Pickled Onions

Ingredients:
1 kg of small white onions
1 litre white vinegar
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon mixed and spices
a few peppercorns
2 or three cloves
1 dessertspoon honey
cooking salt
Optional - a few chillies

Method:
Peel the onions and place into a large bowl. Cover with salt and leave overnight. Next day wash thoroughly and dry. Pack into jars, put all other ingredients on top of the onions and pour vinegar over to cover them. Seal with lids. Ready to eat in 3 or 4 days.

Italian Biscuits

Ingredients:
1 lb. flour, 1/2 lb.butter, 1/2lb. sugar, 1 teaspoon nutmeg, 2 teaspoons cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon bicarbonate soda, 1teaspoon cream of tartar, 1/2 cup milk.

Method:
Mix well, roll out thin, cut into round shapes,and bake in a brisk oven. Stick two together with a tiny bit of raspberry jam. If wanted ornamental put a small bit of icing on each.

Plain Ginger Biscuits

Ingredients:
1lb. flour, 1/4 lb. sugar, 1/4 lb. clarified dripping, 1 tablespoon treacle,1 teaspoon ground ginger, 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar, 1/4 teaspoon bicarbonate soda.

Method:
Mix with luke warm water, roll out, cut into shapes and bake in a hot oven. (Woodstove) I estimate it should be about 180 degrees Celcius.

Insect Pests

Ants (To Destroy). - Ingredients: 20 grains white arsenic, 20 grains sub-carbonate of potash, 3 teaspoonfuls of sugar. Mix in 1/2 cup of water. Place the cup in a pan of water till it boils. Set in saucers near ant holes. Label 'Poison'.

To Destroy Moths, Bugs, &c. -Make a very strong solution of alum and hot water, and apply to crevices with a brush. Wet the edges of carpets that are moth-infested with the solution and it will be found effective.

Moths in Carpets. - Before putting down a carpet wash the boards over with turpentine. This is a safe-guard against moths. They dislike the smell of turpentine,and are not likely to attack carpets if the floor next to them has been washed over with it.

Flies (To Banish). - A simple way of getting rid of flies from a room is to heat a poker, and put it on a piece of camphor, which will give off fumes which are most disagreeable to flies and other insect pests.

To keep moths from clothing sprinkle with pepper, and keep it in a box with a cake of camphor.

To prevent mosquito bites spray with tincture of insect powder.

For the bites or stings of insects apply liquid ammonia or a mixture of toilet vinegar and glycerine. If neither is at hand, use the laundress's blue bag, damp.

(Text quoted from 'Cookery Book of Good and Tried Receipts.' Compiled for the Women's Missionary Association of the Presbyterian Church of New South Wales. Angus & Robertson, Sydney. 1920. pp. 219-220.)

Easy Short Pastry Hint

To make a sure short pastry, use 1/3 measure of self raising flour, 1/3 measure of plain flour and 1/3 measure of butter, oil, margarine or dripping (depending on whether it is for a sweet or savoury dish). Blend the ingredients together with your fingers until they look like breadcrumbs. Squeeze in the juice of a lemon and sufficient cold water to make a soft, firm dough. Roll out into whatever shape you desire and bake in a hot (200 degrees Celsius) oven.

Boiled Fruit Cake

Ingredients:
1 cup sugar
1 packet mixed fruit
1/2 lb shortening
3/4 cup water
1 teaspoon mixed spice
1 teaspoon bicarbonate soda
2 eggs
1 1/4 cups self raising flour
1 cup plain flour
few drops vanilla, lemon and almond essence

Method:
Place sugar, fruit, shortening, water, and spices in a saucepan. Boil gently for 10 minutes. Allow to cool slightly. Stir in bicarbonate soda. Heat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Beat the eggs until frothy then add essences. Fold in both the sifted flours. Place the mixture into a greased 7 1/2 inch square baking tin. Cook for 1 to 1 1/2 hours.

Basic Biscuit

Ingredients:
2 eggs
1 1/4 cups brown sugar firmly packed
2 cups self raising flour
1/2 cup vegetable oil

Method:
Beat together oil, eggs and sugar until well blended. Add flour and mix to a stiff dough. Roll into walnut size balls and decorate with almonds, cherries, walnuts, or chocolate chips etc. Leave plenty of space on the tray between the biscuits when cooking.