READERS' EXCHANGE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23275, 18 February 1939, Page 7 (Supplement)

READERS' EXCHANGE

BOTTLING TOMATOES Two readers have kindly sent their methods of bottling tomatoes. E.L;, Bay of Islands, recommends the following:—Slice the tomatoes and fill the jars with them. Then add 1 teaspoon of salt to erery teacup of water, boil for a few minutes, then <ool. Add a little of this to each bottle of tomatoes and boil the j;ame way as peaches. Fill the bottles to overflowing with the brine and seal.

"For bottling tomatoes," writes Mrs. K.K.D., "I put sound fruit in an enamel saucepan with a very little water, about quarter of teacup. Put the lid on and let them cook gently till tender. Theii bottle in the same way as you Would peaches, adding no salt. They make sufficient juice of their own to supply all the liquid needed. The great secret, I think, is to make the juice overflow the jars, as this keeps out the air. Thanks are due also to E.L., "Never Fails," Mrs. C.W. (Otorohanga), and Mrs. D.M.C. (New Lynn) for more peach-preserving recipes, which will be kept for future use, as some were published last week and space is precious. Waterproofing Car Cover Mr. R.6.W. has kindly sent the following instructions for making a good waterproofing mixture, which he says he has used himself for years with excellent results: —Add 1 white of egg to every pint of raw linseed oil, mix thoroughly, and apply to .the material with a soft brush. No. 10 oz. duck is specially recommended as a good material which will eive splendid service. Laurelberry Jam Regarding her recipe for this unusual jam as better than one previously published, which she thinks would be very thick and too strongly flavoured with almond, Mrs. R.F.W. (Waihi) has sent, tho following:— Ingredients:' 51b. laurelberry, Jib. sugar to each pound of berries, 2 cups of water and the juice of 1 large lemon. Method: Put berries and water in preserving pan, bring to the boil and boil for quarter of an hourbefore adding sugar and lemon juice. Remove as many atones as possible while the boiling is going on or the almond flavour is too strong. Test a little on a saucer to find out when done. Requests Drying Peaches.—Could anyone please give G.A.S. a reliable recipe for drying peaches for winter use; also a good mix-' ture to put with home-grown tobacco for a pipe-smoker? (Many thanks for hint, which " ill be used soon Bottling Beans. Mrs. IV.E.F. is worried because her beans arc not keeping. They were picked fresh from the garden, sliced, and put into glass jars with alternate layers of salt, more being added as thgy went down in the brine and the lids being put on lightly without rubbers. What is wrong?