Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-04-11


flannel or asbestus, leaving hole In
the center to fit closely around the
utensil in which the food is cooked.
The principle involved in using the
cooker is that the receptacle is made
Of and lined with some nonconducting
material which holds the heat In the
food until it is cooked. For this rea
son wooden box, barrel or pail is
used for the outside part. This is
lined three or four inches thick with
wool, paper, excelsior or in some cases
with exhausted air. A space Is left
In the center which fits closely around
the covered granite utensn in which
food is cooked. A padded cover dts
tight over the top Of the cooker, thus
allowing no chance for the outside air
to enter or the heat to escape. The
temperature the food material Is when
it is put into the cooker Will be re-
tanned for several hours, and the fail
In temperature is very gradual. The
principle is the same for freezing as
in cooking. a low temperature being
retained the same as high degree OF
heat.
In the baker two soapstones are heat
ed for fifteen minutes directly over
the fire. and then one is placed above
and the other below the article to be
baked.
cookins Cereals In the "Firsless'
The freless cooker Is especially
adapted for foods that require long,
slow cooking, but is not intended for
articles which require rapid boiling.
It is particularly well suited for ce-
reals of all kinds, because the princi-
pie underlying the cooking OF all
starchy foods is that 1t should be slow,
thorough and prolonged. In previous
article the statement was made that
the breakfast oatmeal may be cooked
in the freless cocker. The directions
for doing this are as follows:
To two cupfuls Of boiling water add
one teaspoonful OF salt. Stir In gradu-
ally one cupful Of oatmeal Let It boil
directly over the fire for i've minutes.
then place in the cooker for eight
hours or overnight. II the oatmeal IL
cold in the morning reheAt over hot
water.
Many persons are familiar With the
construction of the fireless cooker,
but are not quite sure how to use one.
For such q few general rules may be
helpful.
Some Gsnsral Directions.
As there is no evaporation in the
cooker. use less water with cereals OF
any kind.
While cooking the food over the fire
leave the vessel uncovered. This will
permit the gases formed In cooking to
escape. This is particularly necessary
| I'm preparing chicken and other meats
for the cooker.
If the granite utensil used In the
cooker is too large for the amount Of
| food, use a smaller vessel in which to
| cook the food and set it inside the
larger utensil, surrounded by hot wa
ter. To insure perfect success thrs
should be two vacant spaces In the
cooker or utensn.
This method Of cooking IL splendid
for chicken fricassee, stews Of ill
kinds, pot rossts, soups and for any
meat dish which requires slow cook
| ing. II the piece of meat Is large re-
heating It after It has been in tie
cooker four or'hve hours and theakedn-
tinuing the cooking 1sur or I'VE hours
longer will give better results.
The length Of time the food is>tos b
cooked over the fire depends on t1s
i size and nature OF the food. 4 ten
pound ham SHOULD simmer. never boil,
for about forty minutes and cook in
the cooker for ten hours, with q Sec
ond relocating after the nrst four
hours.
The dreless cooker Is not intended
for fresh vegetables Of any Kind.
These, as previously stated, require
rapid cooking, which cannot be accom-
plished in It. II the potatoes are cook
ed in It they are sure to be heavy and
more or less watery.
II meat is liked brown this should
be done before Or a1etteTf bss;iaS put mt,
the cooker.
| Practical Cooling Utensils.
The variety. and kind OF utensils to
be used in the Kitchen are :always an
interesting topic to all COED house-
keepers. There Is only one point to
emphasize in equipping Kitchen, and
that is that the best material il none
too good; also the extent Of the equip
ment should be equal to the needs Of
the housekeeper.
| have been IN many Kitchens where
the utensils were in such 4 WORKOUT
condition and 20 insufficient IN kind
and number that Was not surprised
to hear the woman say she diANked
to cook or that she WAS IN unsucesss-
tul cook.