COMFORT IN THE BUNGALOW KITCHEN

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 12, 5 April 1927, Page 5

COMFORT IN THE BUNGALOW KITCHEN

A PRACTICAL LITTLE ARTICLE. Present-day designing means that there are no odd corners left over. We need to be very careful not to introduce any domestic appliances without finding out if there is room for them. Expensive oil cookers are as reliable and efficient as gas stoves, and worth their rather heavy initial cost; but much may be accomplished with a couple of inexpensive oil stoves, one for meat or fish, whilst the second, with the addition of a “steamer,” will account for a couple of vegetables and a pudding. It is more convenient to have two stoves in use rather than one of larger size, ns there is so little saucepan room on the best of them. A small, independent stove leaves us free to accomplish an omelet or a fryingpan grill, or even a pot roast, with ease and safety. Gas, alas! is by no means general in bungalows, particularly of the holiday variety, and electric cookers, needing their special sauceparis, are still the joy of the privileged few. The little coal-using kitchen range has taken on quite a new lease of life. Up-to-date models •are easy to light, roast and bake to perfection, and almost make us resigned to the “bother” of a coal fire. When ordering in supplies, it is well to remember that wood lives somewhat vaguely in an outside woodyard, and that o- is apt to come in lumps that look astonishingly large near the tiny kitchen stove. It pays to dry all kindling wood almost crisp before use, and to have a surnly of attractively small knobs of coni at hand, as these little chimneys quickly get damp ir. unfavourable weather. Once “going,” these tiny stoves heat up oven and hot-plate marvellously quickly, and, if the stove is studied, cook splendidly. They seem always very “fast,” so it is a good thing to have some slack coal at hand to steady them down if necessary. It is well to keep only such supplies as are really needed in the house, as larder and cupboard room are usually strictly limited. Should the larder be built out, beware of dampness attacking your stores. Lengths of butter muslin, soaked in cold water, and fixed at the larder window, will lower the temperature materially in summer, and an outside safe in a cool position will be a further help.