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Universal Dough Mixer and Knead
ER. There are several contrivances in market which claim to lighten the hard labor of mixing and kneading dough in bread-making. The inventors of "The Universal" claim that it will produce as fine bread in eight minutes as can be made by half an hour's labor with the hands.
FRYER AND DRAINER. - This invention furnishes a convenient method of frying oysters, potatoes, and other articles that when done need to be removed quickly from the boiling fat and drained, while remaining over the hot fire, in or der to remove all superfluous grease. It has a support for the perfected pan which rests inside the frying pan, which may be detached, leaving the frying pan a little deeper than those in common use.
PARING KNIFE. -A knife with a guard on the side which prevents taking a thick paring from potatoes or fruit. APPLE CORERS. - These are simply tin tubes made of different sizes for large or small apples. The upper end has a large wire run around the rim to make a rounded surface for the hand. With care the cores are neatly and quickly removed, leaving the apple whole. The hole may be filled with sugar in cooking. الله THE CREAM WHIPPER. -The handle of this whipper is placed inside the tube, and the perforated end of the tube dipped into a bowl of sweetened and flavored cream. By drawing up the handle and forcing it down again the cream is forced in and out of the holes in the tube and soon becomes a light froth, which is taken off with a spoon placed on a sieve to drain and the drainage rewhipped. POTATO SLICER. - Where potatoes are cooked in Saratoga style-a very delicious method of cooking-a slicer is necessary. The one represented here has an adjustable knife regulated by the screws at the sides, so that a potato is cut into thicker or thinner slices as desired by simply passing it over. This slicer is also excellent for slicing cabbage or for onions to serve with cucumbers; cabbage must not be cut too thin, as it is less crisp. A CUSTARD KETTLE. - The best and most serviceable custard-kettle is made in form as here represented. The outer kettle is of iron and the inner one of block tin. The outer kettle is partly filled with boiling water, and the inner kettle containing the custard is set into it. As the latter is surrounded with water there is no danger of burning. Cheaper kettles on same plan are made of tin, but are not so durable.
A SOAP DISH, made of cast iron, which fastens conveniently on to the side of the wash tub, to hold a cake of hard soap, when it is used instead of soft soap.
STRAINER STAND. - This is simply a frame made to sustain the strainer while draining. The cords are fastened to the ring that forms the top of strainer sack, and then to the posts of the stand. The strainer should be made of canton flannel, and may be used for clear soups, jellies or any other purpose for which slow straining is needed.
For convenience rings to slip over posts of frame may be attached to the cord. Of course such a stand may be made plain, and any ingenious boy, with a limited set of tools, could make one that would serve the purpose well, and the boy is half edu. cated when he learns to handle tools well and to help his mother. In fact, many of the luxuries of the kitchen may be supplied without cost by the boys of the family if they have the mechanical tact and ingenuity to make them. "OYSTER-BLOCKS." - This is the name of the new ice-sets for serving raw oysters at fashionable dinners and suppers. There is, first, a tin box. Into this is set a large square slab of perfectly pure, clear ice. Around the box, and concealing its edge, is beautifully arranged, handsome sea-weed of the least jagged kind. When the time comes for serving the raw oysters they are laid upon the slab of ice, on which they must not remain long enough to freeze in a room of average temperature this will not happen-and then they are served. "Little Neck" clams are served in the same way, and a fancy having demanded the small crabs that are frequently served with oysters, these are thus brought to table also. LID LIFTERS. - There are a great many forms of lifters for stove lids. The two best we illustrate here. In one the handle is of wood, set in an iron socket, and the other serves as a lid lifter, and has a hook for lifting pots and kettles, which are provided with bails. Always have a shelf for the lifter near the stove; never hang on a nail.
GAS STOVES.-In cities where gas is used the use of gas stoves for cooking in hot weather is as a rule economical, and adds much to comfort, or rather saves much discomfort. Gas companies usually make a discount for gas consumed in cooking. There are many gas stoves in market, any of them excellent for the purpose.
FLY TRAP. In spite of carefully screened windows, flies will make their way into the best kept houses. The trap represented here is the invention of a lady, and is a perfect success. It will clear a room of flies in a short time, if none are allowed to get in from out of doors. The flies are attracted inside the cage by bait and can't get out, and are easily killed and trap set for more.
KITCHEN WINDOWS-Ought to be as cheerful, light and bright as any room in the house. If the sills are extra broad, and a few choice flowers thrive on them, so much the better. The ceilings should be of a cheerful tint, and the wood-work, whether oiled or painted, varnished. This protects the wood and paint, and it is easily cleaned. It is a mistaken idea to neglect the kitchen for the parlor. BUTTER ROLLERS.-TWO wooden paddles made in form of engraving are dipped into cold water, and a little pat of butter placed between them and rolled around until a little ball is formed, with a pretty network surface. These may be piled on the butter dish, or served on individual butter dishes at the plates. A GRATE HEATER. - One of the latest cheap conveniences is a neat iron plate, large enough to set a coffee or teapot on, which has appendages below which slip over the front bars of a grate, and furnish a place to heat coffee, tea or water by the grate fire. This heater may be attached so as to project inside over the fire, or outside when the heat would be less intense. A TABLE HEATER. - Another ingenious heater is a round piece of solid iron, as large as the bottom of a coffee-pot. This is placed on the top of the stove and heated, and when the coffee-pot is placed on the table this heater, set in a neat cast-iron basket, supported on three neat legs, takes the place of a table mat and keeps it steaming hot, as the iron holds heat for long time. The basket is constructed so that air circulates under the iron and prevents injury to table.
There are many inventions, not costly, that are very useful, which do not belong to the kitchen, a few of which are mentioned below : BRUSH AND COMB RACK. - A very neat white wire rack, for holding the hair brush and comb, which usually lie in the way in the vicinity of the mirror, may now be had for a few cents, and is a great convenience for the toilet. CHEAP TOILET TABLE. - When a wash stand can not be afforded, procure a large three-cornered piece of board, large enough to comfortably accommodate a wash bowl, pitcher, etc., and fasten it in a corner of the room where the light is good. Cover it suitably with colored cambric, tack on the edge a slightly full flounce of the same, long enough to reach the floor. Over this place plain book muslin with box pleatings across the edge and along the bottom. The frame of the mirror over it may also be draped with book muslin. Neat paper boxes, covered with fancy paper or zephyr work may be added for holding brushes, combs, etc. A neat drawer may easily be fitted under the board, and will be found convenient for many purposes.
BRUSH STAND. - Another toilet convenience is a white wire stand for hand and tooth brushes.
It is so contrived that the brushes are kept in place and yet are always within easy and convenient reach. The stand is not expensive, and is ornamental as well as useful.
A HOMEMADE LOUNGE. - A long packing box, such as may be had for a trifle at almost any dry goods store, of the right height, lined with wall-paper, the cover put on with hinges, and if of more than one board strengthened by cleats on the under side, and the whole neatly cushioned and covered with tastefully selected calico, makes a very pretty lounge, and may be used also for a receptacle of the best dresses.
When more than one dress is to be stored in it, and it is important to avoid crushing, a thin board resting on strips nailed on the ends inside half way up divides the box into two equal apartments. Place the dress least used in bottom, drop the dividing board into place, and lay in other garments more commonly used. Nothing injures good dresses more than too close packing and much folding. SMOOTHING IRON. -The cut represents a very good form of smoothing iron. The peculiar form of the handle makes it convenient and easy to the hand, while the width of the guard wards off the heat more than in the common form.
LAMP SHADES. - A Japanese parasol, with the handle removed, and a hole cut in the center to admit the chimney, makes a pretty lamp shade. This is not especially new, but is effective always. The ribs of the parasol are finished with tassels of tufted crewels. (492) SPONGE BASKET. - A sponge, especially when damp, is a nuisance. If hung up it moistens the wall, and if laid down it gets in every body's way and gathers dirt. The simple, neat and cheap wire basket which hangs on the wall is a good receptacle for it, or a three-cornered piece of oil-cloth, sustained by a string fastened at each corner, is a good makeshift for the same purpose.
TO MAKE A LONG MAT. - After stringing on the twine the small pieces of cloth, muslin, etc., as described on page 452, cut them into the lengths required, and lay them side by side. Sew the strips strongly together, and clip the scraps until the whole mat is of a uniform thickness, and no ragged pieces stand up. To make the rug handsomer let the piece of twine intended to go outside be strung with pieces of the same color and material, red, black or blue, which will make a border. The center may be of mixed colors and materials.