to give bread
the characteristic flavor constantly welcome by the palate. Good flour
has a slight pure smell, free from any moldy odor.

[Illustration]

Yeast is a fungoid growth, a microscopic plant capable of starting a
fermentation in various substances. It grows rapidly in a favorable
medium, as when mixed with flour and water, and kept in a warm place,
resulting in setting up fermentation. Baking powders are composed of
an acid and an alkali. Some kind of flour usually is added to keep
them dry and free from lumps. When the mixture containing the baking
powder is moistened the acid and the alkali chemically combine and
alter, a gas being generated. If the articles be placed soon in great
heat, the gas is warmed, expands, and in its endeavor to escape raises
the mass. The heat sets the mixture in this raised condition, thus the
cake or pudding is rendered light, easier to masticate and digest.

Baking powders are used for two reasons. First. To supply a gas to
take the place of ingredients, as when used in making bread, buns,
etc. If flour, salt and water were mixed and baked in a large loaf, it
would be a hard, indigestible mass. If baking powder be mixed in with
similar ingredients and baked, the result would be a light loaf, easy
to masticate and digest.

Second. It is used to save labor. When a richer mixture be made it
requires to be well beaten to mix in air. Baking powder often is added
to save some of the otherwise necessary beating.

Baking Powder Biscuits

2 cupfuls flour
2 tablespoonfuls Crisco
2 teaspoonfuls baking powder[A]
1 teaspoonful salt
Milk

Mix and sift twice dry ingredients. Work in Crisco with finger tips,
add gradually milk, mixing with knife to soft dough. Toss on floured
board; pat and roll to one-half inch thickness. Shape with biscuit
cutter. Place on Criscoed tin and bake in hot oven twelve minutes. To
have good biscuits dough should be handled as little as possible, just
enough to get in shape to cut. Milk or water used for mixing should
be very cold, and biscuits should be gotten into oven at once after
adding liquid to flour. If top of each biscuit is lightly brushed over
with melted Crisco before baking, crust will be much nicer. Sufficient
for fifteen biscuits.

[Footnote A: Amount of baking powder may be increased if especially
raised biscuits are desired. 2 teaspoonfuls, however, is most
healthful amount.]

Best Jumbles

2 cupfuls sugar
1 c