Foods and home making

To obtain the best results, the purchaser should bear in mind the following suggestions : (1) If coffee in paper bags is purchased, buy it from a dealer who sells so much coffee that his supply is frequently replenished. (2) If you have a wall coffee grinder, buy coffee in bean form (provided the beans are freshly roasted) and grind it each time coffee is made. (3) If convenience rather than expense is considered, buy coffee sealed in vacuum cans, i.e., cans opened with a key. (4) Do not buy more than a week’s supply. One pound of co fee makes about 40 cups. (5) If you buy ground coffee, be sure to state whether you wish it pulverized, percolator ground, or medium ground. As the flavor of coffee becomes less pleasing with age, some dealers use dated labels for the guidance of their customers. If the date indicates the time of roasting (not the time of re- moval from the warehouse) it may prove helpful. What can you learn as you wash the coffee pot ? If you exam- ine the grounds from the bottom of the coffee pot in which you made boiled coffee, you may discover why egg was used. Some of the coffee grounds appear to be lumped together. The egg white upon being heated solidifies. As this takes place, the coffee grounds in contact with the bit of egg are fastened to- gether. These masses of coffee grounds are heavier than sepa- rate coffee grounds ; hence they sink readily to the bottom of the pot when the coffee is set aside to settle. Not the egg shell, but the bit of white clinging to it helps the coffee grounds to settle. It is thought that the egg not only clears the coffee, but improves the flavor. When should a coffee pot be washed? A coffee pot should be washed as any other cooking utensil — each time it is used. Coffee or coffee grounds should not stand in the pot from one meal to the next. If any clear coffee is left, it may be poured into 76 Breakfast a dish and used for spice cakes or other desserts. A coffee pot should be washed thoroughly. The spout should be examined carefully to see that it is clean. It is sometimes necessary to use scouring soap on the inside of a coffee pot. What kind of tea should one use? The two most popular types of tea are black and green. Black tea leaves are fermented before drying. Well-known black teas are Flowery Pekoe, Orange Pekoe, and English Breakfast. Darjeeling is a fine black tea grown in India. Green tea leaves are dried without first fermenting. Gunpowder, Imperial, and Young Hyson are popular green teas. Those who are particular about the flavor of tea think that only black teas, especially those produced in India, are suitable to serve with cream. TEA For each cupful of tea desired, use : I to 1 teaspoon tea leaves 1 cup boiling water Use an earthenware or granite teapot. In order to have the beverage hot, the teapot should be hot. Heat it by pouring boiling water in it. Pour out the water. Add the tea leaves to the pot or put them in a tea ball or tie in a cheese cloth bag. Then add the boiling water. Cover the pot and let it stand in a warm place for j to 5 minutes. At the end of this time, the tea leaves should be strained out of the water. This is done to prevent much of the injurious substance being dissolved in the water.