READERS' EXCHANGE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22468, 11 July 1936, Page 7 (Supplement)

READERS' EXCHANGE

TROUBLE WITH A FIREPLACE "Tho red rubs off on people's clothes," wrote E.M.N., concerning her red-ot'hrcd fireplace, and wo have re*reived a number of helpful suggestions on the subject from sympathetic readers. J.T. (Auckland), R.13.E.8. (Wainiauku) and CM', have discovered that if the red ochre is mixed with skimmed milk instead of water it will "stay put." These readers assure E.M.N, that she will have no trouble at all if she tries this method. W.G. (Cambridge) recommends mixing the red ochre with thin boiled starch (when cold). Then Mrs. A.W.M. (Auckland) uses a certain brand of red paint, with which she does her fireplace every year after winter, washing the bricks each day with cold or warm water. The paint always dries hard. "Rotorua," who had the same trouble as E.M.N, with red ocliro, uses a powder which can be bought at any paint- shop. She does her fireplace again about once a fortnight, and advises washing off tho red ochre before applying tho mixture. Thanks aro due to all theso readers for their kind hoi p. Ginger Gems

Dark ginger gcins are made thus by Mrs. A.M. (Pukekohc), who says hers is a good, reliable recipe, which makes three or four dozen gems. She has kept them for a month in an airtight tin. Take Üb. butter, cup brown sugar, cup golden syrup, three eggs, one cup milk, three large cups flour, two teaspoons soda, two teaspoons or more (according to taste) ground ginger, little vanilla if liked. Cream butter and sugar well, add golden syrup, then eggs, well beaten. Beat this all together well. Stir in milk, then add other ingredients sifted. Bake in nice hot oven, and always bake them in patty tins to get better results than gem irons.

Pickled Onions

"1 have found this .method of pickling onions both easy and successful," writes Mrs. D.M.C. (Auckland). Take 61b. onions and mix two tablespoons of salt and four tablespoons of sugar together. Peel onions, then roll in salt

and sugar. Pack tight in jars. Add spices to liking and pour cold vinegar over onions. Seal down and they will be ready for use in a fortnight. The onions do not lose their crispness done this way. Thank you also, "Diana Ann" and "Ilotorua," for your recipes. Milk Chocolate "Diana Ann" (Hamilton) makes milk chocolate this way. Dissolve 4oz. good cocoa in as little water as possible to make a thick paste. Melt loz. gelatine in warm water. Boil three gills of milk with the gelatine, add tho cocoa, and stir all well together. Take from lire, add the beaten yolks of two eggs, and stir again. When cold, pour into a shallow dish, and mark off into squares. REQUESTS "Harold" is still waiting for his recipe for making bread. Can someone help him? llow can "Casabianca" (New Plymouth) renovate her husband's hat by a simple method P Mrs. L. M. (Wellington) finds that when she cooks fruit cakes, which take a long time in the oven, they are inclined to burn on the bottom. She wonders what she can do to prevent this. Mrs. D. (Hamilton) wrote to us about making passe partout pictures for her children's room. If you watch the supplement page, Mrs. I)., you will shortly see an article on the subject, which may help you. We are. glad you like the column.