READERS' EXCHANGE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23281, 25 February 1939, Page 7 (Supplement)

READERS' EXCHANGE

KEEPING BEANS FOR WINTER In answer to Mrs. W.E.F.'s tale of woe about her beans not keeping well preserved in salt by the usual method, Mrs. K.C., Onehunga, says that she has had similar trouble in the past, and now always uses the following method, which she has never known to fail:— Slice the beans as for cooking, pack them tightly in mason jars, warmed beforehand in the oven, and fill the jars to overflowing with boiling brine, allowing two desertspoons of salt to one gallon of water. Screw down tho bottles tightly at once. Beans done this way keep for years. To use them, drain off the brine, rinse beans thoroughly in cold water, and hoil without salt, adding just a pinch of soda and a teaspoon of sugar in the ordinary way. This method never fails if the bottles are screwed airtight. M.H. points out that, when using tho earlier method of packing the beans in layers of salt, one should always use an earthenware jar or a_ wooden tub or small cask. Also, it is better in this case not to cut the beans up—if they aro cut up with their inner substance exposed partly to the air, even for a time, they might very well not keep. This method is considered good. Place the young, freshly-gathered and uncutup beans in 3in. layers in a wooden tub or barrel, with a layer of salt between layers on the topmost one. Place a lid with a heavy weight on it over the top layer, and this will keep all close packed and compact till needed for use. Blackberry Syrup Several recipes for blackberry vinegar have already been published for the benefit of an inquirer. Here is one for blackberry syrup which may appeal to some:—2lb. berries, ljjlb. sugar, 1J cups water, loz. citric acid. Mix the acid with the water, pour over the berries, let stand for 24 hours, then strain, and add the sugar, dissolving over the fire, but do not boil. Put in small bottles and cork tightly. Add some to a glass of water- for a refreshing drink. Covers for jam-jars If you run out of screw-top jars, here is a good way to seal down your jam, according to G.H.S. Cut rounds of strong tissue paper (or grease-proof paper), dip them in milk, and cover the jars while tho jam is still hot. If you use two or three layer? for each cover, it will be stronger. These covers come off much more easily than paste when the time comes,to. empty and wash .the jars. Requests Beetroot Wine. —"Tauranga" would be very grateful for a good recipe for beetroot wino. Bottling "Tomatoes.—Mrs. G.H. recently bottled some tomatoes, using the recipe sent by E.L., Bay of Islands. After-two days, however, she found the fruit had sunk, leaving a space of 2in. at the top of the jars. Should she fill up the jars again with more brine? Perhaps E.L. will kindly send her good advice. Ironing Crepe.—Could anyone please tell E.E., Tauranga, how to wash and iron a dress of fairly cheap crepe, as one washed reoently in almost cold soap-flakes was not wearable when dry? Pickling Gherkins. would R.H. Auckland, please send the recipe for pickling gherkins to me, so that it can be published for Mrs. M.McG's and other people's benefit. I have no address to which it can be posted to her. Polishing Paua Shells. Constant Reader would like to know how to cut and polish these for ornaments. Vercigris on Linen Cloth.—Mrs. Mao would be grateful for a remedy to remove verdigris from her tablecloth.