XXX A Cool Summer Day

1/8 t-pepper ½ t-sugar

Mix the corn, egg, bread crumbs, salt, pepper and sugar. Shape into cakes two inches in diameter and one-half an inch thick. Grease a griddle or a frying-pan thoroughly, and when very hot, place fritters on the pan. When brown on one side, turn over onto the other side. Serve hot, with syrup.

CHAPTER XLI

BETTINA ENTERTAINS STATE FAIR VISITORS

THE next morning when Bob and Uncle Eric had partaken of a cereal-less breakfast, and Uncle Eric had even complimented the cook, Bettina called her mother on the telephone. "I was about to call you, Bettina. Won't you go to the fair with us this afternoon? You know Cousin Mabel and the children are here from Ford Center, and Cousin Wilfred may arrive some time this morning." "You do have your hands full this week, don't you, Mother? Uncle Eric is at home only for breakfast, and I called up to ask if you would all come here to dinner tonight." "Oh, Bettina! I'm afraid it will be too much work for you, dear!" "I'll plan a simple meal, Mother; one that I can get together in a hurry. In fact I've already planned it." "But, in that case, you couldn't go to the fair with us this afternoon, could you? And it's said to be especially good today." "Why, yes, I could go. I can get the most of my dinner ready this morning. What time would you start?" "At two, I think. Well, Bettina, we'll come, but you must make the meal simple, for we won't be back till six." "Don't worry, Mother."

Bettina hastened to make her preparations, and at half after one her house was in order and she was ready to go. Besides, she was comfortably conscious of a wellfilled larder—cold fried chicken ready and waiting, cold boiled potatoes to be creamed, green corn to be boiled, peaches to be sliced, and delicious chocolate cookies to delight the hearts of the children. "It will take only a few moments," she thought as she arranged the nasturtiums on her dining table, "to set the table, cream the potatoes, boil the corn, slice the peaches and make the tea. And I believe it's the sort of a dinner that will suit them."

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The dinner for state fair guests consisted of: Cold Fried Chicken Creamed Potatoes Corn on the Cob Sliced Peaches Chocolate Cookies Tea Milk

BETTINA'S RECIPES

(All measurements are level) Creamed Potatoes as Bettina Served Them (Six portions) 3 C-cold, cooked potatoes, chopped 2 T-butter 3 T-flour 6 T-grated cheese 1½ C-milk ½ t-salt 1/8 t-pepper

Melt the butter, add the flour and seasoning and mix well; gradually add the milk and cheese. Cook until the consistency of vegetable white sauce (about one minute after it boils). Add the potatoes, cook four minutes, stirring constantly, and serve.

Chocolate Cookies (Three dozen) 1 C-sugar 1/3 C-butter 1 egg ¼ C-milk 2 C-flour ½ t-cinnamon ½ t-salt 3 t-baking powder 1 square chocolate 1 t-vanilla

Cream the butter, add the sugar and cream well. Add alternately the sifted flour, salt, baking powder and egg beaten in milk. Add the melted chocolate and vanilla. Turn out on a floured board and roll a small portion at a time to one-fourth of an inch in thickness. Cut with a floured cooky cutter. Place on a buttered, floured pan and bake in a moderate oven until slightly brown. (About ten minutes.)

CHAPTER XLII

UNCLE JOHN AND AUNT LUCY

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AS Bettina was standing before a beautiful exhibit of honey in the agricultural building, she was startled by a hand upon her shoulder. "Gracious, Uncle John!" she exclaimed. "How you frightened me! But I'm so glad to see you! Where is Aunt Lucy?" "Here, somewhere. You know she took a few prizes herself and is probably hanging around to hear any stray compliments for her butter or preserves." "Aren't you ashamed, John!" said Aunt Lucy, herself appearing like magic. "I was just looking for the queen bee among the others in this glass case." "And here she is!" said Uncle John, laying his hand on Bettina's shoulder, and laughing delightedly at his own joke. "You've been looking in the wrong place." "For that, Uncle John, I'm going to beg you and Aunt Lucy to come home with me to dinner. Won't you? When did you come in?" "This morning, and we're making a day of it. We'd like to see the fireworks this evening, but perhaps we could go to your house and get back again. For that matter, you and Bob could go with us to see the fireworks. How about it?" "Oh, that would be splendid! Bob couldn't come to the fair this afternoon, and I came with a friend." "Well, we'll take you both home in the car. When shall we see you? Five o'clock? Fine! And you and Bob must come back with us this evening."

Dinner that night consisted of:

Broiled Ham Hashed Brown Potatoes Pickled Beets Bread Butter Coffee

BETTINA'S RECIPES

(All measurements are level) Hashed Brown Potatoes (Four portions) 2 C-chopped potatoes ½ t-salt a pinch of pepper 4 T-fat

Put fat in frying-pan, when very hot, add the potatoes, salt and pepper. Cook three minutes, allowing to cook without stirring for two minutes. Fold as an omelet and turn onto a hot platter. Garnish with parsley. Pickled Beets (Four portions) 6 beets 2/3 C-vinegar 2 T-sugar

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