Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1891-06-12
COOKERY GOSSIP.
Synopsis of an Interesting Lecture on the
Mistakes in the Kitchen.

Synopsis of an Interesting Lecture on the
Mistakes in the Kitchen.
Mrs. David y. Lincoln gave Il very inter-
esting talk before the normal class in do
nestle science at the Young Women's
Christian association.
Her subject was lessons from Fail
ures," and her talk was followed by IL dis
cussion of some of the topics taken up.
Mrs. Lincoln said she had learned a great
deal from the mistakes of others, even
from mistakes made by old and experienced
ho~usekeepers.
The failure of many people to cultivate
the sense Of touch is very marked, and a
delicate touch is essential to success in
cooking rs in other arts. The nerves in
the tips of the fingers need to be kept SEN
sitive, and this cannot be better lone than
by keeping the hands delicately clean.
Sensitive touch is more essential to success
in cooking than is sensitive taste. After
touching eggs, sugar, flour, spices and
many other things the hands should be
washed and dried. Keeping the hands
perfectly clean is also a great saving in the
harl labor of the laundry, as it saves much
washing of extra towels, etc.
Another sense which should be especially
sensitive is that of sight. The powers of
observation should be cultivated by house
keepers. In all parts of the house, as well
as the kitchen, close observation is essen
tial to good housekeeping, and the house
keeper who always has many things going
on at once, "many irons in the fire. may
make her brains save her steps oftentimes,
by cultivating her powers of observation.
Another sense which many people seem
deficient in is the sense of smell; yet none
is more needed by the h~ousekeeper, for the
alert, sensitive nose detects quickly the
sour food which needs to he thrown away,
the bad odor of the cellar which needs
cleaning and embarrassing. the rancid
smell of badly washed and greasy pots and
pans.
A delicate taste is essential. and the cook
who likes sweet, strongly spiced and fla.
vored food should be careful to put in a
little less of spice and flavor, rather than a
little more.
The ACCESSIBILITY of working alone was
next discussed. This, she considered, u
good thing for young housekeepers, for in
working without com%panionship the mind
is not distracted from the work in hand,
and therefore closer observation is at,
tanned, new suggestions present them
selves, and experience is gained which is
uOC 50 We'll uCUdlneu "QCn Une work is me,
chemically lone.
Among the many causes of failure in
cooking is a poor fire, many women not
understanding the draughts of the mechan.
ism of the stove or range, or how to start a
good fire. Another point in which people
fail is in sweeping and busting, which is
as often begun at the bottom as at the top.
Not so much matter about the middle OF
the room, said Mrs. Lincoln, as about the
corners. An excellent idea, and quite an
original one, is that of having the carpet
tacks set back an inch from the molding,
so that the edges of the carpet may be
raised and dust and moths detected with.
out removing the carpet. The use of wet
meal, tea leaves or Of salt in sweeping, is
for many reasons highly Objectionable; it
is well to use dampened paper where there
is much fluff on the carpet.
In the matter of bread making some PEG.
pie lay stress upon good -four, others upon
just the right proportion Of yeast, Others
upon the kneading, yet there are many lit,
tie points which need close attention. In
the matter of making cake, failures more
often come from too hot an over Than from
too slow a fire.-Boston Herald.