READERS' EXCHANGE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21888, 25 August 1934, Page 7 (Supplement)

READERS' EXCHANGE

REJUVENATING A BATH A response to " Worried's " S.O.S. has been made by E.S. (Ellerslie), who kindly forwarded the following advice about a discoloured bath. First of all. make sure your taps are not dripping. Then thoroughly clean the bath, removing all traces of grease and soap with soda water, scour with pumice powder and remove any rough or blistered paint. When yoir have rinsed and dried the bath, paint any bare metal with anti-rust priming, then apply three thin coats of flat white undercoating paint and two of enamel at intervals of 24 hours. Do not use the bath for at least a week, and then fill with cold water and let stand a few hours before using. M.H. suggests that if the bath is merely stained you should clean it with fine whiting, a solution of two large spoons washing soda in one pint hot water, or a little hydrochloric acid in a pint of warm water, according to the obstinacy of the stains. The bath must be washed out immediately after the use of soda or acid or the paint will suffer; and you must take care not to burn your hands with the acid. Excellent Puff Pastry The following rich puff pastry may bo of use to " Perserverance," writes M. H. (Auckland): —Put lib. flour in a basin and drop the yolk of one egg, the juice of one lemon and a pinch of salt into the middle of it. Mix well, adding cold water slowly until a flexible paste is formed. ' Take lib. btitter and squeeze as much moisture from it as you can. Then roll it in a cloth till dry. Roll out the paste about Jin. thick and spread little bits of the butter over it with a knife. Fold the edges of the paste over to the middle to enclose as much air as possible and fold again.. Dust the pastry above and below with flour, flour your roller and roll the paste again. Repeat the process of spreading on butter, folding and rolling till all butter is used. Brush the pastry each time before spreading on butter with white of egg to make it flaky, and it is an improvement to leave it a short time in a cool place between each rolling. Roll away from you, not toward you. Since made without baking powder this pastry is improved by being made the day before wanted and left to stand over night, covered, in a cool place. At the last rolling roll out as thin as possible. Paste is best baked in a hot oven and do not open door, if possible, till done. Also try to use the coldest water possible in mixing the flour. It is helpful to cover the pastry with a sheet of greased paper in the oven till it has risen to its full height. Questions and Answers " Dio."—Very many thanks for your contribution. It was just too late for publication with the other cabinet puddings. " Elsa " (Remuera) wishes to express her thanks for the cabinet pudding recipes published last week. K.S. (Epsom) would like a recipe for cheese meringues. Note: Barley sugar and ginger beer recipes are being held over until next week.