USES OF OLIVE OIL.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 566, 2 December 1915, Page 4

USES OF OLIVE OIL.

Olive oil is of great use for culinary, medicinal, and toilet purposes. Doctors are recommending it as a household specific for maintaining health. It is being appreciated for its mild aperient properties, also as a safeguard-against mauy evils that are traceable to bad digestion, as well as for its great value as a food substance. It acts as a stimulant to the digestive organs, and is a preventive of flatulence. Pure olive oil is almost tasteless, and may be known bv its fright, clear, golden colour, and delicate taste of the fruit. When of a greenish tint, it is a sign that the oil has been made from unripe fruit. Olive oil may be used with bread as a substitute for butter; it could be used more for frying, being an economical substitute for animal fats, as it is not greatly absorbed in the process, nor does it give the disagreeable, greasy taste which stfmetimes characterises fried foods. • i

A good batter for meat, fish, or fruit to be fried may be prepared by mixing two tablespoons of pure salad oil with four ounces of flour, a gill of lukewarm water, and a pinch of salt, the whites of two well-whi9ked eggs being added just- before the batter # is used. Mayonnaise sauce is a good compound of the oil, and is always appreciated as an accompaniment to cold meat or cold cooked vegetables, especially when served as an appetising salad. A spring : course of meat, poultry, and fish salads, served with mayonnaise or other salad dressing made with olive oil, would do much for health and complexion, combining the beneficial qualities of olive oil and fresh vegetables. It is not only pleasant on the vegetables, but/serves as an appetiser as jrell... The oil used in* the salad dressing is lieat-giving and "nutritious, and so is a valuable consideration in the winter diet. Vegetable soups would be improved in favour and food value by the addition of a little pure oil—about a teaspoonful to each quart. Oil could also very well replace the butter in sauces. Olive oil may be used for making pastry—a wineglassful being allowed t,o each pound of flour. A teaspoon of baking powder /should -be mixed with the flour, and the oil added to cold water and stirrel in. The pastry should be rolled out two or three times, and baked at once in a hot oven. Another method of using olive oil is with the fruit from which it is obtained. Olives may be served in glasses in a little of. the oil, in which they are often preserved. Sardines and other tinned fish are generally preserved in pure olive oil. In preparing food for invalids and convalescents, the pure oil would be valuable for its stimulating and recuperative (properties. It could be used instead of butter in some of the dishes. Healthy children, and more especially delicate ones, could eat it with bread to advantage. Pure olive oil is being used in'various childish ailments where a mild and safe laxative is required. A teaspoonful on sugar, given at bedtime, and repeated if required, is good in cases of croup; and a little rubbed or drawn up the nostrils will give relief iii a head cold. Taken either with salads or alone, it is beneficial for catarrh, either of the stomach or throat. It is known to be of great value in cases of run-down, nervous system, and loss of weight. It should be rubbed well into the skin, the

entire body being massaged with the oil, particularly the spine. After massaging with olive oil use a rough towel to rub well over the body. Aa a preventive of colds mix it with quinine and rub the chest and back. It .can, also be applied mixed with camphor to cure soreness of the throat. For culinary and medical purposes especially it is-important that she oil should be of the best quality. Sometimes it has been freely adulterated with various vegetable oils, which, though not harmful, have not the special advantages possessed by the true olive oil> the best of which is simply drained away from the crushed fruit at a very low pressure, and is very clear and sweet. • Olive toil, or sweet oil as it is often called, is bein fe used outwardly for toilet purposes; especially for massage of the body and fafce, to induce plumpness, and improve the texture of the skin. For cleaning purposes it is useful in various ways. ]\flxed with powdered pumice, it is effective for restoring the polish of tortoisesliell combs, which should afterwards be washed in warm water and, the polishing repeated if necessary. Mixed with methylated spirits ajid vinegar, it makes a good furniture polish. .Apply a little with a soft rag to furniture, then rub in well and polish with another dry, soft duster: or chamois leather.