Housekeeping in the Tropics

Conducted by “ Dorothea ”

Uses For Coconut Cream

COCONUT cream can be used in cooking to make nourishing and tasty dishes. It is obtained by scraping finely the white meat of a mature nut, and squeezing it through cheese cloth. Greens such as Chinese cabbage, sweet potato tops, ten der taro leaves, or the tiny leaves at the tips of pumpkin shoots are all improved if, after they have been cooked in salted water, the water is strained off and sufficient coconut cream is added to moisten them. Reheat but do * not allow to boil, as the coconut cream will curdle and spoil the appearance of the dish. An onion chopped finely and boiled with the greens, and a pinch of curry powder added with the coconut cream, makes a pleasant change.

Here is a recipe using either Irish or sweet potatoes: Peel the potatoes and an equal quantity of onions, and slice into rounds. Put into a pie dish in alternate layers, adding a little salt between layers, and finish with a layer of pota toes. Add enough coconut cream to come about three parts up the dish, and bake until the onion is cooked and the potatoes browned.

Manioc can be substituted for potatoes, but it

is best baked in a casserole with the lid on, as the manioc bakes very hard if exposed and does not brown nicely.

Baked bananas in coconut cream is a quickly made and appetising dish.

Peel ripe bananas and place in a shallow dish.

Put a squeeze of lemon juice and a little sugar on each, and add sufficient cream not quite to cover the bananas. Bake until they are cooked and lightly browned.

Coconut cream can be used with stewed or tinned fruits, in place of ordinary cream; and, added to sweet pastry in place of milk, it imparts a delicate and unusual flavour.

“ARAORE,” Papua.

Tropical Curry

In a saucepan fry dices of a small green paw paw, banana and onion in a tablespoon of fat.

Add r /\ teaspoon of pepper and salt, 1 teaspoon lemon juice and sugar, and 1 dessertspoon each of coarse coconut, sultanas, flour and curry powder. Cook for a few minutes, then add large cup of water or stock. Allow all to simmer for half an hour, then add cup of minced cold meat or flaked fish. Heat for 10 minutes, then serve garnished with rice and slices of lemon.

Rice And Banana Pudding

One-third fill a pie dish with cooked rice and. spread with a thin layer of jam. Mash three bananas, spread on jam, and place another layer of jam on bananas. Add more cooked rice, then, pour over whole pint of milk in which has. been beaten one egg and a scant tablespoon of sugar. Bake in a moderate oven till custard is set.

JUDY S., Giligili, Papua.

Household Hints

Half the jobs that get put off never get done.

When washing silver, place a teaspoonful of borax in the water.

Lemon juice and salt will remove stains from the handles of knives.

Scorch stains on linen can be removed by rub bing with powdered borax.

Do not put lingerie or fine linen through the wringer.

Alum in the last rinsing water restores the colour of faded materials.

Melted butter makes an excellent substitute for olive oil in a salad dressing.

To cut warm cake, dip the knife in cold water.

For hot bread use a heated knife.

Well-dried orange and lemon peel both burn well, and help to eke out the fuel.

To prevent cakes burning, grease the tins with lard, not butter, and sprinkle lightly with flour.

If a stocking “ladders,” try stitching the sides of the “ladder” together, using a fairly coarse stitch on the machine. As the fabric usually gives, this method of mending will not make the stockings too light.

Bukit Bahrum, Wau.

Little Islanders' Corner

“Dorothea” welcomes several little Islanders, this issue and has written to “Gunatua” in Fiji, also to “Ruve” of Sigatoka, and sent stamps for her collection and names of pen friends.

Will Dawn Cantle write me again? Her long letter was most interesting. Dawn is only 16* and has had a serial story accepted by a Queens land paper. The story is built around Dawn’s life on an island off the coast of Papua.

Joan Sturrick’s letter and contributions are receiving attention, also letters from John Eng land, Wilfred Mayne, Betty Woodland and Joyce Moxham.

Will little Islanders send birthday dates to “Dorothea” ?

Dear Dorothea, — Two Fijian boys decided to go out fishing one day. On their way back home, the rowlocks fell overboard. The smart lads marked the spot with a spear, anchored the boat, and swans ashore, expecting to find the rowlocks on the beach!

After a long search, it suddenly dawned on the brainy pair to swim back to the marked spot and dive for the lost articles.

Yours faithfully.

Gumatua.

Wai Kava, Vanua Levu, Fiji.

Dear Dorothea, — I am twelve years old, and will be thirteen on January 5. , , .. , My father is a surveyor, and we have lived! in this district since I was two years old.

It is one of the nicest parts of the Fiji group* The climate here is always cool and fine, with a fresh breeze blowing in from the sea. We have very nice beaches and bathing, too.

Just now we are awaiting the completion of the new road, which will link us up with Suva, the capital. It will be about a hundred miles drive, and a matter of about three and a half or four hours’ journey by car.

I see that you have offered to exchange stamps with “Little Islanders.” I am a keen collector myself, and have a few Tongan stamps which I would be glad to exchange with anyone in the South Pacific.

I would like a European pen friend of my own age, from either New Guinea, Papua, the Solo mons, or Samoa, please.

I will take the pen-name of Ruve, the Fijian word for wood pigeon.

At the moment I have no photograph of myselt to send you, but will do so later on.

Yours sincerely,

“Ruve.”

Sigatoka, Fiji.

Any Little Islander may correspond with “Ruve,” by writing first to “Ruve,” c/o ‘ Pacific Islands Monthly,” 247 George Street, Sydney.