Kitchen Essential

9 Cut the second shelf smaller, 980 mm wide by 250 mm deep, with a return coming out the left-hand side, 780 mm x 250 mm. Fix the shelf at 1810 mm from the floor on 150 mmx 125 mm brackets fixed to the wall by screwing as before. Once again, the shelf should then be primed. The third shelf is the smallest at 980 mm wide and 150 mm deep, with a return of 780 mm out of the left wall. Fix the shelf 1510 mm from the floor on 100 mm x 125 mm brackets. Continue Reading »

For a bright festive tea party for children on Bonfire Night, choose colours that reflect the bursts from the firework sparks, gold, pink, green, red, blue, etc. Buy or make shiny hats with streamers on the top and place these at each child’s place. The table-cloth should be dark to represent the sky at night, and use bright paper napkins. In the middle, have the Bonfire Night Cake . Continue Reading »

Hot smoking kilns Pressure smoking

The first piece of smoking equipment I had any experience with was the Abu Smokebox, which is manufactured by Abu Svangsta of Sweden, a famous firm of fishing tackle manufacturers. The Abu measures about 12 x 7 x 4 in. deep and on account of its small size, the potential is very limited. The Abu works on a different principle from other smoke units, and is said to ‘pressure smoke‘. A bed of fine sawdust is spread on its floor, and a combined drip tin and wire rack placed over the sawdust, on which is placed the food to be smoked. A small methylated spirit burner under the Abu supplies instant heat, and the sliding lid fits fairly tightly into place. Here the process differs from other smoking techniques, which allow for the free passage of smoke out of the top of the sides of the unit. The smoke has to force its way out of the sides of the lid, causing smoke pressure inside. High temperatures are generated within the Abu and the food cooks in the time it takes for the meths to burn out, which is usually about 20 minutes. Continue Reading »

Tinned ware

Tinned ware is mild steel coated with tin, and is used for cake tins, ring moulds, baking tins, wire whisks, etc. The tin is silvery when new but darkens with use. Don’t use abrasive cleaners which will scratch the tin coating. Soak off burned-on food. If pieces get really dirty, soak in weak solution of bicarbonate of soda or boil up in a solution of washing soda. Rinse. Always dry very thoroughly so there is no chance of the base metal rusting.

Flameproof

If a cooking pot is flameproof it can be used on top of the stove. Continue Reading »