Cover the hay pillow with a muslin slip, for the sake of
cleanliness. For the same reason, line the nests and top of
hay with muslin. This can be washed and saves hay from
soil.
Don't forget to pack the hay tight, tight, tight!
274 FARM AND HOME COOK BOOK
Be very sure that there are no sparks on the bottom of
the cooking utensil when placed in the hay box, or the results
will be disastrous.
For rich preserves and jams that require long cooking over
a slow fire, the hay box works to perfection.
Set and securely and permanently fasten one box into an-
other box about 2 or 3 inches larger all around, and tightly
pack the space between with hay, excelsior, paper, sawdust or
lamb'L wool, covering the outside box and lining the inside
box, and you will have a fine fireless cooker.
Some Hay Box Advantages
Too much cannot be said in favor of the "hay box" or fire-
less cooker. It is so nice to come home from church and find
the Sunday dinner all ready to serve. It is so nice to be
able to leave a hot, well-cooked dinner for the hungry men-
folks, when we want to go visiting, and being able to do
so encourages us to "take a day off" oftener. It is so nice
to be able to cook a dinner for company a day beforehand,
and so be free from care and able to enjoy their visit.
It is a wonderful help to the mother of several little "early
risers" to know that the coffee, cereal and various other things
are all ready, and dressing the children doesn't delay the
breakfast. Then it's a great saver of fuel, and the food is so
much better cooked that it not only tastes better, but digests
better also, which is worth taking into consideration.
One can have hot water for a tub bath hours after all fires are
out, by putting the kettle in the hay box, and milk or water can
be kept warm all night for a baby in a little box made just for
the purpose. Also, dinner can be got ready while cooking
breakfast, and the forenoon used to better advantage than
bending all morning over a hot stove. — [J. R., Ind.
Caution
Be careful not to use too much water, as it is not necessary
to allow for evaporation in hay box cookery. Remember this
in preparing every dish; and also remember that it is most
important to have the various dishes boiling briskly, and not
to lift the lid before and after a vessel is once placed in the hay
Tdox. As nothing ever burns in the hay box, it will do no harm to
leave things in a little longer, and don't be afraid that they'll
get overdone, for they won't. But after you have once lifted
the cover or taken a dish out of the hay box it won't boil
any more, so be careful about removing anything too soon.
HAY BOXES AND BUCKETS
275
F^ireless Qookeps, Bi^ and Little
Page 187
Presented as published in 1907. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
Cover the hay pillow with a muslin slip, for the sake of cleanliness. For the same reason, line the nests and top of hay with muslin. This can be washed and saves hay from soil.
Don't forget to pack the hay tight, tight, tight!
Be very sure that there are no sparks on the bottom of the cooking utensil when placed in the hay box, or the results will be disastrous.
For rich preserves and jams that require long cooking over a slow fire, the hay box works to perfection.
Set and securely and permanently fasten one box into another box about 2 or 3 inches larger all around, and tightly pack the space between with hay, excelsior, paper, sawdust or lamb's wool, covering the outside box and lining the inside box, and you will have a fine fireless cooker.
Some Hay Box Advantages
Too much cannot be said in favor of the "hay box" or fireless cooker. It is so nice to come home from church and find the Sunday dinner all ready to serve. It is so nice to be able to leave a hot, well-cooked dinner for the hungry menfolks, when we want to go visiting, and being able to do so encourages us to "take a day off" oftener. It is so nice to be able to cook a dinner for company a day beforehand, and so be free from care and able to enjoy their visit.
It is a wonderful help to the mother of several little "early risers" to know that the coffee, cereal and various other things are all ready, and dressing the children doesn't delay the breakfast. Then it's a great saver of fuel, and the food is so much better cooked that it not only tastes better, but digests better also, which is worth taking into consideration.
One can have hot water for a tub bath hours after all fires are out, by putting the kettle in the hay box, and milk or water can be kept warm all night for a baby in a little box made just for the purpose. Also, dinner can be got ready while cooking breakfast, and the forenoon used to better advantage than bending all morning over a hot stove. — [J. R., Ind.
Caution
Be careful not to use too much water, as it is not necessary to allow for evaporation in hay box cookery. Remember this in preparing every dish; and also remember that it is most important to have the various dishes boiling briskly, and not to lift the lid before and after a vessel is once placed in the hay box. As nothing ever burns in the hay box, it will do no harm to leave things in a little longer, and don't be afraid that they'll get overdone, for they won't. But after you have once lifted the cover or taken a dish out of the hay box it won't boil any more, so be careful about removing anything too soon.
HAY BOXES AND BUCKETS
Fireless Cookers, Bi^ and Little