Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1904-03-22

one stumbling DlOCR to tHe auaeoui
cook-that of tendency to curdle. To
prevent this cook often begins its
preparation with the tin of baking-soda
at her elbow. An infallible method that
was never known to produce curdled
soup is to add the tomato before the
milk is put in. Make your foundation
of butter md flour, draw the saucepan
to one side of the range, and add the
strained tomato unheated, then the milk,
also cold. Stir together for moment,
then put over the fire to cook. The sea
soning of the soup, salt and pepper and
a few gratings of a cut onion, should be
added to the tomato.
A simple cement is the white lead that
is used in painting in oils. This mends
china so we'll that dishes treated so can
be freely washed without danger of re-
breaking. This lead can be bought at
any shop where art paints are sold.
A cooking school teacher instructed
her class in the art of making French
dressing in what seemed rather unusual
way. First, into the bottom of bowl
that had been rubbed with cut onion
went the requisite proportions of salt
and pepper, the two busted over with a
little paprica. A little oil and vinegar
was added, and the mixture we'll stirred
before the rest of the oil and vinegar
went in. Then a piece of ice, about the
size of an egg, was dropped in, and the
whole beaten vigorously with fork for
about five minutes. The ice was remov-
ed, and the dressing was ready to serve.
A French housekeeper serves often
! Il, I
luncheon, what she calls fish puffs." A
white sauce is made in a saucepan, a
tablespoonful each of butter and flour,
to which, when they are creamed, half
cupful of milk is added At the proper
moment into this is stirred cupful OF
cold cooked fish that has been faxed
small and well seasoned with salt and
pepper. The excellence of the dish de-
ponds largely upon the fish being in
light, small flakes. As soon as the fish
is stirred in thoroughly the saucepan is
taken from the fire, and to the mixture
are added two eggs well beaten. This
batter is dropped by the spoonful into
hot fat, the puffs drained on brown pa
per, and Immediately served on folded
napkin and garnished with watercress.
A thoroughly good potato soup, useful
in an emergency, can be very quickly
made if about two cupfuls of cold mash
ed potatoes are mt hand. Slice medium
sized onion and fry it in a saucepan with
piece of butter the size of an egg.
Watch that the onion does not burn, and
when cooked pour on it quart of milk.
When the milk has come to boil stir in
the mashed patato, which should have
| been beaten free from. Jumps. Boil all
together, season with salt and pepper,
and pour into the tureen over croutons.
| The remarkable cures of tubercu-
losis from the fresh-air treatment alone
emphasize the wrong conditions under
which modern life is lived. The con-
struction and heating of our houses and
places of public gathering keep us most
of the time in burnt-Out air, from which
the oxygen is gone and the poison ex-
hailed from ourselves and our neighbors
is the chief constituent. A skin special
list says that many teachers come to him
suffering from an affection which takes
the hair off the head in large bald spots,
sometimes leaving the entire head bare.
The time spent every day in close room
packed with children is the cause. Six
months of life in the fresh air brings
about cure in most cases. Children,
nowadays, have tonsils and nose growths
removed so that they may get more air
into the clamoring lungs. We herd in
cities, and pack ourselves in sky-scrap-
ing apartments or block residences, built,
most of them, SO that real ventilation is
not possible. Then we hang three tiers
of curtains at the windows, put pOrtieres
at the doors, stand screens in front of
them, turn on the steam heat, light the
gas, and wonder why we have catarrh,
neuralgia, colds and other ills The ven
tilation of her home should be the first
care of every housekeeper. Accept the
conditions if they cannot be changed,
and do what is possible to mitigate
them. Abolish stuffy furniture and an
undue amount of drapery. While the
family dimes see that the family sitting
room has lights lowered and windows
open; get transoms over the bedroom
doors if possible; if not, leave doors
open at night. Lift the skylight on
blocks to insure an upward draught
through the house, and watch always in
every way to keep the air of the rooms
constantly renewed.
Tomato crescents, that are an excellent
garnish for roasted meats or may be
served with plain green salad, are
really sort of croquette. Into sauce
pan put a half-can of tomatoes, three
cloves, one tablespoonful of sugar, a
slice of onion, and a quarter of a tea
spoonful each of salt and paprika. Cook
twenty minutes, and strain before adding
thickening of two tablespoonful OF
butter and four of cornstarch that have
been cooked together until smooth.
When the mixture has come to boil stir
in one egg beaten slightly, and remove at
cut into shape with crescent or other
cutter, crumb, egg, crumb again, and
| fry in hot fat. Drain on kitchen paper.
1t is the little niceties of cooking and
serving that mark the difference between
mere eating and an appetizing meal. So
plain course as cod steak with mashed
potato may be tempting or the reverse.
If fried in grease that still surrounds 1t
when it comes to the table, and flanked
by lumpy ill-seasoned potato, there is
little relish in the offering. If, instead,
the steaks are drained on kitchen paper
and arranged on platter around a
mound of mashed potato beaten light, a
little lemon basket holding parsley set
on top, and half-moons of lemon put out
side the fish, with alternate disks OF
sliced red boiled beets, quite different
effect on appetite and digestion is pro-
duced.
Baked-bean sandwiches are liked by
hungry children and others. Press half
a cupful of baked beans through colan-
der. Mix with one tablespoonful OF
horseradish or tomato catsup, one tea
spoonful each Of parsley and celery,
minced fine, andA quarter teaspoonful
of made mustard. Spread between thin
slices of graham bread.-Harper's b.
Ear,