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New Zealand Herald, Volume XII, Issue 4270, 21 July 1875, Page 3

Sleepless people should court the sun. The very worst soporific is laudanum, and the very best sunshine. Therefore it is very plain that poor sleepers should pass as many hours in the sunshine, and as few as possible in the shade. Many women are martyrs, and yet do not knowit. They shut the sunshine out of their houses and hearts, they wear veils, they carry parasols, and they do all iwssible things to keep «ff the subtlest and yet most potent influence which is to give them strength and beauty and cheerfulness. Flavorings.—Good flavorings are a most desirable addition over the cooking of olden times, when spices were the chief resort. These, however, are somewhat expcnsive,and thus many are deterred from using them in the common cooking of cakes, custards, puddings, etc. But much can be done to help the matter by making some at least of ou own " extracts. Vanilla beans are not expensive, and these boiled in milk flavor dishes nicely, and we think that the beans put into spirits would give a good extract at little cost. Lemon, which is a more general favorite, can be easily made, and, when lemons are cheap, at a very small expense. Take the peel off, say of three or four lemons, and bruise or chop tine, and put it into a pint bottle, fdling the bottle with good spirits, and in a few days you will have a strong '' extract" and at a cost of one quarter of what the small bottles of the same amount would cost. To do this economically, the right season of the year, when lemons are low priced must be chosen, and then enough can be made to last the year. The oil of bitter almonds is also inexpensive, but great care must be taken in using this, as it is a violent poison, and needs but a mere trifle to flavor pudding, custard, or other sauce, for which it is desirable. It is well to reduce a little of the oil, as for an essence, before using. To those fond of flavorings, these hints may be acceptable and lead others to experiments of their own.