Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1914-12-29
FOR THE HOUSEWIFE.
How to Make a Homemade Fireless
Cooker.


Cooker.
The cooker in question was designed
by young housewife and was Made
by her husband under her supervision.
1t is II compact box about thirty inches
long by fifteen wide and fifteen deep.
The covpf. instead of fitting over the
top. fits just inside and it is fastened
in place. when the box is closed, by
two wooden buttons set on to the edge
of the box by screws
The box is lined on the inside With
IN Two fifteen inch squares OF the
same asbestos material divide the in
terror into three chambers or cOlnpart-
urnts of equal width The round open
ingS or nests" into which the cook
iny utensils are made to tit are made
by rolling pieces of asbestos into cyl
inder shape and fastening them to
sether with a fine wire.
These round nests vary slightly In
diameter. the smallest being six inches
and the largest seven inches. The
spaces between these nests and the
sides of the compartments are filled
with sawdust. which is packed closely.
A large sheet Of asbestos. cut to ex-
actly fit over the top of the box. has
three round openings for the three
nests This piece is tackled firmly in
place and presents a very neat appear
q in, bD S.f h1,
box, so that when the cover is shut
down there is no space between.
There are three small squares Of the
asbestos which are for covering over
the nest openings when food is set IN
them to be cooked.
Two of the cooking vessels used in
this homemade cooker are five pound
lard pals. which have tight fitting COW
erS The third is larger can. also OF
tin The pals have wire handles and
the large can has a small wire ring
in the cover. by means of which ii can
be lifted The smaller cans are design.
ed for cooking cereals. buildings and
vegeta heS and for ha king round !OaveS
of bread. while the large can IN de
signed for cooking meats.
The feature of this cooker. which
distinguishes 1t from most homemade
iron plates. which can he heated so
that roasting and baking can he done
in he cooker There are two soap
stone plates. roughly cut. it is true I'M,
they answer the purpose for which
they are intended. They are made
from a soapStone warmer. this having
been cut in halves and the corners of
each half sawed Off SO that the soap
stones have bexagonal shape. The
two iron plates are small. round stove
covers
The owner of this ingenious cooker
declares that 1t is entirely practical
and serviceable. BY heating the two
soapstOnes and placing one at the
bottom Of nest and the other on
top OF the cooking vessel. after the
food has been put inside and the cover
put on. she can bake bread or roast
she browns the meat in frying pan
before putting 1t into the cooker.
In cooking breakfast cereal (which
Ia put in the cooker the night beforeD
and in boiling vegetables neither SOAP
stones nor iron plates are used.
This cooker. which cost about $3.50.
is expected to take the place Of a
range oven for it's owner. She has
two burner alcohol stove. on which
steaks and chops will be cooked and
over which the soapstones and iron
plates are heated. At night some wa
ter Is heated over the alcohol stove to
put into the "fireless" and kept warm
for toilet nse in the morning The
cereal also is brought to boil and
then set into the cooker. In the morn
ing there is no building of fires neces-
sary. The cereal Is ready for the
table and coffee can he made and eggs
or fish cooked in few minutes over
the alcohol stove. While breakfast Is
being eaten the dishwater Is heating
| After breakfast fricassep or stew
or braise is made ready for the cooker
and set into 1t to cook for the midday
meal This does away with excessive
heat in the kitchen. and the clever w.
man who cOntrived the cooker de-
clares that It has already proved to be
worth much more than the small
amount Of money It cost.