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Kitchen Luxuries (Course there are many things)

Of course there are many things to be considered in buying a kitchen outfit. The size of the family for which the cooking is to be done, the size of the kitchen itself, and the amount of cupboard room, and most of all the purse. It will often be easier to do work with fewer utensils than to have more than there is room to put away in proper order, and an ingenious or thoughtful housekeeper will often manage to make one utensil do the work of three or four as used in more liberally supplied kitchens. "Circumstances alter cases" in supplying kitchens, as well as elsewhere. The utensils listed on previous pages are most of them necessities in any well-regulated kitchen, but there are many other articles that either save labor or do the work better than it can be done without their aid. We give a few of these, with illustrations that will explain them more fully than is possible by the simple text.

SPIRAL EGG BEATER. - This is a very useful implement in the kitchen, cheaper though not so good as the "Dover," a cut of which appears elsewhere.

The spiral beater does the work well, but not so easily or quickly as the more costly machine.

TEA-KETTLE BOILER. - It is often convenient to utilize the heat of the tea-kettle for cooking, and a tea-kettle boiler does it to perfection. It is simply a long, tapering tin dish, with a long handle, large enough to fill the opening and long enough to reach within half an inch of the bottom. It may have a cover of its own or the cover of the tea-kettle may be used. It can be made by any tinner at a small cost, and is just the thing for cooking gruels, custards, etc., and serves as a steamer for puddings, brown bread, etc., for a small family. UMBRELLA FOLDING RACK. - This very neat and simple contrivance is a great convenience if placed on the wall near the kitchen stove. When in use it presents a goodly number of arms on which to hang articles to be dried, and when not in use it closes up modestly and occupies no useful space. We know of nothing so simple and useful for the purpose. It is made in the very best manner, and with fair usage will last a life-time. The cut on the left represents the rack folded with arms dropped against the wall, and the one on the right the same spread out ready for use. They are sold at house furnishing stores.

WAFFLE IRON. - The man who has never eaten waffles should make haste to enjoy the delightful experience. Once tried, they are ever after favorites in the bill of fare. The waffle iron is a very peculiar machine. The waffle is put in, locked up, baked on one side to a lovely brown, turned over, prison and all, until the other side is a still lovelier brown, and then released steaming hot ready for the table. The cut represents the best waffle iron, which with fair usage would last a century. (477) CORRUGATED SPOONS. - These are used for beating eggs, and are much more rapid in their work than the ordinary spoon. While not equal to the improved egg-beaters, they are several steps in advance of the old method. OYSTER BROILER. -This broiler is made like other wire broilers, only the space between the bars is lessened to three-sixteenths of an inch. They are made in several sizes, and are well adapted to the purpose for which they are made.

BROILER AND TOASTER. - This is an excellent cheap broiler and toaster, reversible, and, while it requires more attention than the more costly broilers, does its work well. Bread may be nicely toasted by placing it between the bars and laying toaster on the top of the stove, reversing it when done on one side to toast the other. It is made like the oyster broiler, but the wires are further apart.

TABLE MAT.- A very neat and serviceable table mat is made of white wire, as represented in cut. Nothing has been devised that is better, more durable, and at the same time so cheap. It answers the purpose admirably, and is within the reach of all.

MATERIAL FOR COOKING UTENSILS.-The best and safest utensils for cooking aremade of iron simply, or of iron porcelain lined. Tin lined vessels, when only partly filled, often become so much heated that the tin is oxydized and mingles with the food, and is an irritant poison. The new "granite" ware is coming into favor, and if made by a proper process is good and safe. Brass is very objectionable if there is any acid in food to be cooked.

GAS HEATER. - This simple contrivance slips over the gas burner, and furnishes a secure stand on which to set a cup or tea pot, when it will heat in a few moments.

It is invaluable in a sick room or nursery in a house where gas is used, and when gas is not used there are substitutes for the same purpose which burn alcohol.