Mother's Remedies Part 209

Theory and Practice of Domestic Science.--Domestic Science has come to be considered one of the most important factors in our public school education of today. We have just awakened to the fact that our daughters should receive training in those things which will best fit them for housewives and mothers. While many of our girls are earning their own livelihood, the majority ultimately settle into homes of their own. Many girls have an excellent opportunity to get the training they need as homemakers from their mothers, but many of the children in this country lack this home training. There are two reasons for this neglect on the part of the mothers: first, the mother may not know how to do these things herself; and, second, she may be a wage-earner and of necessity cannot train her daughter.

Its Moral Influence.--In the early life of the child it is susceptible to influences which may be brought to bear upon it, and if the homemaking instinct is instilled early much is done toward moral growth of the child.

The public school is expected to develop the child along these lines and consequently the cookery cla.s.s, together with the cla.s.s in housekeeping, has a mighty influence toward developing n.o.ble women. All the home duties are developed and made a pleasure and not a duty to the child, so that the home is looked upon with favorable eyes.

There is an old saying that "the way to a man's heart is through his stomach." This contains much more truth than it would seem on the surface.

Investigators who have made careful research into the divorce question, which has a.s.sumed such large proportions, state that if women knew more of the science of home making there would be fewer homes broken up. What man or woman either would not be utterly discouraged to come home day after day to poor meals and untidiness everywhere, conditions which in time bring poor health and disease. The public school aims through domestic science to teach the importance and dignity of being a good housewife.

[818 MOTHERS' REMEDIES]

Economy of Domestic Science.--Then again, domestic science makes a plea for recognition on the ground of economy. Many times debt and trouble come to homes, not through lack of sufficient funds, but through lack of knowledge on the part of the dispenser of the funds. One of the principles which domestic science emphasizes in its teaching is to show how some of our cheaper foods furnish more nutriment to our systems than do some of our more expensive articles of diet. With this fact thoroughly established and understood domestic science tries to develop new and simple methods of cooking such foods and of making them attractive and appetizing. It is a well-known fact that it is not the amount of food we eat but the amount that we digest that gives nourishment to our bodies, and it has been proven that food that is not attractive and palatable to us gives only one-half the value to our bodies as when it is made attractive and palatable.

Greatest Food Value from Proper Cooking.--Then also students along this line of study have discovered that some of our common foods lose much of their value to us through improper cooking and preparation.

If we are going to prepare food and use it as part of our diet, why should we not obtain the most of its value? Is that not true economy? For an example of this fact let us take eggs, one of our most common articles of diet. We commonly cook eggs to harden the white, or alb.u.men, so as to make them more palatable. One common method of doing this has been to boil them. Through experiments it has been proven that boiling makes this alb.u.men so hard to digest that our bodies get practically no value from it. The newer method advanced proves that the same results can be obtained by cooking eggs in water which is kept just below the boiling point, and eggs cooked this way are easily and readily a.s.similated by our bodies. Why should we not endeavor then to give to our bodies food so prepared that it gives the most nourishment. To take another example,--when salt is added to vegetables it draws out from them into the water their mineral salts and any proteid which will build tissue for us. In most vegetables the cooking water is thrown away so that much of the value of the vegetable is lost. Why should we not try to devise a method of cooking which will save for us this food value? Salt is added for flavor only, so why cannot the salt be added a short time before the cooking is finished so that it will not have time to draw out the food value?

[DOMESTIC SCIENCE 819]

How to Save in Cooking Meats.--Again we cook different kinds of meats in different ways. Perhaps you think these different kinds of methods have simply come down to us through the ages. It is, however, interesting to know that our mothers probably developed these methods through thought.

Tough meats, we know, require long cooking, but do we know why? The fibers and tissues have become strong through constant use on the part of the animal, and to be of use to us must be softened, so we cook tough meats long and usually with moisture to accomplish the softening. Tough meats are our cheap meats, but have you stopped to consider that they contain more nourishment than our tender meats. As has been stated, the tough meats are the parts of the body of the animal most used and consequently have been developed and nourished. Why not learn how to cook these pieces which give us more nourishment, and which are cheaper, in such a way as to be attractive and palatable? This is what the Domestic Science Course in our public school aims to teach our girls so that as housewives they can get the most value for the least money and be economical and intelligent buyers.

Our Winter Supply.--From an instinct, which ought to be common to all of us, in time of plenty we lay something aside for the time of need. As housewives this truth comes home to us, especially in the summer when we have an abundance of fruit which, without care, would soon become worthless. By reason of which fact we have developed methods of canning, preserving, etc., which at the present time have become so advanced that we can retain a very large share of the original color, flavor and shape of the fruit.

Preserving Foods.--All food products, on exposure to air, undergo certain changes which unfit them for use as food. It was once thought that these changes were due to oxidation, but they are now known to be caused by minute living organisms present in the air, in the water, in the ground and in the food itself. To preserve food two things are necessary; first, to either kill or render harmless those organisms already present; and second, to exclude others from entering. The first we usually accomplish by cooking, and the second by sealing. In order to live these organisms require three conditions; first, a particular temperature; second, a certain amount of moisture; third, the right kind of food. By taking away all or anyone of these requirements we may stop the growth or, in other words, we may preserve the food. For example: with the familiar method of cold storage the factor of temperature is removed; in the drying of the fruits and vegetables the factor of moisture is removed; by salting the factor of food is taken away.

The fruits and vegetables, commonly preserved in the home, are divided into five cla.s.ses:

l.--Canning.

2.--Jellies.

3.--Jams.

4.--Marmalades and b.u.t.ters.

5.--Pickles.

[820 MOTHERS' REMEDIES]

CANNING.--Under this head there are four common methods:

1. Steaming.--By this method the fruit is put into the sterilized jars, the jars filled with boiling water and the covers loosely set on. Then the jars are set on small blocks of wood in a pan of cold water. Cover this pan and let the water come to a boil and boil for 15 minutes. Remove the jars and fill them with boiling water, if necessary. Seal tightly. Small berries, such as strawberries and raspberries, retain their color and are especially good done in this manner. Whole tomatoes done in this way are especially attractive for winter salads, and corn will keep indefinitely.

2. Boiling in Syrup.--This is the common household method of preserving fruits, such as peaches and pears. A syrup is prepared of sugar and water, into this the fruit is dropped and cooked until soft; it is then put into sterile jars, sufficient syrup added to fill jar and the jar then sealed.

3. Preserving.--This is the same as boiling in syrup, except that equal quant.i.ties of sugar and fruit are used. Small fruits such as berries are usually done in this way.

4. Cold Water Process.--This is a simple and easy method to use, and is especially desirable for vegetables such as rhubarb. Great care must be taken to use only perfect fruit, because in this method of canning bacteria are merely excluded, not destroyed, and if any are present in the food there is nothing to prevent it from spoiling. If fruit is over-ripe, or not perfectly fresh one of the other methods, such as boiling or steaming, is preferable.

To Can by the Cold Water Process.--Pack the fruit in a sterilized jar; pour over it water which has been boiled and cooled, seal your jar and keep in a cool place. Sometimes a solution of salt and water is used in place of pure water. When salt water is used food will need to be freshened by being allowed to stand in cold water for some time before using. Vegetables, such as beans, put up in this way are very similar to the fresh product.

Utensils.--Among the utensils most necessary for use in preserving foods in the home are scales, measuring cups, porcelain or agate ware sauce pans; earthen or agate ware bowls; silver, agate or wooden spoons; an agate colander; small dipper and funnel; new rubbers and perfect covers for the jars.

To Sterilize Jars.--Wash the jars, fill with cold water, place them on rests, such as small blocks of wood on the bottom of the kettle or boiler and surround them with cold water. If blocks of wood are not obtainable the jars may be wrapped in brown paper to prevent them knocking against each other. Be sure the mouths of the jars are uncovered. Heat gradually until the water boils, boil 15 minutes or until ready to fill them.

Sterilize the covers of the jars also, and dip the rubber bands in boiling water just before using.

[DOMESTIC SCIENCE 821]

Directions for Filling Jars.--Remove the jars from the boiling water--the handle of a wooden spoon is good to use in removing them. Wring a cloth out of hot water and place it on a plate, put the jar to be filled on the hot cloth, put a silver spoon in it,--silver being a good conductor of heat absorbs the heat from the fruit and lessens the danger of breakage.

Fill the jar with fruit and then add enough syrup or boiling water, as the case may be, to fill the jar to overflowing. Run a silver knife or spoon down the sides of the jar to allow any enclosed air to escape; add more syrup or water, if necessary. Put on the sterilized rubber and seal tightly.

Tomatoes Canned Whole by Steaming.--Select medium sized, firm, ripe tomatoes. Wash and peel. Pour boiling water over the tomatoes and they will peel easily. Pack in sterilized jars, fill with boiling water and put on the lid lightly. Set in cold water on rests and let boil about fifteen minutes. If necessary, fill the jar with boiling water to overflowing. Put on the sterilized rubbers and seal tightly. These tomatoes are especially good for winter salads.

Canned Corn.--Cut the corn from the cob while fresh, pack in sterilized jars, and fill with boiling water. Put the cover on lightly and set on a rest, such as small blocks of wood, pieces of thick paper or the corn husks, in a pan of cold water. Let boil from two to three hours. Remove the can, fill to overflowing with boiling water and seal tightly.

Canned String Beans.--Select medium sized beans and string. Pack in a sterilized jar, fill to overflowing with a brine and seal tightly. This brine may be made in two ways: First, by mixing cold water and salt; second, by mixing salt and boiling water and then letting it cool before pouring over the beans. This method is best as the salt dissolves more readily in boiling water than in cold water. One part salt to two parts water makes a strong brine. Keep in a cold place and freshen before using by letting the beans stand in cold water for an hour. In winter these beans make an acceptable subst.i.tute for fresh ones.

Canned Rhubarb.--Select medium stalks, skin and cut either into one-inch pieces, or eight-inch lengths. Pack in sterilized jars, fill to overflowing with cold water and seal. Rhubarb put up in this way has been known to keep for over a year, and is especially good for pies and sauce.

Steamed Strawberries.--Wash and hull the strawberries, and for every quart of strawberries use one cup of sugar. Pack the berries in a sterilized jar, cover with sugar and fill with boiling water. Cover the jar lightly, put in a pan of cold water, on a rest and let the water boil for about fifteen minutes. Remove, seal tightly, and keep in a cool place.

Canned Strawberries.--Wash and hull the berries. Make a syrup of sugar and water, using one cup of sugar to every three of water. Boil 10 minutes.

Drop the berries in the boiling syrup and cook until soft. This will require only several minutes. Fill the jars to overflowing with fruit and syrup, then seal.

[822 MOTHERS' REMEDIES]

Canned Cherries.--Follow the method for strawberries. Cherries can be pitted or not, as desired. If pitted, add a few stones for flavor.

Canning Raspberries.--Use the same method as for strawberries. The large number of seeds in raspberries are objectionable, and the berries are more often made into jam than canned.

Canned Pears.--The pears should be ripe and of fine flavor. Wipe and pare the fruit. If the pears are large they may be cut in halves. Make a syrup of sugar and water, using one cup of sugar to one cup of water. Boil 10 minutes. Put in the pears, cook until soft. Fill sterilized jars and seal.

Canned Peaches.--Follow the directions for pears. Peaches may be canned by the steaming method by cutting them in two and removing the stones.

Strawberry Preserves.--Wash and hull the berries, then weigh. Make a syrup by boiling three-quarters of their weight in sugar with water, allowing one cup of water to each pound of sugar. Cook syrup 15 minutes, fill gla.s.s jars with the berries, add the syrup to overflow the jars. Let stand 15 minutes. By this time the fruit will have shrunk; add enough more fruit to fill the jar. Put on a cover; set on a rest in a pan of cold water, heat to the boiling point, and keep just below boiling for one hour.

Raspberries may be done in the same way.