LET’S GO GOSSIPING

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 56, Issue 4016, 23 February 1938, Page 4

LET’S GO GOSSIPING

WOMEN’S INTERESTS: THE HOME.

(By

MISS MARY TALLIS.

I.—Special Service to Te Awamutu Courier.)

HEALTH. WEEK-END EXERCISE. There arc many who scarcely walk a yard during l the week, but attempt long hikes, strenuous days at the beach, or ten sets of tennis on Sundays. Exercise arranged in this way is bad, and it may take several days to throw off the fatigue of unwise exertion. Exercise is good for almost everyone. In the case of. the young and fit it should be carried to sweating point daily (not weekly)—but it is daily exercise and slightly more at week-ends that is beneficial. It is a strange thing about exercise that competitive sport and such natural exercises as walking, swimming, and running not only make one feel better, but develop the body better than routine exercises of the daily dozen variety performed in the bathroom or even before the open window. In the case of all but those with a special type of mind and extraordinary will-power, the daily home-exer-cises become a task to which one drives oneself. In such circumstances, there is no joy behind the muscular contractions, and they are far less beneficial to the muscles or the health generally. Nevertheless, if natural exercises cannot be obtained, the home exercises or attendance at a gymnasium are far better than merely becoming fat and lazy. COOKING FOR AN INVALID. Chicken Cubes: Ingredients: 4 oz. cold, lightly steamed chicken; 1 oz. powdered gelatine; 1 gill cream; :» pt. milk; a gill stock; salt. Take the chicken meat from the breast of the bird and mince finely. Slightly whip cream and add to the milk with a pinch of salt. Stir in the minced chicken. Put the gelatine in the stock and heat until dissolved; add to the remainder of the ingredients. If you have taken the milk from the refrigerator, warm it to about 65 deg., or in other words, take the chill off, because if the dissolved gelatine is added to very cold liquid, the mixture will be thick and uneven in parts, instead of smooth in texture. Leave the mixture in the bowl to thicken and stir it occasionally, because the minced chicken would otherwise sink to the bottom. When on the point of setting, give a final stir and pour into a flat tin over which you have rubbed a very little olive oil; the' tin should be 1-in. to 5-in. deep. Now leave the mixture until quite firm, then turn out on to a board, dip a knife in hot water and cut the jelly into cubes. You may think you have too many for one patient, but 1 have found that they are enjoyed at odd times during the day and quickly disappear. Egg Creams: 1 egg-yolk; 1 cup milk; 1 dessertspoonful sugar; 1 oz. powdered gelatine; 1 gill water; vanilla. Beat the egg-yolk and add the milk. Put into a double-saucepan with the sugar and heat until the mixture ; thickens. Heat the gelatine in the I

water until dissolved; stir into the custard and add a few drops of vanilla. Pour into 2 small wetted moulds and leave to set. KITCHENCRAFT. VALUABLE HINTS. An apple left in the cake-tin keeps the tin sweet and the cakes moist. If soap is rubbed on your scouring cloth before the cleanser is put on, the soot on the bottom of the pan will be instantly removed and the cloth will be free from the black soot on rinsing'. The clatter of washing up can be reduced to a minimum by placing a thick cloth over the basin, pads of paper on the draining board and dresser shelves, and a rubber beading round the edge of the sink. A rubber mat under the enamel bowl and rubber feet beneath the sink tidy will also considerable reduce noise and incidentally save a great deal of wear and tear on the receptacles and sink. When the handle of an aluminium saucepan breaks off, cut the upper part of the saucepan away to clear the hole and a good cake-tin will be added to the kitchen equipment. To remove egg-stains from spoons and forks, take a little common salt between the finger and thumb and rub briskly. DURING THE HOT DAYS. To impart a refreshing odour to your pantry, simply wipe the shelves over with a cloth dipped in vinegar. For bedrooms, immerse some small pieces of sponge in hot water, sprinkle with lavender water, and set about the rooms in tiny fancy dishes. This has a delightfully cooling effect and makes rooms sweet and fragrant on the hottest days, besides keeping out flies and other troublesome insects. THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW. To give an added lustre to silver, dissolve some alum in water, making a strong brine. Skim this carefully and add a little soap. Bottle and rub plat with linen rag dipped in this solution. Sour milk can be used for polishing lacquered trays, which should never have water near them. If you want an efficient draught excluder stuff an old bicycle tube and cover it. Cut it to the width of the door and nail it in position. Make yourself an attractive doorstop in the form of a dainty oldworld lady. You will require a 2 lb. treacle tin, filled with sand. Make a slit in the lid, and fit lid firmly on. Then take a celluloid doll and flatten it from the waist down. In sert doll in the opening in the lid and force it into sand so that half the doll is left. Make a skirt for the lady from any gay material you may have, draw in waist of doll and glue. Finish off with a ribbon around the waist.