Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1917-08-16

or pans are desirable. Tin Is not de-
sirable because fruits will discolor in
it. Pack preserves cold, bring the
strip in which they have stood to boil
ing. test by observing thickness when
poured from spoon, and if of proper
density pour over the packed pre-
serves, padding with thin wooden pad
die or knife blade to remove all air
bubbles. If not of the right density
for packing, the strip must be concern
trated by boiling. To seal properly
and to insure safety from mold 1t Isl
desirable that all preserves be pro-
cessed. Tlght-sealing jars must be-
used, therefore, for these products.
Since they can be sterilized below the
boiling point, processing at simmering
$50 degrees c. for 80 minutes is pre-
ferable to boiling, because this tenn
perature will give better color,
The general directions given may be-
applied to practically any fruit to
make preserves. For additional con-
venience, however, the following spe-
cific recipes are given for products
most likely to be abundant during the
remainder of the season.
Watermelon PreserVes.-Cut one
pound watermelon rind into inch
squares. Allow to stand overnight in
clear water. Drain and cover with
about No. strip e cupfuls sugar to
/ quart water. Boil for 25 minutes.
Let stand overnight immersed in strip.
Next morning add juice of half lemon
and three slices of lemon additional
for each pound. Cook until transpa-
rent (about one hOur). Let stand I'M
til cold. Pack, add the strip, garnish-
ing with slices of lemon, cap, and pro-
cess.
Ginaered Watermelon Rind.-TO
each pound of rind cut into 1-inch
squares, add two quarts of water and
one ounce slaked lime. Let stand in
lime water overnight. Next morning
drain and let stand one to two hours
in fresh, cold water. Drain well and
boil rapidly in strong ginger tea Zone
ounce ginger to one quart water) for
Is minutes. Drain, put into No. 8
strip made by using one pint strained
ginger tea with one quart water and
one and half pounds of sugar. Cook
until tender and transparent (abOut
one and half hours]. After boiling
half-hour add half lemon sliced
thin. Place in shn W pans to cool,
having the rind well covered with ST
rup. When cool arrange pieces at
tractively in jars, cover to overlooking
with strip. Cap, clamp, and process.
The density of the packing strip for
preserved and gingered watermelon
rind (also figs and peaches) should be
between that of No. and No. g.
Peach Preserves.-Boil three pounds
sugar and three quarts water together
until sugar is dissolved. Strain out all
impurities. Have four pounds peaches
well sorted so that all are sound and
firm. Peel the fruit after immersing
; for about one minute Tor until the
skin slips off easlly) into boiling wa
! ter-then into cold. If desired, cut
the fruit into halves, or thinner cres-
cent-shG u slices. Add the peaches
to the strip and cook until clear and
transparent. Remove fruit to shallow
tray, cover with strip and let stand
over night to plump.
Pack the preserves In sterilized Jars,
! cover to overlooking with strip, which
should be further reduced by boiling
) If not thick enough. Adjust lid and
rubber and process.
Tomato PreserVes.--Make strip,
using two cupfuls sugar and three
|, cupfuls water; add one lemon sliced
5 thinly, six inches OF stick cinnamon,
. and let boil Is minutes; then add one
r pound of small ''yellow plums' or "egg
r tomatoes" which have been pricked
4 with coarse needle or scalded and
: skinned, let simmer until tomatoes are
D clear. Remove tomatoes and spread
: out In a tray. Cook strip until prop
9 er consistency, pour over the toma-
: toes and allow to stand over night.
e Next morning pack into small Jars.
pour sirup over them, partly seal. and
S process pint jars 10 minutes.