HOME CIRCLE.

Southern Cross, Volume 25, Issue 23, 22 September 1917, Page 2

HOME CIRCLE.

WILLING TO DO HER BIT. (By "Oriel" in the Melbourne Argus). "I am quite willing to do ray share on the wharves for my own boy's sake, though I am grey-headed and only five foot nothing." —From a woman correspondent's letter. Five foot nothing and hair of grey; And fearless eyes though not so bright As might have been in a former day, Look out on life with a steady light. A soldier's mother, and ready, too, A part in the Empire's cause to take: To. do what unused 1 rands can do In willing toil '"for her own hoy's sake." Five foot nothing. (It might perchance Have been a couple of inches more When a tiny urchin, now in France. • Played with his soldiers on the floor). But every Inch of the five foot's gameTo face the task and see it" through. And thereby bring the blush, of shame To sullenly skulking six foot two. Five foot nothing of true blue stuff. That scorned when put to the test to i shun The patii of duty, though e'er so rough—= ■A worthy mother of worthy sorb When treason whispers throughout the land. And evil counsels tlie people sway. It's good to grasp the helping hand Of "five foot nothing and hair of grey."

LITTLE THINGS ABOUT THE HOUSE. How to make Celery Crisp. When celery that has been kept a day or tsvo loses its freshness, stand it in writer to which a little lemon juice has been added. You will find that the acid brings back the crispness without destroying the flavour. Tea Strainer Pin Cushion.

Make a pin cushion out of an old tea strainer. Cover it with,.dark:material after stuffing it with, cotton, and barking it with cardboard. Gather ribbon round the edge of the strainer in a frill and fasten a bow of baby ribbon to the handle.

Test for Tinned Foods. When you buy tinned foods of any kind, examine the tin carefully to see if the sides bulge at,all. If they do refuse to accept if. as bulging of the tin denotes . the presence of gas. which renders the contents unfit for consumption.

To Keep Marmalade Airtight. Beat the white of an well, brush pieces of white paper over with it, and cover the marmalade jar with the paper while the preserve is still hot. This will keep it airtight. To Cool the Oven.

If the oven is too hot place a basin of cold wafer in it. Tins will quickly reduce the temperature in the oven, and the steam from the water will not injure anything that is being' cooked, with the exception of puff paste.

To Remove Tacks Easily. When tacks are driven too far into a hardwood floor, to be removed easily a drop of oil poured on and around the lack will prove a wonderful help. The oil acts as a lubricant on the rusty head and hardwood surface beneath. RECIPES, Pudding Without Eggs. Five tablespoonfuls of sago, one cupful of breadcrumbs, a cupful and a half of milk, one tablespoonful of raisins or currants, two tablespoonfuls of treacle, one teaspoonful of bicarbonate of soda, a little salt. Soak the sago in the milk for two hours. Melt the dripping Mix all the ingredients well together. Pour into a well-greased basin and steam for two hours. Serve with white sauce. Potato Omelette.

Wash, peel, and boil a large mealy potato. Drain and rub through a sieve, beat up three eggs with a tablespoonful of cream, mix with the sieved potato and season with .salt, pepper, and a grate of nutmeg. Melt some lard and butter mixed in equal proportions in a frying pan. Pour in the mixture and stir, and when about to set, and well browned, fold in half, slide it on to a very hot dish, and serve at once. This is an excellent supper dish. Prune Trifle. *

Simmer 1 lb of prunes until they are soft, press them through a hair sieve, sweeten to taste, dissolve 1 oz. of gelatine in a little hot -water, and stir into a pulp. Whip half a pint of cream or a tin of preserved cream,, and fold it into the fruit when it is about" set.

Line a mould with sponge lingers, pour in the fruit mixture, and cover the top with more sponge fingers. Leave in a coed place to set. turn out, cover with cold custard, and serve. Baked Stuffed Apples. Core some large apples and fill the centre with raisins and apricot jam. Bake very carefully in a slow oven to prevent the apples bursting. Dish. and sprinkle with castor sugar. Candied peel, dates, or marmalade, may he used as fillings. This variety of linked apples especially appeals to children, who love the idea of finding something in the middle of the apple.