DOMESTIC REALM

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 10508, 11 February 1928, Page 4

DOMESTIC REALM

By "MARIE."

HOT WEATHER HINTS. CARE (JeT’OOI). In hot weather it is all important to keep food cool, if this is neglected there, will ho waste, because wholesome food turns sour, and there is always the added risk of illness caused by eating tainted food. A cool larder is a great boon, and it must Im kept well ventilated. It is a very good plan to fix a piece of dark green gauze over the window, and on very Jiot, days this can he kept moist. in a small house or Hat where there is no satisfactory larder, u good safe is necessary. Excellent ones ire available with slate shelves, and late linings. The inside til such a

safe, keeps stone-cold on the hottest days. Another useful alternative to a cellar is a water-cooled safe. The. sides of the sale are made, of hessian, and at the top is a small tank which must he kept full of water, into the tank dip small strips of flannel through which water continuously flows to tlie hessian. Thus the four walls are kept perpetually wet, excluding dust and liies and keeping the inside of Hie safe perfectly cool and sweet.

Another idea is a box made of a special kind of tile. The articles to be kept cool are packed inside the box and the lid closed, and the box is then immersed in cold water for a few minutes. Ir is then taken out and evaporation takes place slowly, keeping the contents of i he box cool and fresh. Elies do not like a fresh atmosphere or excessive cleanliness, and the war against them must In' waged pcrseveringly. Window .-ills and shelves should he washed regularly with water containing disinfectant. Elies not only dislike disinfectants hut many pleasant, perfumes. For instance, they will not enter a room where mignonette is growing on the window sill, and if a sponge dipped in hot water is sprinkled with oil ol lavender or oil of geranium those perfumes keep flies away also. A porcelain-topped table is very clean and attractive, but if it is not available tin- next best plan is to cover the table top with white American cloth. Linoleum can also he used, or if preferred, part of the table can he covered with zinc sheeting and the rest with a glass slab. Ju all these eases the tables can be 1-1111-tinually washed. THE MILK BILLY. The milk sour! With the arrival of slimmer comes the problem of milk supply and its preservation, and 111 spite of muoli that has been done regarding it the wail of the housewife is still heard far and wide. The milkman does not always deserve the abuse In- get-. More often than not it is the housekeeper’s own fault that the milk gets into a bad condition. She ha- neglected to clean the hilly properly—many households still stick to the hilly—or perhaps il has been placed where the milk has got heated with the early morning sun. Every housekeeper should, make it her personal task to see that the milk billy is thoroughly cleansed. The easiest method of keeping the billy sweet is to send) it occasionally with a little salt, then well rinse and scald with boiling water, to which has been added a little soda ; clean with boiling water and put to dram. .Milk vessel- should never lie wiped. A pinch of carbonate of soda or sail put into the milk as soon as it arrives will help to keep it sweet, and it should l»' placed in a wide, shallow vessel, or a broad-mouthed jug. It can then he put in a basin of water and covered with thin muslin sufficiently long to dip into the water at each side. If placed in a draught it will .keep sweet on the hottest day. KEEPING SLIAI. COM A rOX-S ENSF. Al FT HODS. It is extraordinary how many women let their figures deteriorate in middle age and then, when they begin to he alarmed by their increasing proportions, they either have resort to drugs, or to expensive forms of massage. Unless excessive fat is caused by illness it is not only possible hut comparatively easy to reduce it witout any drugs or dieting. Personally. I used to weigh over 11 stone, and now l weigh 9st 101 b., simply because T took a common.son.se view of the matter and did not shirk the remedy, writes Lady Kitty Vincent.

Nature never meant anybody to he fat, even in old age, and if you look

at animals in their native state you will find that although they may he somewhat heavier when old. they are never softly fat. The root of the whole matter is not starvation or drugs, but exorcise. When 1 say, “Starvation," I refer to the way in which some people really don’t allow .themselves enough to eat. Of course, if you eat large quantities of sugar cakes and sweets you are working against Nature. You need not dispense with that blessed invention, the early morning eup of tea. You ran even have sugar and cream in it if, after having drunk it, you will go for a sharp walk before breakfast-. A mile is quite far enough, lint you must walk very briskly. Fat a good breakfast and during the morning arrange to have another walk, this time about two miles. The only form of dieting I suggest, is in having a cup ot coffee and some biscuits for luncheon instead of the ordinary heavy meal. As a- matter of fact nothing will make you feel better than this noluncheon plan, and it improves the complexion in a marvellous way. During the afternoon you must take another walk of two miles unless von prefer to skip to a tune of the gramophone. If you prefer the latter alternative, you will find it best to begin by skipping 25 times to begin with, resting till you have regained your breath, and then beginning again until you have totalled 100 skips altogether. After a week or two you will be able to skip 199 times without stopping. You must bo fair with yourself and allow nothing whatever to interfere with your exercise because it is the cumulative effect which is so wonderful. You can eat as much as you want, and at the same time see the pounds slipping oil you if you really walk, hut yon must go at the rate of four miles an hour and must pay no attention to the weather. If you can add swimming to your programme it will ensure an even quicker reduction. Exercise alone will give you hack your youthful figure far more quickly than any other method, but the reason that doctors order their patients to do ‘‘cures’’ is because the latter won id not- think a dull, simple remedy like walking could possibly be really efficacious. -Nature meant u-s to he in a constant state of movement. and if we stoke up the fuel and

, Household Hints

never burn it, it naturally turns into rat-. In time you could take off three or four stone simply by increasing the exercise, but he content with votir normal weight, because you will then feel well in addition to looking well. HOT WEATHER DIET. FOOD VALUES. Everyone wishes to lie cool during the summer months, hut oMen the most ridiculous means are employed in an attempt to “cool ■ it.” <* 11 any hot day you will .-(e a long line ot perspiring people :.t any smia fountain wailing their turn to lie sorted with suit drinks or je<- ei'cani, These soft drinks are, iistitlly composed ot carbonated water flavored v ith syn p and often ice i- eam. The temperature of the body is not lowered in the slightest degree by the <r.jieortions, in fact, alicr tin- first cold feeling in the mom it, the leelmg ot heat distress is always increased !<> a considerable ••stout, wliii-.- the temperature of -he body remain-, approximately ‘•nine. Sum drinks, high in heal units, make tlie circulation ill the nn.ie .-liigm-h and inly add to rues • !!-.ruoilo! L In rein <;) licit, weather the tempera I are ot the body iciiiai'is fairly e -.instant a; PS ■>-o h'grees E:.li:<-iiliet' Your only hope for relief from the uneasiness of a summer day is i<> keep the blood free from heavy food material not needed for the repair ot tissues and to increase elimination ot toxins through the skin and breath. This is best, accomplished by reducing your food to the minimum id necessity, drinking plenty of pure water and wearing ns little clothing as possible. There is no single remedy so valuable ns'plain water, neither too hot nor too cold, and not spoiled hv syrup flavors. Small amount oi pure fruit juices may be .added if desired, blit these should not be additionally swvcV'ned. .Mafic your meats as much as posmble ol Iriuts in season or the leafy green vegetable both cooked and in a salad form. Keep the pores of the skin open by frequent bathing. Nude sun-baths taken each day assist in making more normal radiation, from the body ol the poisonous gases wluch make so niueli trouble by their retention. Dei up early and lake a long walk in the cool of the morning, finishing with a cobl shower bath, and you will be comfortable the rest of the day while others are suffering with the usual perspiratory annoyances. If overweight, you will find this time a good opportunity for reducing. For every pound of llesli you lose will be rewarded with greater,comfort. Study food values and eliminate everything made from flour. If von will do this you will he surprised how coo' the summer will'scem to you. _i blu’e ceilings The famous advice given to those about to marry by •'l'uneli." 'Don’t —is also applicable to experiments with ceilings. Blue ceilings pave been the latest fancy, and they sound well.in theory. The argument that the sky is blue is certainly .convincing, hut somehow the bine always seems much darker than that chosen and the effect is ruin r c.-pri i.v.ng. The blue ceiling is nut a success ir the hands of the average decorator, whatever it mav be when done by a capable artist. So much depend- upon the light, the walls, the carper, and the furniture that to o'tain good effect all i..esp must he c( asideini, otherwise the- ceding v. d 1 dominate them. Experiments in colored ceilings are best conducted m bedrooms, where they are not so much in evidence. Primrose, pale pink or sky blue sound fascinating, but when seen on a ceiling the result is disappointing. White or cream is the customary color for ceilings, and, as is so often the ease, custom has common sense behind it in this instance. GROCERY HUN TS. Don't buy perishable articles such as oatmeal and Hour 111 too large quantities. Don't leave entice exposed to the air. Always keep it in an absolutely air-tight tin. or it will lose its’flavor. Don’t keep dried fruits too long, or they become mouldy and dry. They should be bought in the autumn when the fruit comes in. Don’t buy tinned-goods-that are not of a reliable brand, and beware of tlie tins that bulge, as it is gen orally a sign of fermentation. Don’t forget that soap improves with keeping, and when well dried will go almost as far again as d used when fresh.

-FOR THE SUPPER TARI.I-

Jellied Beef.—A cold meat dish is a great stand-by for a supper, dish, especially if visitors arrive unexpectedly, and jellied beef will keep good for several days. Cut up •’» or Mb. shin of beef and put it into a saucepan with warm water to cover, a little salt, and a good piece of bone or a call's foot. Simmer slowly for several hours or until the meat is perfectly tender. Then strain and chop tlie meat finely. Season highly, mix with the gravy, boil again for half an hour and pour into moulds. When cold thev will turn out in a nice jelly.

Apple Meringue Tart. —.Make an open tart with short crust, anil bake it until crisp anil brown. Then till it with a puree of apples sweetened to taste and' flavored with lemon. Pile a whipped white of egg mixed with sugar on the top, and return the tart to a siow oven until the meringue is dry and of a pale fawn colour. Serve cold. Boston ('ream.—Dissolve one and a-half ounces of powdered gelatine m half a pint of milk. Make a custard with a pint and a-half of milk, the beaten voiles of three eggs and two ounces of sugar. Let it cool slightly and add the dissolved gelatine essence. Whisk the whites of the eggs to a stiff froth, adding two ounces sugar. When the r'fstnrd i = cpiite cool add the whisked whites and heat all together for five minutes. Pour into a wetted mould, and leave in a cold place. W lion firm., turn out and decorate with sweetened whipped cream, and. if desired, chopped lemon or orange jelly.

LEAKY WINDOWS. After a car has run a few thousand miles jg is often found that when a really heavy rainstorm is encountered the windscreen or windows are not so weatherproof as of- yore and that water is entering through hitherto unsuspeteed orifices, to the general discomfiture of the occupants. This may ho (jitiekly and permanently remedied by applying plasticine and rubbing and pressing it well into the suspected joints. It will be found That the linger alone will not push the plasticine sufficiently well down, and a stick of wood of suitable size and shape can be used with advantage.