Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1868-12-03
EkGers ssEIDE.Es. FARM and
GARDEN.
FROM The Ne,r Engicna Farmer.
DOMESTIC, ECONOMY.
RY ANNIE Il. HALE.


hold depends largely upon the diet
OF its members, may seem strange
assertion to some of my readers; but
those who have noticed the detected
countcnanccs, no less than the feeble
frames, Of dy spcptics, have heard from
these victims OF indigestion queruious
accounts of the effects OF innutritious
aud mwholesome food. or have them
selves experienced the inertia, the
stupidity, the melancholy, resulting
from thoughtlcss choice OF viands,
or the mistakes or misiortuncs Of the
cook, will be ready to acknowledge
that improper food affects the mind
as Wen rs the body. And those who
are obseryant OF such matters will be
quick to see .hat the yivacity, the cheer
tulness and the hopeful enthusiasm
that are needed to carry us easily a
long the rough and uncertain paths
of daily toll and trouble, are more fire.
quently heralded and promoted by
the elevated tone Of the system Undue
cd by a wise regimen OF food for the
body, than by any mental bias or NOR
III ttNciRllilc
The truth is Americans cook too
much. Everything that we eat must
he baked broled, stewed, fricd-some-
times served in all these ways-or
disguised with spice, grease, or sugar.
till the most nutritious qualities Of ali
articles that come under the head Of
food are either lost or changed INTO
something deletcrious. ii reform In
this could be effected not only would
our dyspeptic friends soon regain
health, and ylgor, but hours and hours
now spent by the overtasked and anx-
ious housewife, in great discomfort,
by The side OF blazing ovens gnd over
scorching and steamlng ranges and
stoves. would be redeemed tor lottler
purposes.
The readiest way to bring about
such a change is, undoubtedly, to
bring up children on plain, wholesome
iarc; keeping Their natural taste TOR
such food clean and hearty, by allow
inc them reasonable variety. G,ve
them different kinds OF good, light
! bread, with plenty Of fruit, fully ripe,
either in its natural state or now
and then simply stewed or bakcd,-
honey, or maple syrup, and they VIII
never want rich cake or pies or pre-
serves. Pickles, "the Yankees sweet
meats, forbid, as ii they were poison.
| Fresh vegetables, too, boiled, or bak-
ed, with only the seasoning ola little
salt. or a trifle of nice butter, and a
moderate quantity OF good, but SIMPLY
cooked, animal TODD; plain broths, or
soups, in plenty, but not graves nor
sauces; buildings, also,-llght and
cood-not rich. All these things
Children like, and they are healthtul.
A little plain cake or gingerbread oc-
casionally does not come amlss, to be
sure,-and is not to be cansured-so
tar as health is concerned. Still, fruit
is far pre- cradle; and is, IN the end,
more economical, when we take INTO
cosidcrat:on the time and strength OF
| the housewife. It's tree use affords
her greatrellet from anxious and Wearl-
some labor, and its nutrltlve qualities
being SO high-superior to many kinds
OF animal iood-it ought to be con-
sidered as much regular article OF
diet as bread-no meal should be
deemed complete without It. Those
who are in the habit Of loading their
stomachs with cake and pastry, have
no Idle of the relreshment afforded
even by so simple q repast as good
bread and well-ripened apples or pears
Peeled and sliced-tomatoes, peaches,
cherries, currants, and all sorts OF ber-
rics. are most delicious ACCOMPANY
mentS to the bread, eaten raw, with
the addition of sugar, If you choose,
and form dish tit 30 set before q
king
People are beginning to see the
value Of fruit for this purpose. W hen
! it is considered an Indispensable arti-
Gle Of daily fare, one strong chain OF
womans's servitude-in the shape OF
cake and pastery making-wlll be
/! broken.
In the outset let me say, il IS 0lrays
| tie best economy to cook aceM and no
| good cooking can be accomplished
without good materials. Inferior, i'm
pure, carelessly prepared, or too long
! kept groceries, besides trying the pa
! tience OF the co k and consumer, are
neither nutritious nor heaithyi-get
only the best. These are not always
the highest priced. Fancy names Or
brands and snowy wrappings cost high,
and too often heI p to sell a poor arti-
Gle; avoid them,-look for less preten,
tious things, and when you have found
the right quality of goods, note It's pc
culiaritles and be satisfied with moth
ing else il all future purchases.
Don't buy new preparations unless
YOU have full confidence III those who
recommend them.
Having chosen your groceries well,
use them with care and prudence:
"a place foreverything and everything
in IL place important rule as 1t is
for every room iii the house, IS doub
" 50 for the store room and Kitchen
No little waste is occasioned, even by
good managers, by carelessness here
Be sure that salt or sugar Is not sui:
fered to remain in damp closet; spices
seasoning herbs, tea or coffee, uncover
ed, or in the glaring sunlight; lard
butter, cheese, or syrup i'll the heat:
flour, meal, rice sage, and such, things
neither in heat nor dampness. Sea
also that all kitchen ware and utensils
are maze clean after usage and placed
so as to keep SO till WAITED again.
| Use crockery or stone ware for mix
ing or for holding food; it is stronger
than potter's ware, and there is 10
danger Of poison from the glazing, as
there is in that. Iron stewpans and
kettles are better than copper or brass