Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-08-16
BY MRS. NJ. A. WILSON

r INA beans are fiat, kidney-shaped
beans and are sometimes called
butter beans. They are very popular
and they form a splendid addition
to the winter menu, either canned or
dried.
The lima bean is a member Of the
family group of four vegetables,
which are the hardest to keep for
future use; namely, asparagus, peas,
corn and lima beans.
The moisture content of the lima
beans is in the form of vegetable
milk and it will develop Tactic acid
ferment, called thermophyle. This
ferment does not spoil the appear
ance of the vegetables and it can
only be detected when the jar is
opened. The beans have fiat, sour
taste and they become soft and
mushy when turned from the jar.
Now it is quite necessary to prevent
this trouble. When canning beans
First. Use beans freshly harvested
this means not over six hours old.
Second. Do not let them lie in
piles; they will heat; do not lay them
in the sun or any other warm place.
Third. Shell at once, in a cool
place, and grade for size; namely,
small, medium and large. Can only
the small and medium sizes. Dry
the large beans.
Fourth. Blanch in boiling water
for fifteen minutes and then remove
and dip at once into cold running
water. Drain, pack quickly into
jars and fill the jars to overfiowing
with boiling salt water. Adjust the
rubber and lid and partially tighten.
Place at once in a hot water bath
and process for three and one-half
hours.
Fifth. The temperature of the
water in the bath should be from 165
to IT'S degrees Fair. when jars are
placed in bath. Hotter than this will
be apt to crack the jars.
Sixth. After the jars are in the
hot water bath bring them quickly
to a boil and allow the water to boil
two minutes, then count the time
from this on. The water must be
at least two inches deep over the tops
of the jars and must boil contnu-
ally. At the end of the period for
processing, remove the jars. seal at
once and remove to a cool room, free
from drafts to cool. The four periods
when fiat sour may attack the beans
are:
First. While the beans are lying
in a warm room or in piles or in the
sun.
Second. Too slow in filing into
jars and delay in quickly bringing
hot water bath to the boiling point.
Third. Allowing the jars to cool
by standing in the hot water bath,
or in hot kitchen after processing.
Fourth. Storage in a warm place.
To Dry Lima Beans
There are two methods that are
used for drying lima beans. Both
are good. The second method is said
to prevent insects from being at
tracted to the beans and it is used
chiefly by those living in warm
climates. Beans may be dried in the
sun or with an electric fan or in the
various drierS that are on the
market.
First nethod-Cover a wire tray
with cheesecloth and then spread
the beans in a single layer and place
them in the sun or in the drier to
dry. Turn them frequently during
the drying process.
Second method-Place the beans in
a piece of cheesecloth and dip in
boiling water for ten minutes, then
dip in cold water. Spread on a cloth
to drain for a few minutes. Now
cover trays with cheesecloth and
spread the beans in single layers
and dry, using either the sun or the
evaporator.
When the beans are thoroughly
dry, they must be tempered or con-
ditioned, for if they were to be sealed
right after drying quite frequently
they would sweat and then mold To
do this place the beans in a wire
basket or cheesecloth bag and hang
in cool dry place. Empty and turn
every day for one week. They may
then be stored in cool, dry place
To store the lima beans pack them
into tins or glass containers and
cover, then wrap in a newspaper to
prevent insects, ETC., from being at
tracted to them.
1t is important to keep the beans
covered either with mosquito netting
or cheesecloth while drying them, to
prevent insects from laying their
eggs among and on the beans.
Succotash
Shell sufficient amount of beans
to measure three quarts and then
parboil them for twenty minutes.
Drain and rinse in plenty of cold
water. Now blanch and cold-dip one
dozen large ears of corn and then
ecora tba corn with n cprD Scrano,,