Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1890-12-17
THE KITCHEN TABLE
ABOUT SODA.

Perhaps no chemical in use by the
housekeeper Is more pernicious when
abused-that is, used in e1cess-or
more valuable when judiciously han
died, than soda. Visions of Q greenish
yellow compound, ancIently known as
''saleratus biscuit" rise Instantly be-
fore us when the abuse of soda Is men
toned, and possibly some may recall
distressing experiences resulting from
Its use as a stomach settler" accord
ing 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 house
keepers do not fully appreciate this
homely chemical as an economic aid.
Now let as see what soda viii save
Won. nv would-be economical house
keeper:
!. 1t will save you sugar. Have you
ever stood despairingly before q crock
of stewed cranberrIes, gooseberries,
rhubarb, dried plums-or, worse than
all, prunellas-throwing In sugar, tast-
ing; pucker.ng your face and throwing
in more, glancing obviously meanwhile
at the lowering of The sugar IN your
dollars worth" can7 L remember
well my grandmother's rule for sweet
ening Iie-plant pies 1t was this: put
IN ell the sugar your conscience VIII
allow, then shut your eyes and throw
in double handful" Her pies were
excellent, but the rule was expensive
Here Is a cheaper one: When sweet
ening extremely acid fruits Ike the
above, stir in n little soda before adding
the sugar. Experience will guide you
as TO the quantity you may safely use
without iniuring the flavor OF the fruit,
but, as a general rule, think half
teaspoonful of soda to q quart of fruit
may be easily borne
2. II vi save you fuel A young
friend said TO me one day, I'VE are
very fond of string beans. and they are
the cheapest fresh vegetable one can
buy, If only il did not take SO long to
cook them, but unless / plan to have
them on baking or ironing day L can
not afford them 1t seems absurd to
keep an extra fire for two hours Just
for a little mess Of beans" Have You
had her experienced Try q little soda
Just a generous "pinch" of soda for .
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 detrsct nothing from
{ cir flavor. The same Is true of boil
ed onions, beets, tough meats, etc In
boiling a ham always psrboil in soda
water, then take 1t out and wash and
scrape well. add clear water, and you
will be surprised to see how much more
sweet and tender your ham Will be.
3. 1t Will save you soap. Did You
ever try soda as a substitute for soap n
washing dishes, cleaning sinks, etc. 2
/ To a person who uses very cheap or
homemade soaps perhaps this will be
no saving in pence, but L am sure the
results will be more satisfactory. Ii
/ soda be added to the dishwater instead
/ OF soap there Will be no greasy rims
around the dishpan, no ''suds" on the
| dishes, aud they Will have clean feel
| peculiarly pleasing to the fastldious
! housekeeper. In cleaning sinks and
very greasy cooking utensils 1t Is IN
valuable The philosophy, or rather
chemistry, OF 1t Is apparent at once, the
aIkall acting on tue grease. II you
have q sensitive skin which will bear
only the use of ivory or some equally
tine grade of soap in your common
housewOrk. you will find soda much
cheaper and no harder on the skin.
In fact, 1t Is well known that soda
makes q valuable addition to the water
used in a bath.
These, OF course, are not all OF the
uses OF soda, but are offered as a sug'
gssfive foundation -ulaa,a- -5iAi>l, - |. -
briguL l4UusGkeeper may build, dd toi'
tunl.-EILa Beec.ser Gittings, an GooG
Housekeeping.