Page 93

HINTS TO HOUSEKEEPERS. 89

Dried Cherries.

Dried cherries should be kept in a jar, with sugar
sprinkled along them; they are very useful in sickness;
a tea-cupful of cherries, with a quart of boiling water,
poured on them, and left to draw for half an hour, with
sweetening, makes a very agreeable drink when you cannot
get lemonade.

When stewed for pies you should allow them plenty
of water, and not put in the sugar till they are nearly
done.

Boiling water poured on dried apples also makes a
good drink in sickness.

Apple Butter.

Have your kettle well cleaned, and fill it early in the
morning with cider made of sound apples, and just from
the press; let it boil half away, which may be done by
three o'clock in the afternoon; have pared and cut
enough good apple to fill the kettle, put them in a clean
tub, and pour the boiling cider over; then scour the kettle
and put in the apples and cider, let them boil briskly
till the apples sink to the bottom, slacken the fire and let
them stew, like preserves, till ten o'clock at night. Some
dired quinces stewed in cider and put in is an improvement;
season with orange peel, cinnamon or cloves, just
before it is done; if you like it sweeter, you can put in
some sugar an hour before it is done. If any thing occurs
that you cannot finish it in a day, pour it in a tub,
and finish it the next day; when it is done put in stone
jars. Any thing acid should not be put in earthen vessels
as the glazing is poisonous; this way of making
apple butter requires but little stirring; you must keep a
constant watch that it does not burn.

Pears and peaches may be done in the same way,
and if they are sweet, will not require sugar.

Hoarhound Candy.

Put two pounds of sugar, in a pit of hoarhound tea,
as strong as can be made, which may be done by draw-
9