The Pocumtuc Housewife, a Guide to Domestic Cookery as it is Practised in ...

Raspberry Vinegar. Pour three pints vinegar over one and a half pints raspberries. Let it stand twentyfour hours. Then strain the liquor over another one and a half pint of berries and let it stand twenty-four hours. Repeat this the third day. Drain off the vinegar through a jelly bag without squeezing, into a stone jar. To every pint of liquor put one pound of pounded loaf sugar. When sugar is dissolved cover the jar and set it in a saucepan of boiling water. Boil an hotir, skimming often. When cold bottle. Use no metal vessel in doing this. A large spoonful in a glass of water makes a refreshing beverage, good for colds or fevers. Candle Dipping. The young girls in the family who are learning to spin can practice on the candle wicking. Keep a supply on hand by having them do it at odd tinies. Tow does very well for common candles. Buy a little cotton for the best ones. Cut the wicking by winding it around a board of the proper length, and running a sharp knife across the end. Put six wicks on each candle rod, doubling and twirling each one. Dip them in alum water to keep the candles from running. Place two long poles across the kitchen a foot or more apart, resting the ends on chair backs at a convenient height from the floor, and put an old board under them to catch the drips. Melt the tallow in a brass kettle and set on the floor. Take the rods one at a time and dip the wicks in the hot tallow. Before they cool, and stiffen, straighten each wick carefully and pinch the end close. Any carelessness in this first dip will make a crooked candle. If they hang straight and at even distances on the rods, the whole dipping is made easy. Rest the rod across the poles. When you have gone through all the rods, the first ones will be cool enough to begin again. Take two rods this time in your right hand, with the forefinger between to keep them apart. Dip the wicks in with a quick slanting motion, letting them stay just long enough to take a coating of tallow, but not long enough to melt the first coat. Keep the kettle full and hot by pouring in boiling water as the tallow lowers. If it grows cool the candles will make faster but will be rough and uneven. Two dozen dippings ought to make them as large as an ordinary candlestick requires. Let them harden thoroughly before you slip them from the rods. Bees wax melted in the tallow makes them harden. Bleach some of the best ones by hanging them in the window when the sun will strike them. If you wish to make only a few run them in molds. Potato Starch. Peel and grate a quantity of potatoes put the pulp into a coarse cloth between two boards and press it dry. Mix the juice with an equal quantity of water. In an hour's time it will deposit a fine sediment, on which pour boiling water, and your starch is ready for use. Or dry the sediment in the sun and keep for future use. Skimmed Milk is a good starch for calicoes. 't Substitutes for Tea and Coffee. The leaves of currant bushes picked very small and dried on tin can hardly be distinguished from green tea. Peas roasted and ground are an excellent substitute for coffee and you would hardly know which was best. — Economical Housekeeper Save all your fish skin, wash and dry it and keep to settle coffee. Shoe Blacking. Wash elderberries in a kettle of water. Set them in the shade for a day or two to ferment, then boil it half a day, adding a little water as needed. Strain the liquid and boil it down to the thickness of molasses. It will give a fine gloss with rubbing. Good Writing Ink can be made the same way. To Prevent Flies from Injuring Picture Frames, Etc. Boil three or four onions in a pint of water; then with a gilding brush do over your pictures and frames. The flies will not light on them. This may be used without apprehension, as it will not do the least injury to the frames. — Economical Housekeeper.