FoodNet

The complete Indian housekeeper & cook

1898

Page 42 · 2 recipe records on this page

Presented as published in 1898. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
12. Cloth or Velvet Embroidery, to clean. — Bake a very thick chapdtti (unleavened cake) of coarse atta and water. 'When barely cooked through, Like the inside doughy part, form into a roller, and with the palm of the hand roll in over the embroidery. The fluffs and hairs stick to and come away on the dough, which also acts, like bread, as a cleanser. Excellent for velvet. 13. Dubbin for Boots. — Melt 2 oz. mutton suet, 4 oz. black resin, and 1 pint fish oilDubbin for Boots. One of the best dressings for hoots is plain castor oil. Vaseline is also good. 14. Glue, Strong. — Digest by gentle heat in a corked bottle 3 oz. rectified spirits of wine with 4 oz. of fine pale shellacGlue, Strong. The Chinese use nothing else for all their wood-work. Excellent for pianos. 16. Furniture Polish. — Mix in a bottle equal pai’ts of linseed oil, turpentine, vinegar, and spirits of wine ; or half a teacup shredded beeswax dissolved in 1 teacup turpentine. 16. French Polish. — Put into a bottle enough pale shellac slightly broken to fill it one-third, fill up with spirits of wine. Digest in the sun. 17. Grease Spots, to remove.— Rub with oil of turpentine and air in the sun ; or place a double fold of blotting-paper over the spot, and rub with a moderately hot poker. 18. Patent Leather, to preserve.— Use plain boiled linseed oil. Tlie easiest ])lan to make a good drying oil is to powder 2 oz. of litharge and 1 oz. o.xide or sul]diate of lead. Put into a pint bottle of linseed oil, agitate occasionally for ten days. Set in the hot sun for two more, then decant the clear portion. 19. Scouring Drops.— Mix 2 oz. rectified spirits of turpentine with 2 drachms essential oil of lemon or cloves. Rub on with a clean rag till the stain disappears. Housekeeper and Cook 63 Duties of the Sweeper. The implements required by the sweeper are — 1 Native broom for verandahs. 1 Dust-pan and brush. 1 Carpet-switch. 1 Hearth brush. 1 Ash-pan. 1 Dust cloth. 1 Slop pail. 1 Bath-room basket. 1 House flannel. 1 Scrubbing brush. Soap. 6 Dusters of all sorts. Set boot bruslies, 1 Turk’s head for cleaning walls. 1 Carbolic or I’lienyle bottle. 1 W ooden spud. 1 Tin whitewash and brush. 1 Comb and brush for dog. In most houses the sweeper is engaged simply because he is the husband of the ayah. This is an immense mistake^ as the whole cleanliness of the house depends upon him. Again, his duties give him the eniree to every room, therefore the trust reposed in him must necessarily be great. He is, in fact, the under-housemaid, and should never be allowed to degenerate into the dirty, unkempt drudge, whose sole notion of work is to raise a dust-storm with a broom, and try experi- ments on the relative fragility of your pet ornaments by flicking them with a greasy duster. Housekeepers will find a rupee or two more well expended in securing the services of a man who is presentable, and who is both fit to, and capable of, receiving orders direct. Care should also be taken that the sweeper is not imposed upon by every other servant ; as a rule, he is simply hunted from pillar to post, and made to do odd jobs for everybody ; the khitmutgdrs being special offenders in this way, calling on the sweeper at all hours to clear up their messes, and generally to be the scapegoat for their dirty habits.