Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1894-05-14

propose W Si'O SOAiS niht" DO w
how one family lives on 81 day for
table expenses.
This family consists of three adults
Zone a servant) and child of 10, and in
the matter of visitors averages at least
one additional adult. shall naught
extenuate and naught set down in NAL
ice. Very little pastry or cake is in
duged in. The most rigid economy is
practced without meanness. Flour is
purchased by the barrel, and bread
baked at home. Whole wheat and
Graham flour is bought by the bag at
barrel rates Your grocer will always
give you this advantage. Much corn
meal is used in the shape of cornbread,
Johnny cake, pope. and fried mush.
The staple drink is chocolate, Of
which one pound generally lasts a
month, as it is not partaken OF by the
whole family. Either tea or coffee is
used at least once day besides. Two
pounds of coffee and one of tea is the
allowance per month, which they either
exceed or fall short of as the tastes OF
the family lluctuate, for they do have
very iuctuating tastes. Lard is not
purchased for frying, and butter is new
er thought of for such apurpose. Soup
is served daily This is Il matter of
economy as well rs taste. Rice and
macaroni are purchased in large guam
titles. Tomatoes are the only canned
goods INDUCED in, with the exception
of fruits put up at home.
a Joint such as leg of mutton or a
roast of beef, weighing from eight to
ten pounds, is only INDUCED in on Sun
day or when visitors are expected; on
Sunday preferably, because it leavs lit
tie cooking to do on Monday, which is
always consideration in families
where the help consists Of one maid of
all work. Every particle of such joints
is turned to account. The fat is tried
out for frying, the bones furnish soup
for one or two days, the tiny scraps
that cannot be sliced to make a good
appearance either cold or in ragouts
are made into minces, beef balls, or
croQuettes. In short nothing is wasted.
The secret of living well-rather hand
somely, in fact,-on 81 per day con-
sists in marketing with economy and
looking out for the left-overs.
81 am not going to make myself a
slave to a few cold potatoes or hand
ful of beef bones," said lady with
whom | was talking on this subject, and
who spends no more than the sum men
toned above, but with this difference:
4 soup is never on her table, GRO
quette or a salad is an unheard of lux
ury; piece of meat is always cooked
in the same way; the bones 90 to the
nourishing of an ugly dog; nothing is
! made the most Of There are none Of
those pleasant little surprises which
an enterprising housekeeper who
takes delight in catering for her family
will occasionally have in store for them,
and | really think this sort of manage
ment manifests itself in the character OF
| the family, who are as unenterprising,
as uuenthusiastic, and as commonplace
as the dinners with which they are
served.
One Of the heaviest expenses was 81
a month for three quarts of OF milk per
day. This. it was found, might be cur
tailed by purchasing two quarts per
day and using condensed milk for tea
or coffee; two cans per week, at II
cents per can, making q difference OF
about 81 % per month. Many families
would not require such n large quantity
of milk, but they are "cranKs" on the
subject of milk and do not believe in
stnting themselves in this item. 1t is
a whim of the master. Of the house (and
his whims are so few and inotiensive
that they deserve indulgence) that
chocolate should be made with milk,
instead of half milk and halfwater, and
this alone takes from three gills to a
quart of milk daily, according as to
whether one or more members use it.
If one lives in the country, where
eggs and poultry can be furnished for
the cost of producing, and where fresh
vegetables can be grown in the garden,
at least $50 may be deducted from this
sum of $3.50 per year for meat which
perisheth.
A cuisine run on this plan must have
the strict and even watchful attention
of the mistress. She must do her own
marketing. 1t took the rigid econo
mist of whom am writing at least six
months to break in the servant to the
wholesome economy practiced in he1
family.
She had to learn that oatmeal, rice
and all cereals must be cooked so that
at least sixth of the quantity did not
remain burned and sticking to the bot.
tom of the saucepan, to the ruinatior
of both food and vessel. That the least
amount of cold cereal was not to be
thrown away. Tiny slices of fresh
mush cerealine or wheatena-indeed o
anv of the breakfast cereals-make
tempting little garnish to steak. a
spoonful or two of mashed potatoes
mixed with bread crumbs and savory
seasonings is another tasteful garnish
for any sort of broiled or warmed meats
The cold dressing from poultry, be il
never so little, made into balls proper
toned TO the quantity, and served
about q veal outlet with the least hi
of tomato sauce, will quite change the
character of the dish.
II is not absolutely necessary to use {
double boiler, which often takes more
time and too often results in half cooked
meals. Use granite saucepan
-. ,a1-ar henn burned have