DECEMBER 1951 - Milwaukee Road Archive

FOR COMPANY. delicious duck dinner
I
F you're inviting friends to share the
family Christmas dinner, here's an
easy.to-prepare main course that will
add luster to your reputation as a hostess.
Ducks are in good supply all year round
now, and a welcome change from the
usual company food.
Duck with Orange Juice
1 5-6 lb. duck
3 tablespoons shortening
2 tablespoons sherry (optional)
Yz cup sliced mushrooms
3 teaspoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon tomato paste
1Y2 cups Strong stock
-yours for a
Use non-flammable decorations of metal foil or
asbestos beneath your Christmas tree.
IB
6 tablespoons frozen orange juice
1 tablespoon currant or grape jelly
Y2 teaspoon.· salt
Have butcher cut up duck in serving size
pieces. Melt shortening in heavy skillet, add
duck and brown quickly. Remove duck. If
sherry is used, add to pan together wi th
mushrooms. Stir in cornstarch until smooth.
Add tomato paste and stock and bring to a
boil. Add fresh frozen orange juice, jelly
and salt. Place duck in sauce, cover and
cook slowly for 35-40 minutes. When tender,
place duck in serving dish, pour sauce
over. Serve with fresh vegetables and
whipped potatoes or wild rice. Serves 6.
Note: The stock can be made from boullion
cubes or one of ihe meat essences now
on the market. (Recipe by Minute Maid
frozen o,.ange juice.)
SAFE and MERRY CHRISTMAS
HAT glittering Christmas tree, blaz­
Ting with lights, shining with tinsel
and ornaments-few people recognize it
as one of the hazards which make the
yuletide season the most dangerous
period of the year for fires!
A Christmas tree, filled as it is with
pitch and resin, is one of the most
flammable objects known. According
to tests made by the National Board of
Fire Underwriters, an average size tree
takes less than two minutes to burn up.
The lesson is obvious. A careless cigarette,
a short circuit in the lights, and
a tree can start a roaring blaze that
will get out of hand before the fire
department arrives.
To cut down the fire danger,' choose
a small tree and keep it outdoors until
a few days before Christmas. Set it up
in the coolest part of the house and
if possible shut off the radiator closest
to the tree. Do not use cotton or paper
for decorations.
Since the tiniest spark can set off a
fire, avoid placing electric trains around
the tree. Check all the wiring carefully,
and replace frayed or worn wires
on the lights. As a further precaution,
provide a switch some distance from the
tree for the lights and avoid plugging
and unplugging under the tree. When
no one is in the room, turn off the
lights.
As the tree becomes drier, it becomes
more hazardous. When the needles start
falling, take the tree down. Inspect it
from time to time to see if any of the
needles have started to turn brown. If
they have, move the lights so they do not
come in contact with the tree.
Here are some additional safety suggestions:
o Never use real candles-use electric
candles instead.
o Choose ".fireproof" decorations.
o After opening Christmas presents,
remove all wrappings from the liv.
ing room and dispose of them.
o To protect your children, take precautions
with holiday costumes. Discourage
the wearing of flammable
costumes and those of gauze-like
fabrics. If they must be worn, they
should be flame-proofed; a solution
of 9 ounces of borax, 4 ounces boric
acid and 1 gallon of water is known
to be effective. This solution washes
out, so must be restored after each
washing.
o Choose safe toys. Chemical sets and
toys requiring alcohol, kerosene,
gasoline, and carbide lamps may be
hazardous when handled by children.
Buy electric toys witp the "0. L."
label and supervise children's play
with hazardous toys.
o Keep an approved fire extinguisher
on hand for e';lergency use.
The Milwaukee Road Magazine