The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-11-08

ing yesterday afternoon was revela-
ton. Some of US are SO antiquated that
it is difficult for us to realize that with
out coal, wood or gas, and with no
watching, or tending, meals can be
cooked which the best of our house
wives would be proud to serve on their
tables. Yet, that such was the fact,
was plainly shown by the enthusiastic
who were glad to tell of their success.
and of all the different marvellous
things they would do. 1t certainly
sounded most attractive to housekeep
ers to hear how, on Sunday morning,
for instance, the roast, vegetables and
even dessert for the Sunday dinner,
could be put to cook, then the house
keeper could go to church, with no fear
of the dinner being spoiled, and come
home to find everything ready, nothing
| to do but put it on the table. Mrs. T.
S. Lyon, the chairman of the commit
tee. called the meeting to order, and
Mrs. l.. D. Whittemore had the first
paper, Cooking. in Boxes" Mrs.
Whittemore explained in her usual in
teresting way the construction of the
boxes, telling how easily one could be
made at home which would be quite a.
successful as the boughten oneS-any
sort of tight box or old trunk will do.
She said: Put three inches of pack
ing material all over the bottom of the
box. The packing material may be
wool, cotton, crumpled bits of paper,
feathers, hay or excelsior. Then choose
your cooking vessels, kettles, having
good tight lids, the tighter. the. better.
Avoid tin because of rust. Shape
around each of the vessels some sheet
asbestos, or coarse straw paper; set
these shapes on the layer of packing
on the bottom of the box. Then stuff
more packing in the open spaces be-
tween and around the kettle shapes.
Make cushion to cover over all. fitted
to the lid, which must fit closely down.
There should be three inches at least
between the kettle and the box and
more if hay is used for packing. Spare
no pains, do everything you can to
make the box alright, so it will h old
the heal.
Put the food in the kettles and
bring everything to boil on the gas
stove. Then put the hot kettles in their
cases in the box quickly, hasten the
cushions over all and fasten the did
down. The box method is a substitute
for fuel and cook and it develops the
fine flavor of stony fruits. Vegetables
are better cooked in the box than at
continual bubble over gas. Food that
takes one hour over the fame will re-
quire two and three in the box and of
course no watching Is necessary" Mrs. |
Whittemore impressed on the women |
the time and fuel saved.
Mrs. Frank Lowry Clark next gave |
a talk on 1.-THE Home Made Cooker. |
Instead of a Cook"
Mrs. Clark is a most devoted ad-
mirer of this method of cooking. She |
said that it was her ambition to build |
a house and build a cooker in tin |
fact to build the cooker-and the
house around it. She told several in-l
stances of different articles she had
cooked, and experiments she had
made. 1t all sounded SO interesting, |
and so easy, that one felt that here
was surely the artistic and picturesque
side of cooking-and it could be no |
drudgery, if done by this method, Mrs.
Clark talks in a most harfnfng man
ner, and more than one of her hearers
doubtless felt a greatodesire to be able
to try some of the roasts, chicken,
fried tomatoes and steamed pudding
she told about.
Mrs. Paul Lovewell gave talk on
Meats" She made her audience still
more hungry, by giving a practical
demonstration of her subject. She
platform, and took out a roast of beef,
which certainly looked and smelled
delicious enough to establish the
reputation of any cooker. Mrs. Love-
well very Interestingly described the
various methods of cooking different
kinds of meats.
Mrs. Ralph H. Cav closed the pro-
gramme with talk on "a Bridal
Luncheon. Mrs. Cav is not a mem
Der of the household economics COM
but was asked to give her in
experience with the Fire
less Cooker. She told how, before
she mad heard anything about the
she had, as a novel way
Of entertaining prospective bride,
made cooker, and cooked in 1t every
article which she served at the lunch
con. Mrs. Cav thought that her sue
cess, ignorant as she was at that time
should encourage others to try.
After the programme was finished,
the nine : cookers, on the platform,
which had been used in preparing
food for the meeting, were opened,
and. the contents served to the guests.
Delicious baked beans. brown bread,
lima beans. two kinds of cereals, oat-
meal and cream of wheat, coffee and
piping hot
Those who wished were allowed to
examine the cookersEand there were
al kinds there-from the small home
made ones. to the ornamental Chat
nam boxes, made by the Manson
Campbell company in Topeka.
AS result of the meeting, it Is safe
TO predict there will be many new
cooking boxes" in Topeka kitchens
and it is to be hoped they will all do
as satisfactory work as the ones used
yesterday
Notes and Personal Mention.
Major Chase Doster. who has been
visiting his parents. Judge and Mrs.