Domestic

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XLIX, Issue 21, 25 May 1922, Page 41

Domestic

By Maureen

' , LENTIL sour. Take l£lb of lentils and wash them thoroughly in many waters until they aro perfectly clean.; soak them for a night in cold water; then put them into a saucepan with the water in which they are soaked and as much more as makes 3 quarts. When this boils, add carrot, turnip, parsnip, celery, 2 large, onions, all cut up roughly. Allow it to simmer for 3 hours, then strain through a sieve; return it to the pan to warm. Season with salt and popper, and serve. Lentil soup is delightful if nicely made, and requires no meat of any kind, or hones, as it has the taste and the good properties of butchers meat to a large extent in itself. FISH pin. Till) of mashed potatoes, 111) of cold fish, freed from skin and hone, i a teaspoonful of anchovy essence, pepper, 1 teaspoonful each of finely-chopped parsley, and onion or shallot, 1 teaspoonful of lemon juice, loz of butter, i a teacupful of fish stock, made by boiling the fish-hones with i a pint of water until reduced to half that quantity. Flake the fish and mix well with llh of the mashed potato, the anchovy, a good sprinkling of pepper, the stock, parsley, onion, and lemon juice. Put into a well-buttered piedish, cover with the remainder of the potato mixed with the butter, and hake in a moderate oven for 20 minutes. THE CAKE OF HOT-WATER KAOS AND UOTTI.ES. \ A hot-water bag or bottle is one of the greatest comforts in cold weather,' and in cases of sickness no house should he without one or the other. A hot-water hag is preferable to a bottle, because it is so pliable and can lie held against the body in cases of severe pain. A good hot-water hag is a. good investment, and if reasonable care is taken of it will last for year.",. As soon as it is purchased it should be filled with hot water and the cap screwed on, to see that the cap fits perfectly and there is no leakage anywhere. If the slightest Haw is detected it should be taken back at once and exchanged.

When not in use, pour off the water and let the bag hang in some safe' place. It is a good plan to have a cover for the bag; this keeps both the water hot and the rubber clean, and protects it from scratches,, etc. A cover can be "cheaply made from flannel. - In cases of sickness, when a rubber bag is not to hand it is well to make some strong bags from unbleached calico and fill them with either bran or salt. Heat these well in the oven and they will be found a perfect boon in giving heat and relieving pain. Clean bricks can be heated in the oven and well wrapped up, and are then useful for warming the bed. Hot-water bottles of earthenware are splendid warmers, hut they must be taken care of to prevent cracks, and breaks, and bursts. Before filling such a bottle with hot water, gently warm it. In frosty weather, if very hot water is put into a cold bottle a burst can be expected. Always see that the screw top fits perfectly, or there will he a leakage. Never fill these bottles to the top, and do not screw the top on until some of the steam has escaped. When not in' use pin the bottles away in a safe hut convenient place, with the tops partly screwed on. Empty them of all water. There. will ho no danger at all attached to the use of a bottle or hag if the few simple precautions -are taken. They hast with care for years, and the comfort they give is untold.

Now there are a few important points to remember in the care of tlioso hags. First of all. never put boiling water into it, let it he hot; never fill it to the neck, only y fill il three parts. Fasten the cap to the neck with a piece of string, then it never gets mislaid. When the hot water is put into the bag, wait a moment or so before putting on the cap, and fold the top of the bag over a little to allow the steam to escape. % -■