The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1890-12-12

foAAoOlO aACH JbAiOlOAnAy hNbAlSdf NH
soda. Visions Of a g~reenish yellow COM
pound, anciently known as "saleratus
biscuit, " rise instantly before us when the
abuse of SOFA is mentioned, and possibly
soDe may recall distressed experiences re-
sulting from its use as a stomach settler"
according TO the prescription of some
worthy aunt or grandam of the Old regime.
A series Of experiments, however, ex-
tending over a period Of some years spent
in practical housekeeping, have convinced
me that a majority of housekeepers do not
fully appreciate this homely chemical as
an economic aid. Its cheapness no one
will question-especially if boughtin large
cans instead of the common pound pack
ages. If the latter are purchased, buy
them three for a quarter" rather than
ten cents each.
Now let us see what soda will save you,
my would-be economical housekeeper.
/. 1t will save you sugar. Have you
ever stood despairingly before a crock of
stewed cranberries, gooseberries, rbubarb,
dried plums-or, worse than all, prunellas
throwing in sugar, tasting, puckering
your face and throwing in more, glancing
obviously meanwhile at the lowering Of
the sugar in your dollars worth" can?
l remember well my grandmother's rule
for sweetening pie plant pies. 1t was this:
Put in all the sugar your conscience will
allow, then shut your eyes and throw in a
| douhIo Ha pdfnf - Dor nice q o-oolIar%
but the rule was expensive. Here is a
cheaper one: When sweetening extremely
acid fruits like the above, stir in a little
soda before adding the sugar. Experience
will guide you as to the quantity you may
safely use without i~pjuring the flavor OF
the fruit, but, as a genera rule, I think a
half teaspoon of soda to a quart of fruit
may be easily borne.
2. 1t will save you fuel. a young friend
said to me one day: W are very fond Of
string beans, and they are the cheapestfresh
vegetable one can buy, if only it did not
take SO long to cook them, but unless |
plan to have them on baking or ironing
day | cannot afford them. 1t seems absurd
to keep an extra fire for two hours just for
a little mess of beans. Have you had her
experience? Try a little soda-just . gen.
erous pinch of soda for a common mess
of beans, put into the water in which you
boil them, will cook the toughest beans
tender in an hour or less and detract
nothing from their flavor. The same is
true of boiled onions, beets, tough meats,
etc.
In boiling a ham always parboil in soda
water, then take il out and ash and scrape
well. add clear water, and you will be sur
prised to see how much more sw eet and
tender your han will be. A piece of fresh
beef that has lain just long enough to be-
come q trifie suspicious, may be SO renew
ed by parboiling in soda water as TO be
above reproach when placed before the
most delicate ~nostrils. In he case of q
beefsteak or roast, a thorough iinsing in
cold soda water viii prove quite effectual,
when the faint is so slight as to be wholly
on the exposed surface. Perhaps these latter
suggestions should have had a heading of
their own, viz: SIT will save your meat"
3. 1t will save your soap. Did you ever
try soda as a substitute for soap in washing
dishes, cleaning sinks, ETC.? To a person
who uses very cheap or homemade soaps
perhaps this will be no saving in pence, but
| an sure the results will be more s~atisfac-
tory. II soda be adde ed to the dishwater
instead of soap there will be no greasy rims
around the dishpan, no ''suds" on the
dishes, and they will have a clean feel
peculiarly pleasing to the fastidious house
keeper. In cleaning sinks and very greasy
cooking utensils it is invaluable.
The philosophy, or rather chemistry, of
it is apparent at once, the alkali acting on
the grease. II you have a sensitive kin
which will bear only the use of ivory or
some equally fine grade of soap in your
common Homework, you will find soda
much cheaper and no harder on the skin.
In fact, it is well known that soda makes
available addition TO the water used in a
bath.
These, of course, are not all of the uses Of
soda, but are offered as = suggestive foun-
dasion upon which the bright h~ousekeeper
may build, ad libitum.