Things Mother Used to Make Part 16

=HOUSEHOLD HINTS OLD AND NEW FOR HOUSEKEEPERS YOUNG AND OLD=

=To Save Confusion in the Home=

"Plan your work, then work your plan."

_Monday_--Wash, if you have it done in the house. If sent out, use that day for picking up and putting things in order, after the disorder of Sunday.

_Tuesday_--Iron.

_Wednesday_--Finish ironing and bake; wash kitchen floor.

_Thursday, Friday_--Sweep and dust, thoroughly.

_Sat.u.r.day_--Bake, and prepare in every way possible, for the following day.

=Have in or Near Your Sink=

A handle dish cloth.

A wire dish cloth.

A cake of scouring soap.

A small brush for cleaning vegetables.

These articles are indispensable. Also have two cloths, which must be kept perfectly clean.

One for was.h.i.+ng dishes.

One for was.h.i.+ng sink.

=Homemade Shortening=

Do not throw away small pieces of fat from pork, lamb or steak. Put them on the stove, in a skillet or agate dish and cook them till there is nothing left, but sc.r.a.ps. Then pare a potato, wash clean, cut into thin slices and cook in the fat for a half hour to clarify it. Strain through a cloth. This will be good to fry doughnuts in and for all purposes, where shortening is needed, except for pie crust.

Pieces of fat, not fit for shortening can be saved in some old utensil and made into kitchen soap.

=To Make Tea and Coffee=

Always use freshly boiled water. Do not boil more than three or four minutes. This is very important, in making a good cup of tea or coffee.

Never use water which has stood in the teakettle over night.

=A Use for Left-over Coffee=

Do not throw away the coffee you have left from breakfast. If you do not care for iced coffee for dinner, make a little coffee jelly, by the recipe on page 27.

=Never Throw away Old Underclothes=

Keep them for housecleaning, for was.h.i.+ng windows and for was.h.i.+ng lamp chimneys. Old pieces of calico, or flannel make good holders to use about the stove. Wash, boil and dry cleaning cloths when soiled, that they may be ready for use again.

=That Leaky Hot-Water Bag=

Do not throw away an old hot-water bag because it leaks. Fasten over the leak, a strong piece of adhesive plaster. Fill the bag with sand or salt and cover with flannel. It will hold heat for a long time, and can be used instead of the water bottle.

=To Keep your Hands White=

Keep a piece of lemon in your bathroom or kitchen. It will remove stains from the hands.

=To Brown Flour=

Spread flour upon a tin pie plate, put it in a hot oven, and stir constantly, after it begins to brown, until it is all colored. Keep always on hand. It is good for coloring and thickening gravies.

=Lemons and Fish=

Lemon juice makes a very grateful addition to all kinds of fish. Thin slices of lemon, with sprigs of parsley, around a platter of fish, makes a pretty garnish.

=To Try out Lard=

If you want good sweet lard, buy from your butcher, leaf lard. Skin carefully, cut into small pieces and put it into a kettle or sauce pan.

Pour in a half-cupful of water, to prevent burning, and cook slowly, until there is nothing left but sc.r.a.ps. Remove the sc.r.a.ps with a skimmer, salt it a little, and strain through a clean cloth, into tin pails. Be sure not to scorch it.