Evening Star Newspaper, January 7, 1937, Page 34

B—14 . " WOMEN'’S FEATURES. : THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 1937 WOMEN’S FEATURES. Evolution of Kitchen Utensils and Implements Brings Improvements Modern Cooking Ware Stresses Both Beauty And New. Practicality Many Articles Now Designed to Save That Dreary Job of Washing Two Rations of Dishes. BY BETSY CASWELL. ROM the first primitive kitchen and table utensils made of crudest ma- terials, the housewife’s working implements have come a long way and undergone a striking evolution. A study of any of the old pictures, or of pleces carefully preserved in museums will fill the modern “kitchen mechanic” with the glow of appreciation of the age in which she lives, Turn- ing switches, punching buttons, spinning a tap—all the fundamental chores — of past days are rendered practi- cally painless by the developments ©of science throughout the centuries. With the light- ening of manual labor involved in the preparation : of food, the uten- 3 sils needed in the process have kept pace with the mechanical equipment. Weight has been almost eliminated by the use of metallic alloys; fireproof glass revolutionized baked dishes; new and pans are stainless, rustless, and simplicity itself to keep bright and shining; handles are scientifically constructed along lines best suited to comfort and security, with the added feature of being composed of material that acts as insulation against heat. When one thinks of the burns of the old days, from grasping metal handles with inadequate pot-holders, one can feel truly grateful for this feature alone! We are told by those “in the know,” that due to the rise in prices of raw materials, in the future we may ex- pect to see our metal cooking uten- sils advance in cost. Therefore, it is decidedly to the housewife's advan- tage to “take inventory” in her own kitchen at this point, and take herself to the housewares departments of the stores with an eye to stocking up on those articles that she may need. The wear and tear of holiday en- tertaining is apt to play havoc with the best and strongest kind of pots and pans, and there will undoubtedly be some gaps in the ranks. If these gaps are filled at once, as they appear, the total expenditure will not be felt quite so keenly by the ever-sensitive budget [ ] Betsy Caswell. new has pots, * kX NE of the most attractive new- comers to the kitchenware shelves s a group of pots, pans, kettles and serving platters constructed of a new metal alloy which is quick heating, light in weight, and has a lustrous finish. It is extremely durable, and has especially thick sides, bottoms and covers which store up an amaz- ing amount of heat in the twinkling of an eye, and retain it long after the actual heat has been turned off. This feature is particularly to be ad- mired in the case of the mixed grill and steak platters, which have re- movable wooden handles, and may be carried direct from stove to table without having to transfer the food from the cooking pan to another dish. The handles can be placed under the platter as a table mat. It seems to me that small editions of these for invalid meals would prove a very saleable item if the manufactursrs of this particular metal alloy should start putting them on the market. The metal cleans easily with soap and water and steel wool used occasionally will make it shine like new. The various pieces are nicely designed, with plenty of streamlining and smooth surfaces to keep up with the tnodern kitchen. A line of utensils in s stainless Steel ware is also well worth investi- gating. The metal is treated to make 1t impervious to acids, which, it seems to me, is especially important in the case of the big preserving kettle which the manufacturers feature. This kettle comes in several sizes, and is designed to meet the needs of the most ardent “putter-upper.” An- other point in the acid-resistant note 1s that vegetables cooked in these utensils are more apt to keep their €resh, original coloring. This stain- living room. o less steel is easy to keep clean, and | also retains its heat for a remarkable length of time. * k% % FOR the small apartment dwelier we have discovered an item that will prove useful now, and a veritable godsend when the hot weather sets in. This is an electrical gadget, which is an oven roaster, and will cook one whole meal at a time, quiet- ly and with no fuss or rumpus what- soever. Being thoroughly insulated, it will not heat your kitchen while it is attending efficiently to your dinner. Also in the electrical line-up, we found one smart concern matching all} its various appliances, so that, when bought one at a time, the final result will be an ensemble of great charm and sleek distinction. There is a waffle maker, and sandwich toaster and a griddle, an automatic waffle maker, and a supper set, that includes a griddle, waffle maker and sandwich toaster, flanked by special glass dishes, cutting knives, bread block, and knife, all on a fool-proof walnut tray. Not a bad idea for & wedding or anniversary gift! Then we have saucepans of glass, just to make one feel like Cinderella at the ball, which may be set directly on the flame. These have removable handles, too, so that many times the cooking pot may become the serving dish by the pressure of a thumb. This is pretty intriguing, especially to those gals who don’t like washing double rations of dishes! * k% % Preparing AMONG the “gadgets” one sees a new food strainer of heavy alum- inum, which may be held against the side of any size pot with the hand, and the liquid poured through. Simple, but neat! Then there is the “cookie press” in its various types—all good and all very efficient. One of these is of aluminum, and comes with a number of plates containing per- forated patterns through which the dough 1is squeezed to make the cookies into fancy shapes. Another “press” also makes cookies and decorates cakes, as well as sporting a plate to make noodles. Both of these are a wonderful improvement on the old pastry bag, as they are easier to clean, and, with the array of plates, nozzles, tips and so forth, they may be used for almost any substance, from dough to whipped cream or mashed potatoes. There are many more interesting “finds” in the shops, but space forbids our elucidating further. We'll do bet- ter next time, and, between now and then, we suggest that you go and have a look around yourself. If you wish advice on your indi- vidual household problems, write to Betsy Caswell, in care of The Star, en- closing stamped, seif-addressed en- velope for reply. My Neighbor Says: Plant seeds in the house dur- ing February and March, trans- planting as seedlings grow. Lemons should be cut with clean edges when used to gar- nish all kinds of shelifish, broiled, fried, baked and boiled fish, as well as fish salads. For decorative purposes they may be cut into mapy fancy shapes. To keep slate sinks in good condition rub with a cloth dip- ped in kerosene, then wasn with hot soap-suds. Grease spots on leather may be removed by applylng benzine or pure turpentine. Wash the spots afterward with the well-beaten white of an egg. (Copyright, 1937.) And, of more importance to many of you, the set is very easy to make, for it's entirely of filet crochet, with & dainty edging, so any one can work | fried 1t out. The patiern envelope contains complete, easy-to-understand illustrated directions, with block and space diagrams what material and how much you will for No. to cover service and postage. obtain this pattern send to aid you; also what crochet hook need. 3 and 41 inclose 15 cents in stamps Child for Vocation Making Choice of Work Not Always Simple. BY ANGELO PATRIL "MY CHILD 1s 15 years old, and he hasn't the least idea of what he wants to do to earn his living. It seems to me that he ought to have made up his mind, but when I press him for an answer he says, “Really, I don’t know. What do you want me to do?”. “I don’t want him to be anything that he does not want to be himself, 50 I have no suggestions to offer him. ‘Why can't he make up his mind about this? It is very important because he has to go to the school and take the courses that will fit him for whatever he wants to do. How can I make him see this?” Fifteen is not so old nor so wise. There are few boys and girls who know definitely what their life work is to be. Some of them are born with their work in their hands, others have to feel about to get an inkling of it. The experiences that a child has al- ways have something to do with this choice, too, and if the experiences have been limited, to home and school and books, there is little for the child to go on. All adolescent children should have the privilege of experiencing the varied arts and crafts, trades, pro- fessions, industries before they enter high schools. This is the primary work of the Junior High School, but to date it has been more observed in the breach. Books and book ex- periences dominate most of the schools in the country, and first hand experiences are rare in the lives of school children. Failing school experiences, parents ought to take their children to visit the places where indugry, the arts and crafts, and the professions are carried on. If a child professes an interest in any fleld of activity try to get him opportunities of first-hand experiences within them. People are always ready to help inquiring chil- dren. The trained vocational teacher is of great assistance to the boys and girls who are faced with this decision. This teacher ought to be skilled in giving tests, analyzing the abilities of chil- dren. He should be very well ac- quainted with the conditions of the various flelds so as to be able to ad- vise intelligently about entering them. He should know where there are open- ings in trade schools, professional schools for good students in ned of schools for good students in need of scholarships. He should be acquainted and on the best possible terms with the heads of the industries and of the schools to which he hopes to send young learners. And always there must be space left for the mind that may be he has developed in other directions. Development is to be expected after the age of 15, and development means change. This must be allowed for and the child made to feel free about changing his course should he want to. ‘There is no rule that makes choice of & lifework obligatory at the age of 15. If there were such it would not work. Give the children time. (Copyright, 1937.) To Flavor Doughnuts. ‘To give a different fiavor to dough- nuts, add one-half a stick of bark cinnamon and four whole cloves to the fat used for frying. Fat utilized Address orders to the Needlework A Y Ideal School Dress Smart and Becoming Frock for Misses From Six to Fourteen. swer is today’s jumper and blouse outfit. The jumper, cut in two pieces, is run up in no time at all, and the 1996-B material for the blouse and 17% yards for the jumper. Every Barbara Bell pattern in- cludes an illustrated instruction guide which is easy to understand. Send 15 cents for the Barbara Bell pattern book. Make yourself attrace tive, practical and becoming clothes, selecting , designs from the Barbara Bell well-planned, easy-to-make pat- terns. Interesting and exclusive fash- ions for little children and the diffi- cult junior age; slenderizing, well-cut Ppatterns for the mature figure; after- noon drésses for the most particular young women and matrons and other patterns for special occasions are all to be found in the Barbara Bell pat- tern book. (Copyrisht, 1937.) Chill Cookie Dough for Best 2 Two Versions of the 1937 Pastry Bag These metal presses are most useful for making cookies, noodles, decorating pies, cakes and other dishes. They are equipped with a number of plates, each perforated in a different pattern, and various nozzles, etc., through which the dough or other material is squeezed. #nderwood & Underwood Photo. 'Skin Needs More Oil In Winter Few Helpful Hints on Complexion Care. BY ELSIE PIERCE. F YOU are fortunate to be south you probably don’t know it's Win- ter. But, to those ir areas where Winter weather has arrived we rush a few warning words with advice on how to counteract Winter's ravages. First, we have our complexion problems. The mere mention of soft skin sounds like a cruel taunt to these in northern climes. For they know, and I know first hand, believe me, how quickly and cruelly biting winds can ruin soft skin. They know how disastrous to the skin is the dry- ing effect of harsh cold. They know, too, what a tendency the change of temperature from freezing out of doors to sweltering of artificially heated houses has to dry the skin. ‘We need two things. A lubricating cream to counteract the drying dam- age leaving the skin smooth and firm. We need a protective cream to serve as a foundation for all outside activ- ities, a cream that will actually pro- tect the skin so that the harsh cold cannot penetrate is worth its weight in any monetary standard and it is certainly worth the few minutes its application takes. High winds are hard on eyes, too. A kind eye lotion acts as somewhat of a protection against blood-shot eyes and is fine for keeping the eyes fresh and bright after exposure. ‘The more praises we hear sung, the more odes dedicated to women’s hands the more conscious we are of how hard it is to keep the hands the smooth, silken “pale” loveliness we read about. Particularly in the Win- ter. Not only does the skin of the hands become harsh but the nails have a tendency to break, cuticle easily becomes brittle, rough, hang- nails develop. There are tonic prep- arations for the hands that keep them soft and beautiful, and tonic preparations for the nails, too, con- taining rich, penetrating oil to strengthen the nail and keep the cuticle soft and smooth. Lip loveliness is s problem, too. With make-up artists emphasizing the importance of playing up “eyes and lips” no woman welcomes the thought of dry, chapped lips. A very simple way to counteract cracking is to use a colorless pomade for protec- tion, under the regular lipstick. This keeps lips and lipstick smooth—which is quite an accomplishment in the ‘Winter. Cook’s Corner BY MRS. ALEXANDER GEORGE. MEATLESS DINNER (Serves Three or Four.) Escalloped Corn Buttered Green Beans Bread Grape Conserve Cranberry Sauce Hot Vermont Apple Pie Mix ingredients and bake for 30 minutes in a shallow pan. Cool slight- Many Ingenious Tricks May Be Used to Change Familiar Canned Soups A Little Imagination Goes a Long Way Toward Making a Masterpiece Out of Plain Fare. BY GEORGE RECTOR. WORLD-RENOWNED epicure once said that just as there are peopls who lack the sense of hearing and some who lack the faculty of speak- ing so there are those who lack a primary sense of taste. This gas~ tronomer opined that most people eat in order to avoid being hungry. They swallow food, but they don’t taste it. They eat, but without relish. They never dine. It’s true that the ritual of dining went out with the last generation, when it was not uncommon for an ordinaryg, citizen to sit down to an ordinary din-, ner of eight courses; when his wife, | going to her contemporary “bridge lunch,” got through a midday meal of soups, roasts and pastries (I believe she played whist if any of the after- noon remained), then walked briskly home, fresh for the evening repast mentioned above. Of course, it's no pity that stuff- ing on this scale has gone by the board; ‘we're vast- ly more healthy on account of it. And in those days there were few lunch counters, no cafeterias, in- deed, ro cheap place in which to eat at sll. You didn’t eat in a Testaurant unless you had the price, and a proper price it was. But it's by no means true that be- cause we can't afford the time or| stomach space for a meal of eight | courses we can't enjoy, with a good | relish (despite the gentleman quoted | above), a meal of two. If the elabo- rate restaurant with its French menu | and Prench chef is a thing of the past, the modern mechanics that helped cause its ruin more than com- pensate us, * x x % CONSIDER. for example, the matter of soup. ‘The ordeal that our grandmothers and our grandmothers’ cooks—and our great-great-grandmothers’ cooks—sev- erally endured in order to get together a dish of soup was awful beyond com- | pare. Just open your cook book to the simplest soup recipe and you'll | find a list of ingredients ranging from | bay leaf to thyme three pages long. | You'll find an indicated list of herbs, | spices and condiments that you were | unaware ever belonged in the vegetable | kingdom and you'll hurriedly consider | a trip to the Persian Gulf and a re- turn ticket by way of New South Wales | before you feel justified in putting the kettle on. And that's only half of it. ‘To make good soup you've got to be a food technician in expert degree. You've not only got to know what terms like simmering and skimming and clarifying really mean, but you've also got to carry out instructions to the nth degree, to the finest, keenest | simmer and skimmer you can imagine. | George Rector. EAR MISS DIX—I notice that | & number of your woman | take away her husband's soiled shirt at night, replacing it with a clean one with all the buttons on it. If she is a good budgeteer and does not spend all their income on her own clothes, she can get him an extra suit and keep it pressed and clean. Same way about buying him another pair of shoes which she can keep al- ways shined and heeled. Women have for ages fought for a 50-50 equality with men, but many a wife who helps spend her husband’s income does very little toward earning it. A wife who is a real helpmate should be able to keep her husband looking neat without nagging. Incidentally it is possible that the man, knowing him- self sartorially perfect, will automati- cally gain self-confidence and suc- ceed better in his undertakings. A MAN. Answer: I agree with you that a woman who is married to a sloven will save wear and tear on her nerves and temper by constituting herself his valet. There are two things that you cannot argue with. One is in- dolence and the other is the matter of refinement. If a man would rather wear a soiled shirt than to go to the trouble of putting a button on a clean one, and if there is no inner urge isn't any use in wasting words upon him. * x % % LL THAT such a8 man’s wife can do is to be personally repulsed by his need of a bath, shave and a haircut and publicly humiliated by his looking like a scarecrow that she is ashamed to acknowledge he be- longs to her, or to take your sugges- tion and automatically prevent him from wearing the wrong things by providing him with what the well- dressed man is wearing. T'll admit that having to lay out all of papa’s clothes every day—and wash behind his ears, comb his hair, shine his shoes and see that he has a clean handkerchief—is going to add consid- erably to the work of a woman who already has had to perform a like service for three or four children, but at any rate it will make papa a lot easier on her eyes and give him a better standing in the community. Perhaps save his job for him, for slouches don’t rate high with the be- holders, who rightly conclude that a man who is too lazy to polish his shoes and press his trousers wouldn't display much energy about any work - | that called for effort. * % ok x ‘OWEVER, I hate to think of wives having to become valets in addi- tion to being cooks, nurses, scrub ‘women, laundresses, seamstresses, so- cial gecretaries, purchasing agents and whatnot as they already are. For, unlike my correspondent, it is not my observation that the average married woman does little toward correspondents complain of | in his soul toward cleanliness, there | However, there is no need to bother, because this specialized age of ours has, as I was saying, made most eat- ing —including soup preparing—8a whole lot easier. There are quite a few brands of beautiful soups to be inexpensively obtained in whatever city or village you live. Without exe ception these canned soups are all fine. Just open the can and heat up the soup, if you like, and serve it without ceremony, and you've got a !soup in five minutes that used to take as many days, and it's equally tasty. * % % % BUT you can also, if you like, im prove on this simple procedure {and in most cases do your soup very proud indeed. Both black bean soup {and mock turtle soup, for example, can be enormously helped in flavor by adding a dash of dry sherry. Be sure that the soup is served piping hot and garnish it with a slice of lemon and some finely chopped up hard boiled egg. If it's cream of spinach that you've taken out of the can you can do it a world of benefit by throwing in a teaspoon of whipped cream—whipped cream, believe it or not, flavored with a few grains of nutmeg. Never neglect to float croutons in cream of tomato, and if you want to be really tony put in some chopped chest- nut. Another dodge for tomato is the addition of the juice from one can of beets; garnish this soup with a spoonful of sour cream. The re- sult is very appetizing, like Russian borsch. Cream of pea is delightful when a pinch of finely chopped green mint is added to the cream. A plain consomme is made festive with a garnish of egg custard and it then takes on the name of consomme royal, and I mean it; it’s royal to the taste. Here is the recipe for the egg custard: Slightly beat the yolks of three eggs, add one-third cup of consomme, a few grains of salt and a few grains of nutmeg. Pour into small buttered cup placed in pan of hot water and bake until firm. Cool, remove from cup and slice custard into one-quarter inch cubes or diamond shape. There’s no limit to this kind of thing and I could tell you how certain greens and meats are married to con= somme to make petite marmite. But petite marmite is a story by itself and I promise you a good time with it. Be on the lookout—it will appear soon, (Copyright, 1937.) Dorothy Dix Says A Man Who Is Slovenly Is Headed for the Down-and-Out Pile. clean to her repertory as not. All the wives of poor men and of men in mode erate circumstances that I have known their husbands’ slovenly per- | have worked twice as hard as their sonal appearance and ask what theyi can do about it. Well, here is a prac- | tical tip I hand them: The wife can| And they didn't have time even to husbands. No 30-hour weeks for them. No Saturday and Sunday holidays. keep their own hair curled, to say nothing of fussing with nubby's. But about one thing my correspond= ent is right. It does pep any man up, give him fresh courage and more self-confidence to be shaven and shorn and properly dressed. The man who looks like a down-and-outer is headed for the scrap pile. * ok x % EAR MISS DIX: A man of 73 and his wife have lived happily toe gether until a few weeks ago, when his son-in-law asked the wife to come and live with them, leaving the old man alone out on a farm. The son- in-law has a nice car and puts it at the disposal of his mother-in-law and she refuses to stay in the country with her husband any longer. The old man blames his son-in-law for breaking up his home and claims that his wife took all of their furniture except & bed and a stove. What should he do? A FRIEND. Answer—Evidently it is the automo- bile that was the lure that seduced the old wife away from her husband. If he wants her back he had better buy a car. Life in the country is dull for a woman without any way to get about, but in any event she will come home if he will just wait. Women who have their own homes get mighty sick and tired of living in another woman’s home, even if it is their daughter’s. DOROTHY DIX. This Home-Mixed Cough Remedy is Most Effective Easily Mixed. Needs No Cooking. large quantity of sugar syrup—a good lnmd?ent. but one whicl’:’you can ease cups of grane lated sugar and 1 cup of water, and stir a few moments until dissoived. No cooking! No trouble at all. ‘Then rt _from your druggist 2% ounces of Pinex, pour it into a t bottle, and add your syrup. This gives ou a full pint of truly wonderful med- cine for coughs due to colds. It is far better than anything you could buy ready-made, and you get four times as much for your money. It lasts a long time, never spoils, and children love it. This is positively the mest effective, quick-acting cough remedy that money could buz. Instantly, you feel it pene- trating the air passages. It loosens the phlegm, soothes the inflamed membranes and makes breathing easy. You've never mnl ‘itl equal for prompt and pleasing results. Pinex is a concentrated com) o Norway Pine, the most Rll.l;wund < ing agent for throat and bronchial membraner, Money refunded if it doesn’t please you in every way. 2N il{ make at home. Take 2 ula