The Housekeeper.

Evening Post, Volume LXXX, Issue 62, 10 September 1910, Page 11

The Housekeeper.

A Hint on Mending. — To mend a voile or other thin material which has become torn, procure a piece of court plaster slightly larger than the torn part, and as near the same colour as possible to the material. Damp the plaster and place under the tear, taking care to lay the edges of the cloth neatly together, then press with a weight till dry. The rent will hardly be perceptible then. A Use for Linoleum Scraps. — A very useful way to use up odd pieces of floorcloth or linoleum is io cut a piece the size of kitchen or scullery table, fix at one side with a tack or 'two to prevent slipping 1 . This will be found to save a good deal of scrubbing in keeping a good table white, as the floorcloth only needs washing or wiping; and when used to cover an old or very stained table greatly adds to appearance and comfort, especially if a piece can be found to tone with paint or paper of kitchen. How New Blankets shpuld be Washed. — Cover blankets with cold water into which you have sprinkled six good handfuls of oatmeal, and steep two hours. Put through wringer, and shake all oatmeal off. Then mix a penny packet of lux in a tub of hot water and shake them about in it, rubbing all dirty parts; put through wringer again. Repeat the same in clean water, and finish off with lukewarm water with some blue in it. You will be astonished how easy they are to wash after steeping them with the oatmeal. Hint about a Silk Hat. — When a gentleman's silk hat becomes spotted with rain or ruffled hold it before a fire, and rub the nap firmly and evenly in the right direction with a soft velvet pad, and it will look almost as well as if it had been ironed. Toys. — When baby lies crowing upon his back in the crib do not distract him by showing him something bright — at ! least not until his restlessness demands more amusement. Not until the sixth month is there much comprehension of size, distance, or colour; therefore, the simpler the objects presented, as a strip of bright coloured cloth, a building block, or plain rattle, the more the baby will acquire by his observation of them, and 11 the less fatigue will follow. Baby's playthings should never be elaborate or complex. Who has not seen an infant that cannot creep, set upon the floor with an array of little things about it sufficient to puzzle an adult, and left to its own devices? The utter inability to mentally grasp them all will often cause it to fall asleep from sheer exhaustion, or it begins to cry. When such a child throws away one thing after another and refuses to be comforted, it needs either a nap, because of mental fatigue, or to be lifted up, made comfortable, and set down again in another -position, because of muscular fatigue. A severe let-alone policy should be applied to all infants for the first year, and even until they are two years old. It is always a great physiological wrong in these first yoars to frequently encourage a baby to laugh or play, even moderately, for . his brain is not yet mature enough. Loose Knife Handles. — To fix handles to blades, fill the cavity in the handle twothirds full of mixed resin and brick dust. Then heat tho shaft of the knife, and >vhilo very hot press it into its place, rlold it till quite firmly set. A Good Adhesive. — To .nake a mucilage similar to that used on postage stamps and envelopes, dissolve two ounces of gum dextrine in five ounces of' hot water, and add one ounce of acetic acid 'and one ounce of alcohol. RECIPES. Lemon Pie. — Take tho grated rind and juice of one lemon, the yolk of one egg, three-quarters of a cup of granulated sugar, and half a cup of boiling water, and bring them to the boil on the stove. Add a tablespoonful of cornstarch (cornflour) mixed with a little water. Vor this and the two following pies, bake a crust of good short pastry on a tin pie plate, and fill it with the mixture. The white of an egg may be used for frosting both the lemon and cream pie. Ricn Custard Fritters.— Beat up the yolk of four eggs with a tablespoonful of dry floui, grated nutmeg, a pinch of salt, a small wineglass or brandy. Add to this half a pint of cream. Sweeten j it and bake in a small dish. When quite J cold cut into slices. Dip each into a batter made with two eggs, a gill of cream, and enough flour to thicken. Then fry lightly in boiling lard. Drain free from fat and serve with any jelly. Almond Pudding. — Melt and beat 3oz of Dutter, add 3oz of castor sugar, half a cupful warm milk, 3oz breadcrumbs, one egg, and two drops of almond flavouring. Then pound finely blanched almonds and add to the mixture. Put into a pie-dish and bake in a moderate oven for 20 minutes. Savoury Sandwich— Cut several slices of brown bread, and spread lightly with fresh butter. Chop finely two hardboiled eggs and put them into a basin with some picked leaves of chervil, tarragon, and a few blades of chives. Mix the wholo well together, with a little caper vinegai, and season with cayenne pepper. Spread the mixture lightly upon every other slice of bread and butter. Now take a dozen fillets of blanched anchovies, cut them into long, narrow srrips, and place three upon each slice. Cut each sandwich into four pieces, and pop a sprig of chervil upon each. How to Pickle Onions (by request) — First peel the onions, and if large slice them thinly, place in a large jar and sprinkle each layer with salt and a little caj'enne popper; cover with vinegar, which should first bo boiled with a- few cloves, ancl only put on the onions when cold. This pickle should be ready for use in fourteen days. Cherry Cake — Ingredients: One , pound flour, half-pound castor sugar, five eggs, six ounces glace cherries, teaspoonful of vanilla. Method: Beat the butter and sugar to a cream, add the flour and eggs alternately; but do not beat the eggs, drop each one separately into a cup and then into the mixture. Stir well together before adding the cherries and the vanilla flavouring. Grease the tin and Dour in the mixture, allowing an hour or more for baking in a very quick oven to start with, as the fruit being heavy will sink if the calce is slowly cooked. Family Seed Cake — Ingredients: Quarter pound flour, three ounces sugar, three ounces butter, 1 three eggs, one teaspoonful baking-powder, two ounces caraway seeds. Method: Rub tho butter into the flour and add the caraway seeds and the sugar. Beat up the eggs thoroughly and add to the flour, fatirring in tho baking-powder at the last. Line the cake-tin with kitchen paper or grease well, and pour in the mixture and bake for three-quarter* of an hour in a quick oven. The Pill in the "bottle of Wood, (Laxo-Tonic, of course, understood), The Pill for the nation, The Pill for creation, The Pill that does everyone good. Laxo-Tonic Pills. 10J,d and Is (id. Obtainable at all chemists and stores. Advt. TO CURE INFLUENZA COLDS. If you want to drive that nasty influenza cold right out of your system, there's just one quick and efficient remedy —that is, Baxter's Lung Prc-erver. It will do it for you, quickly and completely. Don't suffer any longer, but get Baxter's to-day. Tho ljT^ptl "zed bottle ia the best value. —Advttt