Volume 1 Article 6 Number 8 The Iowa Homemaker vol.1, no.8

1921 Do you Know What's In a Can? Blanche Ingersoll Iowa State College

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Recommended Citation Ingersoll, Blanche (1921) "Do you Know What's In a Can?," The Iowa Homemaker: Vol. 1 : No. 8 , Article 6. Available at: http://lib.dr.iastate.edu/homemaker/vol1/iss8/6

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Cottage cheese FOR chopped fine. Rub the two into a paste Celery Orange Nut-raisin cookies (1) Bread and butter with one-half cup of sweet cream. Spread Rice pudding (2) Lettuce between slices of buttered bread. 4 (3) Nut (7) Fudge sandwiches Minced Lettuce sandwich ( 4) Boston Brown Bread Make fudge, beat until creamy. While Graham bread and butter sandwich (5) Ribbon Bread soft, spread between thin slices of but­ with celery Cut the Boston brown bread and white tered bread. Baked custard Two apples bread into sandyvich slices of uniform (8) Pimento cheese sandwiches 5 thickness. Spread with butter and alter­ Make a filling of one-half cup of cream Chopped nate the brown and white until six slices cheese and one-fourth cup chopped pi­ Bread and butter sandwich are used. Trim off the crusts and slice mento. Add salad dressing. Stewed prunes stuffed with nuts as ordinary bread. (9) Peanut butter sandwiches Milk (6) Date sandwiches (10) Chopped egg with salad dressing Graham has more mineral value than Make a filling of one-half cup of stoned (11) Chopped chicken or ham with white bread. dates, one-half cup of English walnuts, salad dressing

Do You Know What's In a Can? By BLANCHE INGERSOLL

ANY A company dinner has been should not expect to find small peas used to improve appearance and flavor. M spoiled by a can of peas. when she opens the can. The saving of five or ten cents on the It is most disconcerting to open a can The large peas may have a more high­ cheaper can might be used to purchase of peas expecting to find nice juicy little ly developed flavor and more real nutri­ the very fine "petit pois" for use at a peas and discover that it contains some tive value than the small size but the company dinner. so large that they look like big, green small peas have always been in greater Buying with a definite purpose in mind marbles. It is too late to send for more demand because they are-as a rule­ results not only in a saving of money and Mrs. Brown always serves such love­ more tender and succulent. but in a greater satisfaction. Mrs. Jones ly things when you go to her house- and prefers the flavor of a cheap grade of so the dinner is totally ruined. The size of the peas does not indicate the quality. Peas-as all other vegetables apricots because the syrup is not so Of course the grocer is blamed. It -are packed in first, second, and third heavy and the fruit has more of the real never occurs to the housewife that it is grades according to quality. Only three apricot flavor than does the fruit in the her own fault and not the grocer's that grades are in general use for vegetables, expensive cans. This cheap grade of ap­ she did not receive the kind of peas she rather than the five or six grades which ricots would not do to serve for a des­ wanted. The shelves of any grocery are are used for fruits. The first grade con­ sert because of the poor appearance but filled with many brands, grades and sizes sists of very tender, prime vegetables of Mrs. Jones has found that she can save of canned goods and when a housewife uniform size and quality, carefully pre­ twenty-five cents and have a much better orders "a can of peas" without stating pared and packed in a clear liquor. In dish by using them in sherbets, gelatine definitely what variety, brand or size she the second grade the stock may be less dishes and other places where their poor wants, she can expect to get merely "a uniform in size and of poorer quality and condition is not noticeable. can of peas." may be slightly mashed or broken. The For escalloped corn and fritters most All canned goods are packed accord­ third grade consists of wholesome and people prefer the "whole grain" corn ing to certain definite grades or stand­ nutritious material that falls below the which has separate and distinct kernels, ards of quality in the materials packed. qualifications for the first and second rather than the "cream corn" which has They are also graded according to size grades. This means that first grade "tele­ a heavy creamy stock. A small amount and the quality of syrup used in packing. phone" peas are of much better quality of high grade corn is packed on the cob With a very little observation and study than third grade "extra sifted" altho the and is nice to use on special occasions. any housewife can learn what to expect former are much larger in size. It is very much worth while to know from a certain grade or brand and can The price is not fixed according to the certain varieties and to ask for "Golden order intelligently just what she wants. size of the peas but according to the Bantam" corn if you prefer that to the Fruits are usually packed in six dif­ quality or grade, and perhaps, the de­ white variety or for "Sweet Wrinkled" ferent grades. In determining the stand­ mand. For this reason the largest peas peas if your family is partial to the ard ·for each grade, such things as size, are not always the cheapest nor the sweet or sugar pea. shape, degree of ripeness, color, and smallest tire most expensive. Altho the Many women who carefully estimate thickness of syrup are considered. First size· of the peas is indicated on the can the number of pounds of steak or roast grade apricots are large, firm and un­ label, the quality is not indicated in any to buy for their particular family pay broken, of uniform size and color, and way except that A brand put out by X little attention to the different sized cans packed in a heavy sugar syrup. The firm may mean the first grade packed of peaches or tomatoes which they pur­ syrup varies in the other grades, grad­ by that firm. chase. A can of tomatoes may contain ually becoming thinner until the water The difference in price may be an in­ too much for one serving for the family or pie grade contains no syrup at all dication of quality but it is not always but not enough for two. In that case Jt but just the· fruit packed in water. to be depended upon. Any housewife would be better to buy a larger size The fruit in the lower grades is small­ knows that the most expensive foods are which would contain enough for two er and more uneven in size and color not always the best. This variation meals. than in the first grade. In the lowest makes the purchase of canned goods a The most common sizes of cans for grade, the fruit may be hard and partial­ household problem which every house­ fruit and vegetables are the 1, 2, 2¥.!, and ly green or mushy and over ripe. How­ wife must solve for herself. A little care 3 cans. The exact measure of the con­ ever, this mushy or over ripe fruit may in collecting data on the different cans tents of the different cans varies some­ have a better color and flavor than the opened, will, in a very short time, give what but is found to be approximately: more expensive goods. her some valuable information which 1 cupful in a number 1 can. will enable her to buy just the size and Grading according to size varies with 2 cupfuls in a number 2 can. the different products. Peas no doubt quality of fruit or vegetables that she stand first in the number of different wants, and to buy them more economical­ 3 cupfuls in a number 2¥.! can. sizes packed. They range in size from ly than before. 4 cupfuls in a number 3 can. the very tiny "petit pois" sometimes Canned goods can always be purchased In other words a number 2 can con­ called "superfine sifted" or "tiny peas"­ at a great saving if there is a definite use tains approximately a pint and a num­ up thru "sifted" and "early June," to planned for each can purchased. A much ber 3 can a quart. With these general "telephone"-the largest size. The sizes cheaper grade of peas can be purchased measures in mind it should not be hard are stated on the label of the can. Any­ for creamed peas, pea timbles, soup or to determine the best size to buy for the one who buys a can of telephone peas for any dish in which other materials are number to be served. 6 THE lOWA liOMEMAil.ER

In many cases it is more economical to ing a large number of cans with a can will naturally vary with the different buy the larger sized cans. Figuring on opener is no easy task. It is much easier sizes and grades. For example, in a the basis of the cost per can, the larger to open a few gallon cans than a dozen number 2lh square can of asparagus can may be cheaper altho the initial cost number 3 cans. there are usually 20 stalks, mammoth is more. For example a small 6 ounce It is easier to estimate the number of can of milk sells for 8 cents, while the size, 30 stalks large size, 40 stalks med­ servings which can be obtained for any ium size or 50 stalks small size. If the tall, or 16 ounce can, sells for 16 cents. given sized can if one has some idea of Figuring the cost per ouce, the milk in can contains tips instead of stalks the the number of slice~ or stalks contained the tall can sells for one-fourth of a cent count will run about one-third more for in the can. The hous-ewife can obtain each size. less per ounce than the milk in the small this data if she will take a moment to can. By purchasing one tall can of milk note the number on the can and the num­ A general knowledge of what is in a for 16 cents the purchaser will have a ber of pieces in every can which is can will result in an actual saving in clear gain of 4 ounces of milk or two­ opned. It is convenient to know that dollars and cents. Moreaver, the satis­ thirds the contents of the small can. a number 2 can of pineapple usually con­ faction which will come with the ability Number 10 cans, containing one gallon, tains 8 slices, and a number 2lh can of to order canned goods so that you will are very convenient to use where a large apricots contains a b o u t twenty-five get what you want, will be a liberal re­ number of people are to be served. Open- halves. The number of pieces or stalks ward for the time spent.

"La Chambre D' Ami" in An Iowa Home By EDA LORD MURPHY, Associate Professor of Home Economics

HIS PHRASE, which the French use T to indicate the guest room, implies a number of things not included in our matter-of-fact English. It seems to im­ ply that a room has been especially pre­ pared for one's friend the guest; pre­ pared, with loving care and thought. One thinks of the times in the average home, when this preparation has been made with characteristic American rush and hurry. While brother goes to the station to meet the visitor (and drives home by the longest route according to orders) mother and daughter run to the room that can most quickly be trans­ formed into "the guest room." By re­ moving father's dress suit, mother's best gown, sister's party dress and summer hats, and by dumping the contents of the top bureau drawer into a sheet, the room can be made at least presentable. Some one runs to the bathroom to gather an armful of crumpled towels and hang up a few fresh ones and the average hostess in the average home feels fairly virtuous and proud of her quick service. This is to be the true story of a guest room-not in France, not even in Wis­ consin-but right here, in our own Iowa. Where the Appointments of the Guest Room Betoken the Hospitality of the Hostess It is the story of the kind of guest room that might be found in any of our homes if only we had the same ideas of hos­ pitality. being carefully folded, the down quilt ad­ know better than anyone else the horror justed, and the covers turned · down. (Oh of "spare bedrooms" and that housekeep­ It is quite impossible to separate the luxury of luxuries. How often have I ers ought to be required to sleep in the story of the guest room from its owner­ done it myself and pretended later that guest room bed once a year, at least. tt the hostess. For she considers the guest Nannette, a mythical maid, had given me can't be said of all of them that they are room one of the means to the great end this subtle attention!) After tiptoeing smooth and flat and soft and that the of making her friend welcome and happy. in to see the sleeping cherubs, there are covers are both warm and light, and To be sure it is only one of the means, "good nights," many platitudes about "so snowy white. Nor is there always a bed­ for if possible she meets the train, even glad to have you" and "so glad to be here" side table with low,- shaded light and a if it arrives late at night as trains with and the guest is left alone. She goes to new magazine. guests sometimes do. the closet to find her poor coat a hook The bureau proved to hold no less an This is the technique of the proceedure and when she gets there the closet is interesting collection of comforts than which is so artfully done that one has bare, except for hangers and a comfy the medicine cabinet. There were pins, only the sense of welcome. When you all kimona and slippers! white, black, colored, safety and invis­ come into the house, husband invariably The adjoining bathroom is found to be ible, powder, perfume (of an obviously pokes the fire and draws the chairs clos­ remarkable only for these facts. It con­ exquisite sort) toilet paper, and all the er to it. After a few minutes of visiting tains a bathmat (costing a dollar per­ things one plans to have in her week he says he is hungry, whereupon wife haps, but a luxury never-the-less). There end bag. But more touching than any goes to the kitchen and returns with a are assorted towels, smooth or rough, of the pins and perfumes was the fact tray of sandwiches and glasses of creamy large or small. In the medicine case that the bureau drawers were empty. milk or cocoa or fruit. The guest admits there are small, new bottles of lotions, This really seemed to prove that the that she really was hungry though if she new jars of creams, small packages of hosts had been looking forward to a real had been asked, she would have denied toothpastes and powders, tooth brushes, visit and that the guest might unpack it. Thats the beauty of it-she wasn't dental floss, a scrubbing brush and soaps and settle down comfotrably. asked. of all kinds. It was like the entrance to These articles, discovered one by one, Then the hostess goes with her to her a doll's beauty parlor and inspires one to inspired letters. Imagine the sensation room and-probably- while they continue use fiinger tips and the rotary motion. of finding more forethought in the con­ their feminine chatter the bed spread is They say that Bishops, dear itinerants, crete. There were new pens, sharp pen-