Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-06-04
THE HOUSEHOLD
WATER SUPPLY.

Alice r Whitaker.

Water, sometimes called the univer.
sal carrier, is of first Importance in cook.
! ing not only because our bodies are seven
-ninths water. but as solvent. a dflu-
tant medium for conveying heat and
an assistant in mixing. Alb
solutely pure water, which Is
one part hydrogen 70 eight parts
/ oxygen by weight, does not exist In ma
tnre. II can be secured by Oscillation.
and is 50 prepared for medicinal and
other limited uses. The nearest approach
/ to pure water in nature is rain water
which fa-.s in open space Common we'll
or sI''.e N. NAV be mixed with min
/ eral clements. u. ,... to-, - earth
| through which 1t has pass. ...I v-'.h
| house or stable drainage. A c.y ~. O..
| supply is usually free from household
wastes, but It has more or less mineral
matter, depending on its source. whether
| it comes from tho surface or = fed by
springs; it may contain some ORGANIC
matter. Artes.an well water is free fro,p
organic or household pollution but it may
contain more or less mineral substance.
The Impurities OF water are useful. neg
| ative or dangerous. Some of the IMMORAL
additions TO water may be he7eF IN, as
! or example in the 4, tica ed waters OF
! r''Dera springs on he other hand or
ga. 't"- iold waste are not
desirable and may be causes Of disease
! II is not safe to Judge water by appear
ance- as samples Of clear sparkling wa
ter have been found by the chemist to be
teeming with organic matter and unfit
! for human consumption. while water that
! looks muddy and has An earthly taste
may be comparatively harmless.
| II the water is not safe, il may bs
made wholesome by boiling. il will then
taste Nat" because all the sases have
been expelled. It is wise 70 take this pre-
caution during epidemic OF typhoid II
| water is filtered the flter should be kept
clean, otherwise II becomes foul from ac-
cumula ted collections. Small faucet filters
are not recommended Water which has
stood over night in lead pines should be
drawn and not used for cooking or drink
ing because of the solvent power of wa
| ter on lead and consequent danger OF
| lead poisoning
Water which contains lime Is called
"hard:" soap will not unite with it but
Will take a curdsd appearance and float
| like a scum. Water may be softened for
| laundry and cleansing purposes by add
| ing soda, horax or ammonia Hard water
is not objectionable in any cooking proc
ess where it Is desirable TO keep sub
stance unhroken. Soft water has greater
| solvent powers: It extracts juices and
| softens tho tissues OF meat; il is preferred
| for making tea and coffee. but may sof-
ten tender vegetables until they are bro
| ken and wasted. Salt added to water
hardcns il sufficiently to prevent this.
DATE MERINGCE.
| Beat the whites OF five eggs until stifY.
add three rounding tablespoons OF pow
dered sugar and beat again. Add a teas
pooh of lemon Juice and half a pound OF
stoned chopped dates. Turn into butter
ed baking dish and bake fifteen minutes
in a moderate oven Serve with a boiled
custard.
BOILED CUSTARp.
| Heat two cups OF milk In double boiler
and pour on to the yolks OF three eggs
| beaten light with three rounding table
spoons OF sugar and a pinch Of salt Re-
turn to the double boiler and cook until
| the spoon Will coat with the custard Cool
and add havoring.
MCFFINS.
Put two level teaspoons OF baking pow
der with two cups OF sifted pastry four
and a half a level teaspoon Of salt Beat
the yolks OF two eggs light and the whites
until stifY and dry. Add q rounding tea
spoon OF sugar and a tablespoon OF melt
ed butter to tho yolks then one cup OF
milk. beat. add the four and beat then
| fold in the stiffly beaten whites. Pour in
to hot creased muffin pans filling them
| two-thirds full and bake In q quick oven.