CHAPTER LXIV
[218]
RUTH MAKES BAKING POWDER BISCUITS
"O
H, Ruth!" called Bettina from her door to Ruth, who was walking past. "Come in and stay to dinner!"
"My dear, I'd love to, but——" "I'm going to have baking powder biscuits, and I remember that you were longing to learn how to make them." "Oh, Bettina! Would you really show me? I'll simply have to come, then. I hesitated because Aunt Martha is here, but I know she'll excuse me for one evening. What time is it? Five? I'll take these packages home and be back in fifteen minutes!" When Ruth returned she found Bettina in her kitchen with all of the ingredients for the biscuits set out on the table. "Perhaps two cups of flour will make too many for three people," she said, "but Bob has a good-sized appetite these crisp fall days, and he's fond of biscuits with jelly. Now, Ruth, you can get to work! Sift the flour, baking powder and salt together, and then cut the lard in this way with this knife.... Fine! Now add the milk very slowly—perhaps it will take a little more than two-thirds of a cup, it all depends on the flour. There! Now pat the dough into shape on this floured board, and then you can cut the biscuits out with this little cutter. Yes, about three-fourths of an inch thick. Ruth, those look fine! We'll wait a little while to bake them, they're better perfectly fresh. Set them out in the cold, there, until I have fixed the macaroni, and they can pop into the oven at the same time." "That was so easy, Bettina. I do hope those biscuits will be good!" [219]
The dinner consisted of: Lamb Chops
Macaroni and Cheese Sliced Tomatoes Baking Powder Biscuits Jelly Apple Tapioca Pudding Cream BETTINA'S RECIPES (All measurements are level) Macaroni and Cheese (Three portions) ½ C-macaroni, broken in pieces 1 qt. water 1 t-salt 2 T-butter
