Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 May 1891 — THE HOUSEHOLD. Hints to Housekeepers. [ARTICLE]

THE HOUSEHOLD.

Hints to Housekeepers.

Candles that have been frozen never drip. In roasting meat turn with a spoon, instead of a fork, as tho latter pierces the meat and lets the juice out. A teabpoonfui. of cornstarch mixed with a cupful of salt will remove alt possibility of dampness in tho shaker. Thin glass is too good a conductor of heat to be advisable for keeping toilet creams, whlqh preserve their quality best in thick queensware or pottery. Instead of putting food into the oven to keep hot for late comers, try covering it closely wish a tin, and setting it over a basin of hot water. This plan will keep tho food hot, and at tho samo time prevent it from drying. Boiled eggs, to slice nicely, should bo put over the fire in cold water, and should remain fifteen minutes after tho water begins to boil, and allowed to cool in the samo water. If cooled by dropping thorn into cold water thoy will not peel smoothly. By applying a little of the best carriage oil varnish carefully with a camel’s hair brush to tho edge of broken china, tho parts being neatly joined together, the fracture will, when thoroughly dry, bo hardly perceptible, and the china will stand fire and water. One should bo careful to have shell fish as fresh as possible. Lobsters art* much better If bought alive and boiled at homo. Plunge them into strongly salted boiling water and boil thirty or forty minutes. They are unfit to cat later than fifteen hours after they aro boiled. At this season all winter vegetables aro improved bv soaking them In water for an hour or more before they are used. Potatoes, beets, and other winter roots are improved by being soaked at least twclvo hours In cold water. This soaking removes the strong flavor acquired, by all vegetables kept in collar bins. An English way to cover flower pots is to paste tho narrow ends of tho tissuepaper sheet together and cut it of the right height, making the top edge tulippointed. Crimp tho paper together in the same way as tho lamp shade; this will bring it about the right size to fit an ordinary flower pot. Finish withal ribbon of the same shade. Sheets, pillowcases, tablecloths' napkins should not be hemmed until they have first been shrunken; but before theshrinking process each one should bemade into Its proper length. I f this isdone, they will always fold ovonly when ironed, which is not the case If made upwithout shrinking, or if shrunken in the piece, and then made into its proper lengths. Sheets and pillowcases should be torn by a thread; tablecloths and napkins should be cut by a thread.