HINTS AND IDEAS

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 189, 11 August 1928, Page 4 (Supplement)

HINTS AND IDEAS

CULINARY SETBACKS.

SALVAGING THE WRECKS!

Even experienced cooks have their "off" days, but in one way the expert has the advantage over the amateur: she knows how to salvage the wrecks! As, for instance, in the case of oversalted soup. The practised hand would peel and wash one or two potatoes, cut them up small, and boil them in the soup for a good ten minutes, adding more water as it boiled away. Also, if [she found that sTie had boiled the fish |too long, so that it fell to pieces, she [would make a little change in the menu. [Not plain boiled fish, but an elegant confection would be served up at table. She would prepare it this way; the skin and bone would be removed from the flaked fish. which would be piled on a hot dish, and kept hot. Then she would erive her best attention to the making of a really nice white sauce, which wonlri be duly poured over the fish. A little cheese erated over the sauce, and an jappetising garnish of chopped capers ■would complete the transformation act.

Then there is the case of the jelly that is so inconsiderate as to break when it i.-, himed out of the mould. '"Can't be helped,' 5 says the philosophical expert. And the jelly is promptly c-hop-Ped —very finely—and then whisked hard till it is frothy. It is ultimatelv served in glasses with whipped cream on top. thus converting a failure to quite a daintily successful sweet.

Tea-time. The first essay at eclairs or cream bun= is a wash-out. Nil desperandum! Whatever they mav look like, the failures need not be entered on the debit =ide of the housekeeping accounts. When they are cold, they can be buttered, like scones, christened French pancakes, and achieve instant tea-table popularity. IF YOUR CURTAINS FADE. I At this time of spring cleaning and j ceneral renovation old and faded cur- | ta?r»«» come in for a Tot of criticism.

Why not dye them? Many people who are quite used to dyeins small silk articles are afraid to tackle lar?e lensrths of c-otton fabrics. But if eare is taken and, a pood, breezy dav chosen, there is no reason why cretonne or casement cloth should-not re2ain its old glory.

If your curtains are of cretonne and the pattern has faded m places 5t is sometimes better to bleach them before dyeing. Firet wash the article tlorotijrhly. then immerse ft in a solution made by difvolvins one tablespoon ful of bleaching powder in a gallon of water. Leave for a minute or two. then take ont and riiwe, returning to the solution and repeating the process until the pattern has disappeared. Strain the Dye. A good quality water dye ehonTd be chosen and the directions on the packet carefully followed. The dye should be strained through rrniglin to insure that no undissolved piecee of dye get Into the water. Make certain that the article to be dyed is perfectly clean and free from soap. Do not try to dye a large curtain in a email bowl. There must be enough room for the material to float about, otherwise it is sure to be streaky,

TO CORRESPONDENTS. ! In answer to an inquiry how to clean, a bath that has been stained green by a califont, we have received the following information, for which we thank the writers. One lady writes that she bad had the same experience, and had tried se\ - eral methods to remove green stains from a bath without success, and at last found a remedy. Procure a tin of Old Dutch Cleanser, sprinkle freely over bath, then rub vigorously with damp cloth, and all stains will be removed. Wash out bath when competed; this method svill not in anyway damage the bath. Another reader writes that she had very good results from using kerosene and whitening freely on a white enamel heth, and removed a green stain made by standing a copper kettle in it. We have also received an intimation from the Auckland Gas Co. that if the [owner of the stained bath will apply to the company, they will send a man to remove the stain free of charge.

Oatmeal Is an excellent and inexpensive medium for softening and beautifying dry, delicate skins. The finest quality oatmeal should be bought by the pound and used as follows: Put a heaped teaspoon into each of several little muslin bags, and squeeze one into a washhand basin three parts full of warm v-'ater till the water becomes cloudy, and then bathe the face and neck in the liquid for a few minutes. It is best to use a piece of Turkey towelling or fine linen for the purpose, as sponges need washing every time after being dipped in oatmeal water, and it is difficult even then to keep them clean.