Silver should alwa3^s be washed in clean ,
hot water, as soap dulls the polish. In
washing the dishes, take the glasses first,
next the silver, then such dishes as are not
greasy, and, finally, the greasy dishes —
these are best washed in two waters. Never
let steel knives lie in water, as this discolors
and loosens the handles. Pouring hot
water on them is likely to have the same
effect. Always have two cloths for clean-
ing knives ; wet the first with water, dip
into brickdust or fine ashes, and rub off all
spots ; polish with a dry cloth with a little
of the dust ; then wipe on a clean, dry towel.
It is best to have two sets of tea towels;
one set going into the wash each week, and
being ironed and, if needed^ darned. Close
attention should be given to the sink. It
should be rinsed out whenever soiled, and
when the day's work is done should be
thoroughly flushed with clean hot water, so
as to wash from the drainpipe trap any im-
purities which may have lodged there.
OUTSIDE THE KITCHEN
The kitchen, while the humblest, is the
most important section of the household,
and we have accordingly given ample space
to its greatly varied culinary products, and
have also spoken of the etiquette and man-
agement of the dining-room, which comes
next to it in importance. But the duties of
family life are by no means confined to
these two apartments. The remainder of
the house demands its round of daily labors.
And here ornament needs to be considered
434
as well as utility. It is here the family
spends its hours of recreation, enjoyment,
and repose ; here many of its social duties
are performed ; here art and comfort join
hands with usefulness and necessity , and it
is to the demands of the household at large
that our attention must now be directed.
The labors to be performed comprise
sweeping, cleaning, the daily care of sleep-
ing apartments, attention to the many small
articles of adornment and utility; to clothing,
THE MODEL COOK BOOK
67
pictures, books, and furniture ; to wash-
ing, mending, and a multitude of duties of
which every da}' brings a new list. Let us,
for example, rapidly review the ordinary
weekly duties in a well-managed household,
but one limited to a single maid, engaged
for general housework.
Diary of a Week's Work.
On Monday the maid is expected to
devote the morning to the heavy labor of
washing ; rising early, and getting the day's
labors well under way before the breakfast
hour. She will have, besides, the meals to
attend to, but these are necessarily made
simple and expeditious on that day, the
mistress of the household usually finding it
necessar}^ to assist in the cooking and dish-
washing.
Care should be taken to choose a plain
dinner — steaks or chops, potatoes, and some
read}'- made dessert. The afternoon is occu-
pied in finishing the washing, hanging out
the clothes, and getting the tea, which must
be a meal easily cooked ; for the " tidjdng
up " of the kitchen is yet to be done before
the girl can rest. It will be a great assist-
ance, in places where the visiting is suffi-
ciently informal to permit it, if some mem-
ber of the family open the door to callers
on busy days.
Tuesday, by general consent, is assigned
to the v/ork of ironing ; and here it will
usually be necessary for the mistress to
" lend a hand," and aid in clear-starching
and ironing the fine clothing.
Page 81
Presented as published in 1901. 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
Silver should always be washed in clean, hot water, as soap dulls the polish. In washing the dishes, take the glasses first, next the silver, then such dishes as are not greasy, and, finally, the greasy dishes — these are best washed in two waters. Never let steel knives lie in water, as this discolors and loosens the handles. Pouring hot water on them is likely to have the same effect. Always have two cloths for cleaning knives ; wet the first with water, dip into brickdust or fine ashes, and rub off all spots ; polish with a dry cloth with a little of the dust ; then wipe on a clean, dry towel.
It is best to have two sets of tea towels; one set going into the wash each week, and being ironed and, if needed, darned. Close attention should be given to the sink. It should be rinsed out whenever soiled, and when the day's work is done should be thoroughly flushed with clean hot water, so as to wash from the drainpipe trap any impurities which may have lodged there.
OUTSIDE THE KITCHEN
The kitchen, while the humblest, is the most important section of the household, and we have accordingly given ample space to its greatly varied culinary products, and have also spoken of the etiquette and management of the dining-room, which comes next to it in importance. But the duties of family life are by no means confined to these two apartments. The remainder of the house demands its round of daily labors. And here ornament needs to be considered
as well as utility. It is here the family spends its hours of recreation, enjoyment, and repose ; here many of its social duties are performed ; here art and comfort join hands with usefulness and necessity , and it is to the demands of the household at large that our attention must now be directed.
The labors to be performed comprise sweeping, cleaning, the daily care of sleeping apartments, attention to the many small articles of adornment and utility; to clothing,
pictures, books, and furniture ; to washing, mending, and a multitude of duties of which every da}' brings a new list. Let us, for example, rapidly review the ordinary weekly duties in a well-managed household, but one limited to a single maid, engaged for general housework.
Diary of a Week's Work.
On Monday the maid is expected to devote the morning to the heavy labor of washing; rising early, and getting the day's labors well under way before the breakfast hour. She will have, besides, the meals to attend to, but these are necessarily made simple and expeditious on that day, the mistress of the household usually finding it necessary to assist in the cooking and dishwashing.
Care should be taken to choose a plain dinner — steaks or chops, potatoes, and some read}'- made dessert. The afternoon is occupied in finishing the washing, hanging out the clothes, and getting the tea, which must be a meal easily cooked ; for the " tidjdng up " of the kitchen is yet to be done before the girl can rest. It will be a great assistance, in places where the visiting is sufficiently informal to permit it, if some member of the family open the door to callers on busy days.
Tuesday, by general consent, is assigned to the work of ironing; and here it will usually be necessary for the mistress to "lend a hand," and aid in clear-starching and ironing the fine clothing.