the wrong way, so that the water drips against the nap. Drying in wind, or by hot fire is bad. New flannel once Washed wrongly will never be satisfactory. Proper washing afterwards will not redeem the first faults, nor make the matted hairs come undone. It always remains hard and unyielding.