Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-03-23
HOUSE
HOLD
lINTS

VI lHe man WIN q liver out or order
and the woman who bemoans a bad COM
plexion comes the Injunction, Eat spin
ach!' Food specialists aver that this vege-
table, long ago dubbed broom of the stom-
ach' by the French, is the most precious of
vegetables. 1t contains salts of potassium
iron and other ingredients, warranted to re-
move that tired feeling automatically as
ISOLATED with the spring.
So convinced has the medical profession
become of its beneficial properties that ac-
cording to the Sanitary Record ii is al
ready an active ingredient in several new
and salable ''tonics." The iron in spinach
is readily assimilated, and the vegetable
easily dgested. If served-as it should be
with the yolk of eggs, the amount of iron
to the square inch will exceed, according
to the Chemist Bingo, 1.-The most renowned
ferruginous remedies
While spinach is usually served as a side
dish at table, Swiss method of prepara-
ton converts it into so substantial a dish
that .VegetarianS often use ii alone. Cook
the greens, without any water, until ten
der. Turn into a colander and press with
the back of spoon to remove all the juice
possible. Chop fine and mix with a milk
roll, or its equivalent in bread, previously
soaked in milk; two whole eggs and the
yolks of three well-beaten, a little stock or
gravy, salt, pepper and pinch OF grated
nutmeg. Stir this over the fire until thick
ened. then set aside to cool. Butter deep
pudding dish, sprinkle with bread crumbs
and fill 1t with the whites of three eggs.
Bake covered for three-quarters Of an
hour. remove the cover and brown, and
serve with a good gravy or white sauce,
and diamonds of bread, Drowned in butter.
In planning the summer garden, do not
forget a good supply of herbs of various
sorts. Those most in demand for dressings
for fowls, for favoring soups and stews
and garnishing are parsley, sage, summer
saVory, thyme, tarragon, sweet basil and
7laa n< oil hnc &c Nv
ceedingly simple, and a very small space in
the garden will supply all the herbs needed
in the family. If to these are added a root
or two of lavender, one each of catnip, SAT-
from. wormwood and hoarhound, the house
mother will be supplied with a plentiful
store of ''smples' much stronger and purer
than those ordinarily found at the drug
store.
In one of the delightful nature study
quarterlies issued by the college Of agri-
culture and experiment station of Cornell
University the suggestion is made that at
this season every child should be allowed
to plant something, if nothing more than
potato bean.
Such an experiment, 1t is urged, would
tend to awaken love of nature and de-
velop intelligent interest in all her pro-
ceSses and give a forceful illustration Of
two principles that pertain to all life: Pro-
vision for the future (or for welfare OF off,
spring. and excellent methods for attain
ing such plans. In the case Of the potato,
the manufacture of starch and it's storage
for future use place it almost on the plane
of having intelligence. IF plants were not
proyident," says the writer, the world
would have an empty cupboard, and the
full dinner pail would be meaningless ex-
preston"
In this connection come also practical
suggestions for the cooking of the potato
and reasons why" and what for, as
adapted to the comprehension of a child.
If he asks why raw potato is not as
good food as a raw apple, the explanation
comes that each of the starch grains which
forms the large part of the potato is COW
cred with film which offers a strong re-
sistance to the digestive organs of man,
but not necessarily of horses or cattle. By
heat the starch grains are popped open as
heat pops open a kernel of corn. Beside
the starch or carbohydrates Of the potato.
which tend to maintain the animal heat Of
the body, there is also another element of
food the protein, which makes blood and
muscle. One reason why potatoes cook
better when placed in hot water is that the
sudden heat coagulateS the protein Of the
surface and retards the entrance of water
through the mass of the potato, thus tend
ing to make them cook less ''soggy." This
coagulation also prevents the extraction of
the protein from the interior of the po-
tato on the same principle that a quick
soaring of the surface of a roast or steak
prevents the escape of the juices
II cuttings or seeds are to be started in
wise, so that it makes a box four five
inches deep is excellent. If the box does
not receive direct sunlight 1t may be COW
cred with pane of glass to prevent evap-
Grafton. Raise the pane little at one end
to give ventilation, and should the water
collect In drops on the under side of the
glass remove entirely for time. Slips of
common plants, such as geraniums, fuch-
sias or carnations, should be kept at ordi-
nary living room temperature When the
plants begin to form new leaves at the tip
they are ready for transplanting into pots
or other boxes
Cuttings made this month will give COM
pact blooming plants for next winter
Twigs Of peach, apricot, apple, pear, IL
lac or Towering currants placed In water
in a living room will soon reward the
gardener with a burst of bloom. II the
twigs are two or three feet long the buds
are more likely to grow. Change the wa
ter often, cutting off the lower ends of
the twigs, so that a fresh surface will
be exposed to the water The rapid
growth of leaf and bud, emulating the
miraculous poisoning of Aaron's rod
will often prove Of absorbing interest to
the child or invalid shut in whose sphere
Of activities is naturally limited.