READERS' EXCHANGE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23157, 1 October 1938, Page 6 (Supplement)

READERS' EXCHANGE

WASHING * BLANKETS Mrs. F.C. (Claudelands) says she has used the following method of washing blankets in cold water for years, and her own aro in porfeet condition. Dissolve Alb. good household soap in about 1 quart of water. Add to it three rounded tablespoons of borax dissolved in about 1 pint of water. Put this into a tuMul of cold water—enough for six blankets, Steep them all night in this and in the morning rinse well through several waters and hang out. If preferred, enough of the soap mixture may bo added to the water 1o make a good lather aud the.v may be washed without overnight soaking. M.H. uses a soap "jelly" mado similarly but adds it to warm water with one or two teaspoons of ammonia and then kneads and squeezes the blankets in this, using a little blue in the Inst rinsing water. Making Rum Babas Put in a deep dish a sponge cake three or four days old, make a hole in the centre and pour into the hole and over tho cake six tablespoons of rum mixed with sufficient sweet wine or, sherry to soak the eako thoroughly. Then blanch and cut 2oz. sweet almonds into strips, stick them all over the cake and pour round it 1 pint of custard. To make this put a pint of milk 3oa. sugar and the rind of half a lemon over a gentle heat, and bring almost, but not quite, to boiling point. Whisk well 8 eggs, and when tho milk has cooled a little, stir in the eggs, strain mixture into a jug and plnco in a pot of boiling water. Stir one way till it thickens, but nevor let it boilTake oil fire and stir in 1 tablespoon of rum. and pour round cake. An improvement is to whip some cream and pilo it over the top of the cake, setting the almonds in this. Questions and Answers Preserving lemons: P.O. wants to know the best way to preserve lemons. (Sorry, but queries are not answered by private correspondence, except when a trade address is involved.) Suet Dumplings: Could anyone please tell "Bachelor" how to make and cook really light suet dumplings "just like pother used to make?" His own refuse to reach that lofty standard and he would bo therefore grateful for some kindly advice,