—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, July 21,1979 50 Ladies Have You Heard? By Doris Thomas Lancaster Home Economist USE LIMES TO LIVEN UP SUMMER MENUS Zesty limes - long a favorite in Florida and the Caribbean - are widely available throughout the country and add a special touch to drinks, salads, and other dishes. And this is the perfect time to start trying them in your recipes - if you have not done so already - because, according to marketing specialists with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, they are now in heavy supply. What should you look for when shopping for limes? They should be firm and heavy for their size, have smooth shiny skins and a deep green color. Avoid limes that are dry or hard and those that show signs of decay; these are soft spots, mold, or skin punctures. Brown spots, however, do not affect quality. Put them in the refrigerator as soon as you ' get them home and they will remain fresh for six to eight weeks. If you put a slice of lime in the same container with sliced peaches, apples, or bananas, the ascorbic , acid in the lime will keep the softer fruits from turning brown. How should you use limes? Cut them into wedges and squeeze over fresh fruits, vegetables, fish, and chicken dishes to bring out the natural flavors of these foods. It’s a low-calorie, sodium-free flavoring. It also perks up tomato juice, appetizer trays, and Sum mer beverages. Planning a barbecue sometime soon? As a change from the usual steaks and hamburgers, grill lamb chops, and to make them taste extra special, mandate them first in a combination of lime juice, olive oil, crushed garlic, rosemary leaves, and salt and pepper. The perfect salad to go with this dish comes from the Middle East and features lime juice in the dressing. MIDDLE EASTERN SALAD 1 cucumber, seeded and chopped 2 ripe tomatoes, peeled, seeded, and chopped 1 green pepper, chopped 1 bunch radishes, sliced % bunch watercress, chopped 1 red (Spanish onion), chopped 3 tablespoons parsley, chopped 3 tablespoons olive oil 2 tablespoons lime juice 1 teaspoon ground cumin seed Salt and pepper, to taste Combine all ingredients except the last tour. Just before serving combine oil, juice, and spices; mix well and pour over salad. Serves four to six, depending on the appetites of your guests. HANDLE CHARCOAL FERES CAREFULLY Outdoor cooking can be a lot of fun, but accidents do happen and frequently young children are the victims. Charcoal is a favorite fuel for outdoor cooking, but it should be handled carefully. Reports show that many outdoor cooking accidents result from the careless use of charcoal. Thinking about expanding your present drying system? Do it! Add a Shivvers Drying System to your present dry ing system for a more efficient, low cost, drying set up! You can add a Shivvers System to your system at a fraction of the price it would cost you to replace your present unit for faster more efficient drying! GAYLORD EQUIPMENT 88 Ridge Rd., Monmouth Jet., NJ. 08852 201-329-2666 (day) or 609-799-8647 (night) SALES A SERVICE * INSTALLATION The innocent-looking gray ash on a chunk of Charcoal hides a very hot fire. Any piece showing even a tiny fleck of gray ash can produce a serious burn. Before starting a fire, make sure your grill is sturdy and set firmly on the ground so that it will not tip or spill. Keep children and pets away from grills and do not permit small children to help build fires or extinguish them. Using additional starter or lighter fluid on a fire that is already burning is *'/ ✓' CHAIN dangerous. Flare-ups from this practice have caused many serious accidents. Use only approved starter fluids Gasoline, kerosene, fuel oil/ and lighter fluid are' dangerous and should not be used. Make sure your fire is dead before you leave picnic grounds or similar areas. Soakd the area beneath the grill or the fire with water Many children have been seriously burned by running through hot ashes or step ping on the hot ground left under a fire or portable grill.