Notes For Women

Wairarapa Daily Times, 19 August 1933, Page 3

Notes For Women

Fashions, Recipes and Hints.

DO YOU KNOWThat if carrots are sliced lengthwise less of the valuable juice containing mineral and vitamin substances is lost in cooking than if the carrots are cut across the fibre?

That muddy india-rubber boots and shoes should be washed at once with warm water and then polished? They will last longer if the mud is removed when still wet.

That if you put violets in warm water every morning they will keep fresh for over a fortnight? * * * *

That to remove a musty smell from a disused thermos flask put into it some crushed egg-shell and a little vinegar and shake well? Afterwards wash in warm water and leave the flask inverted in a jug of warm water for a while.

That nappa gloves can be cleaned by putting a teaspoon of eucalyptus oil in a saucer with half that quantity of boiling water and sponging the gloves with the mixture?

That for cleaning nursing bottles which have become cloudy, nothing is better than potatoes cut into small squares and shaken with a little baking soda added to the water in the bottle? Binse well afterwards in clear water and sterilise by pouring boiling water in and over them, or by bringing them to the boil. f * * *

QUINCE JELLY.

That blankets which have become hard can be made soft and fluffy by brushing them well with a hard brush? A blanket which has shrunk can be made longer by adding a strip of flannelette for tucking in at the end of the bed. «* * * *

That you should not use soda, for it makes boards a bad colour, and does not cleanse better than soap-powder and plenty of tepid water? Bub a lemon that has had the juice squeezed from it on any grease spots previous to scrubbing. * * '» * *

That lilacs, roses and chrysanthemums will last twice as long if their stalks are peeled at the end to enable them to absorb the water?

BRIGHTER ROOMS. So many rooms look dingy and few know that a dull room is instantly lighted up if the walls are papered or distempered a soft sunny yellow and then varnished —for a shiny surface reflects the light much better than a dull one. The woodwork could be painted a very pale yellow, so pale as to be almost ivory, resembling, as far as possible, the exquisite golden tint which sunshine always throws over white paint. Then, if yellow is introduced as the predominating colour in the carpet and curtains, and the shades of the lights are of daffodil, yellow, the room will be bright indeed. To a'bhdfqqm furnished in this way add primrosecoloured cushions, and an eiderdown of gold and brown. Yellow can also be introduced successfully into any other colour scheme. Always its note is one of warmth and brightness. It will fit in anywhere and everywhere. You have a room furnished in blue or mauve. In excellent taste, yet still a little cold and sombre. A touch of yellow will often make all the difference. Perhaps a few pieces of shining yellow pottery, a cushion or two, or a yellow silk lampshade, which, when the lamp is lit will look even warmer and more glowing if it is lined with pale pink silk., In a dull, gloomy room curtains of yellow rippled artificial silk in a lovely shade of old gold would be perfect, accentuating the sunshine as it creeps round them. Bronze-coloured shot silk, glinting with a golden stripe, will have a similar happy result. And finally, a delightful effect of sunlight can be obtained by draping a gold silk net curtain taut on rods from the top of the lower window pane to the bottom, against the glass. This is a very useful way of blotting out an ugly landscape, and even on the dullest of days the light will filter through and seem to splash gold about the room.

HIGHLY-POLISHED FLOORS. Glossy, well-polished wooden floors are an attractive feature of most modern, nicely-kept houses. For floors that are exposed to much wear and tear something more than the ordinary polishing-mop is necessary if a very polished surface is required. Wonderful results are achieved, with the minimum of labour and at a low cost, by using a floor-polisher which consists of two sets of revolving brushes, one for spreading an even coat of polish on the floor, and the other for giving a glossy surface.

WHEN SERVING FRITTERS. Sweet dishes, such as fritters and pancakes, should be served on d’oyleys on very hot dishes, and should be sprinkled with sugar, either plain or mixed with powdered cinnamon or nutmeg, or flavoured with vanilla, orange or lemon. Jam, wine, orange, or a fruit sauce, makes a good accompaniment.

HAND LOTION. Here is a fragrant hand lotion. The quantities will make enough to last for months. Dissolve quarter ounce of gum tragacanth in a pint of warm rain water. When dissolved pass through a sieve and add 2oz of glycerine, 2oz of rose water, 2oz of alcohol, and 12 to 20 drops of benzoin. This can be used at any time, as it is completely absorbed and will not leave the hands, sticky.

CARE OF FURNITURE. When the borer has once eaten its way into a piece of furniture it is rather difficult to remove. If the furniture is in regular use it should be treated immediately there is any suspicion of borer having penetrated the wood. Scrub the article with hot soapy water. Do not use soda, as it darkens and discolours the wood. Apply kerosene to the affected parts by means of an old sponge, taking care

that the whole area affected is well soaked. Leave for several days, and then repeat the scrubbing process. A stronger measure may be taken by applying a mixture of kerosene and car-: bolic oil, but in most cases the kerosene applied liberally is sufficient.

CABBAGE, PEPPER, APPLES. One head young green cabbage, one head young red cabbage, one cupful minced sweet green peppers, three cupfuls cut-up ripe juicy apples, butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, salt and pepper and nutmeg, lemon-juice. Method: Grind one head of young green cabbage through a vegetable grinder. Grind also a small head of young red cabbage. Mince the green peppers and apples. Season the red cabbage well with salt and pepper. Put it in the casserole and dot two tablespoonfuls of butter over it. Season the chopped apples with one half cupful of granulated and brown sugar, half a nutmeg and the juice of one lemon. Put the apples over the red cabbage and sprinkle over the top one teaspoonful granulated sugar. Mix the green peppers and the green cabbage together. Season them well with pepper and salt and put them over the apples. Do the top with butter. Sprinkle over the top fine white breadcrumbs. Put a little melted butter over them. Sift on a layer of cheese, and cook in a moderate oven for 25 minutes.

Quince jelly should be .made with

fruit that is ripe and yellow, but perfectly sound. Wash the quinces, cut them into slices without peeling them, and put them in a preserving pan. Shake them down thoroughly, just cover them with water, and let them cook gently till they are soft, but take care that the colour does not deepen. Turn the puree into a jelly bag and let it' drain. Do not press the fruit pulp through the bag (this would spoil its clearness), but let it filter through two or three times if necessary. The juice should be clear and bright. Measure the juice, put it in a clean pan and boil for 20 minutes. Allow 12 ounces of sugar for each pint of juice, take the pan from the fire and add the sugar, stirring till dissolved.

Put the pan back on the fire, bring gently to the boil, remove the scum as it rises, and continue the gentle boiling till it jellies quickly if a little is poured on to a plate. This will probably take another 20 minutes. Pour into clean, dry, warm pots at once.

LENGTHENING OLD FROCKS. When a garment merely needs alteration to make it usable again, the most frequent problem to-day is that of adding length. Here are a few suggestions: For a frock, if the figure is a slim, straight one, make a new contrasting yoke and top - half of sleeves, and drop the dress on this a few inches; or add a contrasting hem, with matching collar and belt to “tie up” the renovation; or convert the dress into a pinafore to wear over blouses, using the sleeves to cut, a hip. yoke on which the skirt can be lowered. A coat is more difficult. Usually, the best solution is a half to three-quarters of a yard of fur fabric, from which a deer) hem, vandyked along its top edge, and a new collar may be cut.