EVERY WELL-INFORMED HOUSEWIFE SHOULD KNOW
That stone jars for bread and cake boxes should be scalded twice a week in summer weather, sunning, if possible, to keep mold from gathering.
That an infant's clothing should always be so arranged as to allow the limbs freedom of motion, and not to compress any portion of the baby.
That a pint of berries or peaches cut fine added to a quart of ordinary ice cream while in the process of freezing makes a delicious fruit ice cream.
That pickles should be well salted in strong brine or they will be tasteless and insipid. Better too much than too little salt, as they can be freshened in weak vinegar.
That potash put down the drain-pipes will prevent a plumber's bill.
That wash-boilers when a little rusty may be cleaned with sweet milk.
That benzene rubbed on the edges of carpet is a sure preventive of moths.
That in cooking string beans, peas and spinach a grating of nutmeg much improves their flavor.
That to remove peach stains soak in milk for forty-eight hours, or rub with lemon juice and salt.
That if a sprig of pasley dipped in vinegar is eaten after an onion no unpleasant odor from the breath can be detected.
Oh my goodness this entry left me with so many questions.
ReplyDelete-What is a stone jar? Like pottery?
-Why would I eat a pickle? blech!
-Wash-boilers? Is that just a big pan?
-Sweet milk? Is that regular milk before it expires? Is it buttermilk?
-Benzene?
I hope to continue these vintage tips as an occasional feature of the blog. I took this particular post from the instruction / cook booklet that came with Grandma Ina's Home Comfort Range (wood-burning cook stove). I found no copyright but there's an article dated 1895.
ReplyDeleteThe purpose is just to show how much things have changed in 100 years. We don't even recognize the items and substances used. But sometimes there's a gem -- like a pinch of nutmeg with your peas, beans, or spinach to make them taste better. Or how about that sprig of parsley dipped in vinegar to dispel onion breath?
Yes, sweet milk is milk that hasn't soured. XO
Ironically, when I tried to put potato down the garbage disposal, it required My Honey to play plumber.
ReplyDeleteToo bad benzene proved to be so toxic. It really was a useful chemical.
Dr. J? -- I think potash is different than potatoes. Did you misread that? I looked up potash but I'm still not sure what it is or how our ancestors came by it.
ReplyDeleteWell, that could explain why I had trouble with potatoes down the drain....*chuckle*
ReplyDeleteYes, I totally misread it. When we read, our brains work like "auto complete" and my brain filled in "potato" instead of "potash."
So, from what I could tell from Wikipedia, potash is boiled down from lye made from the ashes of hardwood so it would make sense that it would keep the pipes clean.
Interesting about potash. I know the people that lived here at the homestead took the ashes from the cook stove to the outhouse where it was used to dispel certain odors and aid in the degrading process. Mike says his family used lime.
ReplyDeleteWasn't potash used to make soap?
ReplyDeleteThis is for Hallie:
ReplyDelete"A pickle is a cucumber soaked in evil" HA-HA-HA!!!