Mary Harding's Recipes And Household Hints... (1910 - 1931).
Mrs. M. Harding (nee Livingstone) of 220 Barker Road, Subiaco send in recipes and household hints to the Sunday Times Recipe and Household Hints competition between 1910 and 1931. Miss L. Harding and Miss E. Harding from the same address also sent in entries. The entries won over a hundred prizes and honourable mentions and were published in the newspaper.
The WA Postal Directories show that an Alexander Livingstone, a contractor was registered at 220 Barker Road, Subiaco. Alexander was one of three brothers and sisters, Mary, Flora and John. After the death of Alexander in 1911, the sons carried on the business as Livingstone and Sons.
Mary Livingstone married a Mr. G. Harding, a builder from Collingwood, Melbourne. It is difficult to know whether Mary Harding and her family lived at the address or just used it as a mailing address for the competition.
Alexander Livingstone, the son married Minnie. Together they had eight children Mary, Lottie, Minnie, Flors, Alec, Jack, Dave and George. Alexander was also registered at the address. Minnie their mother was registered at the address until her death in 1946.
Mary's recipes and household hints provide a wonderful insight into the type of meals provided and practical household hints. The recipes included traditional meals, desserts, cakes, preserves and jams, drinks, snacks and confectionary. She also provided practical household hints which are still used today.
The articles are from Trove, the database of the National Library of Australia. No copyright infringement intended.
Sunday Times, 14 July 1912.
SECOND.
Second prize is awarded to Mrs. M. Harding, 220 Barker-road, Subiaco, for recipe for
WINTER STEW.
Two pounds of best end of neck of lamb, l oz. of dripping, l oz. of flour, 2 lb. new potatoes, 1 pint of cooked peas, a sprig of mint, 2 onions, pint and a half of stock or water. Wipe the meat, cut into neat chops, heat the dripping, fry the chops slightly, then the sliced onions and flour; next add the stock, and stir until it boils. Season it carefully, lay in the meat, and simmer very gently for an hour and a half. At the end of the first hour lay the potatoes and mint on the meat; when the stew is sufficiently cooked, take out the mint, arrange the meat on a dish, put the potatoes round, it, arrange the cooked peas as a border round the edge, and serve very hot.
Sunday Times, 6 July, 1924.
Recipes.
Honorable Mention.
Shepherd's Pie.- Cut the meat in slices, and dip them in a mixture of salt, pepper, and a little powdered herb put a layer of these slices in a deep piedish, then add some minced onion, and thinly sliced potatoes, with a little seasoning, more meat, onion, and cover with a thick crust of smoothly mashed potatoes. Pour over all a little milk, smooth the top with a knife, and afterwards mark the potato crust in small squares with a knife dipped in milk. Heat through in a good oven, and serve when the top is browned. Mrs. M. Harding, 220 Barker-road, Subiaco.
Sunday Times, 22 January 1922.
Third Prize
Third Prize is awarded to Mrs. M. Harding, 220 Barker-road, Subiaco, for recipe for
PEACH MELBA.
Take season fine fresh peaches and peel them by dipping, each one quickly into boiling water, when the skin will drop off. Cover them with vanilla flavored syrup, and let them steep, for a time on ice or in a cool place. When it is time to serve them, place them on a mound of ice cream and pour over them a raspberry sauce.
The Sunday Times, 27 February 1916.
First Prize
First prize is awarded to Mrs. M. Harding, 220 Barker-road, Subiaco, for recipe for
PASSION-FRUIT CAKE.
Take one dozen passion-fruit, 1/4 lb. butter, 1/2 lb. flour, 1/4 lb. sugar, two eggs, and one teaspoonful of baking powder. Open the passion fruit, put the pulp on a hair sieve with a little sugar, rub it through; beat the butter and sugar to a cream, drop in the eggs, and when well mixed pour in the juice of the passion fruit. Beat the flour and baking powder in with a spoon. Line two sandwich tins with buttered paper, divide the mixture, and pour it in; bake in a moderate oven for about half an hour. When cold spread the following mixture in between the layers; beat the white of one egg to a froth, add 3/4 lb. powdered sugar and the juice of two passion fruits. Spread the jelly on the cakes, and lay one above another. Spread the top of the cake either with whipped cream or white icing.
Sunday Times, 25 September 1910.
Recipes.
Honorable Mention.
ROCK BUNS. - Rub quarter pound lard into one pound flour, then add quarter pound sugar, two large teaspoonsful baking powder, quarter pound currants, (cleaned), and three eggs, well beaten, with sufficient milk to make a stiff paste. Drop it upon a greased tin in small pieces, and bake in a hot oven.- Mrs. M. Harding, 220 Barker-road, Subiaco.
The Sunday Times, 26 October 1924.
Recipes.
Honorable Mention.
Butter Scotch. Take 1 1/2 lb soft sugar, 1/2 teaspoonful cream of tartar, 1/2 cupful of cold water. Place all the above ingredients into a clean enamelled pan place in a hot place, and let it boil, without stopping or stirring for 10 minutes. Then dip a spoon into cold water, pop it quickly into the pan and back again with mixture on it into the cold water, when if the mixture hardens, it will do: if it does not boil a minute or two longer, then test again. You may add , if liked, a little ginger or vanilla essence, just before pouring out. When nearly cold mark into squares which, when quite cold, break apart. Mrs. M. Harding 220 Barker-road, Subiaco.
The Sunday Times, 24 January 1926.
Recipes.
Honorable Mention.
Ginger Beer. - Put 1 handful cruised ginger, 1 eggcupful cream tartar, 2 lb. sugar in a bucket, and half fill with boiling water. When cool, fill the bucket with cold water and add one cup yeast. Let stand overnight, then strain, bottle and tie down. Ready for use in from three days to a week. If two or three crushed eggshells are put in the bottled liquid they will dissolve by the time it is ready for use, and there will be no sediment. - Mrs. M. Harding, 220 Barker-road, Subiaco.
The Sunday Times, 6 November 1910.
Recipes.
Honorable Mention.
PICKLED ONIONS.
Skin the onions, fill the jars, and cover with salt and water in the proportion of one tablespoonful of salt to one pint of water. Let them stand three days to draw out the unpleasant odor. Boil together one quart vinegar, quarter pound whole ginger, and quarter pound allspice for five minutes. Draw aside, and let it cool to the warmth of new milk. Pour water, off onions, fill up with vinegar, and cork tightly. The onions will be ready for use in two days, and will keep good for three months.- Mrs. M. Harding, 220 Barker-road, Subiaco.
The Sunday Times, 23 July 1911.
THIRD.
Third prize awarded to Mrs. M. Harding; 220 Barker-road, Subiaco, for
hint on
USES OF SALT.
Salt may be made useful in many directions besides table use. First, as a tooth powder, it will keep the gums hard and the teeth beautifully white; also, if you have a tooth extracted and the bleeding does not stop, rinsing the mouth with salt and water will prove a quick remedy. Mixed with hot water, salt makes a good gargle for a sore throat, and if a little is put with lemon juice stains on stains from ink, peeling potatoes, etc. will be easily removed: When teacups are discolored rub a little salt on the stains before washing them, and tile blemish quickly disappears.
The Sunday Times, 12 November 1912.
Household Hints.
Honorable Mention.
Dispensing with the Plumber.- If the pipe of your kitchen sink becomes clogged, place your hand over the drain, being careful to bold the sides of the hand and tips of the fingers firmly on the sink. Allow water to the depth of one inçh to run into the sink, then raise and lower the palm of the hand until you think the impediment has been removed. After this pour a quart of scalding water and soda down the pipe. This will carry away any waste that remains.- Mrs. M. Harding, 220 Barker-road. Subiaco.
The Sunday Times, 27 July, 1913.
Household Hints.
Honorable Mention.
To Cure Sleeplessness.- Often a person who cannot easily go to sleep will find that sleep comes naturally after a very hot bath. One should immediately retire; for the hot bath Is exhausting, thus producing longer and a natural desire to sleep. - Mrs. M. Harding, 220 Barker-road, Subiaco.
