The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1891-09-11
HELP FOR HOUSEWIVES.
Some Handy Things to Know-A Few
-. Simple Recipes.

absorb foreign favors.
Do not cover milk or cream. They
need the air and will sour quickly if
covered.
Pans or crooks in which sour milk has
been standing should be washed thor
oughly and afterward rinsed in hot
water in which little baking soda has
been dissolved This sweetens them,
but it is essential that they be thorough.
ly rinsed once more in clear water to
remove any trace of the soda.
Cream which is slightly sour NAV be
sweetened and rendered fit for use in
tea and coffee by adding a little soda.
1t is even possible TO boil the cream
thus treated without fear of its curd.
ling.
Finger marks may be removed from
furniture by rubbing with soft fan.
mel slightly moiStened with kerosene
oil Oiled furniture may be cleaned tc
look quite fresh and new in this man
ner. White spots occasioned by setting
hot dishes on vanished surface, may
often be removed by kerosene also.
Save the paper bags in which groceries
are sent They may be utilized in
many ways in the kitchen. After clean
ing the kitchen lamps slip paper bags
over the chimneys to protect them from
dust and flies In backing the stove
slip one over the hand and keep the
hand clean.
Hot breads, cakes, ETC., should never
be covered with cloth. 1t matters not
how scrupulously clean the cloth may
be, it imparts an undesirable flavor to
them.
Cooling trays, made of wire netting
supported by short legs are now sold
quite reasonably, and will be found
a great convenience for cooling hot
breads, biscuits, etc.
Small bits of bread left from meals
may he dried in a slow oven and when
crisp rolled fine and set away in q COW
cred pail. They are excellent for bread
ing chops, outlets, etc, or may be con-
verted into nice pudding, with the adj
dition of milk, eggs, sugar and flavor
ing.
The coffee grounds left from break
fast need not be wasted. Add cupful
of boiling water and cook ten minutes.
Strain, and. when cold, use in place of
milk in making a plain spice cake. 1t
will be found much nicer for this pur-
purpose and more economical for those
with whom milk is scarce. Or the coffee
may be added to the starch to be used
for dark cambrics.
Grass stains should be moistened with
molasses and allowed to stand a short
time before washing.
A little boraX in the rinsing water
serves to whiten clothes which have be-
come yellow by standing or poor wash
ing. 1t is great addition to boiled
starch also, serving to give both gloss
and body to the starch.
1t is said if shirt bosoms are starched
on the right side they will never blister.
Wooden bowls, tubs and other vessels
SHOULD never be dried near the fire, or
they will almost certainly warp and
crack.
Clean hair brushes by washing in am
monia and water, and afterward rinse
in strong solution of salt and water
and suspend in the open air to dry. They
will be clean and the bristles stiff
When baking, if the fire is too hot do
not leave the oven door aiar, but set
basin of cold water in the oven. This
will reduce the heat, with less detri-
ment to the cooking.
Keep the upper CRATES of the cooking
range free from ashes and less fuel will
be consumed.
Dissolve soda that is to be used in
cooking in lukewarm rather than in
boiling water, as sometimes directed
Much of the strength is lost when it is
used with boiling water.
The kitchen table may be kept white
and clean by securing occasionally with
wood ashes. When badly stained spread
ashes, moistened with water, upon the
table and leave them ten or fifteen min
utes. Then wash off and scrub vigor-
ously and the spots will disappear.
Keep quantity of washing soda al
ways at hand. 1t will greatly facilitate
the washing of greasy cooking utensils
and is excellent for cleansing the sink
and all waste water pipes. Dissolve in
boiling water and scald the pipes thor
oughly.
Carpets require less sweeping Ut this
season than when fires are kept up.
After using the carpet sweeper wrap
about the broom a soft cotton cloth
which has been wrung out of hot water
strongly impregnated with ammonia.
Dust the carpet with this and it will
look quite as fresh and bright as when
swept.
Old potatoes are much improved if af-
ter they are pared they are allowed to
stand half an hour in cold water before
cooking. Peel them thicker also than
new potatoes
New potatoes require little more
time in cooking than old ones An hour
should be allowed for baking medium
sized new potatoes, and thirty-five min
utes for boiling them.
Many vegetables are improved in
flavor by changing the water once while
boiling them. This is especially true
in regard to onions beans and aspara~
gus, which are thus rendered much
more delicate. When onions are very
strong the water may be changed sew
cral times to advantage.
Rotten stone moistened with kerosene
is one of the best preparations for
securing brass and other metals. Pol
ish with dry flannel cloth. - Chicago