USEFUL RECEIPTS. Baked Apple Dumplings.-The paste is generally made with suet, but any other kind of fat will do. Roll out the crust as for turnovers, cut up in pieces of a size to enclose a whole apple, which may be peeled or otherwise. Roll it round lightly between the hands, that every part of the apple may be securely enclosed, and the crust of an equal thickness throughout. Kendal Pudding.-First line your dish with a nice puff paste; then put into it a layer (one inch thick) of preserves, consisting of raspberry, gooseberry, barberry, and cherry, or any other preserve so long as you have four sorts of fruit blended together. Cover the top with two eggs (well beaten) mixed with milk and sugar; pour over till the dish is full; strew over lemon peel chopped fine, and a little sifted sugar. Bake in a slow oven till of a nice brown, Cheese Puffs. Take about three ounces of fine rich cheese, with the same quantity of fresh butter: pound well in a mortar; add a little cayenne pepper and salt, then put in an egg well beaten; have ready some boiling lard, in rather a small flat saucepan; put in your mixture with a teaspoon; each spoonful will immediately form a little ball; a minute will dress them. Mind that your lard quite boils. Serve them in a napkin, handing them round after the sweets. They cannot be eaten too hot. When Peas Pudding.-Pick a quart of split peas, that is, remove all impurities, or discoloured peas or shells. Tie them loosely in a cloth, leaving plenty of room for the peas to swell. Boil them till they are soft, which may be in from two to three hours. Take the pudding from the water, and put it into a basin. Open the cloth, and bruise or mash the peas well; mix in a piece of butter, with pepper or salt. Then tie it up tightly, and put it into the pot again, and boil for about half-an-hour. ready, turn it out of the cloth into a vegetable dish. If properly managed it will turn out whole. To Boil Beef or Mutton.-Put a pan of water on the fire and let it boil; then put in the meat, and boil it for about five or seven minutes; then pour off the water or part thereof, fill up with cold water, and proceed as usual. The reason for putting the meat first into boiling water is, that the heat of the water coagulates the albumen on the surface of the meat, and thus prevents the escape of the juices, which remain in the meat, thereby rendering it more tender and nourishing. If, however, the meat be boiled for the purpose of making broth, of course the above does not apply. To make Bannock, or Oatmeal Bread.-Put about six pounds of fine oatmeal in a kneading pan, add to it a small quantity of leaven, previously steeped in warm water, and let it stand all night. In the morning add a little yeast mixed with warm water. Knead the whole well up, but very light. Lay a coarse wet cloth in a dish, for the purpose of giving a shape to the loaf; put the 95 dough in the cloth, and turn it upon the baker's shovel, which must be first sprinkled with dry oatmeal. Get it into a hot brick or tile oven as quickly as possible, and let it bake for three hours. Hodge Podge.-Cut two pounds of fresh scrag of mutton into small pieces, which put into a stewpan, with three quarts of cold water and a tablespoonful of salt, set it upon the fire, and when boiling place it at the corner to simmer, keeping it well skimmed; let it simmer an hour, then add a good-sized carrot, two turnips, two large onions cut into small dice, and six cabbage lettuces (the whole well washed), and let simmer until quite tender; skim off all the fat, and serve either with the meat in the soup or separately. If in season, a pint of green peas boiled in the soup is an improvement.-Soyer's Modern Housewife. French Herb Broth.-This is a favourite beverage in France, as well with people in a state of health as with invalids, especially in the spring, Put a quart when the herbs are young and green. of water to boil, but have previously prepared about forty leaves of sorrel, a cabbage lettuce, and ten sprigs of chervil, the whole well washed; when the water is boiling throw in the above, with the addition of a teaspoonful of salt, and half an ounce of fresh butter; cover your saucepan close, and let them simmer for a few minutes, then pass in through a sieve or colander. This is to be after the change from winter. drank cold, especially in the spring of the year, Stew of Sheep's Head.-One or two sheep's heads washed very clean, set on in a gallon of liquor; when it comes to boil, throw in a teaspoonful of salt to make the scum rise. Let it boil half-an-hour, then skim it, and put in a few turnips, carrots, parsnips, beet, vegetable-marrow, (any or all as may suit); cut in slices three onions, a little parsley, (this may be added now or later, a few minutes will sufficiently boil it,) quarter of a pound of Scotch oatmeal, mixed smooth with a little cold liquor, a teaspoonful of pepper, and two or three teaspoonsful of salt; stir well till the whole boils up, then shut the lid close, and let it stew gently, but not cease boiling till done. It should boil a full hour after the thickening, &c. are added. If done in an oven, full two hours should be allowed; and all the ingredients may be put in the jar together cold. Ox-tail Soup.-Cut up two ox-tails, separating them at the joints; put a small piece of butter at the bottom of a stew-pan, then put in the ox-tails, with a carrot, a turnip, three onions, a head of celery, a leek, and a bunch of parsley, thyme, and bay-leaf; add half a pint of water, and twelve grains of whole pepper, set over a sharp fire, stirring occasionally, until the bottom of the stewpan is covered with a thickish brown glaze, then add a quarter of a pound of flour, stir it well in, and fill up the stewpan with three quarts of water; add a tablespoonful of salt, and stir occasionally until boiling; then set it upon the corner of the stove, skim well, add a gill of good brown gravy, or a few drops of browning, and let it simmer until the tails are stewed very tender, the flesh coming easily from the bones, then take them out immediately, and put them into your tureen; pass the soup through a hair sieve over them, add a head of celery, previously cut small, and boiled in a little stock if approved of, and serve.-Soyer's Modern Housewife. 96 ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. W. W., Winchester.-Peter the Wild Boy was a native of Hanover, and he was discovered in the woods, we believe, in the year 1724. CHARLOTTE S., Newport.-Certainly you may believe it. Brandy even has been known to freeze in rooms in which fires were burning, in the Hudson's Bay territory. CATHARINE WARD, Colchester.-The word is from the Latin fossus-dug up; hence the term fossils is applied to those animal remains which are obtained from the rocks and strata of the earth. H. H., Stamford.-Mungo Park was born at Fowlshiels, in the county of Selkirk, N.B., and was either killed by the natives, or drowned, while on his dangerous enterprise to explore the source of the river Niger, in Africa. HENRY T., Salisbury.-The origin of the phrase "as dead as a herring," we believe may be found in the fact, that that fish dies immediately upon being taken out of the water. At least, that is the most probable solution which occurs to us. THOMAS WILD, Carnarvon.-We cannot reply to your first question; as to the second, we believe bears existed in Scotland until a few years before the Norman Conquest of England, A.D. 1066; but certainly the wolf was not extinct in Ireland until the year 1710. JOHN R., Wandsworth.-The Cape Buffalo is an entirely different animal. It is described as a large and very wild and savage quadruped of the ox kind. His appearance is terrible, his muscles firm and strong, his hide tough, and his bones hard. The lion is often unable to obtain a victory over his fierce enemy. When the buffalo has killed a man, he will trample on him with his hoofs, crush him with his knees, gore him with his horns, tear him with his teeth, and strip off the skin by licking up the blood. C. C. S., Fleet.-The burning of Moscow took place in 1812. Segur's description is extremely graphic; but the whole account of the Russian Campaign undertaken by Napoleon should be read to enable us to appreciate properly this "great enormity in the world's history." For this purpose we recommend to you a little work entitled "Scenes from History," the first part of which comprises a faithful picture of the whole of the sad details of this campaign, put together by a no unpractised hand. This little brochure is published by Kent & Co., Paternoster Row, at the nominal price of two-pence. S. W., Dorchester.-Mongolia is a large tract of country in the north-east part of Asia, belonging to China. The central part is occupied by the great sandy desert, called Ta-Gobi, about 1,200 miles in length, and averaging about 600 in breadth, though here and there intersected with patches of land comparatively fertile. The Altaic and other high mountains of this region are but little known; and the whole territory presents, with few exceptions, a dreary and sterile aspect. The Mongols have neither towns, villages, nor houses, but live a nomade life, passing the summer on the banks of rivers, and the winter at the foot of some mountain, which shelters them from the cold. They are open and sincere; and pride themselves chiefly on their dexterity in handling the bow and arrow, mounting on horseback, and hunting wild beasts. Almost every Mongol, indeed, is a skilful warrior and huntsman; but there are very few workmen or artificers; the Chinese supplying them with their dress, armis, saddles, tobacco, brandy, &c., receiving in exchange horses, camels, and oxen. All the Mongols are governed by khans, independent of each other; but all subject to the Emperor of China, whom they consider as the grand khan of the Tartars. W. B., Cheltenham.-Our respected correspondent will observe that want of space has compelled us this month to omit our Poetry. We have nevertheless contrived a corner, although an obscure one, for a specimen of his talents. Speak kindly to the poor, my friend. What balm there is e'en in kind words, Their wasted forms too plainly show And if, perchance, thou canst afford A blessing thou'lt ensure- E'er many days be past. And God will bless thee-therefore speak With kindness to the poor! R. R., Clerkenwell.-The New River was commenced in 1606, and finished in 1615. It paid a dividend in 1633, at which time Sir Hugh Middleton, its great projector, was no more. The benefit of the undertaking, however, was so obvious, that Middleton had been made a knight, and then a baronet; but from the vast capital required, his immense fortune was consumed, and he was obliged to support himself by becoming a surveyor's assistant. Charles I. sold all his shares to Sir Hugh for a rent of £500 a year; but in 1766 one share fetched £4,400; and in 1770 another was sold by auction for £6,700. Sir Hugh died in 1631, and not many years ago one of his female descendants having petitioned the corporation of London, was allowed a small annuity for her support. Sir Hugh, before he commenced this great national enterprise, was a proprietor of mines in Wales, by which he is said to have cleared £2000 a month for several years-the whole proceeds of which were swamped by the New River. JOHN ALLEN, Dorchester.-No. Linnæus is only the Latin translation of the Swedish name, which was Linné. His father was a village pastor, who wished to make a shoemaker of his son. Our correspondent may well reflect upon the loss th world would have sustained had the intentions o the short-sighted but well-meaning parent beer carried out. Linnæus, at the termination of his chequered and wonderful career, died a comparatively opulent man: for he had been ennobled by a temporal sovereign-he had ever been one of nature's noblemen-liberally pensioned, and presented with a beautiful estate near Upsal, where he died in 1778, in his 71st or 72nd year. PUBLISHED BY KENT & CO., PATERNOSTER ROW; PRINTED BY BLACKBURN AND BURT, HOLBORN HILL, LONDON. GOLD! ADVERTISEMENTS. GOLD! GOLD! GIVEN AWAY! GIVEN AWAY! GIVEN AWAY! J. W. GILES, CITY BAZAAR, 134, Aldersgate Street, LONDON, Having purchased the Stock of a Fancy Manufacturer at a discount of 50 per cent. off the usual maker's prices, he intends to present to all his customers of 6d. and upwards, an article in value to the amount of 25 per cent. on their purchase. The Sale will commence on Monday, March 28th, and continue during the Holidays. The Stock will consist of Berlin Wools, Silks, Cottons, Steel Beads, Dress Trimmings, Stationery, Perfumery, Hosiery, Haberdashery, Fancy Brooches, Chains, and Ornaments of every description. Ladies, Country Shopkeepers, and Schools, commencing in the Berlin Wool and Fancy Trade, will do well to visit this noted cheap Warehouse. A Selected Price List for 1853, will be sent on receipt of a Postage Stamp for prepayment. Merchants, Dealers, and Emigrants, will save at least 50 per cent. by giving their orders to the Proprietor of this concern. Parties going abroad will do well by laying out a little money in Fancy Goods, as they will be able to make four times their value abroad, which will partly pay their passage out. The most important and useful books on Knitting, Netting, and Crochetwork, are the Household Friend and the Royal Magazine, price 1d. each, Monthly. Household Friend, in Parts 1 to 5, 6d. each, in a neat Wrapper. Ditto, in Volumes, 1 to 4, 1s. each. Royal Magazine, in Volumes, 1 to 4, 1s. each, beautifully printed, in Gold Wrapper. Also, publishing weekly, price 1d. each, 1 to 60, of the Royal Exhibition and the Queen's Own Crochet Patterns. All the newest and most beautiful Crochet Patterns are in these sheets. Published by PIPER BROTHERS & Co., and J. W. GILES, No. 134, ALDERSGATE STREET, LONDON. Any of the above can be sent by Post, by addressing a line as above. HOLLOWAY'S PILLS FOR THE CURE OF HEADACHES, BILE, AND INDIGES 1852. TION.-Extract of a letter from Mr. W. Folkes, Chemist, Hyde, near Manchester, dated Sept. 10, "To Professor Holloway-Sir: I am happy to inform you that your Pills and Ointment have been of the greatest service to many persons in this neighbourhood. One in particular, who gave me an account of your Pills in the most flattering terms; for a long time he was subject to violent pains in his head, arising from bile and indigestion, from which he could obtain no relief until he took some of your valuable Pills: by these means he was completely restored to health." Sold by all Druggists, and at Professor Holloway's Establishment, No. 214, Strand, London. |