Mustard Plaster |
Mix 4 to 6 Tbsp of dry mustard to a paste in hot water. Wrap in a cloth and place on chest.
Liz Murray (School House Museum Recipe Book) |
Bread Poultice |
Soak slices of bread in hot water. Wrap in cloth and place on inflamed area. Liz Murray
(School House Museum Recipe Book) |
Sore Throat |
Mix 1 tsp of apple cider vinegar into a glass of water. Liz Murray (School House Museum
Recipe Book) |
Jean's Home Made Lye Soap |
1 can Gillette's Lye
4 1/2 c cold water
2 tbsp washing ammonia
1 tbsp white sugar
5 c melted fat Measure cold water, sugar and ammonia in a bowl (not metal). Stir and add a can of Gillette's Lye. Stir with wooden spoon or stick. Be careful not to splash in eyes or on skin. Meanwhile, heat up clean fat which has already been rendered and strained. Use a large granite roast pan for this since it is easy to cut into bars after.
Let lye mixture and fat cool. Stir lye mixture into fat with wooden spoon. Best to have all ingredients on cool side. Jean Berry |
How to Whiten Linens with Lemons
|
Damask napkins, linens even white socks can be whitened on the stove. Fill a pot with water and a few slices of fresh lemons, bring to a boil. Turn off heat, add linens and let soak
for up to an hour - launder as usual. For extra brightening spread them out in the sunlight to dry. Margaret Anne (Stewart) and Dave Hanlon |
How to Keep Cut Flowers Alive |
For cut flowers to survive, give them sugar for nourishment and an acidic ingredient like lemon-lime soda or aspirin, which allows the plant to absorb water more easily. A drop of bleach prevents bacteria and also lengthens their life.
Margaret Anne (Stewart) and Dave Hanlon |
How to Remove Melted Wax |
Candlelight is romantic, but there is nothing lovely about prying or scraping melted votives out of their holders. Instead place the glass holders in the freezer for a few hours - the wax should shrink just enough to pop right out.
Margaret Anne (Stewart) and Dave Hanlon |
How to Steady a Wobbly Chair |
Once they have done their duty as wine bottle stoppers, corks can stop your wobbly chair problem. Simply slice a cork horizontally and slip it under the troublesome leg.
Margaret Anne (Stewart) and Dave Hanlon |
How to Remove Red Wine Stains from Linens |
Wet the stained linen with lukewarm water, and add a layer of table salt. Rub and let stand for 5 minutes, then pull fabric taut across a heatproof bowl and secure with rubber band. Place in sink and carefully pour boiling water on the stain from a height of 3 feet the
combined pressure and heat of the water will eliminate the stain. Be careful when pouring the water! Margaret Anne (Stewart) and Dave Hanlon |
How to Pick Berries |
Don’t fill a deep bucket the weight of the berries on top will damage the ones on the bottom - instead fill lots of smaller containers or pick into a low-sided tray or a shallow bucket.
Margaret Anne (Stewart) and Dave Hanlon |
Did you know |
Most babies are born under a full moon Margaret Anne (Stewart) and Dave Hanlon |
Essences of Ginger |
Infuse 4 oz of well bruised ginger and 1 oz of thinly sliced lemon peel in 1 1/2 strong rectified spirits (Brandy). Let it be closely stopped and shaken every day.
Ellen McQuestion |
