Never bang the oven door. The cake will fall if you do.
To prevent icing from cracking when it cuts add a teaspoon sweet cream to each unbeaten egg. When boiling syrup for icing add a pinch of cream of tartar.
Brown sugar frosting which will not crack is made of one tablespoon of vinegar, brown sugar enough to mix and the beaten white of half an egg.
Beat all well together and add sugar enough to spread.
I have many times been asked how I retained the color of preserved fruits. I allow for all preserves equal measure of sugar and fruit.
It is impossible to have success if you make large quant.i.ties. I never make over three pints at a time--usually one quart.
The same method applies to all preserves. If possible, I extract some juice to start with. I then put this with one quart of sugar, (no water if the fruit contains plenty of juice, but if not, I add a little water). Allow this to boil until thick then have fruit ready to drop in; when it boils up, remove sc.u.m, and, as the juice is extracted by the boiling, dip off and allow only enough to thicken quickly.
This juice can be used for sauces, beverages of all kinds--Fruit darkens on account of continued boiling.
Economical Soap
Soap without boiling, will float if not too much ham or bacon drippings are used.
Into 1 quart of cold water dissolve the contents of one can of Babbits potash or lye. Melt to luke warm heat, 6 lbs, (light weight) of clean drippings that have been strained through cheesescloth several times.
Before adding the lye to the strained grease, add 1 large cupful of borax. Stir lye into kettle containing grease and stir constantly until very thick. Pour into a pan, score; in 10 or 12 hours turn out of pan and let dry. A little perfume may be added if you wish. Lamb drippings makes the finest soap.