The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-10-16
THE HOME.
Preserved Ginger.

w
port be true this was favorite preserve
of Martha Washington and the ladies of
her republican court. The green ginger
used for preserving comes from the West
Indies, and is found in perfection inthe
month of September.
Select plump, smooth looking ginger
root. Gnarled or rough pieces are unfit
for use. Scrape them carefully, and as
the pieces are scraped throw them into
cold water. Weigh the roots and allow
seven pounds of roots to eight pounds of
sugar. Put the ginger root over the fire
in large kettle of cold water. Let it
boil steady for about half an hour.
Then drain out of this the water, cool it in
cold water and put it over the fire again.
Let it boil in this second water until it
is SO tender that it can be easily pierced
with a broom splint. Make a syrup,
using two quarts of cold water to eight
pounds of sugar Add the yolks and
whites of four eggs. Stir the syrup and
eggs slowly over the fire until it boils.
AS the scum rises skim it off and when
syrup from the fire and strain it through
a napkin When it is cold cover the gin
ger with the syrup and let it stand for
two days. Then drain it off, boil it down
again, and when it is cold again pour it
back over the ginger. Repeat the process
third time, pouring the syrup, this
time boiling hot, over the ginger root.
After these successive boilings, the gin
ger root should be thoroughly permeated
with the sugar, and the syrup should
be boiled down thick and rich, SO that
it will be just enough to thoroughly
cover the ginger If the syrup is poured
hot at first over the ginger, it will shrink
and will not take up the sugar.
The Sweet Potato.
Ordinarily the sweet potato is either
roasted or boiled. When it is re-cooked
it is generally fried; but there are several
other ways of preparing it, according to
the New York Tribune. A method that
is almost unknown at the North is..to fry
the raw potato In hot fat. For this pur-
pose the potato should be peeled and cut
in thin lengthwise slices, and laid in
broad spider of hot lard, deep enough to
immerse the slices. AS they brown on
one side and rise to the top, turn them
and let them brown ON the other, as the
under side of articles immersed in
boiling fat browns before the upper side.
A nice way to prepare cold boiled
sweet potatoes is to escallop them. Slice
them in thin circles sprinkle them with
salt and pepper and put them IN shallow
dish which has been well buttered.
Moisten the potatoes with little brown
stock or gravy thinned with water, and
add a few bits of butter. Continue till
the dish is full. Then set it in very hot
oven for ten or fifteen minutes to brown.
Few Northern housewives are ac-
quainted with the sweet potato pie of the
South. This is made of dry, mealy pota-
toes, which are rubbed through a sieve
-, hoe oc IoJIr1
cups of the strained potato add pint of
milk, two eggs, a saltspoonful of nutmeg,
a teaspoonful of cinnamon, with sugar
enough to sweeteen the pie. The amount
will depend largely upon the sweetness of
the potatoes. Bake in an under crust
like pumpkin pie.
The Window Garden.
When once plant begins to show any
signs of unhealthfulnes in the winter
window garden, it should at once be
removed and kept away from the others,
for in respect of contagion plants are for
the most part like people and are readily
affected by surrounding conditions. The
best treatment usually is severe CUT
ting back, and if the plant be a large
one the soil usually will be found
impoverished. After cutting back re-pot
in smaller sized crock, providing good
drainage. Remove allsinsects should they
be found, and after washing the branches
thoroughly the plant may be set back
with the others without injuring their
health; but it must be kept quite dry
until signs of active new growth are
noticed, when the supply of water may
be increased Occasionally during the
winter, but not oftener than once week
blooming and growing plants may be
greatly benefited by a watering of weak
manure water, or ammonia water in the
event Of the former not being readily
attainable 1t is a great mistake to apply
such to plants that are unhealthy OF are
resting. Country Gentleman.
Uses for Soda.
Tin ware may be frightened by dip
ping damp cloth in common soda and
rubbing it well.
Very hot soda in solution, applied with
q soft flannel, will remove paint splashes.
Use soda in the water to clean paint and
glass instead of soap.
: Strong tepid soda water will make glass
very brilliant then rinse in cold water and
wipe dry with a linen cloth.
Ceilings that have become smoked by
kerosene lamps may be cleaned by WASH
ing off with soda water.
For cleaning oil paint before repainting
use two ounces OF soda dissolved in a
quart of hot water, then rinse off with
clear water.
A lump of soda laid ON the drain pipe
will prevent the pipes becoming clogged
with grease, also flood the pipes once
week with boiling water in which little
soda is dissolved.
Wash white bowls, bath etc., with
cloth dipped in boiling hot water and
soda. A good deal of soda should be dis
solved in the water.
A little soda put in the water in which
cut flowers are placed will keep them
fresh for a long time.
If grease has been split on table or floor
of kitchen OF pantry, put a little soda
on the spots and then pour boiling water
over them.
Steel knives that are not always used
may be kept from rusting if they are
dipped in q; strong solution of soda
three parts of soda to one part of water.
After dipping them, wipe dry, roll them
in flannel and keep in dry place. N. E.
Farmer