Domestic

New Zealand Tablet, 13 April 1911, Page 689

Domestic

By MAUREEN

When Stewing. When stewing use only as much water or stock as will be required to prevent burning and too fast cooking. Tho juices of the meat and vegetables will be in the gravy, and if the pot is kept closely covered the flavor of the meat will be retained. Shake constantly to prevent burning. Cleaning Jewellery. Gold and silver jewellery, when dirty, should be placed in a wide-mouthed bottle half-filled with"soapsuds, to which a* little powdered chalk has been added. Shake tho jewellery well up and down in the suds, and then take it out, rinse in clean cold water, dry thoroughly, and polish. Curtain Pins or Pings. An easy way to clean curtain pins or rings that have become black with use is to put them in a bowl with hot water and vinegar—two parts vinegar to one of water. Let them stand for a few hours, and then rub on a coarse cloth, and they will look like new. To Remove Scorch. Take a piece of dry bread, soak, and press out the water. Spread on the scorched spot, and allow it to remain about a quarter of an hour; then scrape off carefully. This will make the spot much paler. And when the garment is washed it will be unnoticeable. Tender Lips. If the lips become cut and painful owing to cold 'winds, cold cream should be rubbed well into the skin night and morning. To bathe them is also helpful, and if a sponge rinsed out in warm water is pressed over the lips so as to soften the hard skin before applying the cream it will have a quicker effect. Care of the Hair. If does not do to destroy the natural oils of the head by washing the hair, for instance, twice a week, or oven daily, as some women do. If the hair feels dry and harsh after washing rub on a very few drops of the best brilliant! Then vigorously brush until you get a look like burnished gold, a shimmer of hair that is in itself a beauty. Pickled Nasturtium Seed. These make a good substitute for capers. The seeds should be pickled green, with a bit of their stems left on them. Soak them in weak salt and water for a couple of days, and then in clear water for twenty-four hours. Diain them, and put them in jars and seal. It improves with keeping. White Spots on Furniture. lute spots which are formed on furniture by dropping certain chemicals upon it, and which are almost more unsigutly than any other defect, can be removed by the application of camphorated oil. This must be vigorously jll o bed over the spot, sufficient time being expended upon it to take due effect, and should be left to dry, the spots being treated some little time later to an equally careful application of olive oil. A polish with leather will finally bo required. Parsnip Wine. To every quart of parsnips (scraped and cut into small pieces) add one quart of water; boil for one and a-half hours, then strain. Boil the liquor with 31b of sugar to eveiy gallon, about half an houy ; then empty into a tub when lukewarm Add one bottle of good yeast (if homemade; if brewer s, one tea cup). Let it stand for 24 hours. l U j” by, lnt ?i a cask, , and let it work, keeping the cask v ell hi led with a, little that has been kept aside for that purpose, and when finished working bung up the cask very tigntly. It can be bottled off in four months’ time. Be sure to use new corks and cover with boiling vinegar. They will be ready lor us in five or six weeks. Household Hints. If the bands are stained after cutting up vegetables, rub them over with a cut raw potato before washing them. uhabby leather bags, etc., may be improved in appearance by being rubbed over with well-beaten white of e-g and then polished w'ith beeswax and turpentine, the final rubbing being given with a soft, clean cloth. • j. To clean a decanter take a small raw potato, cut 't into tiny pieces, and put them into the decanter with a httle warm (not hot) water. Shake up and down till clean, then rinse the decanter in fresh water. , To remove smoke stains from marble, make a paste of chloride of lime and water, apply it to the marble, and let it remain for 24 hours, by which time the stains should have disappeared. The yellow marks often seen on marble may be removed with the following mixture: Half an ounce ot finely-powdered pumice stone, half an ounce of finelypowdered chalk, one ounce of washing soda, and enough water to form these ingredients into a paste. Rub the marble with it, and wash clean with warm water.