Evening star., 1950-04-02
Readers
Clearing House
Conducted by BETSY CASWELL
ANSWERS TO QUERIES;
RECIPES.

- WV Ava ~ " bcfSEfkSkON/
Bookbinding: At Hope Haven
Farm, Marrero, La, orphaned
boys are taught various trades. r
had book rebound and copies of
lectures bound. I was very well
pleased with the results. Those
who are interested could contact
the Catholic Fathers in charge for
further information.
Suggestions for Lent: Before
removing French fried potatoes
from the skillet or frying pan,
pour over them well beaten eggs,
either plain or with finely chopped
up shallots added. AS soon as
the eggs are fried or cooked, re-
move from pans. Serve while hot.
Use of crab meat: Prepare an
omelet eggs whipped up with
finely cut shallots). Add crab
meat, already cooked, to the egg
mixture. Fry and serve while
hot.
Prepare a tomato gravy by
chopping finely two or three large
onions. Fry onions carefully un-,
til they turn light golden color.
Add cooking spoon or a large
tablespoon of flour by sprinkling
same over the onions.
AS soon as the flour turns a light
golden color, add can of toma-
toes, or three or four fresh to-
matoes- {remove skins of tomatoes |
by scalding). Cook for about 20
minutes, adding water when nee
essary to make gravy thinner.
After the tomatoes have cooked
about 10 minutes and the water
added is boiling, add as much crab
meat as desired and finish cook
ing. The gravy with the crab
meat may be thick or thin as de-
sired. Parsley and a sprig Of
thyme may be added ais favoring
if desired. Serve with rice.
The tomato gravy may be pre-
pared before adding a can of cut
okra or fresh okra. This can be
enriched by adding as much crab
meat as desired as we'll as shrimp
which were plainly fried pre-
viously. This is called gumbo and
is also served with rice. Stir okra
while cooking only as necessary.
Too much stirring will make it
Shiny. Ham may be used in place
of seafood.
If eggplants are boiled whole
Gin their skins) until tender the
mealy part can be scooped out of
the shell and mashed as you
would prepare mashed potatoes.
Then fry shrimp and add finely
chopped onions. AS soon as
onions are a very light golden
color, add the meat from the egg
plants. Continue MASKING the
eggplants while cooking for about
10 minutes. Cooked crab meat
can be added. Then the eggplant
shells can be refilled with the
mixture. Cover with bread crumbs
and bake. Or place mixture in
pan and bake.
On days of fast and abstinence
use shrimp or crab meat. On
other days, raw ham, boiled ham.
bacon or other meats may be
used. ..
The Times Picayune Publish
ing co. in New Orleans sells an
excellent cookbook with famous
New Orleans recipes in it.
Note: The tomato gravy with
desired seasonings forms basis
for many dishes. Meat previously
fried, or meat balls can be cooked
in the tomato gravy.
X
AFRICAN VIOLETS.
From NJ. c.. Alerandria.)
To Mrs. H. P. G., WASHINGTON:
I am in the midst of reading the
book THE African Violet" by
Helen Van Pelt Wilson, which 1
got from the library, therefore, I
imagine any library would have it.
The book is extremely interesting,
even to those who haven't African
violets, as I, but am sure that after
reading this book they wouldn't be
without this plant very long. Mrs.
H. P. G.'s little white bugs around
the base of container sound like
springtails. Not too much is known
about, them except that they are
not thought to do any real harm.
Watering the soil with black leaf
40 solution is suggested. A. stronger
solution may injure plant. The
leaves turning yellow may be the1
result of too much bright sun. It
is suggested that the light in the
window be diffused on plant by
glass curtain or Venetian blind.
They need tempered light and wa
ter as they are natives of East
Africa and were found in wooded
and shaded areas in rich soil. If
these bugs are seen on the under
side of leaves, too, they may be
mealy bugs which also hide in the
crown Of the plant and suck its
sap. Best method is to dust a 10
per cent DOT powder with camels
hair brush directly over bugs on
the crowns and bases of leaf and
flower stems.
Now could any of the readers
give me suggestions for a flower
and plant booth at q bazaar to be
held in the latter part of May?