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Amy Waterman

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Title: A Little Preserving Book for a Little Girl

Author: Amy Waterman

Illustrator: Harriet O'Brien

Release Date: February 9, 2014 [EBook #44848]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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	The Ideal Series for Girls —————— Each, one volume, cloth decorative, 12mo, $1.00 A Little Cook Book for a Little Girl By Caroline French Benton The simple, vivacious style makes this little manual as delightful reading as a story-book. A Little Housekeeping Book for a Little Girl; or Margaret's Saturday Mornings By Caroline French Benton A little girl, home from school on Saturday mornings, finds out how to make helpful use of her spare time. A Little Candy Book for a Little Girl By Amy L. Waterman This is a book of special appeal, as it explains in simple fashion the processes of making delicious fudges, fondants, nut dainties and the like. A Little Preserving Book for a Little Girl By Amy L. Waterman In simple story form is explained every step of the process of preserving and canning fruits and vegetables. A Little Sewing Book for a Little Girl By Louise Frances Cornell A splendid volume to encourage little girls in the study of the useful and beautiful art of the needle. Other Volumes in Preparation A Little Vegetable Book for a Little Girl A Little Flower Garden Book for a Little Girl A Little Knitting Book for a Little Girl A Little Nursing Book for a Little Girl A Little Gift-Making Book for a Little Girl A Little Party Book for a Little Girl, Etc. —————— THE PAGE COMPANY 53 Beacon St., Boston, Mass.

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LITTLE PRESERVING BOOK FOR A LITTLE GIRL

BOSTON                          THE PAGE
COMPANY                         MDCCCCXVIII

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CONTENTS

[1]

A LITTLE PRESERVING BOOK FOR A LITTLE GIRL

CHAPTER I
MARMALADES

There were two long and very wide shelves, besides a good-sized bench that had a shelf underneath, in mother's preserve closet. Before these stood two little girls, Jessie May and Adelaide.

Jessie May was Adelaide's most intimate friend, who had been away the whole summer long. To be sure, they had written to one another regularly, and in each letter that Adelaide sent to Jessie May she hinted at a wonderful secret. Now they were together again, the one longing to hear and the other eager to tell the wonderful secret.

"You see," said Adelaide, pointing proudly to the bench and its shelf underneath, "this is all my work, the other (indicating the two long and very wide shelves) is mother's."

[2]

Jessie May gasped, for the top of the bench and the underneath shelf had every spare inch covered with jars of jams, jellies, preserves, pickles, vegetables, etc.

"Why, Adelaide! You couldn't,—I mean, how could you?" hastily corrected Jessie May, for she wouldn't for the world have Adelaide think she doubted her word.

"Well," said Adelaide, "let's go upstairs and I'll tell you how it all happened."

When the two little girls were comfortably seated on the back porch the great secret was disclosed, and mother, busy in the kitchen, smiled to herself at their very evident enjoyment. Jessie May was all interest, and you may be sure that Adelaide did not neglect even the smallest detail. She poured out her very soul. In fact, mother learned a good many things that morning about her small daughter's thoughts that she had hardly realized before, until she overheard them being laid bare to Jessie May.

Of course, Adelaide always told mother everything, but it was usually the result of her thoughts, and not the process of thinking. You see, Adelaide had been trained to think for herself, so in one way it was not surprising[3] to hear her tell Jessie May that for two or three years she had been longing to help "preserve."

She told Jessie May it was the "great war" that made her decide she surely was old enough to begin, because she had read of so many little girls who were helping in all sorts of ways to "conserve" and "preserve."

"But," she said, "the thing that really started me was Daddy's fondness for orange marmalade, and his disappointment when we came to the end of mother's supply. It was way back last March," Adelaide continued, and then went on to explain how mother had said that she would make some at once, as it was the very best month of the year to make marmalade. At that season the "Valencia" oranges, "Mediterranean Sweets," and Seville oranges were on the market, all of which had the special flavor most desirable for orange marmalade.

"So mother bought the oranges and lemons and grapefruit," said Adelaide, "and then she was so busy that she couldn't begin to make it at once. Well, I thought Daddy ought to have his marmalade, so I said, 'why can't I make it, mother?' And, just think, Jessie May, mother let me!" exclaimed the excited little girl.

[4]

Jessie May took a deep, deep breath, for during Adelaide's recital she had hardly dared breathe, for fear of missing a single point of the story, and leaned back in her chair with a long drawn sigh. She was too full for words.

"The best part of it is," continued Adelaide, "that I have all of the recipes right here, Jessie May." (Adelaide then exhibited a small covered wooden box that she had been carefully guarding.)

Jessie May was very much interested in the little box, and eagerly looked over the neat little cards which the box contained, and on which the precious directions were to be found.

Jessie May wanted to see the one for orange marmalade, "Because," as she said, "it was really the first recipe you ever tried, Adelaide." Suddenly she exclaimed, "My goodness! did you only use two oranges and one lemon and a grapefruit? I shouldn't think they would make very much."

"Well, they did," replied Adelaide, "they made several small tumblers full, and, besides, you will notice that all my recipes are for small quantities, because mother did not want me to grow tired of my work but enjoy each new recipe[5] as it came along, and I most certainly did," she ended.

Then the two little girls went into the kitchen, and Adelaide showed Jessie May the different things she used while preserving. There were not very many, and they were all easy to take care of. There was the aluminum kettle, just deep enough to hold a pint jar overflowing with water (the pint jar was the largest sized jar which Adelaide used) for sterilizing; a pair of scales; a jelly bag attached to a wire frame (which was very inexpensive), and could be slipped on to a bowl or saucepan so that the juice could drip slowly; a long wooden spoon; a silver tablespoon for skimming; a silver knife to insert in the jars to let the air bubbles rise to the top when filled with fruit; two half-pint glass measuring cups; a large aluminum funnel; a small round wire rack to put in the bottom of the saucepan to prevent the jars from touching bottom and to allow the water to flow under as well as over the top; a strawberry huller; a small sharp knife; a wire strainer; a colander; and a quart pitcher.

Adelaide told Jessie May that if she had forgotten anything she would be sure to find what was needed by referring to the proper card[6] alphabetically arranged under "Utensils" in the precious little box.

When Adelaide commenced her lessons in preserving mother said that she would find many general rules to remember, which, if carefully followed, saved time and expense, and brought successful results.

Adelaide had sampled mother's preserves for some few years now, even though she was not so very old, and she knew the difference between jams, jellies, preserves, marmalades, conserves, etc., as far as taste was concerned, but the process of making was the pleasure she was eagerly anticipating. She began to feel "quite grown up" when mother told her to write down the following:

The preserve closet, where the fruit is to be stored, should be dark, dry and cool.

The jars and tumblers used should be properly sterilized. Then mother explained that to sterilize, you washed your jars and tumblers perfectly clean, placed them in a large pan (a dishpan would do) of clean cold water over the fire, and let boil gently for ten minutes. The jars would be less likely to crack if a wire or wooden rack was at the bottom of the pan for the jars to rest on. Also, the jars must have[7] no nicks around the top, the covers must fit perfectly, and they should be left in the boiled water until ready to use.

After filling the jar to overflowing, insert a silver knife between the sides and fruit, to let the air bubbles rise to the top before sealing. Always use new rubbers every year, and dip them in boiling water before putting them smoothly on the jar.

Never stand a jar where a cold draft can reach it; let it stand over night upside down, to be sure there is no possible chance of its leaking.

The fruit used should be of the best quality, firm and not too ripe, and preserved as soon as possible after picking, to have the finest flavor.

Hands, utensils, fruit, etc. should be spotlessly clean.

A silver knife, fork, and spoon (or a wooden spoon) were the best articles to use in preparing or stirring the fruit, thus preventing discoloration.

Each jar should be thoroughly wiped on the outside with a clean damp cloth and labeled before putting away.

Marmalades, jams, and jellies, were sufficiently protected if covered with a coating of melted paraffin.

[8]

If you wanted nice clear jelly it must never be squeezed, but allowed to drip through a jelly bag made of a double thickness of cheesecloth, or a jelly bag that you can buy attached to a wire frame.

You could tell when the "jelly point" had been reached if a little poured on to a cold saucer began to set, or if the juice dropped as one mass from the side of a spoon, or when two drops ran together and fell as one from the side of the spoon.

Mother thought these ten "rules and regulations" were sufficient, and, of course, Adelaide agreed.

"Mother, please do not tell Daddy that I am going to make his marmalade for him," said Adelaide, busily preparing to begin.

"No, dear, I won't," responded mother, then added, "we'll keep it as a surprise."

Orange Marmalade

Mother told Adelaide to wash the oranges and lemons thoroughly and to wipe them dry,[9] then, using the little sharp knife, cut the fruit into quarters, lengthwise. This made it easy to remove the seeds and cut out the thick parts of each center or core. For this Adelaide used a small, smooth board (in fact, it was the cover of a five-pound butter box) upon which to cut the fruit, and she sliced each quarter, peel and all, very, very thinly across (not lengthwise this time), then put them into a bowl until all were ready.

Adelaide was surprised to find that it took quite a long while to get these few prepared, and was glad she had not attempted too many.

Next, she measured the fruit, using the glass measuring cup, and poured the fruit into mother's four quart aluminum saucepan. In a separate pan Adelaide measured as many cups of sugar as she had had of fruit. Then to each cup of fruit Adelaide added two cups of boiling water, covered the saucepan, and let it stand for twenty-four hours.

This completed her work for that day, except for the clearing away of the things with which she had finished.

The next morning Adelaide removed the cover from the saucepan containing the fruit and put the saucepan on the stove. While the fruit[10] was coming to the boiling point, Adelaide brought a number of tumblers from the preserve closet. These she washed thoroughly and stood in a large pan in which had been placed a wire rack. Then, being covered with cold water, they were put on the stove to be sterilized, or, in other words, boiled. This was to kill all germs and to prevent the spoiling of the fruit when put away.

When the fruit began to boil, mother told Adelaide to look at the clock, and then let it boil for one hour (not too hard), or until the peel of the oranges and lemons was very tender. In the meantime, the sugar had been placed at the back of the range to heat through, and as soon as the fruit had boiled sufficiently, the sugar was added gradually. The marmalade was then allowed to boil until a little dropped on a cold saucer would begin to jell. After the sugar was added, Adelaide stirred the mixture every few minutes with a long-handled wooden spoon.

You could not always tell just how long it would take for the marmalade to jell, as oranges and lemons differ so, but mother said it was safer to allow an hour, and if it was cooked in less time you felt that so much time had been gained.

[11]

As soon as the marmalade was done, the saucepan was lifted to the back of the range. Adelaide then took a long-handled spoon and lifted the tumblers out of the boiling water on to a tray, and filled them at once with the marmalade. Mother happened to have a small glass cup, not a regular measuring cup but smaller, which proved the very thing with which to dip out the marmalade.

As Adelaide, her cheeks flushed and eyes shining, stood filling the tumblers with the golden marmalade, mother said, "Well, dear, was it worth the work (for it is a great deal of work, you see) and effort?"

"Oh mother, I'm so proud and happy now, that I've almost forgotten how hot and tired I felt while stirring the marmalade and waiting for it to jell," answered Adelaide.

Now that the marmalade was finished, it seemed easy work to clear the things away. Mother helped her stand the marmalade in the sun while it set, and then Adelaide ran away to play. Later, when it was cool, she took a clean cloth, dipped it in hot water, and wiped off the drops of jelly from the tops of the tumblers and outsides, then melted some paraffin and poured it over the top. By moving the tumblers[12] gently from side to side the paraffin formed on the sides and excluded the air.

Last of all, she put on the little labels and carried all but one tumbler to the bench in the preserve closet, which mother had told her might be for her special use.

The next morning at breakfast Daddy was very much delighted to find a jar of marmalade before his plate, and he proceeded to help himself generously when the hot buttered toast was passed. He was so intent in his enjoyment of this that Adelaide and mother could smile at one another without being observed. When he had quite satisfied his appetite he announced:

"Well, mother, there is no question about it, you certainly do know how to make marmalade. I've never tasted better; I only hope Adelaide can make it as well when she grows up."

At that mother and Adelaide burst out laughing, while Daddy looked surprised and questioned, "What's the joke? There's nothing funny about that statement that I can see."

"Oh, no, Daddy, only, you see, I happened to make that marmalade myself and before I grew up," replied Adelaide.

Can't you just imagine how surprised and delighted Daddy was?

[13]

Mother said that many people liked the addition of grapefruit in their marmalade, so she let Adelaide try

Orange and Grapefruit Marmalade

This was prepared in exactly the same manner as the previous recipe, except that Adelaide grated the rind of the grapefruit instead of cutting it into thin slices. The oranges, lemon, and grapefruit were all washed thoroughly and wiped. Adelaide cut the oranges and lemon lengthwise into quarters, removing the seeds and thick skin at the centers. Each quarter was then sliced as thinly as possible with a sharp little knife, and put into a bowl until all were ready to be measured. The rind of the grapefruit was grated and added to the sliced oranges and lemon, then, after cutting the grapefruit in halves, Adelaide removed the seeds and used only the juice and fruit pulp, which she separated from the little pockets with a very sharp knife.

[14]

After measuring the prepared fruit with the glass measuring cup and putting it into the saucepan, Adelaide added two cups of boiling water to each cup of fruit, then covered it and let it stand for twenty-four hours. In another pan Adelaide measured as many cups of sugar as there were cups of fruit,—she remembered the number of cups of fruit she had before adding the water—so that all would be ready for the next day.

The following morning Adelaide put the saucepan containing the fruit on the stove to boil, removing the cover first. When the mixture came to the boiling point, she began to time it and let it continue boiling gently for an hour. This gave her time to wash the jelly tumblers, after which she sterilized the same by placing them on a rack in a pan of cold water deep enough to cover them, then putting them on the stove and bringing the water to the boiling point. The pan of sugar was placed on the back of the range to heat through, and when the fruit had boiled an hour the sugar was added.

After adding the sugar Adelaide stirred the marmalade frequently, and as soon as it had boiled another half-hour she began testing to[15] see if it would "jell." This she did by dropping a little from the spoon into a cold saucer. If it began to thicken and set, it was ready to remove from the fire and pour into the sterilized tumblers. These were placed on a tray in the sun to set, and when cool, the tops and outsides were wiped with a clean cloth dipped in hot water to remove any marmalade that might have been spilled in the process of filling. Then, melting some paraffin, Adelaide poured it over the top of the marmalade, and gently moving the tumbler from side to side she completely covered it with paraffin which kept out all air. Next came the labels, and then the tumblers were ready to be stored in the preserve closet.

Orange and Rhubarb Marmalade

Adelaide found this marmalade much more simple to make. The oranges and sticks of rhubarb were thoroughly washed, the oranges then cut into quarters lengthwise, and all seeds and tough centers removed. After this, they[16] were put through the meat chopper and the rhubarb was skinned and cut into one-half inch pieces.

Putting these together, Adelaide measured them to see how many cups of fruit she had and emptied each cup in the saucepan. To each cup of fruit she added one-fourth cup of cold water, then placed them on the stove in the saucepan to boil. When the boiling point was reached, Adelaide noted the time and let them boil slowly for one half-hour. Removing the saucepan from the fire, Adelaide again measured the contents and to each cup she added three-fourths of a cup of sugar. These were all put back in the saucepan and boiled slowly until thick, then poured at once into the sterilized tumblers, which Adelaide had previously made ready. When cool, there followed the usual wiping with a clean cloth dipped in hot water, to remove any spillings while filling, and the paraffin was melted and poured over the top.

Adelaide never forgot to shake each tumbler gently while the paraffin was still soft, as it sealed the marmalade much more securely from all air. Next came the labels and the removal of tumblers to preserve closet.

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Peach Marmalade

What little girl does not love peaches? Adelaide was no exception, and this marmalade was very simply made.

First, mother told Adelaide to put the peaches in a pan and completely cover them with boiling water and let them stand for a minute or two, or until the skins would slip off easily. Pouring off the water, she then proceeded to remove the skins with a small silver fruit knife (a steel knife would discolor the fruit), and to take out the stones.

Next, Adelaide weighed the saucepan (in which the peaches were to be cooked) while it was empty, and then cut the peaches into thin slices and placed them in the saucepan. Again the saucepan was weighed, this time containing the peaches. The differences between the weight of the empty saucepan and the same saucepan containing the peaches showed Adelaide just how much the peaches weighed, and to these she added half their weight in sugar.

Mixing the fruit and sugar well together, she put the saucepan away in a cool place until the[18] next day. Picking out four of the best peach stones, she cracked them and removed the kernels. These she scalded in boiling water and removed the brown skins, after which they were shredded into small pieces and added to the sliced peaches.

The next morning Adelaide put the saucepan containing the peaches on the stove to heat and let them cook very slowly until thick and smooth, not forgetting to stir frequently with the wooden spoon. In the meantime, her tumblers had been sterilized, and, as soon as the marmalade was done, they were removed from the boiling water and at once filled. When they were cool Adelaide wiped them carefully, poured melted paraffin over the top (shaking the tumbler gently from side to side), labelled them, and carried them away to the preserve closet.

Another way to make Peach Marmalade was as follows:

Peach Marmalade No. 2

[19]

Adelaide scalded the peaches with boiling water, then removed the skins. Then she cut the peaches into small pieces, put them in the saucepan with the water, and boiled slowly until the fruit was thoroughly soft. Adelaide stirred the fruit frequently with the wooden spoon. Next she rubbed the cooked fruit through a strainer, returned the peaches to the saucepan, added the sugar and lemon juice, and let the mixture cook slowly another half hour, stirring it occasionally.

When the marmalade was finished she poured it at once into the sterilized tumblers that were ready waiting. As soon as they were cool she wiped the tumblers clean, poured the melted paraffin over the marmalade, labelled them, and stored them away in the preserve closet.

Mother told Adelaide that she could also make marmalade of apricots, quinces, plums, and even prunes, in exactly the same manner. So Adelaide tried each one in its season.

Apricot Marmalade

[20]

From the apricots Adelaide did not remove the skins, she simply cut them in halves and took out the stones, put them in the saucepan, added the water, and boiled slowly until the fruit was very soft, stirring frequently with the wooden spoon. When sufficiently cooked she rubbed the fruit through a wooden strainer, put it back in the saucepan, added the sugar and lemon juice, and let it cook slowly for about half an hour. Adelaide stirred occasionally to be sure that the marmalade did not burn, and poured it at once into sterilized tumblers when it was finished. The tops and outsides she wiped clean when they were cool, and then poured melted paraffin over the top of the marmalade, and gently shook the paraffin from side to side to make them air tight.

The labels were then pasted on and the tumblers stored away in the preserve closet.

Quince Marmalade

Mother told Adelaide to wash the quinces thoroughly, wipe, remove blossom ends, cut in[21] quarters and remove seeds, then cut in small pieces; to put into saucepan, add water, and let cook slowly until very tender, stirring with the wooden spoon frequently; to then rub fruit through a strainer, return to saucepan, add sugar and lemon juice, and cook slowly one half-hour. This she did, and when the quinces were properly cooked, Adelaide poured them at once into the sterilized tumblers she had ready waiting, and put them on a tray to cool.

Then mother told her to wipe the tops and outsides clean, cover with melted paraffin (shaking gently from side to side), label, and store away in the preserve closet.

Plum Marmalade

Adelaide first wiped the plums and removed the stones, then put the fruit into a saucepan, added the water and cooked until very soft, stirring every little while with the wooden spoon. Next she rubbed the fruit through a strainer, returned it to saucepan, added the sugar and lemon juice, and cooked slowly one half-hour.

[22]

The sterilized tumblers were waiting, and into these Adelaide poured the marmalade. When the jars were cool she wiped the tumblers clean, poured over melted paraffin, shook gently from side to side to make them air tight, added the labels, then stored them away in the preserve closet.

When Adelaide came to the prunes mother wondered what would happen, for Adelaide did not like prunes. It had been a tender subject between them for some time. However, the results were better than mother had expected, for Adelaide remarked: "Well, mother, I may as well try it, because even if I don't like prunes, you do, so I'll make this marmalade especially for you."

Prune Marmalade

The prunes, mother said, would have to be thoroughly washed in several waters, then soaked over night in the cup of water. This Adelaide did, and the next morning put them on the stove in her little saucepan to boil until[23] thoroughly cooked. With two silver forks Adelaide then removed the stones and rubbed the fruit through a strainer; returning the fruit to the saucepan, she added the sugar and lemon juice, cooked it slowly one half-hour, poured into sterilized tumblers, and let cool.

When cold, Adelaide wiped each tumbler, poured melted paraffin over the top of marmalade, shook gently from side to side to exclude all air, pasted on the labels, and stored away in the preserve closet.

Apple marmalade came next, and mother thought that that was sufficient for the present.

Apple Marmalade

These were nice tart apples of fine flavor. Adelaide washed them well, cut into quarters (removing stem and blossoms only), put in saucepan, and added enough water to almost, though not quite, cover the apples. These she cooked slowly until very soft, then pressed them through a strainer. She next measured the fruit, returned it to the saucepan, and to each cup of fruit added three-fourths of a cup of[24] sugar. Returning the saucepan to the fire, Adelaide let it boil gently for three-quarters of an hour, stirring every little while.

The sterilized tumblers were ready, and into these Adelaide poured the marmalade; when cool she wiped the tops and outsides clean, poured melted paraffin over the marmalade, shook the tumblers from side to side gently to exclude all air, pasted on the labels, and stored away in the preserve closet.

[25]

CHAPTER II
JAMS

Of course Adelaide did not make her jams, jellies, etc., in the order given, but according to the season, and she welcomed each fruit in its turn. Adelaide was especially fond of jams; they did make the most delicious sandwiches when she came home hungry from school or went on a picnic, but the climax of enjoyment was reached when mother made rolly-polly jam puddings in the winter.

Strawberries were usually first on the market, and so "Strawberry Jam" was the first attempt in the jam making line.

Strawberry Jam

Mother told Adelaide to empty the strawberries into the colander and place in a pan of cold water, then to dip the colander up and down so[26] as to thoroughly cleanse the berries; next to change the water two or three times until it was clear, then lift out the colander and drain. Mother also said that you should never wash berries after they were hulled, because if you did you lost part of the juice.

After Adelaide felt sure they were clean, and after mother had carefully inspected them, she commenced to hull the berries, using the strawberry huller, then she weighed the berries and measured out three-fourths their weight in sugar.

With a wooden potato masher Adelaide mashed the berries in the saucepan and poured over the sugar; this mixture she let stand a few minutes before putting the saucepan on the stove and letting it come slowly to the boiling point. When the fruit had cooked slowly for forty-five minutes, Adelaide stirring frequently, meanwhile, with the wooden spoon, it was ready for her to pour into sterilized tumblers, which she had previously prepared. The tops and outsides of the tumblers she wiped with a clean cloth as soon as the jam had cooled, then poured melted paraffin over the jam, and shook gently from side to side to make it air tight.

Adelaide was always glad when it came time[27] to paste on the neat little labels and put the tumblers away in the preserve closet; she was very much surprised, too, to see how quickly her bench was becoming filled.

In the beginning, mother had told her that sometimes it would seem as though she spent all of her time preserving, for the fruits and vegetables followed fast upon one another, but Adelaide replied she was sure she would not mind, she was so eager to learn.

Raspberry Jam

Adelaide picked over the raspberries before washing them, and mother told her to keep a sharp look-out for little worms that sometimes curled themselves up in the center, and you may be sure Adelaide's keen eyes never missed one if there were any. Next she put them in the colander, and then dipped the colander up and down in a pan of clear cold water several times. When all possible dirt had been washed away, Adelaide stood the colander to drain, after which she poured the berries into the saucepan and weighed them.

[28]

Adelaide found it a great convenience to know the weight of each saucepan she used, and she kept a little card showing just how much each one weighed, then when they were weighed with the fruit, all she needed to do was to subtract the weight from the total of the saucepan to find out how much the fruit weighed.

To each pound of raspberries Adelaide measured three-fourths of a pound of sugar, then she mashed the berries, added the sugar, and let the mixture stand a short time before putting it on the stove to cook.

When the fruit had become heated to the boiling point, Adelaide let it cook slowly for forty-five minutes, not forgetting to stir with the wooden spoon to keep from burning; meanwhile, she had sterilized the tumblers and they were ready when the jam had finished cooking. Adelaide poured the jam into the tumblers at once, and as soon as it had cooled she wiped the tops and outsides carefully, poured melted paraffin over the jam, shook it gently from side to side to make it secure from the air, pasted on the labels, and stored them away in the preserve closet.

[29]

Raspberry and Red Currant Jam

First, Adelaide picked over the raspberries very carefully and placed them in the colander, then she removed the stems from the currants and added them to the raspberries. These she then dipped in clear cold water several times and set aside to drain. Next she weighed the fruit, and to each pound she added a pound of sugar.

She mashed the fruit well with the wooden masher in the saucepan and poured over the sugar. After a few minutes the juice began to run and she put the saucepan on the stove, letting the jam heat slowly through. When it boiled, Adelaide stirred it frequently and let it cook forty-five minutes. It was then ready to pour into the sterilized tumblers. When cold, she wiped the top and outside of each tumbler, poured melted paraffin over the jam, shook it gently from side to side, thus excluding all air, pasted on the labels and put away in the preserve closet.

This combination of raspberries and red currants was a great favorite with everybody.

[30]

Red Currant Jam

The red currants Adelaide removed from their stems and put in the colander to be thoroughly washed. This was done by dipping the colander up and down in a pan of clear cold water. If they were very dusty, she changed the water several times.

After draining the currants sufficiently, she weighed them and put them into the saucepan. To each pound of fruit Adelaide added one pound of sugar. With the wooden masher she mashed the currants and stirred them well with the sugar.

Putting the saucepan on the stove, she let the fruit come slowly to the boiling point, stirring with the wooden spoon frequently to prevent it from burning. It boiled gently for forty-five minutes, then Adelaide poured it into sterilized tumblers at once and stood them away to cool. When they were cold she wiped the top and outside of each tumbler, poured melted paraffin over the jam, shaking it gently from side to side to keep out any air, pasted on the labels and stored away in the preserve closet.

[31]

Black Currant Jam

Adelaide found that when she used red currants, the picking off of the stems consumed a lot of time, so she was glad to find the black currants come already stemmed.

Putting the black currants in the colander, she proceeded to wash them thoroughly by dipping the colander up and down in a pan of clear cold water several times. If they were very dusty she changed the water two or three times until it was clear. After weighing the currants she poured them into a saucepan, mashed them with the wooden masher, added an equal weight of sugar, mixed well with the wooden spoon, let stand until the juice ran, then put the saucepan on the stove and let the mixture come slowly to the boiling point, stirring occasionally. While this was boiling gently for forty-five minutes, Adelaide sterilized the tumblers, not forgetting, however, to stir the jam frequently.

When it was cooked she poured the jam at once into the tumblers and let it cool; as soon as it was cold, Adelaide wiped each tumbler thoroughly, inside the top and on the outside,[32] poured melted paraffin over the jam, which she shook gently from side to side to keep out all air, then pasted on the labels and stored away in the preserve closet.

Blackberry Jam

Mother explained to Adelaide that the flavor of the blackberry was delicious, but you did not enjoy it so much if the seeds were allowed to remain, so that jam was prepared a little differently.

After picking the blackberries over carefully, Adelaide put them in the colander, then dipped it up and down in a pan of cold water and set aside to drain. Afterwards, she put the fruit in the saucepan and with the wooden masher mashed it well. Then she stood the saucepan over the fire and let the fruit come gradually to the boiling point. While she let the fruit boil gently for twenty minutes, Adelaide stirred frequently, using the long wooden spoon.

Moving the saucepan from the fire, Adelaide then rubbed the fruit through a fine sieve (mother said if the sieve let the seeds pass[33] through to use a cheesecloth bag) and measured. To each cup of juice, which she returned to the saucepan, she added three-fourths of a cup of sugar, and putting the jam back over the fire, let it heat slowly, stirring often. This took three-quarters of an hour of gentle boiling before it was done.

Adelaide poured at once into the sterilized tumblers, which were waiting to be filled, and set aside to cool. When cold, she wiped the tops and outsides carefully with a damp cloth, poured melted paraffin over the jam, shaking it gently from side to side, thus keeping out all air, pasted on the labels, and stored the jars away in the preserve closet.

Gooseberry Jam

"The jams with a nice tart flavor," Adelaide said, "are the ones Daddy likes best." He was especially fond of gooseberry jam and for that reason Adelaide decided to surprise him.

The gooseberries Adelaide put in the colander and dipped up and down in a pan of clear cold water until thoroughly clean, then she[34] drained them. With the strawberry huller she pulled off the tops, though she could have used the little sharp knife; next she weighed the gooseberries and put them in the saucepan to be mashed with the wooden masher.

To each pound of fruit she added a pound of sugar, placed the saucepan over the fire and let the fruit come slowly to the boiling point. This needed to be stirred with the wooden spoon occasionally, but after it had reached the boiling point Adelaide stirred it very frequently to prevent burning. It took three-quarters of an hour to cook, and then Adelaide filled the sterilized tumblers with the jam and set it aside to cool. When the jam was cold she wiped each tumbler around the top and on the outside with a clean damp cloth, poured melted paraffin over the jam, pasted on the labels and stored away in the preserve closet.

Of course Daddy was very much pleased with this jam.

Large Blue Plum Jam

The large blue plums, Adelaide's mother said, made delicious jam. Adelaide washed and[35] wiped each plum carefully, then slit each one with a silver knife and took out the stone. After weighing them and putting the plums in the saucepan she added three-fourths of a pound of sugar to each pound of fruit, letting them stand until the juice ran. Placing the saucepan over the fire, she stirred the fruit occasionally until it reached the boiling point, after which she let it boil slowly, for forty-five minutes, and continued to stir very frequently to prevent the jam from burning or sticking to the bottom. In the meantime, Adelaide had the tumblers sterilized and waiting, and as soon as the jam had finished cooking she poured it at once into the tumblers. When the jam was cold she wiped the top and outside of each tumbler with a clean damp cloth and poured melted paraffin over the jam, shaking it gently from side to side to exclude all air. Next came the labels, and then the tumblers of jam were stored away in the preserve closet.

Green-Gage Plum Jam

The green-gage plums, Adelaide found, came later in the season, but they were worth waiting[36] for. These she cut open with a silver knife, after having washed and wiped them carefully, and removed the stones. Weighing the plums, she put them in the saucepan, and to each pound of fruit she added three-quarters of a pound of sugar. When the juice began to run she placed the saucepan over the fire, and let the jam come slowly to the boiling point, stirring it every little while; continuing to cook the jam for forty-five minutes, Adelaide stirred frequently to prevent its sticking to the bottom and becoming burned. As soon as the jam had cooked sufficiently she poured it into the sterilized tumblers which were ready, and when the jam was cold, Adelaide wiped the tops and outsides of the tumblers with a clean damp cloth, poured melted paraffin over the top, and shook gently from side to side to exclude all air. The labels were next pasted on, and the jam was then stored away in the preserve closet.

Damson Plum Jam

Compared to the large blue plums and the green-gage plums Adelaide found the damson[37] plums quite small, and mother told her they would have to be cooked first before she could remove the stones easily. So Adelaide washed the Damson plums carefully, and with a silver knife slit each one before putting them into the saucepan. This was to let the juice run. But, first, Adelaide measured two tablespoons of cold water into the saucepan, then poured in the plums. Of course she had weighed the plums as usual, and also an equal amount of sugar, but the sugar she placed in a bowl and placed on one side until ready to use. The saucepan was then placed over the fire and the plums were cooked slowly until tender, when they were removed, and with two silver forks Adelaide easily picked out the stones. Adding the sugar, she returned the saucepan to the fire, and while it was coming to the boiling point she stirred constantly with a wooden spoon, so that the sugar would not stick to the bottom and burn. Still continuing to stir, she let the jam cook slowly for forty-five minutes.

The tumblers had been sterilized and the jam was poured into them at once. After the jam was cold Adelaide wiped the top and outside of each tumbler with a clean damp cloth, then poured melted paraffin over the top, and shook[38] gently from side to side to exclude the air, pasted on the labels and stored the jars away in the preserve closet.

There were many other kinds of plums, but these were the ones that had the best flavors, mother said, and quite enough for Adelaide to experiment with for the present.

Barberry Jam

Barberries make a very tasty jam. Adelaide put them in the colander, which she dipped up and down in a pan of clean cold water until free from all dust, then carefully picked them over. Into the saucepan she poured one-half a cup of cold water, then added the barberries. Placing the saucepan over the fire, she let the barberries become just warm, then Adelaide pressed the fruit through a wire strainer and measured. To each cup of fruit she added a cup of sugar, which she returned to the saucepan, placed over the fire, let it heat gradually to the boiling point, then cooked twenty minutes, stirring constantly with the wooden spoon. The sterilized tumblers were waiting, and into[39] these Adelaide poured the jam. When the jam was cold she wiped the tops and outsides with a clean damp cloth, poured melted paraffin over the jam, shaking it gently from side to side to exclude all air, then pasted on the labels and stored jam away in the preserve closet.

Rhubarb and Fig Jam

An English friend gave this recipe to Adelaide, and it proved to be very "tasty."

The friend said to choose the pretty pink rhubarb, then wash and wipe it thoroughly, and cut with a sharp knife into one-inch pieces. The figs were looked over carefully and Adelaide cut out the hard little part near the stem, then she put them through the meat chopper and added them to the rhubarb. When she had weighed the prepared fruit and put it into the saucepan she poured over it three-fourths its weight of sugar, and let the mixture stand until the juice ran. Placing the saucepan over the fire, she let the fruit come slowly to the boiling point, stirring with a wooden spoon occasionally. After it had boiled Adelaide stirred[40] it frequently and cooked gently three-quarters of an hour. It was then ready to pour into the sterilized tumblers, which Adelaide never failed to have on hand, and stood away to cool.

When it was cool she wiped the top and outside of each tumbler with a clean damp cloth, poured melted paraffin over the jam, shaking it gently from side to side to exclude all air, then pasted on the labels and stored the jam away in the preserve closet.

[41]

CHAPTER III
JELLIES

When mother gave Adelaide her first lesson in jelly making, Adelaide had visions. Jelly rolls, thin bread and butter sandwiches with jelly in between, soft boiled custards served in individual glasses with a spoonful of jelly on top, and many many other delicious dainties it would take too long to tell about passed before her active little mind. For some years now, Adelaide's mother had been using a small thin glass for her red currant jelly, and any other jelly of which she was especially choice. A glass measuring cup full of jelly was sufficient to fill three of these dainty glasses, and the beauty of these lay in the fact that you could put them on the table as they were. One little glass was sufficient to serve as a relish with cold meat or chicken for a family of four.

Mother thought that as Adelaide's quantities were all small she would let her use these small[42] glasses exclusively for her jellies. Adelaide was delighted, and often held the little glasses up to the sunlight to see how clear and attractive the jelly was.

Red Currant Jelly

The large cherry currants were the ones mother bought, and she told Adelaide that they made the most delicious jelly. Adelaide emptied the currants into the colander, which she dipped up and down in a pan of clear cold water until the currants were thoroughly cleansed, then she drained them.

Picking them over but not removing the stems, Adelaide poured a few at a time into the saucepan (which contained two tablespoons of cold water), and mashed them with the wooden potato masher; this she continued to do until all the currants were used.

Placing the saucepan over the fire, she let the currants cook slowly until they looked white, stirring occasionally with the wooden spoon to prevent burning.

[43]

The little jelly bag attached to the wire frame fitted nicely over another large saucepan, and into this bag Adelaide poured the currants, letting them stand until all the juice had dripped.

Now she measured the juice and returned it to the original saucepan, which had been washed clean. Again she placed the saucepan over the fire and brought the juice to the boiling point; then she let it continue to boil rapidly for twenty minutes (mother said it was not necessary to stir this).

When Adelaide measured the juice she also measured to each cupful a cup of sugar. This she placed in an earthenware dish at the back of the range, or in the oven with the door open, to let it heat through gradually but not to brown. As soon as the juice had boiled sufficiently she added the heated sugar gradually and stirred with the wooden spoon until it was all dissolved; when it again came to the boiling point it jellied in about three minutes.

Adelaide worked very quickly now; she removed the saucepan from the fire, skimmed the jelly, poured it into a pitcher, and from there into the little sterilized glasses. These she placed in the sun and let them stand until the[44] next day; they were then wiped around the tops and outsides carefully with a clean damp cloth, the jelly was covered with melted paraffin, the glass being shaken gently from side to side to exclude all air. Next came the labels, and then the jelly was stored away in the preserve closet. It was a beautiful color, and it made Adelaide's mouth water just to look at it.

Red Currant and White Currant Jelly

The red and white currants Adelaide found made the jelly a beautiful color and more delicate in flavor. These she washed carefully in the colander by dipping it up and down in a pan of clear cold water, then she picked them over without removing the stems. Into the saucepan she measured two tablespoons of water, added the currants a few at a time, and mashed them with the wooden potato masher until all were used. Next the saucepan was placed over the fire and the currants boiled until[45] the red currants looked white. Adelaide did not forget to stir with the wooden spoon to prevent the currants from burning.

The jelly bag was ready and into this Adelaide poured the currants. She let the juice drip overnight, and the next morning measured it into the saucepan. To each cup of juice she measured a cup of sugar, which she placed in an earthenware dish on the back of the range to heat through, but not to brown. The juice Adelaide boiled for twenty minutes rapidly, then she added the sugar very gradually and stirred until it was dissolved. When it came to the boiling point it "jellied" very quickly, and Adelaide skimmed it, poured it into a pitcher, then into the small glasses at once, which were already sterilized.

Standing them in a sunny window she let them remain until the next day. With a clean damp cloth she wiped the top and outside of each glass carefully, poured melted paraffin over the jelly, shook each glass gently from side to side to exclude the air, pasted on the labels and, as usual, stored the jelly away in the preserve closet.

[46]

Red Currant and Raspberry Jelly

Of all the jellies this was mother's favorite.

Adelaide picked over the raspberries (looking in each centre to be sure there were no little worms), poured them into the colander, dipped them up and down in a pan of clear cold water to cleanse thoroughly, and after draining emptied them into the saucepan with two tablespoons of cold water. The currants were washed in the same manner as the raspberries, and Adelaide picked them over but did not remove the stems. These were added to the raspberries, and she mashed them all with the wooden potato masher.

Setting the saucepan over the fire, she stirred well with the wooden spoon, and, when the fruit boiled, Adelaide let it cook until the currants looked white. The jelly bag was ready, and Adelaide poured in the fruit and the juice dripped over night.

When she measured the juice into the saucepan she also measured an equal amount of sugar[47] into an earthenware dish. This Adelaide stood on the back of the range to heat through but not brown.

While the juice came to the boiling point Adelaide attended to the sterilizing of the little glasses.

As soon as the juice had boiled rapidly for twenty minutes Adelaide added the sugar gradually, stirring constantly until the sugar was dissolved. It very quickly boiled again and in a few minutes reached the "jelly point." Adelaide skimmed it carefully and poured it into a pitcher. It was then easy to pour the jelly into the small glasses and stand it in the sun to set.

The next morning Adelaide wiped each glass carefully with a damp cloth around the top and outside, then she poured melted paraffin over the jelly, shaking it gently from side to side to exclude all air. Next the labels were pasted on, and then the jelly was stored away in the preserve closet.

Blackberry Jelly

[48]

Adelaide picked the blackberries very carefully into the colander. This she dipped up and down in a pan of clear cold water several times to thoroughly cleanse the berries. When they were well drained she poured them into the saucepan with two tablespoons of cold water, and mashed the berries with the wooden potato masher. Placing the saucepan over the fire, she let the blackberries heat through slowly until they were soft, then she poured them into the jelly bag and the juice dripped all night. The next morning she measured the juice, and to each cup she allowed three-fourths of a cup of sugar. The juice she put over the fire to boil rapidly for twenty minutes, and stood the sugar in an earthenware dish at the back of the range to heat through, but not brown. After the juice had boiled sufficiently Adelaide added the sugar gradually and stirred with a wooden spoon until it was all dissolved, then she let it boil until it reached the jelly point. Skimming it carefully, she then poured the jelly into the pitcher, and from there into the small sterilized glasses, which she stood in a sunny window to set.

When cold, Adelaide wiped each glass carefully around the top and outside, and poured[49] melted paraffin over the top of the jelly, shaking it gently from side to side to exclude all air; then she pasted on the labels and stored away in the preserve closet.

Spiced Blackberry Jelly

The blackberries Adelaide picked over carefully and put in the colander to wash thoroughly by dipping them up and down several times in a pan of cold water. After they were well drained she poured them into a saucepan with two tablespoons of cold water, and mashed them with the wooden potato masher. Placing the saucepan over the fire, she let the blackberries simmer until they were soft, then poured them into the jelly bag to drip. To each cup of juice she measured a cup of sugar which she stood on the back of the range in an earthenware dish to heat through, but not brown, also one-fourth of an ounce of ground cinnamon, one-eighth of an ounce of ground mace, and[50] one-fourth of a teaspoonful of ground cloves, which she tied up in a piece of thin muslin. The juice and spices were then boiled together rapidly for twenty minutes, after which time Adelaide took out the bag of spices and added the sugar gradually, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon until the sugar was dissolved.

When the "jelly point" was reached she skimmed it at once and poured the jelly into a pitcher. It was then easy for her to fill the sterilized glasses and let the jelly stand until cold. Next, Adelaide wiped each glass with a damp cloth around the top and outside, poured melted paraffin over the jelly, shook it gently from side to side to exclude all air, pasted on the labels and stored away the jelly in the preserve closet.

Mother said that this was better than any medicine.

Black Currant Jelly

Black currant jelly, mother told Adelaide, was what her mother gave her when she was a little girl if ever she complained of a sore throat.[51] After Adelaide had tasted it she said, "Mother, I should think you would have felt almost glad to have a sore throat, it is so good."

The black currants Adelaide picked over and washed thoroughly in the usual way by pouring them into the colander, then dipping it up and down several times in a pan of clear cold water. After draining them well, she emptied them into the saucepan, added two tablespoons of cold water, mashed well with the wooden potato masher, and placed the mixture over the fire to simmer until soft. Into the jelly bag they went next, and Adelaide let the juice drip all night.

Next morning she measured the juice and an equal amount of sugar, which she placed in an earthenware dish at the back of the range, to heat through but not brown. The juice she brought to the boiling point and it continued to boil rapidly for twenty minutes.

Adding the sugar gradually, she stirred with the wooden spoon until it was all dissolved and cooked to the "jelly point." After skimming the jelly Adelaide poured it into a pitcher and from there into the sterilized small glasses, and then stood the tumblers in a sunny window. When the jelly was cold she wiped the top and[52] outside of each glass with a damp cloth, poured melted paraffin over the jelly, and shook gently from side to side to exclude all air. Pasting on the labels, Adelaide then stored the jelly away in the preserve closet.

Green Gooseberry Jelly

The gooseberries were easily picked over and washed. Adelaide put them in the colander, dipped it up and down in a pan of clear cold water, and stood it aside to drain. She measured two tablespoons of cold water into the saucepan, added the gooseberries and mashed them with the wooden potato masher.

Placing the saucepan over the fire she let the gooseberries simmer until they were soft, not forgetting to stir with the wooden spoon to keep them from burning. Pouring the fruit into the jelly bag came next, and Adelaide let it drip over night.

To each cup of juice Adelaide added three-fourths of a cup of sugar. The sugar was placed in an earthenware dish at the back of the[53] range to heat but not brown. When the juice had boiled rapidly for twenty minutes Adelaide added the sugar gradually and stirred until it was all dissolved. It was then cooked to the "jelly point."

Adelaide skimmed the jelly, poured it into the pitcher, and from there into the sterilized small glasses, then stood them in a sunny window. When the jelly was cold Adelaide wiped each glass around the top and on the outside with a damp cloth, poured melted paraffin over the jelly, shook gently from side to side to exclude all air, then pasted on the labels and stored the jars away in the preserve closet.

Wild Cherry Jelly

After picking the cherries carefully into the colander, Adelaide dipped it up and down several times in a pan of clear cold water, then stood it aside to drain. Into the saucepan she measured two tablespoons of cold water, added the cherries and mashed them with the wooden potato masher.

[54]

Placing the saucepan over the fire, she let the cherries simmer until they were soft, stirring occasionally to prevent burning, after which she poured the fruit into the jelly bag and let the juice drip over night.

The next morning she measured the juice, and to each cup she measured three-fourths of a cup of sugar. The sugar she placed in an earthenware dish and stood on the back of the range to heat through but not burn.

The juice she let boil rapidly twenty minutes, added the heated sugar gradually, and stirred with the wooden spoon until all was dissolved. After the juice and sugar had boiled to the "jelly point" Adelaide skimmed it carefully, poured quickly into a pitcher and then into the sterilized small glasses.

Mother liked to have all of her jelly stand in the sun if possible, so Adelaide stood the glasses in a sunny window.

When the jelly was cold she wiped the tops and outsides of each glass carefully with a damp cloth, poured melted paraffin over the jelly (shaking it gently from side to side to exclude all air), pasted on the labels and stored the jelly away in the preserve closet.

[55]

Wild Grape Jelly

The wild grapes Adelaide poured into the colander, dipped it up and down several times in cold water and stood it to drain. Next, she picked them over carefully, pinched each grape to break the skin, and dropped them into the saucepan containing two tablespoons of cold water.

Placing the saucepan over the fire, she let the grapes simmer until soft, stirring occasionally to prevent burning, then poured them into the jelly bag to drip over night.

In the morning she measured the juice and an equal amount of sugar. The saucepan containing the juice she placed over the fire that the juice might boil rapidly for twenty minutes, and the sugar was put in an earthenware dish and stood at the back of the range to heat through, but not brown.

The small glasses were all sterilized, and as soon as the juice had boiled the necessary time, Adelaide added the sugar gradually and stirred with the wooden spoon until it was all dissolved.

[56]

Adelaide tended the juice and sugar carefully until it reached the "jelly point," then, skimming quickly, she poured the jelly into a pitcher, and from there into the small glasses. Next she stood them in a sunny window, and when the jelly was cold the glasses were wiped around the tops and on the outsides with a damp cloth. Melting the paraffin she poured it over the jelly and shook it gently from side to side to exclude all air. The labels were pasted on finally, and the jelly was stored away in the preserve closet.

Wild Plum Jelly

The wild plums that Adelaide used were brought to her by a friend who lived in the country. They were about the size of large cherries. The flavor of the jelly was most delicious and a general favorite with everybody.

Adelaide washed the plums after emptying them into the colander, by dipping the colander up and down several times in a pan of clear cold water, after which she drained them. Into the[57] saucepan she had measured two tablespoons of cold water, and as she picked over the plums she slit each one with a silver knife and dropped it into the waiting saucepan.

These she let simmer until soft and mushy, not forgetting to stir occasionally to keep them from burning, then poured the fruit into the jelly bag to drip over night. In the morning Adelaide measured the juice, and to each cup she measured three-quarters of a cup of sugar. The juice she let boil rapidly for twenty minutes, while the sugar was stood at the back of the range in an earthenware dish to heat through, but not brown.

When the juice had boiled sufficiently, Adelaide added the sugar gradually and stirred with the wooden spoon until it was all dissolved. As soon as the "jelly point" was reached, Adelaide skimmed it quickly, poured it into a pitcher, from there into the sterilized small glasses, and stood them in a sunny window. After the jelly was cold she wiped each glass around the top and on the outside with a damp cloth, poured melted paraffin over the jelly, shaking it gently from side to side to exclude all air, pasted on the labels and stored the tumblers away in the preserve closet.

[58]

Damson Plum Jelly

Adelaide wiped and picked over the Damson Plums, and slit each one with a silver knife before placing them in the saucepan with two tablespoons of cold water. These she let boil until very soft, stirring occasionally with the wooden spoon to prevent burning. When the fruit had cooked sufficiently, she poured it into the jelly bag and let it drip over night. The next morning she measured the juice, and to each cup she measured three-fourths the amount of sugar. It (the juice) was boiled rapidly for twenty minutes, while the sugar stood on the back of the range in an earthenware dish to heat through, but not brown.

After twenty minutes of boiling for the juice, the sugar was added gradually and stirred until it was all dissolved. When the "jelly point" was reached Adelaide skimmed the jelly quickly, poured it into a pitcher, and from there into the sterilized glasses, and then stood them in a sunny window.

As soon as the jelly was cold, Adelaide wiped[59] the tops and outsides of each glass with a damp cloth, poured melted paraffin over the jelly, shaking it gently from side to side to exclude all air, pasted on the labels and stored the jelly glasses away in the preserve closet.

Apple Jelly

The apples that made the best jelly, mother told Adelaide, were the "porter apples," the "gravenstein apples," the "maiden's blush," and the "fall pippins."

Adelaide wiped each apple thoroughly with a damp cloth and removed the stems and blossom ends. With a silver knife she cut them in quarters. Placing them in the saucepan, she added cold water until it came nearly to the top of the apples.

Covering the saucepan, she stood it over the fire and let the apples cook slowly until they were very soft. She found it necessary to stir the fruit with a wooden spoon occasionally to prevent the juice from burning. When it was done Adelaide poured it into the jelly bag and let the juice drip over night.

[60]

The next morning she measured the juice, and to each cup she measured a cup of sugar, which she placed in an earthenware dish on the back of the range to heat through but not burn.

As soon as the juice had boiled rapidly for twenty minutes, Adelaide added the sugar a little at a time, stirring constantly until it had all dissolved. Then she let it cook to the "jelly point," after which she skimmed it quickly, poured it into a pitcher and filled the sterilized small glasses at once. The glasses were then placed in a sunny window, and, when cold, Adelaide wiped each glass around the top and on the outside with a damp cloth, poured melted paraffin over the jelly, shook it gently from side to side to exclude air, pasted on the labels and stored the jelly away in the preserve closet in the space allotted for jellies.

Crab Apple Jelly

The crab apples make a very handsome jelly, and as they are very small, mother did not think two dozen would be too many for Adelaide to prepare.

[61]

These, mother said, you only needed to wipe clean with a damp cloth and remove the stem and blossom end. It was not necessary to cut them, just put them into the saucepan and nearly cover them with cold water.

Standing the saucepan over the fire, Adelaide put on the cover and let the apples cook slowly until very soft, stirring occasionally to keep from burning, then she poured them into the jelly bag and let the juice drip over night. In the morning she measured the juice, and for each cup of juice she measured a cup of sugar. The sugar was put in an earthenware dish and stood at the back of the range, to heat through, but not brown, while the juice was boiling rapidly for twenty minutes.

As soon as the juice was ready, Adelaide added the sugar gradually, stirring constantly with the wooden spoon until it had all dissolved. This she let come to the "jelly point," skimmed quickly, poured into a pitcher, and filled the sterilized small glasses at once.

Next she placed the jelly in a sunny window. When cold, she wiped each glass around the top and on the outside with a damp cloth, poured melted paraffin over the jelly (shaking gently from side to side to exclude all air), pasted on[62] the labels and stored away in the preserve closet.

Barberry Jelly

Mother saw to it that the barberries were bought just before any frost came, and she liked a few of the berries to be green. The reason for this, she told Adelaide, was to make the jelly firmer and a much better color.

Adelaide poured the barberries into the colander, and dipped them up and down several times in a pan of clear cold water, to rinse off all dust, then she picked them over and put them into the saucepan with two tablespoons of cold water; next she mashed the barberries with the wooden potato masher and placed over the fire to cook slowly until very soft. It was necessary, Adelaide found, to stir with the wooden spoon occasionally to prevent burning.

When the fruit was done, she poured it into the jelly bag and the juice dripped over night. In the morning she measured the juice, and for each cup she measured an equal amount of[63] sugar, which she put in an earthenware dish and stood on the back of the stove to heat through, but not brown, while the juice boiled rapidly for twenty minutes. At the end of that time Adelaide added the sugar gradually, stirring constantly until it was all dissolved, then she let it cook to the "jelly point."

Skimming the jelly quickly, she poured the jelly into a pitcher and filled the sterilized small glasses at once. They were then placed in a sunny window, and, when cold, Adelaide wiped around the top and the outside of each glass with a damp cloth, poured melted paraffin over the jelly, and shook it gently from side to side to exclude all air. Before storing the glasses away in the preserve closet Adelaide pasted on the labels.

Quince Jelly

Quinces are very hard to cut, so Adelaide found it necessary to use the little sharp knife, after washing and wiping them thoroughly.

In preparing these, Adelaide removed the blossom ends and seeds, cut each quince into small[64] pieces, nearly covered the fruit with cold water, placed the saucepan on the fire and let the quinces cook very slowly until soft, stirring occasionally with the wooden spoon to prevent burning.

As soon as they had finished cooking she poured the fruit into the jelly bag and let it drip over night. Next morning she measured the juice, and for each cup Adelaide measured an equal quantity of sugar. The sugar she stood at the back of the range in an earthenware dish to heat through, but not brown, and the juice she let boil rapidly for twenty minutes. Then she added the sugar gradually, stirring constantly until all the sugar had dissolved. When the "jelly point" was reached Adelaide skimmed quickly and poured the jelly into a pitcher. Filling the sterilized small glasses at once, she then stood them in a sunny window.

When cold, each glass was carefully wiped with a damp cloth around the top and on the outside, melted paraffin was poured over the jelly, the glass was shaken gently from side to side to exclude all air, and, finally, Adelaide pasted on the labels and stored the glasses away in the preserve closet.

[65]

Quince and Apple Jelly

The apples and quinces Adelaide wiped thoroughly clean with a damp cloth, and removed the stems and blossom ends. The apples she cut into quarters, but the quinces were cut into very small pieces. When she emptied the fruit into the saucepan she nearly covered it with cold water, then stood it over the fire, put on the cover and let it boil gently until very soft. Occasionally Adelaide stirred it with the wooden spoon to prevent burning.

As soon as the fruit was sufficiently soft she poured it into the jelly bag, where it remained over night to drip. In the morning she measured the juice, and to each cup she measured an equal quantity of sugar, which she put at the back of the range in an earthenware dish to heat through, but not brown.

The juice then boiled for twenty minutes, at the end of which time Adelaide added the sugar gradually, stirring constantly until all had dissolved. When the juice and sugar reached the[66] "jelly point" Adelaide skimmed quickly, poured the jelly into a pitcher, filled the sterilized small glasses at once and stood them in a sunny window.

Each glass was carefully wiped with a damp cloth around the top and on the outside when they were cold and melted paraffin poured over the jelly. This Adelaide shook gently from side to side to exclude all air. Next she pasted on the labels, then stored the tumblers away in the preserve closet.

Cranberry Jelly

After Adelaide had emptied the cranberries into the colander, then dipped them up and down several times in a pan of clear cold water, she picked them over.

While her little fingers worked quickly she told mother the cranberries made her long for Thanksgiving Day to come, and especially this year, as she wanted her "cranberry jelly" served with the turkey. Mother said she would feel very proud to have it grace the "festive board."

[67]

When the cranberries were all in the saucepan, Adelaide poured enough cold water over the top so that she could see it easily among the berries. Placing the saucepan over the fire, the berries cooked slowly, and Adelaide used the wooden potato masher with which to mash them. She also stirred them occasionally to keep them from burning.

When the fruit was soft, Adelaide poured the cranberries into the jelly bag and the juice dripped over night. In the morning she measured to each cup of juice a cup of sugar. This she stood at the back of the range in an earthenware dish, to heat through but not brown.

Adelaide cooked the juice rapidly for twenty minutes, then added the sugar gradually, stirred constantly until the sugar was all dissolved, and let it continue to cook until the "jelly point" was reached.

Now she worked quickly, skimming the jelly, pouring it into a pitcher and filling the sterilized small glasses at once. These she stood in a sunny window.

As soon as the jelly was cold she wiped around the top and the outside of each glass with a damp cloth, poured melted paraffin over the top, shaking it gently from side to side to[68] exclude all air, pasted on the labels, then stored the tumblers away in the preserve closet.

Adelaide tried the combination of cranberries and apples which mother said made a very good jelly.

Cranberry and Apple Jelly

After wiping the apples thoroughly with a damp cloth, Adelaide removed the stems and blossom ends and cut into quarters. The cranberries Adelaide placed in the colander, dipped up and down several times in a pan of clear cold water, set aside to drain, then picked them over.

Putting the apples and cranberries into the saucepan she nearly covered them with water, placed them over the fire to cook slowly, stirred occasionally with the wooden spoon, then when they were very soft and mushy, Adelaide poured the fruit into the jelly bag. The juice dripped over night, and, in the morning, she measured the juice. To each cup, Adelaide measured an equal amount of sugar. The sugar was placed[69] at the back of the range in an earthenware dish to heat through, but not brown, while the juice boiled rapidly for twenty minutes. Adding the sugar gradually, Adelaide stirred constantly until it had all dissolved.

When the cooked juice and sugar reached the "jelly point" she skimmed quickly, poured into a pitcher, filled the sterilized small glasses at once, and stood in a sunny window. After the jelly was cold, Adelaide wiped around the top and outside of each glass with a damp cloth, poured melted paraffin over the top, shook it gently from side to side to exclude all air, pasted on the labels, then stored the jelly away in the preserve closet.

This finished the "jelly making."

[70]

CHAPTER IV
PRESERVING AND CANNING

"Mother," questioned Adelaide, "what is the difference between 'preserving' and 'canning'?"

"Well, dear, according to the cook books, preserved fruits are cooked with from three-fourths to an equal weight of sugar, while canned fruits have only sufficient added to sweeten. Some fruits are often canned without sugar, as it is not the sugar that keeps the fruit, but the perfect sterilization of fruit and jars. Sterilizing, you remember, is the killing of all germs by boiling."

"Some fruits I much prefer canning without sugar, such as apples, peaches, blueberries and rhubarb. When you open the jars in the winter time and add the sugar as you need it the flavor is almost like that of fresh fruit," answered mother.

"Oh, I see, so that is why our peaches taste[71] so much better to me than anybody else's!" exclaimed Adelaide.

Adelaide began with strawberries, but first she read the "general rules" again that she had written down in the beginning, because she did not wish to make a single mistake.

Canned Strawberries

Emptying the berries into the colander she dipped it up and down several times in a pan of clear cold water, then let them drain thoroughly. The berries were hulled, weighed, and put into the saucepan, which she placed over the fire, heating the fruit through very gradually. It was better, mother said, to let them stand at the back of the range until the juice began to run, before bringing the berries to the boiling point. These boiled slowly five minutes, and then Adelaide added one-third their weight in sugar. The sugar had been standing in an earthenware dish at the back of the range, to heat through, but not brown.

While Adelaide added the sugar very gradually she stirred the fruit gently with the wooden[72] spoon, and was very careful not to break the berries.

It did not take long for the fruit and sugar to come to the boiling point, and then Adelaide filled to overflowing the sterilized pint jar at once, inserted the silver knife between the jar and fruit to let the air bubbles rise and break, put on the new rubber smoothly, sealed quickly and stood the jar upside down out of the way of any draft.

The next morning she inspected the jar carefully, to be sure it did not leak, then wiped away all stickiness with a damp cloth, pasted on the label and stored it away in the preserve closet.

Canned Raspberries

Mother was delighted with this quart of raspberries, they were just ripe enough, large, and almost every one perfect. It did not take Adelaide long to pick these over, and she could see each center very easily. There wasn't a single bug or worm.

She weighed the raspberries before putting them in the colander to dip up and down several[73] times in a pan of clear cold water. When they had drained, she emptied the berries into the saucepan and stood it on the back of the range to let the juice run. She also placed a third of their weight of sugar in an earthenware dish at the back of the range, to heat through, but not brown.

When the juice had run sufficiently, Adelaide moved the saucepan forward, the berries came slowly to the boiling point, and continued to boil very slowly for five minutes. It was then time to add the warm sugar, stirring very gently while it dissolved. Adelaide was very careful not to break the fruit. As soon as the fruit boiled again it was ready to pour into the sterilized pint jar.

Adelaide filled the jar to overflowing, inserted a silver knife between the jar and the berries to let all air bubbles come to the top and break, put on the new rubber smoothly, sealed quickly, then stood the jar upside down out of the way of any draft.

In the morning she made sure that the jar had not leaked, then with a damp cloth she wiped away all stickiness, pasted on the label and stored the jar away in the preserve closet.

[74]

Canned Raspberries and Currants

Adelaide picked over the raspberries and currants very carefully, washed and drained them in the usual manner, but kept them separate.

The currants she placed in the saucepan and mashed with the wooden potato masher. Next she cooked them very slowly until the currants looked white, then she strained them through two thicknesses of cheese cloth. Returning the juice to the saucepan, she added the sugar, stirring until it was all dissolved, and let it boil slowly twenty minutes, then she poured in the raspberries carefully and boiled them three minutes.

The sterilized pint jar Adelaide filled to overflowing at once, inserted the silver knife to force the air bubbles to the top, placed the new rubber on smoothly, sealed quickly and stood upside down out of the way of any draft.

In the morning she wiped off all stickiness with a damp cloth, made sure the jar did not leak, pasted on the label and stored it away in the preserve closet.

[75]

Canned Cherries

Mother liked to have her cherries cut in halves and the stones taken out, though she told Adelaide many people preferred them canned whole. Adelaide followed mother's way, so the large ripe cherries she placed in the colander, and washed thoroughly by dipping it up and down several times in a pan of clear cold water.

Next she removed the stems, and cut the cherries in halves with a silver knife, taking out the stones. Then she weighed the fruit. If they were tart, she used one-half their weight of sugar, but if they were of the sweet variety, she needed only one-third of their weight of sugar.

The cherries and sugar Adelaide put in the saucepan together and stood at the back of the range to heat gradually. As the sugar began to melt and the juice to run, she removed the saucepan forward and stirred the fruit gently with the wooden spoon. Adelaide was careful not to break the halves, and boiled the cherries slowly twenty minutes.

She filled the sterilized pint jar to overflowing,[76] inserted the silver knife to bring the air bubbles to the top, placed the new rubber on smoothly, sealed quickly and stood the jar upside down out of the way of any draft.

In the morning she wiped off all stickiness with a damp cloth, inspected the jar carefully to see that it did not leak, pasted on the label and stored the jar away in the preserve closet.

Canned Blackberries

These were great big blackberries, firm but ripe, and Adelaide poured them into the colander. She could not resist popping the biggest one into her mouth, but mother told her that that was a very bad practice to begin. Adelaide sighed, but she realized mother was right, so she stopped eating any more and proceeded to wash the blackberries. She dipped the colander up and down several times in a pan of clear cold water, drained thoroughly, then weighed the fruit. Weighing one-third their weight of sugar, she put it in an earthenware dish and placed it at the back of the range to heat through, but not brown.

The saucepan containing the blackberries was[77] also stood toward the back of the range until the juice began to run, when it was moved forward, and Adelaide watched it while it came slowly to the boiling point.

For five minutes the berries boiled very slowly, then the warm sugar was added a little at a time, and Adelaide stirred gently with the wooden spoon, being careful not to break the blackberries.

They were ready to put in the sterilized pint jar as soon as they boiled up again. Adelaide filled the jar to overflowing, inserted a silver knife to bring all bubbles to the top, placed on the new rubber smoothly, sealed quickly, and stood the jar upside down, out of the way of any draft. The next morning she examined the jar carefully to see that it did not leak, wiped off the stickiness with a damp cloth, pasted on the label, then stored the jar away in the preserve closet.

Canned Blueberries

The blueberries that mother bought were almost as large as currants and they were firm and dry.

[78]

Adelaide picked them over carefully, put them into the colander, which she placed in a pan of clear cold water, dipping it up and down several times to cleanse the berries thoroughly, then set aside to drain. The berries were then weighed, put into the saucepan and heated gradually.

To each pound of berries Adelaide added one-third of a pound of sugar, setting it in an earthenware dish at the back of the range to heat through, but not brown. When the berries had boiled slowly for five minutes, Adelaide added the sugar very gradually, stirring gently until it had all dissolved. The fruit was ready to can as soon as it boiled up again, and at once Adelaide filled to overflowing the sterilized pint jar. She inserted a silver knife between the fruit and the sides of the jar to bring all air bubbles to the top, then placed the new rubber on smoothly, sealed quickly and stood the jar upside down out of the way of any draft.

In the morning Adelaide removed all stickiness from the jar with a damp cloth, inspected it thoroughly to see that it did not leak, pasted on the label and stored the jar away in the preserve closet.

[79]

Canned Blueberries (without sugar)

Mother let Adelaide put up a jar of blueberries without sugar. They made delicious pies in the winter.

Adelaide picked over the berries carefully into the colander, then she dipped it up and down several times in a pan of clear cold water to cleanse them from all dust. After they had drained thoroughly, Adelaide poured them into the saucepan, with two tablespoons of cold water (this was to prevent burning), then she placed the saucepan over the fire and let the berries heat through very gradually. It was necessary to stir occasionally with the wooden spoon. They needed to boil but a minute or two, as they had softened sufficiently while heating through.

As soon as they were done, Adelaide filled the sterilized pint jar to overflowing, inserted a silver knife to let all air bubbles rise to the top, then break, placed the new rubber on smoothly, sealed quickly and stood it upside down out of the way of any draft.

After inspecting the jar next morning to be[80] sure it did not leak, she wiped it carefully with a damp cloth to remove all stickiness, pasted on the label and stored the finished product away in the preserve closet.

Canned Peaches No. 1

There were three different ways mother told Adelaide that she might put up peaches, two ways with sugar and one without. Adelaide put up a dozen peaches at a time.

The first dozen Adelaide placed in a pan and covered with boiling water and let them stand a few minutes. It was then easy for her to remove the skins with a silver knife, cut in halves and take out the stones. The peaches were large, and mother said they should fill two pint jars. So Adelaide washed and sterilized two jars. Into a saucepan Adelaide measured two cups of water and one cup of sugar, which she placed over the fire and let boil ten minutes, then she dropped the peaches in carefully and let them cook until you could pierce them with a silver fork. When they were done she lifted each half peach out[81] with great care and put twelve of them in one pint jar, and the remaining twelve in the other pint jar. Next she filled the jars to overflowing with the syrup, inserted a silver knife between the fruit and the sides of the jars, to let the air bubbles rise to the top and break, placed new rubbers on smoothly, sealed quickly and stood both jars upside down out of the way of any draft.

The next morning she inspected them carefully to see that they did not leak; then Adelaide wiped off all stickiness with a damp cloth, pasted on the labels and stored the jars away in the preserve closet.

Canned Peaches No. 2

The second dozen of peaches Adelaide prepared in the same manner. She placed them in a pan, covered them with boiling water, let them stand a few minutes, removed their skins with a silver knife, cut them in halves, took out the stones, then weighed the peaches. Placing them carefully in the saucepan, Adelaide poured over the peaches one-third of their[82] weight of sugar, and let them stand over night.

In the morning she added two cups of cold water and stood the saucepan over the fire, letting it come slowly to the boiling point.

From then on the peaches simmered slowly, until they could be pierced easily with a silver fork, Adelaide stirring occasionally in a careful manner with a wooden spoon so as not to break the fruit.

When they were sufficiently cooked, she picked out the fruit with the fork, putting twelve halves in each pint jar, filled them to overflowing with the syrup, then inserted a silver knife between the fruit and the jars to let all air bubbles rise to the top and break, placed the new rubbers on smoothly, sealed quickly, and stood the jars upside down out of the way of any draft.

In the morning she examined each jar carefully to be sure they did not leak, wiped off all stickiness with a damp cloth, pasted on the labels, then stored the peaches away in the preserve closet.

Canned Peaches (without sugar)

[83]

After Adelaide had covered the peaches with boiling water and let them stand a few minutes, she removed the skins with a silver knife, cut them in halves, took out the stones and placed them carefully in the saucepan.

To these she added two cups of cold water, put the saucepan over the fire, let the peaches heat through gradually, stirring occasionally with the wooden spoon, and then boiled them very gently for twenty minutes, or until they could be pierced easily with a silver fork.

Lifting the peaches out carefully with a fork, Adelaide put twelve halves in each sterilized pint jar, and filled them to overflowing with the juice.

Inserting a silver knife between the fruit and the sides of the jars, she let the air bubbles rise to the top and break. Next she placed the new rubbers on smoothly, sealed quickly and stood each jar upside down out of the way of any draft.

Next morning Adelaide examined each jar carefully to be sure they did not leak, wiped off all stickiness with a damp cloth, pasted on the labels and stored away the jars in the preserve closet.

[84]

Canned Apricots

The apricots are so much smaller than peaches that one dozen, mother said, should just fill a pint jar, but, to be on the safe side, she would let Adelaide prepare eighteen. Mother also said she was surprised that more people did not can this fruit, it was of such a rich and delicate flavor.

Adelaide washed and wiped each apricot thoroughly, cut it in halves and removed the stone. After weighing the apricots she put them in the saucepan and added one-third their weight in sugar and one cup of water.

Placing the saucepan over the fire, Adelaide let the fruit come slowly to the boiling point, stirring frequently with a wooden spoon to prevent burning. After they had boiled gently twenty minutes (Adelaide stirred all the time being very careful not to break the apricots) she filled the sterilized pint jar at once.

Adelaide picked the apricots out with a silver fork and placed them in the jar first, then she poured in the juice so that it overflowed.[85] Using a silver knife, she inserted it between the fruit and the jar, to let all air bubbles rise to the top and break. Next she placed a new rubber, which had been dipped in boiling water, on the jar smoothly, sealed quickly and stood the jar upside down out of the way of any draft.

In the morning the jar was carefully inspected to see that it did not leak, and Adelaide used a damp cloth to wipe away all stickiness. After pasting on the label she stored the jar away in the preserve closet.

Canned Pears

Adelaide prepared a dozen large pears, although mother said eight were quite sufficient (if large) to fill a pint jar. It was not a good plan to crowd such fruit as peaches, pears, and apricots in too closely, because you might break the fruit.

With the little sharp knife Adelaide peeled the pears very thinly and cut them in halves, removing the cores. The stems she left on. After weighing the fruit, she placed it in the saucepan and measured one cup of water to[86] each pound of fruit. If the pears were tart, she weighed one-half their weight of sugar; if they were sweet she weighed only one-third their weight of sugar.

The sugar was put in an earthenware dish at the back of the range to heat through, but not brown.

Placing the saucepan containing the pears and water over the fire, Adelaide let them come slowly to the boiling point. With the wooden spoon she stirred them frequently, being careful not to break the fruit. If, after twenty minutes of gentle boiling, the pears were easily pierced with a silver fork, Adelaide added the warm sugar gradually and stirred carefully and constantly until it boiled up again.

Into the sterilized pint jar Adelaide lifted each half pear with a silver fork, then poured in the juice until it overflowed. The inserting of a silver knife between the fruit and the jar, to let all the bubbles rise to the top and break, was the next thing to be done, after which she placed a new rubber smoothly on the jar, sealed it quickly, then stood the jar upside down out of the way of any draft.

In the morning Adelaide wiped off all stickiness from the jar with a damp cloth, and examined[87] it carefully to be sure that it did not leak. Next she pasted on the labels and stored the fruit away in the preserve closet.

Mother told Adelaide that some people found pears a little too flat for their taste, and in that case a tablespoon of lemon juice was added with each dozen pears.

Canned Crab Apples

These crab apples made one of the prettiest jars Adelaide put up. She did not have to peel the crab apples, just wash and wipe the fruit thoroughly and remove the blossom ends. The crab apples, of course, needed to be absolutely perfect.

They were weighed, placed in the saucepan, and a cup of water poured over to each pound of fruit. One-half their weight of sugar Adelaide placed in an earthenware dish at the back of the range to warm through, but not brown. The saucepan she placed on the fire and let the crab apples and water come slowly to the boiling point, stirring frequently with the wooden spoon.

[88]

When the crab apples could be pierced easily with a silver fork Adelaide added the sugar gradually and let the fruit boil up again. She stirred constantly until they had boiled quietly five minutes more, then she picked the crab apples out with the silver fork and placed in the sterilized pint jar.

With a silver knife, which she inserted between fruit and jar, Adelaide let the air bubbles rise to the top and break. The new rubber, after being dipped in boiling water, was placed on the jar smoothly, then she sealed it quickly and stood it upside down out of the way of any draft.

In the morning the jar was carefully inspected for any possible leaks, and Adelaide wiped off all stickiness with a damp cloth. Next she pasted on the labels and stored the canned fruit away in the preserve closet.

Canned Quinces

Six large orange quinces (these are of the best variety) Adelaide washed and wiped thoroughly, peeled, cut into quarters, and removed[89] the cores. After weighing the quinces she measured into the saucepan one and one-third cups of water to each pound of fruit.

Placing the saucepan over the fire she let the water just boil, and then poured in the quinces. They boiled gently for about twenty minutes, or until you could pierce them easily with a silver fork. Adelaide lifted these out very carefully on to a large plate.

To the water in which the quinces had been cooked, she added one-half their weight in sugar. This she stirred with the wooden spoon until it was all dissolved and the syrup boiled. The quinces were gently dropped into the boiling syrup (Adelaide took particular care not to break the quarters) and when they had cooked slowly for five minutes she filled the sterilized pint jar with the fruit and poured the syrup over it until it overflowed. Next she inserted a silver knife between the fruit and the jar, to let all air bubbles rise to the top and break.

The new rubber, after being dipped in boiling water, was placed smoothly around the top, then she sealed the jar quickly and stood it upside down out of the way of any draft.

In the morning the jar was carefully examined to be sure that it did not leak, and Adelaide[90] wiped off all stickiness from the outside. Pasting on the label she stored it away in the preserve closet.

Mother had told Adelaide to save the peelings and cores of the quinces, and put in a saucepan with just enough water to cover. These she let boil slowly for about one hour, then she poured them into the jelly bag to drain off the juice. This juice she used to cook her apples in when she canned some the next day.

Canned Apples

After washing and peeling the apples, Adelaide cut them into quarters and removed the cores.

The quince juice was made from the peelings and cores of the quinces she had canned the day before, by just covering them with cold water and boiling slowly for one hour. Then she drained them through the jelly bag.

To each pound of apples Adelaide measured one and one-third cups of quince juice into the saucepan, and she put one-fourth of their weight of sugar into an earthenware dish, which[91] she stood at the back of the stove to warm but not brown.

The saucepan containing the apples and quince juice was placed over the fire, and the fruit came slowly to the boiling point. Adelaide stirred quite frequently with the wooden spoon, being careful not to break the fruit. When you could easily pierce the apples with a silver fork, they were ready to have the warm sugar added. This Adelaide poured in very carefully and stirred until dissolved.

Five more minutes they needed to boil, being stirred constantly, then Adelaide filled the sterilized pint jar at once. First the fruit (lifted out with a silver fork), then the syrup poured in to overflowing, then the silver knife inserted between fruit and jar, to let the air bubbles rise to the top and break, then the new rubber placed around the top smoothly, and lastly the quick sealing. Adelaide stood the jar upside down out of the way of any draft. In the morning she wiped off all stickiness with a damp cloth, from the outside of the jar, examined it carefully to be sure that it didn't leak, pasted on the label, then stored the jar away in the preserve closet beside her steadily growing line of preserves.

[92]

The addition of the quince juice made the flavor of the apples delicious.

Canned Apples (without sugar)

Wiping the apples clean, Adelaide pared them with the sharp knife, cut them into quarters and removed the core. If the apples were very juicy she did not need to cook them in very much water, otherwise the water (which she poured over the apples boiling) came nearly to the top of the apples.

Placing the saucepan over the fire, the fruit boiled slowly until tender, then Adelaide at once filled to overflowing the sterilized pint jar. Inserting a silver knife between the jar and the fruit, she let the air bubbles rise to the top and break.

The new rubber, dipped in boiling water, was placed on smoothly, and the jar sealed quickly, then Adelaide stood it upside down out of the way of any draft. In the morning she wiped off all stickiness with a damp cloth from the outside of the jar, inspected it carefully for any possible leaks, pasted on the label and stored the apples in the preserve closet.

[93]

Canned Pineapples No. 1

Mother had to show Adelaide how to remove the skin and eyes from the pineapple. Adelaide found it a rather prickly thing to handle, but after it was ready, she cut it into slices fairly thick, and removed the little hard core with a sharp knife. Mother told her she could leave the slices whole, or she could cut them into cubes. Adelaide said that she preferred cutting them into cubes.

The cup of sugar and two cups of water were measured into the saucepan, which she placed over the fire and let boil ten minutes, then the pineapple was dropped in and cooked until tender, or until you could pierce it easily with a silver fork.

As soon as it had cooked sufficiently, Adelaide filled the sterilized pint jar, first with the fruit, and then poured in the syrup so that it overflowed. Next she inserted a silver knife between the pineapple and the jar, to let the air bubbles rise to the top and break. The new rubber, which had been dipped in boiling water,[94] was placed around the top smoothly, then Adelaide sealed it quickly and stood the jar upside down out of the way of any draft.

In the morning she wiped all stickiness off the jar with a damp cloth, examined the jar carefully to be sure there were no leaks, pasted on the label and stored the canned fruit away in the preserve closet.

Another way that mother liked to put up pineapples is as follows:

Canned Pineapples No. 2

Adelaide, after removing the skin and eyes from the pineapple, cut it into quarters lengthwise and removed the cores. Then she weighed it, after which she put the pineapple through the meat chopper.

Into the saucepan she measured one-half its weight of sugar and added the chopped pineapple.

Placing the saucepan over the fire, Adelaide let the fruit and sugar come slowly to the boiling point, stirring frequently with the wooden spoon to keep from burning. After the boiling[95] point was reached, the fruit cooked slowly for twenty minutes, and Adelaide put it into the sterilized pint jar at once. The jar was filled to overflowing and a silver knife inserted between the fruit and the jar, to let all air bubbles rise to the top and break.

Next she placed a new rubber around the top smoothly, sealed it quickly and stood it upside down out of the way of any draft.

In the morning she examined the jar carefully to see that it did not leak, wiped off all stickiness with a damp cloth, pasted on the label and stored the finished product away in the preserve closet.

Mother often used pineapple put up in this manner for pineapple ice cream, or pineapple sherbet. It made a delicious dessert.

Canned Plums

The large blue plums, the green-gage plums, or the large red plums, were all put up in the same manner.

Adelaide wiped each plum thoroughly with a damp cloth, cut it in halves with a silver knife,[96] and removed the stone. Then she weighed them. To each pound of fruit Adelaide measured one cup of water and one cup of sugar. The plums and the water she placed in the saucepan over the fire and let them come slowly to the boiling point, while the sugar was heating at the back of the range in an earthenware dish.

Adelaide boiled the plums gently, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon, until they were tender or until you could pierce them with a silver fork easily. It usually took twenty minutes. The sugar was then ready to add to the fruit, and Adelaide stirred the mixture very carefully until it was all dissolved. As soon as the fruit boiled up Adelaide canned at once. She lifted each plum carefully with a silver fork into the sterilized pint jar, then poured in the juice till it overflowed. Inserting a silver knife between the fruit and the jar, Adelaide let the air bubbles come to the top and break. The new rubber, after being dipped in boiling water, was fitted on smoothly, then she sealed the jar quickly and stood it upside down out of the way of any draft.

In the morning, with a damp cloth she wiped off all stickiness from the outside of the jar, inspected it carefully to be sure that it did not[97] leak, pasted on the label and stored the jar away in the preserve closet.

Canned Rhubarb

If the rhubarb is pretty in color and young and tender, mother told Adelaide that she did not need to peel the stalks, but just wash and wipe them clean and cut them in small pieces with the little sharp knife. Then she weighed the fruit and allowed one-half pound of sugar to each pound of rhubarb. Both sugar and rhubarb were put in the saucepan and placed over the fire to come very slowly to the boiling point. Adelaide stirred constantly with a wooden spoon to prevent burning, and as soon as it had boiled fifteen minutes she poured it into the sterilized pint jar. The silver knife she inserted between the jar and the fruit, to let all air bubbles rise to the top and break. After the new rubber was dipped in boiling water and placed over the jar smoothly, Adelaide sealed it quickly, then stood the jar upside down out of the way of any draft. In the morning she inspected the jar carefully to be sure that there were no leaks, wiped off all stickiness with[98] a damp cloth, pasted on the label and stored the jar away in the preserve closet.

Sometimes mother canned rhubarb without sugar, so Adelaide tried a jar. Mother said the flavor was much better and it was not so juicy, also it was excellent for pies, shortcakes, etc., adding the sugar when you used it.

Canned Rhubarb (without sugar)

Adelaide washed and wiped each stalk thoroughly, then cut it into small pieces. These she put in the saucepan with a tablespoon of cold water to keep from burning, and stirred with a wooden spoon. She let the fruit heat very gradually and boiled slowly for fifteen minutes. It was then ready to can, and Adelaide poured the rhubarb into the sterilized pint jar at once, after which she inserted a silver knife between the jar and the fruit, to let all air bubbles rise to the top and break. Next came the new rubber, which she dipped in boiling water, placed over the top smoothly, then sealed quickly. Standing the jar upside down she stood it out of the way of any draft. In the[99] morning Adelaide examined the jar carefully to be sure that it did not leak, wiped off the outside with a damp cloth, pasted on the label and stored the jar away in the preserve closet.

Damson Plum Preserves

The Damson plums Adelaide wiped thoroughly, and pricked each one with a silver fork twice. Then she weighed the fruit. To each pound she measured three-quarters of a pound of sugar. To each pound of sugar Adelaide measured one cup of water. The sugar and water she put in the saucepan and placed over the fire. When the syrup boiled, Adelaide skimmed it and added the plums. The plums Adelaide cooked until they were tender, stirring them carefully with a wooden spoon so as not to break the fruit, then filled the sterilized pint jar to overflowing. A silver knife was inserted between the fruit and jar to let all air bubbles rise to the top and break. The new rubber was dipped in boiling water, placed over the top smoothly and the jar sealed quickly. This[100] Adelaide stood upside down out of the way of any draft. In the morning the jar was carefully examined to see that it did not leak, all stickiness was wiped off with a damp cloth, the label was pasted on, and then Adelaide stored the jar away in the preserve closet.

Preserved Currants

The currants Adelaide picked over carefully and put into the colander. This she placed in a pan of clear cold water and dipped up and down several times until quite clean. After they had drained well she weighed them, and to each pound of fruit she measured a pound of sugar. Half of the currants Adelaide put in the saucepan and placed on the fire to heat through. When they were thoroughly warmed she removed the saucepan from the fire and mashed the currants with the wooden potato masher, then she strained the juice through the jelly bag.

The juice and sugar Adelaide put into the saucepan and boiled gently for fifteen minutes, after which she added the other half of the currants.[101] It took the currants only five minutes to just cook through and they remained whole in the jelly.

This was poured into sterilized tumblers. When cold the tumblers were wiped free from all stickiness, and Adelaide sealed them by pouring melted paraffin over the top, shaking it gently from side to side to exclude all air. Pasting on the labels she stored them away in the preserve closet.

Preserved Currants and Raspberries

The currants and raspberries Adelaide picked over and kept separate. She did not forget to look carefully in the center of each raspberry to be sure that there were no little worms. After washing the currants, placing them in the colander and dipping it up and down several times in a pan of clear cold water she poured them into the saucepan and mashed them with the wooden potato masher. Adelaide washed the raspberries in the same manner, but stood them aside to drain while the currants were cooking.[102] The currants simmered slowly for half an hour (or until the currants looked white), and then the juice was strained through the jelly bag. Adelaide returned the juice to the saucepan, and added the sugar. (The currants and berries had been weighed after washing them, and to each pound of fruit she measured three-fourths of a pound of sugar.)

The juice and sugar boiled slowly for twenty minutes, then Adelaide poured in the raspberries carefully and cooked three minutes more.

Into the sterilized pint jar she skimmed the raspberries, then added the juice to overflowing. The silver knife was inserted between the jar and the fruit, to let all air bubbles rise to the top and break, the new rubber was placed on smoothly and Adelaide sealed the jar quickly. It was then placed upside down out of the way of any draft. In the morning the jar was carefully inspected for any leaks, wiped free from all stickiness with a damp cloth and the label pasted on. Adelaide then stored it away in the preserve closet.

Preserved Strawberries

[103]

Before hulling the strawberries, Adelaide put them into the colander and dipped it up and down several times in a pan of clear cold water to cleanse the berries thoroughly. After hulling the fruit she weighed it, and for each pound she weighed a pound of sugar.

The strawberries were put into the saucepan and the sugar sprinkled over them and they stood until the juice ran freely. Then the saucepan was placed on the fire and the fruit and sugar heated through. Adelaide stirred with the wooden spoon, being careful not to break the strawberries.

When the sugar was all dissolved and the berries thoroughly heated, Adelaide skimmed the berries out into a dish. The syrup then boiled for ten minutes slowly, after which the strawberries were dropped in carefully and boiled two minutes. Into the sterilized pint jar Adelaide skimmed all the berries, filled it to overflowing with the syrup, inserted a silver knife between the fruit and the jar to let all air bubbles rise to the top and break, placed on the new rubber smoothly, sealed the jar quickly and stood it upside down out of the way of any draft.

In the morning she examined the jar carefully[104] to see that it did not leak, wiped off all stickiness with a damp cloth, pasted on the label and stored the preserved berries away in the preserve closet.

Preserved Blackberries

After picking over the blackberries Adelaide placed them in the colander and dipped it up and down in a pan of clear cold water several times to remove all dust and dirt. After weighing the berries she poured them into a saucepan and sprinkled over them an equal weight of sugar. These stood for an hour before Adelaide put the saucepan over the fire and let the berries and sugar come slowly to the boiling point. Adelaide stirred them gently with a wooden spoon, being careful not to break the fruit.

When they boiled up she skimmed out the blackberries into a dish and the syrup cooked for five minutes.

Returning the blackberries to the syrup she put the saucepan at the back of the range and let the fruit slowly heat without stirring.[105] After they had stood fifteen minutes she poured the berries at once into the sterilized pint jar, filling it to overflowing. With a silver knife, which she inserted between the jar and the fruit, she let all air bubbles rise to the top and break. Placing a new rubber over the top smoothly she sealed quickly and stood the jar upside down out of the way of any draft. In the morning it was ready to be inspected carefully for any leaks, and she wiped off all stickiness with a damp cloth, pasted on the label and stored the fruit away in the preserve closet.

Preserved Cherries

Adelaide washed the cherries in the colander, which she dipped up and down several times in a pan of clear cold water. She took off the stems and removed the stones, weighed the cherries and added a pound of sugar to each pound of fruit. Then she let them stand over night, and the next morning put them into the saucepan to cook slowly until clear and tender, stirring carefully with a wooden spoon so as not to break the fruit.

When they were done Adelaide picked out the[106] cherries first with the skimmer and dropped them into the sterilized pint jar, then she filled it to overflowing with the syrup, inserted a silver knife between the fruit and the jar to let all air bubbles rise to the top and break, placed on a new rubber smoothly, sealed quickly and stood the jar upside down out of the way of any draft.

In the morning she inspected the jar carefully to be sure that it did not leak, wiped off all stickiness with a damp cloth, pasted on the label and stored the jar away in the preserve closet.

"Mother," said Adelaide one morning, "it is not nearly as discouraging to preserve as it is to just plain cook."

"Why, what do you mean, dear?" answered mother.

"Well, I've been thinking how quickly we eat up things you cook for us every day, while my jams and jellies are still in the preserve closet," mused Adelaide.

"Just wait until next winter, young lady, then you'll see how quickly they will disappear," laughed mother.

[107]

CHAPTER V
CONSERVES

When Adelaide came to "conserves," mother told her she had only a very few recipes, but that what they lacked in numbers they made up for in quality.

"Have you the recipe for 'Peach conserve'?" asked Adelaide anxiously.

"Oh, yes, dear, that is our favorite, and I don't know how many people have asked me how to make it. I couldn't possibly keep house without it," answered mother.

Conserves, mother explained to Adelaide, were very similar to jams, with the addition of lemon or orange juice, raisins and nuts.

Rhubarb Conserve

[108]

Mother picked out the pinkest, prettiest rhubarb she could find, then Adelaide washed and wiped each stalk and cut it into small pieces. When she had filled the cup with rhubarb twice she put it into the saucepan and poured over it two cups of sugar and a dessert spoon of lemon juice.

Adelaide next measured out a fourth of a pound of seedless raisins. Upon these she poured boiling water which stood a minute or two, then she drained them. After looking them over carefully to remove any stems, she added them to the rhubarb, sugar, etc. Twelve or fourteen large walnuts were sufficient to crack. The meats Adelaide put through the meat chopper and added to the rest of the good things.

After standing three hours the saucepan was placed on the fire and the conserve came slowly to the boiling point. Adelaide stirred the mixture frequently with a wooden spoon while it boiled for twenty minutes. It was then ready to pour into the sterilized tumblers.

When the conserve was cold, Adelaide wiped around the top and the outside of each tumbler with a damp cloth, poured melted paraffin over the top (which she shook gently from side[109] to side to exclude all air), pasted on the labels and stored the glasses away in the preserve closet.

Apricot Conserve

Adelaide wiped the apricots thoroughly with a damp cloth, then cut them in halves with a silver knife and removed the stones. These she placed in a saucepan, poured over them two cups of sugar, a dessert spoon each of lemon and orange juice, and the grated rind of half a lemon and half an orange. Next she measured out a fourth of a pound of seedless raisins and covered them with boiling water for a few minutes, after which she drained them and picked off any stems. Twelve or fourteen large walnuts were sufficient to crack, and the walnut meats and the raisins Adelaide put through[110] the meat chopper, then added these to the fruit in the saucepan.

Placing the saucepan over the fire she heated it through slowly and let the fruit boil for forty minutes. Adelaide stirred the contents of the saucepan constantly with a wooden spoon, and when it was done, poured it at once into the sterilized tumblers.

As soon as it was cool she wiped the tops and outsides with a damp cloth, poured melted paraffin over the conserve, shaking the tumblers from side to side to exclude all air, pasted on the labels and stored the jars away in the preserve closet.

Peach Conserve

To remove the skins from the peaches easily, Adelaide poured boiling water over them. Letting them stand for a minute or two, she then peeled off the skins with a silver knife and sliced the peaches into small pieces, throwing away the stones. Placing the peaches into a saucepan[111] she added two cups of sugar. After weighing out one-fourth of a pound of seedless raisins she covered them with boiling water for about a minute, drained, and picked off any stems. The walnuts (twelve or fourteen large ones) she cracked and put with the raisins.

The rind of the orange she grated over the sugar and peaches, and then, after removing the seeds, Adelaide put the pulp of the orange, the raisins and the nuts through the meat chopper.

When everything was in the saucepan together, Adelaide placed it over the fire and let it come slowly to the boiling point, and then cook gently for an hour. Adelaide stirred frequently with a wooden spoon to prevent burning, and when the conserve had cooked sufficiently she poured it into the sterilized tumblers.

As soon as it was cold, she wiped around the top and outside of each tumbler with a damp cloth, poured melted paraffin over the conserve (shaking it gently from side to side to exclude all air), pasted on the labels and stored the glasses away in the preserve closet.

Plum Conserve

After washing and wiping the plums thoroughly, Adelaide cut them in halves with a silver knife, and removed the stones. Placing them in the saucepan she poured two cups of sugar and the grated rind of half an orange over them. Twelve or fourteen large walnuts were cracked and the meats taken out. Over the quarter of a pound of raisins (which she weighed) Adelaide poured boiling water. These stood thus for about a minute, then she drained off the water and picked out the stems.

The raisins, the walnut meats, and the pulp of the half orange Adelaide put through the meat chopper and added to the plums, etc. in the saucepan. Placing the saucepan over the fire she let the contents come slowly to the boiling point, stirring it occasionally with the wooden spoon. It cooked gently for one hour, and then Adelaide poured the conserve at once into the sterilized tumblers.

When it was cold the tops and outsides were wiped off carefully with a damp cloth, melted paraffin was poured over the top and shaken gently from side to side to exclude all air, the[113] labels were pasted on and then the conserve was stored away in the preserve closet.

The green-gage plums and the large red plums would make an equally delicious conserve, mother said, and she thought it would be nice to substitute figs sometimes in place of raisins. As the foregoing recipes were all she had, mother told Adelaide that it was just as well to leave further experimenting until another year. Adelaide was very willing, as she was eager to try "Spiced Fruits."

[114]

CHAPTER VI
SPICED FRUITS

"When you were a tiny little baby," said mother, "I had a young girl living with me who taught me how to put up Spiced Currants. She had lived in the country, and her favorite aunt was renowned for her tempting preserves."

"Oh, mother," interrupted Adelaide, "do you think I could ever become renowned, or whatever you called it?"

"I think there is no reason why you shouldn't, if you continue to do as good work in the future as you have thus far. Every year you will become more expert, and find out many new combinations that especially suit your taste and appeal to others," answered mother. "All spiced fruits," she continued, "are particularly tasty when served with cold meats."

Spiced Currants

Adelaide picked over the currants and removed the stems. Putting the currants into the colander, she dipped it up and down several times in a pan of clear cold water, then set it aside to drain. Into the saucepan she poured the currants, added one pound of sugar, a half a cup of vinegar, and a teaspoon each of cloves and cinnamon.

Placing the saucepan over the fire, she let the currants heat through gradually, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon, and when thoroughly scalded she lifted out the currants with a skimmer.

Adelaide boiled the juice until it thickened, then added the currants again and let them just boil up. They were then ready to put into the sterilized pint jar, so Adelaide filled it to overflowing. Next she inserted a silver knife between the jar and the fruit, to let all air bubbles rise to the top and break, placed a new rubber on the jar smoothly, sealed quickly and stood upside down out of the way of any draft.

In the morning the jar was examined carefully to be sure it did not leak, all stickiness was[116] wiped off with a damp cloth from the outside, then the label was pasted on and Adelaide stored the jar away in the preserve closet.

Spiced Cherries

Adelaide stemmed the cherries and washed them in the colander by dipping it up and down several times in a pan of clear cold water, after which she stoned them. Into a saucepan she measured one-half a cup of vinegar. To this she added a third of an ounce each of whole cloves and cinnamon tied up in a muslin bag. The vinegar and spices Adelaide let boil gently for fifteen minutes, then she added one pound of sugar and boiled the mixture ten minutes longer, stirring constantly with the wooden spoon and skimming well. At the end of the ten minutes Adelaide dropped in the cherries and cooked the fruit gently for one-half hour. Lifting out the cherries with a skimmer, she put them into the sterilized pint jar, added the juice to overflowing, and inserted a silver knife[117] between the jar and the fruit to let all air bubbles rise to the top and break. Then she placed on a new rubber and sealed quickly, standing the jar upside down out of the way of any draft.

The next morning, after carefully inspecting the jar for any possible leaks, Adelaide wiped off all stickiness from the outside with a damp cloth, pasted on the label and stored the jar away in the preserve closet.

Spiced Gooseberries

From the gooseberries Adelaide removed the tops, then washed them in the colander, which she placed in a pan of clear cold water and dipped up and down several times. While these drained, Adelaide measured the half cup of vinegar and one and one-fourth pounds of sugar into the saucepan. Placing the saucepan[118] on the fire she brought the sugar and vinegar to the boiling point, added the gooseberries, then removed the saucepan from the fire.

The small piece of green ginger root she cut into small pieces, the six whole cloves, the three whole allspice, the bay leaf, the blade of mace, and the piece of stick cinnamon were tied in a small piece of muslin and added to the contents of the saucepan. Covering the saucepan, it was placed aside over night.

The next day Adelaide brought the fruit quickly to the boiling point and cooked the gooseberries gently until they were tender but not broken. When they were done, she carefully skimmed out the gooseberries and placed them into the sterilized pint jar, then filled it to overflowing with the syrup. Between the jar and the fruit Adelaide inserted a silver knife, to allow all air bubbles to rise to the top and break. The new rubber was placed on smoothly, and she sealed the jar quickly, standing it upside down out of the way of any draft.

In the morning the jar was carefully wiped with a damp cloth to remove all stickiness and examined for any possible leaks. Next Adelaide pasted on the label and stored the spiced gooseberries away in the preserve closet.

[119]

Spiced Pears

Mother said she found that when she put up "spiced pears" the year before that it took fifteen pears of medium size to fill a quart jar, so she told Adelaide to prepare eight pears. Adelaide washed, wiped, pared, quartered and removed the core from each pear.

The cup of sugar, half cup each of water and vinegar, cinnamon stick and whole cloves were put into the saucepan and placed over the fire, then the teaspoon of mixed ground spices was also added; the latter were tied in a small piece of muslin.

These Adelaide let boil for five minutes, after which she skimmed the syrup and added the pears. It was necessary to boil the pears very gently for thirty-five minutes, stirring them frequently with the wooden spoon, but carefully so as not to break the fruit. When they were[120] done Adelaide lifted the pears out carefully with a silver fork into the sterilized pint jar, and poured in the syrup to overflowing.

With a silver knife, which she inserted between the fruit and jar, she let all air bubbles rise to the top and break, then fitted on a new rubber smoothly, sealed the jar quickly and stood it upside down out of the way of any draft. In the morning, after examining the jar carefully to see that it did not leak, Adelaide wiped off all stickiness with a damp cloth, pasted on the label and stored the jar away in the preserve closet.

Spiced Peaches

Adelaide put the pound of brown sugar and the cup of vinegar into the saucepan and added the ground spices (clove, cinnamon, and allspice) tied up in a small piece of muslin. The[121] saucepan she placed over the fire and let the contents boil gently for ten minutes.

While the syrup was boiling, Adelaide poured boiling water over the peaches, and after they had stood a minute she peeled them with a silver knife. Adelaide left the peaches whole, and stuck four or five cloves in each peach.

As soon as the syrup had cooked sufficiently she dropped the peaches in it and cooked them until they could be pierced easily with a silver fork.

The twelve peaches were enough to fill two pint jars. Adelaide lifted the peaches out carefully with the silver fork and placed them in the sterilized jars. Then she filled the jars to overflowing with the syrup. With a silver knife, which she inserted between the fruit and the jar, Adelaide let all air bubbles rise to the top and break. Next, new rubbers were fitted on smoothly and the jars sealed quickly, after which she stood them upside down out of the way of any draft. In the morning the stickiness was wiped from each jar with a damp cloth, they were carefully inspected to be sure there were no leaks, then Adelaide pasted on the labels and stored the jars away in the preserve closet.

[122]

Spiced Watermelon Rind

One day when watermelons were in their prime Adelaide's mother bought a part of one for dessert. She told Adelaide to save all the rind and the next day she would show her how to make another tasty relish to be eaten with cold meats.

In the morning Adelaide pared the rind neatly and cut it into many attractive shapes. The saucepan had been previously placed over the fire, containing the pound of sugar, the cup of vinegar, the piece of ginger root, the whole mace and the bay leaves. The ground spices, one-half teaspoon each of cinnamon and allspice, and the one-third teaspoon of cloves, were tied in a small piece of muslin and added to the syrup. When the syrup reached the boiling[123] point Adelaide dropped in the watermelon rind, and it was cooked slowly until perfectly tender. Then Adelaide lifted out the rind very carefully with a silver fork into a dish, covered, and stood it away over night. The saucepan was removed from the fire and placed aside to cool. Next morning, Adelaide let the syrup again come to the boiling point, and added the rind. She watched carefully, and when it came to the boiling point a second time she lifted the rind carefully with a silver fork into the sterilized jar. The syrup she poured in until it overflowed.

Inserting a silver knife between the jar and the rind Adelaide let all air bubbles rise to the top and break, then fitted the new rubber on smoothly, sealed quickly and stood the jar upside down out of the way of any draft.

In the morning Adelaide wiped off all stickiness from the outside of the jar, examined it carefully to be sure it did not leak, pasted on the label and stored it away in the preserve closet.

Spiced Grapes

Adelaide picked over and washed the grapes by placing them in the colander and dipping it up and down several times in a pan of clear cold water. After draining thoroughly she removed the skins and placed them in a dish which she stood aside. The pulps were put into the saucepan and cooked slowly until the seeds could be removed by pressing the grapes through a strainer.

The strained pulp, the skins, the pound of sugar, the fourth of a cup of vinegar, and the teaspoon each of ground cinnamon and cloves (the spices were tied in a piece of muslin) were all put in the saucepan together and cooked until thick. Adelaide then filled the sterilized jar with the fruit, inserted a silver knife between the grapes and the jar to let the air bubbles rise to the top and break, fitted on a new rubber smoothly, sealed the jar quickly and stood it upside down out of the way of any draft. In the morning she inspected the jar carefully to be sure that it did not leak, wiped off all stickiness with a damp cloth, pasted on the label and stored the jar away in the preserve closet.

[125]

Spiced Blackberries

Adelaide put the pound of sugar, the half cup of vinegar, and the teaspoon each of ground cinnamon and cloves (the spices she tied in a piece of muslin) into the saucepan over the fire.

While the syrup was coming slowly to the boiling point Adelaide picked over and washed the blackberries by placing them in the colander, which she dipped up and down several times in a pan of clear cold water. After the blackberries had drained well and the syrup had come to the boiling point Adelaide added the blackberries. These she let boil gently for fifteen minutes, when she skimmed out the blackberries and dropped them carefully into the sterilized pint jar. Next she filled the jar to overflowing with the syrup, inserted a silver knife between the fruit and the jar to let all air bubbles rise to the top and break, fitted on a new rubber smoothly, sealed the jar quickly, and stood it upside down out of the way of any draft.

[126]

In the morning Adelaide inspected the jar carefully to see that it did not leak, wiped off all stickiness from the outside with a damp cloth, pasted on the label and stored the jar away in the preserve closet.

"Perhaps," said mother, "you may like to try other fruits another year, preserved in vinegar and sugar with spices, but I think for the present the ones I have given you will do."

"Yes, I think so too," replied Adelaide.

[127]

CHAPTER VII
PICKLES

Adelaide had never been allowed to eat many pickles, because mother did not approve of them for growing children, but an occasional sample had made Adelaide look forward to the time when she could have the same privilege as "grown ups," to eat anything she liked. The thought of preparing the pickles seemed to Adelaide the next best thing to eating them.

"I hope when I put up 'pickled onions' I don't cry," laughed Adelaide. "I can just remember grandma peeling a great big pan of onions and the tears rolling down her cheeks."

"Well, Adelaide," said mother, "if you will peel your onions under running water you won't need to waste any of your tears over them."

Mother said she would start Adelaide with the small pickled beets, as they were not only a general favorite, but exceedingly attractive to look at.

[128]

The vinegar used was the very best cider vinegar, as it did not pay to use any other kind.

Pickled Beets

Mother ordered her beets from a market gardener and he brought them to her fresh. Mother always asked for the very, very small ones.

Adelaide cooked the beets until she could pierce them easily with a silver fork, plunged them into cold water, peeled and filled two sterilized pint jars. The half cup of vinegar, the fourth cup of sugar, and the cup of water, were put in a saucepan. Adelaide placed it over the fire and let it come to the boiling point.

After boiling the mixture for two minutes, Adelaide filled the jars to overflowing with the syrup. Inserting a silver knife between the beets and the jar she let all air bubbles rise to the top and break. To fit on a new rubber smoothly, seal the jar quickly and stand it upside[129] down out of the way of any draft, was the work of but a moment.

The next morning Adelaide wiped the outside of the jar with a damp cloth, examined it carefully to see that it did not leak, pasted on the label and stored the jar in the preserve closet.

Pickled Onions No. 1

This recipe was one that had been given to Adelaide's mother by a dear old friend. The onions were just the common variety but very small, not much larger than a good sized cherry.

Adelaide poured boiling water on the onions, as it made them easier to peel, then she let the cold water run into the pan all the time she was peeling them. This was to prevent her wasting precious tears. The little sharp knife was the best one to use.

A quart of onions does not sound very big, but before Adelaide finished peeling them she[130] thought she would never come to the end, there seemed so many.

Into a large saucepan she measured two quarts of cold water and one-half a cup of salt, then added the onions.

These stood for twenty-four hours, covered, after which she poured off the brine (mother explained to Adelaide that that was what they called the salt and water) and rinsed them by pouring clear cold water on them.

After draining the onions well in the colander, she filled two sterilized pint jars with the onions.

The cup of vinegar and fourth of a package of whole mixed spices (the package was the size that sold for ten cents before the war) were put in a saucepan and simmered slowly on the fire for one hour, after which Adelaide divided the vinegar and spices equally between the two jars and filled them to overflowing with cold vinegar.

She inserted a silver knife between the onions and the jars to let the air bubbles rise and break, fitted on a new rubber smoothly, sealed quickly and stood the jars upside down over night.

In the morning she wiped the jars thoroughly with a damp cloth, inspected them carefully to be sure that they did not leak, pasted on the[131] labels and stored the jars away in the preserve closet.

Mother said these would need to stand a month before they would be ready to be eaten.

Pickled Onions No. 2

The onions used in this recipe were what are called the "silver skins" or little white button onions.

After Adelaide poured boiling water on the onions, so that she could peel them more easily, she let the cold water run in the pan and peeled the onions (with the little sharp knife) under running water to prevent the tears from falling.

The onions she placed in a stone jar and poured over a brine made of two quarts of boiling water and one-half of a cup of salt.

These she covered and let stand over night.

The next morning Adelaide emptied the[132] onions into the colander, draining off the brine and rinsing them in clear cold water.

Into a saucepan she poured enough vinegar to cover the onions, added the dozen whole cloves, the blade of mace and the bay leaf and let them come slowly to the boiling point. Then she added the onions and moved the saucepan towards the back of the range to let it stand for fifteen minutes.

At the end of that time Adelaide filled the two sterilized pint jars with the onions, poured over the hot vinegar and spices to overflowing, inserted a silver knife between the onions and the jar to let all air bubbles rise to the top and break, fitted on the new rubbers smoothly, sealed the jars quickly, then stood them upside down over night.

In the morning they were inspected carefully for any leaks, wiped off thoroughly with a damp cloth and after the labels were pasted on, stored away in the preserve closet.

Chili Sauce

Over the tomatoes and onions Adelaide poured boiling water, then peeled them.

The red pepper she washed and wiped, cut in halves, and removed the seeds. Through the meat chopper she put the tomatoes, onions, and pepper, then emptied them into a saucepan.

To these Adelaide added the tablespoon of salt, the one and one-half teaspoons of ground mixed spices, the half teaspoon of ground ginger, the pound of brown sugar and the one and one-half cups of vinegar.

Placing the saucepan over the fire she let the contents come slowly to the boiling point, stirring occasionally with the wooden spoon, and stewed the mixture gently for one-half hour.

It was then ready to pour into the sterilized pint jars. These she filled to overflowing, inserted a silver knife around the sides to let all air bubbles rise to the top and break, fitted on the new rubbers, sealed quickly and stood upside down out of the way of any draft.

[134]

In the morning Adelaide looked the jars over carefully to be sure they did not leak, wiped the outside thoroughly with a damp cloth, pasted on the labels, then stored the jars away in the preserve closet.

Adelaide found that nearly everybody enjoyed this "Chili Sauce" on Saturday night with their beans.

Piccalilli was another general favorite, and the recipe came from a friend who had experimented with it a number of years so that now she considered the flavor exactly right.

Piccalilli

Adelaide washed and wiped the tomatoes and peeled the onions. From the half of the green pepper she removed the seeds.

Using an earthenware bowl Adelaide sliced[135] the tomatoes, onions and half pepper, and arranged them in layers. Over each layer she sprinkled salt (she was careful not to sprinkle too much), then covered the bowl and let it stand over night.

In the morning she drained off the water and emptied the contents of the bowl into the saucepan. Adelaide partly covered the tomatoes, onions and half pepper with vinegar and added sufficient cold water to just come to the top. Then she added the fourth of a pound of brown sugar and the fourth of a teaspoon of mixed ground spices.

The saucepan was placed over the fire and the ingredients Adelaide let boil for fifteen minutes.

At the end of that time she filled the sterilized pint jars to overflowing, inserted a silver knife to let all air bubbles rise to the top and break, fitted on the new rubbers smoothly, sealed the jars quickly and stood them upside down out of the way of any draft.

The next morning, after examining the jars to be sure they did not leak, Adelaide wiped off the outsides with a damp cloth, pasted on the labels and stored the jars away in the preserve closet.

[136]

The young lady who gave this recipe to mother was a graduate of the college that leads in the teaching of domestic science and was herself a teacher at the time. Mother said it was a nice change to eat with cold meats, only Adelaide must be sure not to make the mistake she did when she (mother) first made it.

"What was that?" asked Adelaide.

"Well, dear, I forgot to remove the seeds from the peppers, and we nearly burned our mouths, it was so hot," mother smilingly replied.

Washing and wiping the peppers Adelaide cut them in halves and removed every seed.

She peeled the onions, then put the peppers and onions through the meat chopper.

Placing these in a saucepan, she covered them with boiling water and they stood for ten minutes before putting over the fire.

[137]

They boiled for three minutes and then Adelaide drained them in the wire strainer until they were very dry.

Returning to the saucepan, she added the tablespoon of salt, the cup of sugar and the pint of vinegar.

After boiling all the ingredients together for twenty minutes Adelaide filled the sterilized pint jars to overflowing, inserted a silver knife to let all air bubbles rise to the top and break, fitted on new rubbers smoothly, sealed the jars quickly and stood them upside down out of the way of any draft.

In the morning she looked the jars over carefully to be sure that they did not leak, wiped off the outsides with a damp cloth, pasted on the labels and stored the final results of her labor away in the preserve closet.

Mustard Pickles No. 1

Each tiny cucumber was washed and wiped and placed in the saucepan. Adelaide covered the onions with boiling water for a few minutes, then let the cold water run into the pan while she peeled them—if you peel onions under running water you will not cry. These she added to the cucumbers.

The cauliflower Adelaide stood in a pan of cold water, to which she had added a handful of salt (this mother explained was to draw out any worms if there were any). Then she separated the cauliflower into small flowers, cutting off the thick stalk, and added to the cucumbers and onions.

The green pepper was washed and wiped, cut in halves and the seeds removed. It was then put through the meat chopper and added to the other vegetables.

Adelaide made a brine of one quart of water and one-half of a cup of salt. This she poured over the mixture of vegetables, covered and stood for twenty-four hours.

At the end of that time she placed the saucepan[139] over the fire and let the contents heat through, then turned them into the colander to drain.

Mixing together the one-fourth cup of flour, the one and one-half tablespoons of ground English mustard, and the one-fourth tablespoon of turmeric powder with enough cold vinegar to make a smooth paste, Adelaide added one-fourth of a cup of sugar and sufficient vinegar to make one and one-fourth pints in all.

This mixture she boiled until it thickened and was smooth, stirring constantly with the wooden spoon, then added the vegetables and cooked until they were well heated throughout.

Filling the sterilized pint jars to overflowing, Adelaide inserted the silver knife to let all air bubbles rise to the top and break, fitted on the new rubbers smoothly, sealed the jars quickly and stood them upside down out of the way of any draft.

In the morning the jars were carefully inspected to be sure that they did not leak, the outsides were wiped off with a damp cloth, then Adelaide pasted on the labels and stored the pickles away in the preserve closet.

[140]

Mustard Pickles No. 2

"You just wait, my dear, until Daddy finds out you have put up this special recipe of 'Mustard Pickles' and you'll have to hide them under lock and key, if you wish to keep any," said mother.

"But I shan't tell him," laughed Adelaide.

"I'll put them away and then surprise him next winter; perhaps I'll give him a jar for a Christmas present."

So Adelaide smiled away to herself as she busily prepared the vegetables.

[141]

The tiny cucumbers were washed and wiped carefully and placed in a large earthenware bowl. The cauliflower was placed in a pan of cold water to which had been added a handful of salt (this was to draw out any insects or little worms that might be there), it was pulled apart into small flowers, cutting off the thick stalk, then added to the cucumbers. The celery was thoroughly washed, the leaves and tough outside stalks removed, the sticks cut into small pieces about an inch long and added to the cucumbers and cauliflower. The red and green peppers were washed and wiped and the seeds removed, then Adelaide put them through the meat chopper and used the seeds of one-eighth of one pepper. These were placed in the bowl and mixed with the other vegetables.

Over the little button onions or silver skins, Adelaide poured boiling water, then removed the skins under running water (to prevent her from crying) and poured them into the bowl.

After a brine of two and one-half quarts of cold water and a cup and a quarter of salt was made, it was poured over the vegetables and stood over night.

In the morning the vegetables were well drained in the colander and one and three-fourths[142] quarts of vinegar was brought to the boiling point.

Adding the pickles, Adelaide let them cook until they were perfectly tender, next she added one and one-fourth cups of sugar and two teaspoons of celery seed.

Mixing together one-fourth of a pound of English mustard, one-fourth of an ounce of turmeric powder and three-eighths of a cup of flour with one cup of vinegar (added gradually so that it made a smooth paste) Adelaide poured this over the pickles and stirred with the wooden spoon until it just thickened.

The sterilized jars were filled at once to overflowing, the silver knife inserted to let all air bubbles rise to the top and break, and the new rubbers fitted on smoothly. Sealing them quickly, Adelaide stood the jars upside down out of the way of any draft.

The next morning, after carefully inspecting each jar to see that it did not leak, she wiped off the outsides with a damp cloth, pasted on the labels and stored away in the preserve closet.

Ripe Cucumber Pickles

Adelaide washed and wiped the cucumbers, cut them in quarters lengthwise and each quarter in halves. These she weighed, then placed in an earthenware bowl and covered with a weak brine made of one quart of cold water and one tablespoon of salt.

After allowing them to stand for twelve hours, she rinsed the cucumbers thoroughly in several waters, then steamed them for twenty minutes. Putting the two-thirds of a cup of vinegar, the two cups of sugar, the teaspoon of whole cloves and the stick of cinnamon (broken in small pieces) into a saucepan, Adelaide boiled them for five minutes; adding the cucumbers she let them simmer for twenty minutes.

Removing the saucepan, she covered it and stood it away until the next day, when she lifted out the cucumbers with a silver fork and placed them in the sterilized pint jars. The syrup she boiled for five minutes, then poured at once into the jars so that it overflowed. Next she inserted the silver knife to let all air bubbles rise[144] to the top and break, fitted on the new rubbers smoothly, sealed quickly and stood upside down out of the way of any draft.

In the morning the jars were inspected carefully to see that they did not leak, the outsides were wiped clean with a damp cloth, the labels were pasted on and then Adelaide stored the jars away in the preserve closet.

Chopped Pickles

After washing and wiping the tomatoes, and peeling the onion, Adelaide put them through the meat chopper. The green pepper was also washed and wiped and put through the meat chopper when she had removed the seeds.

Placing these in an earthenware bowl, Adelaide[145] sprinkled a tablespoon of salt over them, covered them, stood them aside for twenty-four hours and then drained them.

The cup of vinegar, the one-fourth teaspoon of pepper, the scant half teaspoon of ground mustard, the one-half teaspoon each of ground cinnamon, allspice, and cloves, and the one and one-half teaspoons of white mustard seed were placed in a saucepan and heated to the boiling point, after which Adelaide added the tomatoes, onion, and pepper, cooking them slowly for fifteen minutes.

She next filled the sterilized pint jar to overflowing, inserted a silver knife to let all air bubbles rise to the top and break, fitted a new rubber on smoothly, sealed the jar quickly and stood it upside down out of the way of any draft.

In the morning Adelaide examined the jar carefully to be sure that it did not leak, wiped the outside with a damp cloth, pasted on the label and stored the jar away in the preserve closet.

Chow Chow

When Adelaide had washed and wiped the tomatoes she cut them into quarters.

The small button onions she peeled under running water. The tiny cucumbers were washed and wiped, then cut in halves. The cauliflower was placed in a pan of cold water. She added one tablespoon of salt (this drew out any insects or small worms that might be there), then she broke off twelve small pieces. The two white stalks of celery she washed and cut into inch pieces. The string beans were washed, wiped, the strings removed and each bean cut into small pieces.

All these Adelaide placed in a large earthenware bowl and sprinkled a tablespoon of salt over the vegetables, letting them stand over night, then draining them.

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The one-half ounce of mustard seed, the one-fourth ounce of turmeric powder, the teaspoon each of allspice, pepper, and clove and the two cups of vinegar Adelaide put in the saucepan and brought to the boiling point. After which, she added the vegetables and cooked until tender.

The sterilized pint jars were filled to overflowing, the silver knife inserted to let all air bubbles rise to the top and break, the new rubbers were fitted on smoothly, and the jars sealed quickly. Then Adelaide stood them upside down out of the way of any draft.

In the morning Adelaide examined the jars to be sure that they did not leak, wiped off the outsides with a damp cloth, pasted on the labels and stored her work away in the preserve closet.

Pickled Red Cabbage

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Adelaide stood the cabbage in a pan of cold water containing one tablespoon of salt. This was to draw out any insects or worms that are sometimes found among the leaves. After draining the cabbage she cut it into fine strips.

The red pepper she wiped, removed the seed, and cut into small pieces. This with the one-half tablespoon of celery seed, the tablespoon of mustard seed, the one-half teaspoon of salt, the one-fourth teaspoon of pepper, and the cup of vinegar Adelaide put into a saucepan and brought to the boiling point.

Packing the cabbage into a sterilized jar, Adelaide poured over the vinegar, mustard and celery seeds as soon as they were cold.

The air bubbles were forced to the top and broken by inserting a silver knife in the jar, a new rubber was fitted on, then Adelaide sealed the jar quickly and stood it upside down over night.

Next morning, after examining it carefully to see that it did not leak, she wiped the jar on the outside with a damp cloth, pasted on the label and stored the pickled cabbage away in the preserve closet.

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Cucumber Pickles

Adelaide measured enough of the tiny cucumbers to fill a pint jar, washed and wiped them, then placed them in an earthenware bowl. These she covered with one quart of water and one-fourth of a cup of salt and let them stand twenty-four hours.

At the end of this time Adelaide took out the cucumbers, wiped each one, and placed them in the sterilized pint jar. Measuring enough vinegar to fill the jar, Adelaide poured it into a saucepan, then added one slice of onion, a teaspoon of whole cloves, one-half ounce of mustard seed, three blades of mace and one-half cup of grated horseradish.

As soon as the vinegar boiled Adelaide poured it over the cucumbers at once. Next she inserted[150] a silver knife in the jar to force all air bubbles to the top, fitted on a new rubber, sealed quickly, then stood the jar upside down over night.

In the morning the jar was carefully inspected to be sure it did not leak, the outside was wiped off with a damp cloth, then Adelaide pasted on the label and stored the outcome of her work away in the preserve closet.

Plum Tomato Pickles

First Adelaide measured out the cup of vinegar, the pound of sugar and the teaspoon each of cloves and cinnamon into a saucepan. While these were boiling for five minutes, Adelaide washed and wiped the tomatoes.

Dropping them carefully into the syrup, Adelaide let the tomatoes simmer gently until they could be pierced easily with a silver fork. Taking care not to break the fruit, she lifted the tomatoes into the sterilized jar and poured[151] on the syrup to overflowing. After inserting a silver knife between the jar and the fruit to let all air bubbles rise to the top and break, Adelaide fitted on a new rubber smoothly, sealed the jar quickly and stood it upside down out of the way of any draft.

The next morning she inspected the jar carefully to be sure it did not leak, wiped off the outside with a damp cloth, pasted on the label and stored the jar away in the preserve closet.

Tomato Catsup

Adelaide placed several large tomatoes in a pan and covered them with boiling water. It was then easy, she found, to remove the skins. After cutting them into quarters, she put the tomatoes into a saucepan and let them just come to the boiling point. Removing the saucepan from the fire, Adelaide poured the tomatoes[152] into the colander, pressed them through, and then pressed them again through a sieve.

To one pint of pressed tomatoes Adelaide added one-fourth of a cup of vinegar, one and one-half teaspoons of salt, three-fourths of a teaspoon of black pepper, one-eighth of a teaspoon of cayenne pepper, three-fourths of a teaspoon of dry mustard, and one-fourth of a cup of brown sugar.

Adelaide boiled these ingredients together until they thickened, then poured them into bottles. She filled the bottles clear to the top allowing just enough room for the cork, which she pressed in tightly, then dipped the top of the bottle into melted paraffin. After putting on the label, Adelaide stored the jar away in the preserve closet.

"Mother," said Adelaide one morning, "how do you put up tomatoes? I mean ones like those you use for tomato bisque and scalloped tomatoes?"

"There is nothing simpler, my dear, and as soon as those big beauties on Daddy's tomato plants are ripe enough you shall have them for your own," answered mother.

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Tomatoes

Adelaide watched those tomatoes every day, and as soon as they were sufficiently ripe she picked them.

Placing the tomatoes in a pan, she covered them with boiling water for about a minute, drained off the water, peeled them and cut them into quarters. Adelaide let these come just to the boiling point, then she filled the sterilized pint jars at once. In filling the jars Adelaide was careful not to let any of the little seeds of the tomatoes remain on the rubber as they might prevent the jar from being perfectly air-tight.

As usual, Adelaide inserted the silver knife in the jar to let all air bubbles rise to the top and break, fitted on new rubbers smoothly, sealed the jar quickly and let it stand upside down out of the way of any draft.

The next morning Adelaide examined the jar thoroughly to be sure it did not leak, wiped off the outside with a damp cloth, pasted on the label, then stored the jar away in the preserve closet.

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CHAPTER VIII
CANNING THE GOVERNMENT
WAY

Early in the summer a friend who was doing government extension work in one of our New England states sent Adelaide a book on "Home Canning" that the government had published.

Adelaide was much pleased and she and mother pored over it eagerly. Mother picked out the "Single Period Cold-Pack" method as being the simplest and best for a little girl.

This is what the government says—

"By the 'Single Period Cold-Pack' method it is as easy to can vegetables as to can fruits. The prepared vegetables or fruits are blanched in boiling water or live steam, then quickly cold-dipped and packed at once into hot jars and sterilized in boiling water or by steam pressure. The jars are then sealed, tested for leaks and stored."

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The Single Period Cold-Pack method is a simple and sure way of canning. It insures a good color, texture and flavor to the vegetable or fruit canned. In using this method sterilization is completed in a single period, saving time, fuel and labor. The simplicity of the method commends it. Fruits are put up in syrups. Vegetables require only salt for flavoring and water to fill the container.

Another advantage is that it is practicable to put up food in small as well as large quantities.

Single Period Cold-Pack Equipment

The Homemade Outfit.—A serviceable Single Period Cold-Pack canning outfit may be made of equipment found in almost any household. Any utensil large and deep enough to allow an inch of water above jars, and having a closely fitting cover, may be used for sterilizing. Into this utensil should be placed a wire or wooden rack to hold the jars off the bottom and to permit circulation of water underneath the jars. For lifting glass top jars use two buttonhooks or a similar device. For lifting screw-top jars, suitable lifters may be bought for a small sum.

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Containers

For home use glass jars are more satisfactory for canning. Glass jars properly cared for will last for years. All types of jars which seal readily may be used. Jars having glass tops held in place by bails are especially easy to handle while they are hot.

Tops for Economy jars must be purchased new each year.

Small necked bottles can be used for holding fruit juices. Large mouthed bottles can be used for jams, marmalades and jellies.

Tests for Jars and Rubbers

Jars should be tested before they are used. Some of the important tests are here given:

Glass-top Jars.—Fit top to jar. If top rocks when tapped it should not be used on that jar. The top bail should not be too tight nor too loose. If either too tight or too loose the bail should be taken off and bent until it goes into place with a light snap. All sharp edges on top and jar should be filed or scraped off.

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Screw-top Jars.—Use only enameled, lacquered or vulcanized tops. Screw the top on tightly without the rubber. If thumb nail can be inserted between top and jar, the top is defective. If the edge is only slightly uneven it can be bent so that it is usable. Put on the rubber and screw on the top tightly, and then pull the rubber out. If the rubber returns to place the top does not fit properly and should not be used on that jar.

Rubbers.—Be very particular about the rubbers used. Buy new rubbers every year as they deteriorate from one season to another. It is always well to test rubbers when buying. A good rubber will return to its original size when stretched. When pinched it does not crease. It should fit the neck of the jar snugly, and be fairly wide and thick. It is cheaper to discard a doubtful rubber than to lose a jar of canned goods.

Grading

Vegetables and fruits should be sorted according to color, size and ripeness. This is called grading. It insures the best pack and uniformity of flavor and texture to the canned product, which is always desirable.

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Blanching and Cold-Dipping

The most important steps in canning are the preliminary steps of blanching, cold-dipping, packing in hot, clean containers, adding hot water at once, then immediately half sealing jars and putting into the sterilizer. Spoilage of products is nearly always due to carelessness in one of these steps. Blanching is necessary with all vegetables and many fruits. It insures thorough cleansing and removes objectionable odors and flavors and excess acids. It reduces the bulk of greens and causes shrinkage of fruits, increasing the quantity which may be packed in a container, which saves storage space.

Blanching consists of plunging the vegetables or fruits into boiling water for a short time. For doing this place them in a wire basket or piece of cheesecloth. The blanching time varies from one to fifteen minutes, as shown in the time-table.

Spinach and other greens should not be blanched in hot water. They must be blanched in steam. To do this place them in a colander and set this into a vessel which has a tightly fitting cover. In this vessel there should[159] be an inch or two of water, but the water must not be allowed to touch the greens. Another method is to suspend the greens in the closed vessel above an inch or two of water. This may be done in a wire basket or in cheesecloth. Allow the water to boil in the closed vessel from fifteen to twenty minutes.

When the blanching is complete remove the vegetables or fruits from the boiling water or steam and plunge them once or twice into cold water. Do not allow them to stand in the cold water. This latter process is the Cold Dip. It hardens the pulp and sets the coloring matter in the product.

Steps in the Single Period Cold-Pack Method

In canning by the Single Period Cold-Pack method it is important that careful attention be given to each detail. Do not undertake canning until you have familiarized yourself with the various steps, which are as follows:

1. Vegetables should be canned as soon as possible after being picked; the same day is best. Early morning is the best time for gathering them. Fruits should be as fresh as possible.

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2. Before starting work have on the stove the boiler or other holder in which the sterilizing is to be done, a pan of boiling water for use in blanching and a kettle of boiling water for use in filling jars of vegetables; or, if canning fruits, the syrup to be used in filling the jars. Arrange on this working table all necessary equipment, including instructions.

3. Test jars and tops. All jars, rubbers and tops should be clean and hot.

4. Wash and grade product according to size and ripeness. (Cauliflower should be soaked 1 hour in salted water, to remove insects if any are present. Put berries into a colander and wash, by allowing cold water to flow over them, to prevent bruising.)

5. Prepare vegetable or fruit. Remove all but an inch of the tops from beets, parsnips and carrots and the strings from green beans. Pare squash, remove seeds and cut in small pieces. Large vegetables should be cut into pieces to make close pack possible. The pits should be removed from cherries, peaches and apricots.

6. Blanch in boiling water or steam as directed.

7. Cold-dip, but do not allow product to stand in cold water at this or any other stage.

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8. Pack in hot jars which rest on hot cloths or stand in a pan of hot water. Fill the jars to within ¼ to ½ inch of tops. (In canning berries, to insure a close pack, put a 2 or 3 inch layer of berries on the bottom of the jar and press down gently with a wooden spoon. Continue in this manner with other layers until jar is filled. Fruits cut in half should be arranged with pit surface down.)

9. Add salt and boiling water to vegetables to cover them. To fruits add hot syrup or water.

10. Place wet rubber and top on jar.

11. With a bail-top jar adjust top bail only, leaving lower bail or snap, free. With screw top jar screw the top on lightly, using only the thumb and little finger. (This partial sealing makes it possible for steam generated within the jar to escape, and prevents breakage.)

12. Place the jars on rack in boiler or other sterilizer. If the home-made hot-water bath outfit is used enough water should be in the boiler to come at least one inch above the tops of the jars, and the water, in boiling out, should never be allowed to drop to the level of these tops. In using the hot-water bath outfit, begin to count sterilizing time when the water begins[162] to boil. Water is at the boiling point when it is jumping or rolling all over. Water is not boiling when bubbles merely form on the bottom or when they begin to rise to the top. The water must be kept boiling all during the period of sterilization.

13. Consult time table and at the end of the required sterilizing period remove the jars from the sterilizer. Place them on a wooden rack or on several thicknesses of cloth to prevent breakage. Complete the sealing of jars. With bail-top jars this is done by pushing the snap down; with screw-top jars by screwing cover on tightly.

14. Turn the jars upside down as a test for leakage and leave them in this position till cold. Let them cool rapidly but be sure that no draft reaches them as a draft will cause breakage. (If there is any doubt that a bail-top jar is perfectly sealed a simple test may be made by loosening the top bail and lifting the jar by taking hold of the top with the fingers. The internal suction should hold the top tightly in place when thus lifted. If the top comes off put on a new wet rubber and sterilize 15 minutes longer for fruits.) With screw-top jars try the tops while the jars are cooling, or as soon as they[163] have cooled, and, if loose, tighten them by screwing on more closely.

15. Wash and dry each jar, label and store. If storage place is exposed to light, wrap each jar in paper, preferably brown, as light will fade the color of products canned in glass. The boxes in which jars were bought affords a good storage place.

Caution Against Freezing

Care should be taken to store canned vegetables and fruits where they will be protected from freezing. If the place of storage is not frost-proof the jars should be moved to a warmer place when the weather becomes severe.

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Time Table for Blanching and Sterilizing

The following time table shows blanching time for various vegetables and fruits, and also sterilizing time.

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SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR CANNING VEGETABLES

The addition of 1 level teaspoonful of salt to a jar of vegetables is for quart jars. For pint jar use ½ teaspoonful. For 2 quart jar use 2 teaspoonfuls.

Asparagus

Wash, scrape off scales and tough skin. With a string bind together enough for one jar. Blanch tough ends from 5 to 10 minutes, then turn so that the entire bundle is blanched 5 minutes longer. Cold-dip. Remove string. Pack, with tip ends up. Add 1 teaspoonful of salt and cover with boiling water. Put on rubber top and adjust top bail or screw top on with thumb and little finger. Sterilize 120 minutes in hot-water bath. Remove, complete seal and cool.

Beets

Use only small ones. Wash and cut off all but an inch or two of root and leaves. Blanch[167] 5 minutes, cold-dip and scrape off skin and stems. They may be packed in jar sliced or whole. Add 1 teaspoonful of salt and cover with boiling water. Put on rubber and top and adjust top bail or screw top on with thumb and little finger. Sterilize 90 minutes in hot-water bath. Remove, complete seal and cool.

Cabbage and Brussels Sprouts

The method is the same as for cauliflower, except that the vegetables are not soaked in salted water. Blanch 5 to 10 minutes. Sterilize 120 minutes in hot-water bath.

Carrots

Select small, tender carrots. Leave an inch or two of stems, wash, blanch 5 minutes and cold-dip. Then remove skin and stems. Pack whole or in slices, add 1 teaspoonful of salt and cover with boiling water. Put on rubber and top and adjust top bail or screw top on with thumb and little finger. Sterilize 90 minutes in hot-water bath. Remove, complete seal and cool.

Cauliflower

Wash and divide head into small pieces. Soak in salted water 1 hour, which will remove insects[168] if any are present. Blanch 3 minutes, cold-dip and pack in jar. Add 1 teaspoonful of salt and cover with boiling water. Put on rubber and top and adjust top bail or screw top on with thumb and little finger. Sterilize 60 minutes in hot-water bath. Remove, complete seal and cool.

Corn

Canning corn on the cob, except for exhibition purposes, is a waste of space. For home use remove the husks and silk, blanch tender ears 5 minutes, older ears 10 minutes, cold-dip, and cut from cob. Pack lightly to within ½ inch of the top of the jar, as corn swells during sterilization. Add 1 teaspoonful of salt and cover with boiling water, put on rubber and top, adjust top bail or screw top on with thumb and little finger. Sterilize 180 minutes in hot-water bath. Remove, complete seal and cool.

Greens

Wash until no dirt can be felt in the bottom of the pan. Blanch in steam 15 minutes. (Mineral matter is lost if blanched in water.) Cold-dip, cut in small pieces and pack or pack[169] whole. Do not pack too tightly. Add 1 teaspoonful of salt to each jar and cover with boiling water. Put on rubber and top and adjust top bail or screw top on with thumb and little finger. Sterilize 120 minutes in hot-water bath. Remove, complete seal and cool.

Lima Beans

Shell. Blanch 5 to 10 minutes. Cold-dip, pack in jar, add 1 teaspoonful of salt and cover with boiling water. Put on rubber and top, and adjust top bail or screw top on with thumb and little finger. Sterilize 180 minutes in hot-water bath. Remove, complete seal and cool.

Okra

Wash and remove stems. Blanch 5 to 10 minutes, cold-dip and pack in jar. Add 1 teaspoonful of salt and cover with boiling water. Put on rubber and top, adjust top bail or screw top on with thumb and little finger. Sterilize 120 minutes in hot-water bath. Remove, complete seal and cool.

Parsnips

The method is the same as for carrots.

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Peas

Those which are not fully grown are best for canning. Shell, blanch 5 to 10 minutes and cold-dip. Pack in jar, add 1 teaspoonful of salt and cover with boiling water. If the jar is packed too full some of the peas will break and give a cloudy appearance to the liquid. Put on rubber and top and adjust top bail or screw top on with thumb and little finger. Sterilize 180 minutes in hot-water bath. Remove, complete seal and cool.

Peppers

Wash, stem and remove seeds. Blanch 5 to 10 minutes, cold-dip and pack in jar. Add 1 teaspoonful of salt. Cover with boiling water, put on rubber and top and adjust top bail or screw top on with thumb and little finger. Sterilize 120 minutes in hot-water bath. Remove, complete seal and cool.

Pumpkin, Winter Squash

Remove seed. Cut the pumpkin or squash into strips. Peel and remove stringy center. Slice into small pieces and boil until thick. Pack in jar and sterilize 120 minutes in hot-water bath.

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Salsify

Wash, blanch 5 minutes, cold-dip and scrape off skin. It may be packed whole or in slices. Add 1 teaspoonful of salt, and cover with boiling water. Put on top and rubber and adjust top bail or screw top on with thumb and little finger. Sterilize 90 minutes in hot-water bath. Remove, complete seal and cool.

String Beans

Wash and remove ends and strings and cut into small pieces if desired. Blanch from 5 to 10 minutes, depending on age. Cold-dip, pack immediately in jar, add 1 teaspoonful salt and cover with boiling water. Put on rubber and top and adjust top bail or screw top on with thumb and little finger. Sterilize 120 minutes in hot-water bath. Remove, complete seal and cool.

Summer Squash

Pare, cut in slices or small pieces and blanch 10 minutes. Cold-dip, pack in jars, add 1 teaspoonful of salt, cover with boiling water, put on rubber and top and adjust top bail or screw top on with thumb and little finger. Sterilize[172] 120 minutes in hot-water bath. Remove, complete seal and cool.

Tomatoes

Take medium sized tomatoes. Wash them, blanch until skins are loose, cold-dip and remove the skins. Pack whole in jar, filling the spaces with tomato pulp made by cooking large and broken tomatoes until done and then straining and adding 1 teaspoonful of salt to each quart of the pulp. Put on rubber and top and adjust top bail or screw top on with thumb and little finger. Sterilize 22 minutes in hot-water bath. Remove, complete seal and cool.

Tomatoes may be cut in pieces, packed closely into jars and sterilized 25 minutes in hot-water bath. If this is done do not add any liquid.

THE CANNING OF FRUITS

For fruits, as well as for vegetables, the Single Period Cold-Pack method is best. With some exceptions, as shown in the table, fruits should be blanched before canning. When fruits are intended for table use, syrup should be poured over them to fill the jars. In canning fruits to be used for pie-filling or in cooking, where unsweetened[173] fruits are desirable, boiling water is used instead of syrup. When boiling water is thus used the sterilization period in hot-water bath is thirty minutes.

Syrups

In the directions given various grades of syrup are mentioned. These syrups are made as follows:

Thin—1 part sugar to 4 parts water.

Medium—1 part sugar to 2 parts water.

Thick—1 part sugar to 1 part water.

Boil the sugar and water until all the sugar is dissolved.

Use thin syrup with sweet fruits. Use medium syrup with sour fruits. Thick syrup is used in candying and preserving.

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SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR CANNING FRUITS

Apples

Wash, pare, quarter or slice and drop into weak salt water. Blanch 1½ minutes, cold-dip, pack into jar and cover with water or thin syrup. Put on rubber and top and adjust top bail or screw top on with thumb and little finger. Sterilize for 20 minutes in hot-water bath.

Apples shrink during sterilization and for this reason economy of space is obtained by canning them in the form of sauce instead of in quarters or slices. In canning sauce fill the jars with the hot sauce and sterilize 12 minutes in hot-water bath.

Apricots

Use only ripe fruit. Blanch 1 to 2 minutes. Wash, cut in half and remove pit. Pack in jar and cover with medium syrup. Put on rubber and top and adjust top bail or screw top on[175] with thumb and little finger. Sterilize 16 minutes in hot-water bath. Remove, complete seal, cool and store.

Blackberries

Wash, pack closely and cover with medium syrup. Put on rubber and top and adjust top bail or screw on top with thumb and little finger. Sterilize 16 minutes in hot-water bath. Remove, complete seal and cool.

Blueberries
Currants
Loganberries
Raspberries

The method is the same as for blackberries. Sterilize 16 minutes in hot-water bath.

Cherries

Cherries should be pitted before being canned. Pack in jar and cover with medium syrup. Put on rubber and top and adjust top bail or screw on top with thumb and little finger. Sterilize 16 minutes in hot-water bath. Remove, complete seal and cool.

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Pears

Peel and drop into salt water to prevent discoloration. Blanch 1½ minutes. Pack in jar, whole or in quarters, and cover with thin syrup. Put on rubber and top and adjust top bail or screw on top with thumb and little finger. Sterilize 20 minutes in hot-water bath. Remove, complete seal and cool. A slice of lemon may be added to the contents of each jar for flavor.

Peaches

Blanch in boiling water long enough to loosen skins. Cold-dip and remove skins. Cut in half and remove stones. Pack in jar and cover with thin syrup. Put on rubber and top and adjust top bail or screw on top with thumb and little finger. If soft ripe, sterilize 16 minutes in hot-water bath; if flesh is very firm, 25 minutes. Remove, complete seal and cool.

Some peaches do not peel readily even if dipped in boiling water. In such cases omit dipping in boiling water and pare them.

Plums

Wash, pack in jar and cover with medium syrup. Put on rubber and top and adjust top[177] bail or screw on top with thumb and little finger. Sterilize 16 minutes in hot-water bath. Remove, complete seal and cool.

Pineapples

Pare, remove eyes, shred or cut into slices or small pieces, blanch 3 to 5 minutes, and pack in jar. Cover with medium syrup. Put on rubber and top and adjust top bail or screw on top with thumb and little finger. Sterilize 30 minutes in hot-water bath. Remove, complete seal and cool.

Quinces

The method is the same as for apples. They may be canned with apples. Sterilize 20 minutes in hot-water bath.

Rhubarb

Wash and cut into short lengths. Cover with boiling water or thin syrup. Put on rubber and top and adjust top bail or screw on top with thumb and little finger. Sterilize 20 minutes in hot-water bath. Remove, complete seal and cool.

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Strawberries

Wash and pack closely in jar. Cover with medium syrup, put on rubber and top and adjust top bail or screw on top with thumb and little finger. Sterilize 16 minutes in hot-water bath. Remove, complete seal and cool.

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PRINCIPLES OF JELLY MAKING

To be satisfactory, jelly must be made from fruit juice containing pectin and acid. Pectin is a substance in the fruit which is soluble in hot water and which, when cooked with sugar and acid, gives, after cooling, the right consistency to jelly.

Fruits to be used should be sound, just ripe or slightly under-ripe, and gathered but a short time. Wash them, remove stems and cut large fruits into pieces. With juicy fruits add just enough water to prevent burning while cooking. In using fruits which are not juicy cover them with water. Cook slowly until the fruits are soft. Strain through a bag made of flannel or two thicknesses of cheesecloth or similar material.

Test for Pectin

To determine if the juice contains pectin, boil 1 tablespoonful and cool. To this add 1 tablespoonful of grain alcohol and mix, gently rotating[180] the glass. Allow the mixture to cool. If a solid mass—which is pectin—collects, this indicates that in making jelly one part of sugar should be used to one part of juice. If the pectin collects in two or three masses, use ²/₃ to ¾ as much sugar as juice. If it collects in several small particles use ½ as much sugar as juice. If the presence of pectin is not shown as described it should be supplied by the addition of the juice of slightly under-ripe fruits, such as apples, currants, crab-apples, green grapes, green gooseberries or wild cherries.

Measure the juice and sugar. The sugar may be spread on a platter and heated. Do not let it scorch. When the juice begins to boil add the sugar. Boil rapidly. The jelly point is reached when the juice drops as one mass from the side of a spoon or when two drops run together and fall as one from the side of the spoon. Skim the juice, pour into sterilized glasses and cool as quickly as possible. Currant and green grape require 8 to 10 minutes' boiling to reach the jelly point while all other juices require from 20 to 30 minutes.

When the jelly is cold pour over the surface a layer of hot paraffin. A toothpick run around the edge while the paraffin is still hot[181] will give a better seal. Protect the paraffin with a cover of metal or paper.

Three or more extractions of juice may be made from fruit. When the first extraction is well drained cover the pulp with water and let it simmer 30 minutes. Drain, and test juice for pectin. For the third extraction proceed in the same manner. The juice resulting from the second and third extractions may be combined. If the third extraction shows much pectin a fourth extraction may be made. The first pectin test should be saved for comparison with the others.

If the second, third or fourth extraction of juice is found thinner than the first extraction, boil it until it is as thick as the first; then add the sugar called for.

Jelly Making without Test

The test for pectin is desirable, but it is not essential. In some states it is inconvenient because of the difficulty of obtaining grain alcohol. A large percentage of housewives make jelly without this test, and satisfactory results may be obtained without it if care is taken to follow directions and to use the right fruits. For[182] the inexperienced jelly maker the safe rule is to confine jelly making to the fruits which are ideal for the purpose. These include currants, sour apples, crab-apples, under-ripe grapes, quinces, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, wild cherries, and green gooseberries. These contain pectin and acid in sufficient quantities.

In making jelly without the alcohol test, with the juice of currants and under-ripe grapes use 1 cup of sugar to 1 cup of juice. With raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, sour apples, crab-apples, quinces, wild cherries and green gooseberries use ¾ cup of sugar to 1 cup of juice. This applies to the first extraction of juice and to the later extractions when they have been boiled to the consistency of the first extraction.

Fruits which contain pectin but lack sufficient acid are peach, pear, quince, sweet apple and guava. With these acid may be added by the use of juice of crab-apples or under-ripe grapes.

Strawberries and cherries have acidity but lack pectin. The pectin may be supplied by the addition of the juice of crab-apples or under-ripe grapes.

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Directions for Jelly Making

Wash, remove stems, and with the larger fruits cut into quarters. Put into a saucepan and cover with water. Allow to simmer until the fruit is tender. Put into a bag to drain. If desired, test juice for pectin as described. Measure juice and sugar in proportions indicated by the test for pectin or as directed under "Jelly Making without Test." Add the sugar when the juice begins to boil. The sugar may be heated before being added. When the boiling juice reaches the jelly point, skim and pour into sterilized glasses.

Winter Jelly Making

Fruit juices may be canned and made into jelly as wanted during the winter. Allow 1 cup of sugar to 6 cups of juice. Boil juice and sugar for 5 minutes. Pour into sterilized bottles or jars. Put into hot-water bath, with the water reaching to the neck of the containers. Allow to simmer 20 to 30 minutes. If jars are used half seal them during the simmering. Put absorbent cotton into the necks of bottles and when the bottles are taken from the bath[184] put in corks, forcing the cotton into the neck. Corks should first be boiled and dried to prevent shrinking. They may also be boiled in paraffin to make them air-tight. After corking the bottles apply melted paraffin to the tops with a brush, to make an air-tight seal. Each bottle should be labeled and the label should specify the amount of sugar used. In making jelly from these juices during the winter follow the "Directions for Jelly Making," adding enough sugar to give the amount called for.

FRUIT BUTTERS

Fruit butters may be made from good sound fruits or the sound portions of fruits which are wormy or have been bruised. Wash, pare and remove seeds if there are any. Cover with water and cook 3 or 4 hours at a low temperature, stirring often, until the mixture is of the consistency of thick apple sauce. Add sugar to taste when the boiling is two-thirds done. Spices may be added to suit the taste when the boiling is completed. If the pulp is coarse it should be put through a wire sieve or colander. Pour the butter into sterilized jar, put on rubber and cover and adjust top bail. Put into a container[185] having a cover and false bottom. Pour in an inch or so of water and sterilize quart jar or smaller jar 5 minutes after the steam begins to escape. Remove, push snap in place and cool.

Apple Butter with Cider

Four quarts of sweet or sterilized cider should be boiled down to 2 quarts. To this add 4 quarts of apples peeled and cut in small pieces. If the texture of the apples is coarse they should be boiled and put through a strainer before being added to the cider. Boil this mixture until the cider does not separate from the pulp. When two-thirds done add one pound of sugar. One-half teaspoonful each of cinnamon, allspice and cloves may be added. Pour into sterilized jars and sterilize 5 minutes in steam.

Apple and pear butter may be made by following the directions for apple butter with cider but omitting the cider.

Peach Butter

Dip peaches in boiling water long enough to loosen the skins. Dip in cold water, peel and stone them. Mash and cook them without adding[186] any water. Add half as much sugar as pulp and cook until thick. Pour into sterilized jars and sterilize 5 minutes in steam.

Plum butter may be made following the directions for peach butter.

Apple Butter with Grape Juice

To every 4 quarts of strained apple sauce add 1 pint of grape juice, 1 cup of brown sugar and ¼ teaspoonful of salt. Cook slowly, stirring often, until of the desired thickness. When done stir in 1 teaspoonful of cinnamon, pack in hot jars and sterilize 5 minutes in steam.

Dried Peach Butter

Soak dried peaches over night. Cook slowly until tender. To each 2 pounds of dried peaches add 1 quart of canned peaches and 1¾ pounds of sugar. If a fine texture is desired, strain pulp through a colander. Cook slowly, stirring often, until thick. Pack in hot jars and sterilize 5 minutes in steam.

[187]

CHAPTER IX
THE GOVERNMENT WAY OF PRESERVING EGGS

A friend hearing of Adelaide's "Preserving efforts," said laughingly to the little girl, "I hope, dear, you have not forgotten eggs." "Oh, no," replied Adelaide, "we've already done those. Mother ordered a whole crate of thirty dozen and we preserved them in 'water glass,' just as the government told us, although we could have preserved them by the 'Lime Method' if we had wished."

The friend's face was a study, while Adelaide's mother shook with silent laughter, exulting at her little daughter's instant reply. All unconsciously she had commanded a feeling of profound respect, instead of the desire for gentle teasing which the friend had at first intended.

"Suppose you read what the government says about eggs," said mother, thus giving the friend a chance to recover from her surprise.[188] Adelaide at once went for her little "wooden box," and this is what she read from its proper card:

During the spring and early summer, when eggs are abundant and reasonable in price, attention should be given to preserving them for winter use. Fresh eggs properly preserved may be kept for 8 to 12 months in excellent condition and used with good results.

Eggs laid during April, May, and early June have been found to keep better than those laid later in the season.

If satisfactory results are to be obtained, the eggs should be fresh and clean and, if possible, infertile. Eggs that float when placed in the solution are not fresh and therefore cannot be preserved. When an egg is only slightly soiled, a cloth dampened with vinegar can be used to remove such stains. Under no circumstances should badly soiled eggs be used for preserving; if put into the jar while dirty they will spoil, and washing removes a protective coating which prevents spoiling.

Water-Glass Method

A good method for the preservation of eggs is the use of sodium silicate, or water glass. If[189] the price of sodium silicate is about 30 cents a quart, eggs may be preserved at a cost of approximately 2 cents a dozen. It is not desirable to use the water-glass solution a second time.

Use 1 quart of sodium silicate to 9 quarts of water that has been boiled and cooled. Place the mixture in a 5-gallon crock or jar. This will be sufficient to preserve 15 dozen eggs and will serve as a guide for the quantity needed to preserve larger numbers of eggs.

(1) Select a 5-gallon crock and clean it thoroughly, after which it should be scalded and allowed to dry.

(2) Heat a quantity of water to the boiling point and allow it to cool.

(3) When cool, measure out 9 quarts of water, place it in the crock, and add 1 quart of sodium silicate, stirring the mixture thoroughly.

(4) The eggs should be placed in the solution. If sufficient eggs are not obtainable when the solution is first made, additional eggs may be added from time to time. Be very careful to allow at least two inches of the solution to cover the eggs at all times.

(5) Place the crock containing the preserved eggs in a cool, dry place, well covered to prevent[190] evaporation. Waxed paper covered over and tied around the top of the crock will answer this purpose.

Lime Method

When water glass cannot be obtained, the following method may be used in its stead. Many consider this method entirely satisfactory, though instances are known where eggs so preserved have tasted slightly of lime.

Dissolve 2 or 3 pounds of unslaked lime in 5 gallons of water that has previously been boiled and allowed to cool, and allow the mixture to stand until the lime settles and the liquid is clear. Place clean, fresh eggs in a clean earthenware crock or jar and pour the clear limewater into the vessel until the eggs are covered. At least 2 inches of the solution should cover the top layer of eggs. Sometimes a pound of salt is used with the lime, but experience has shown that in general the lime without the salt is more satisfactory.

Using Preserved Eggs

Fresh, clean eggs, properly preserved, can be used satisfactorily for all purposes in cooking[191] and for the table. When eggs preserved in water glass are to be boiled, a small hole should be made in the shell with a pin at the large end before placing them in the water. This is done to allow the air in the egg to escape when heated so as to prevent cracking.

"Well, well," said the friend, "I shall certainly know where to come when I need any new hints on preserving."

"When these recipes (touching the cards in the little 'wooden box' lovingly) are made into a little book—an idea that has been suggested to mother—perhaps you could buy one," suggested Adelaide innocently.

"I most certainly shall," answered the friend.

And she (the friend) did.

Jessie May could hardly wait for her copy of the "little book," and you will be interested to know that she was just as successful in her efforts at "preserving" as was Adelaide, and also found it very interesting work.

[192]
[193]

INDEX

CONSERVES

JAMS

JELLIES

MARMALADES

MISCELLANEOUS

PRESERVING AND CANNING

PICKLES

SPICED FRUITS

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