LXI A Rainy Night Meal

Do not cut sponge cake; it should be broken apart with a fork.

CHAPTER LXXXVII

RUTH COMES TO LUNCHEON

"B

ETTINA, what makes the gas stove pop like that when I light it? I've often wondered." "Why, Ruth, that's because you apply the match too soon. You ought to allow the gas to flow for about four seconds; that fills all the little holes with gas and blows out the air. Then light it, and it won't pop or go out. The flame ought to burn blue; if it burns yellow, turn it off, and adjust it again." "Well, I'm glad to know that. Sometimes it has been all right and sometimes it hasn't, and I never realized that it was because I applied the match too soon. I'm glad I came today." "I'm glad, too, but not because of instructing you, I'm not competent to do that in very many things, goodness knows! When I called up and asked you to lunch, it was because I had such a longing to see what lovely things you'd be making today. You will have the daintiest, prettiest trousseau, Ruth!" "I love to embroider, so I'm getting great fun out of it. I tell Fred it's a treat to make pretty things and keep them all! They were usually for gifts before! Oh, lobster salad?" "No, creamed lobster on toast. There, Mister Lobster, you're out of your can. I always hurry him out in double-quick time onto a plate, or into an earthen-ware dish, because I'm so afraid something might interrupt me, and I'd be careless enough to leave him in the opened can! Though I know I never could be so careless. Then I never leave a metal fork standing in lobster or canned fish. It's a bad thing." "I knew about the can, but not about the fork, though I don't believe I ever do leave a fork or a spoon in anything like that." "Would you prefer tea, coffee, or chocolate with these cookies for dessert?" "Coffee, I believe, Bettina. Aren't they cunning cookies! What are they?" "Peanut cookies. I think they are good, and they are so simple to make. They are nice with afternoon tea; mother often serves them. There—lunch is all ready but the coffee, and we'll have that last."

Luncheon consisted of:

Creamed Lobster on Toast Head Lettuce French Dressing with Green Peppers

[281]

[282]

Bread Butter Peanut Cookies Coffee

BETTINA'S RECIPES

(All measurements are level) Creamed Lobster on Toast (Two portions) 2/3 C-lobster 2 T-butter A few grains of cayenne pepper 1/3 t-salt 2 T-flour 1 C-milk ½ t-lemon juice 1 egg-yolk 3 slices of toast

Melt the butter, add the salt, cayenne and flour. Gradually add the milk, cook until thick, stirring constantly unless in double boiler. Add the egg-yolk. Add the lobster, separated with a fork, and the lemon juice. Serve very hot on toast, garnished with parsley.

Head Lettuce (Two portions) 1 head lettuce

Remove the outside leaves and the core. Soak in cold water with one-half teaspoon salt in it, with the head of the lettuce down. Cut into quarters. Serve a quarter as a portion. French Dressing with Green Peppers (Two portions) ½ t-salt ¼ t-pepper 2 T-vinegar 4 T-olive oil 2 T-chopped green peppers

Mix the salt, pepper, and green pepper. Add the vinegar. Beat well and add the olive oil slowly. Beat with a silver fork until the dressing thickens. Peanut Cookies (Two dozen) ½ C-sugar 3 T-butter 1 egg 1 t-baking powder ¼ t-salt 1 C-flour ½ C-chopped peanuts ½ t-lemon juice

[283]

Cream the butter, add the sugar, mix well, and add well-beaten egg. Add the baking-powder, salt, flour, chopped peanuts, and lemon juice. Mix thoroughly, and drop two inches apart on a greased baking-tin or in pans. Bake fifteen minutes in a moderate oven.

CHAPTER LXXXVIII

THE HICKORY LOG

"S

AY, this feels good!" said Bob, as he warmed his hands by the cheerful blaze. "Doesn't it!" said Bettina, enthusiastically. "And see, I've set the dinner table here by the fireplace. It's such fun when just the two of us are here. Isn't the log burning well?" "I wondered if we could use one of our new logs tonight—thought about it all the way home. And here you had already tried it! November has turned so much colder that I believe winter is coming." "So do I, but I don't mind, I don't want a warm Thanksgiving." "Dinner ready? M—m, what's that? Lamb chops? Escalloped potatoes? Smells good!" "Come on, dear! After dinner, we'll try those nuts we left so long out at Uncle John's. Do you think they're dry enough by this time? Charlotte phoned me that they had tried theirs, and found them fine. By the way, she and Frank may come over this evening." "Hope they do. Listen—I hear a car outside now." "Sure enough, that's Frank and Charlotte. Go to the door, Bob! We'll persuade them to eat dessert with us.... Hello, people! Come in; you're just in time to have some tea and a ginger drop-cake apiece." "That's what we came for, Bettina!" shouted Frank, laughing. "And then you must come out in the car with us. It's a beautiful, clear, cold night, and you'll enjoy it—if you take plenty of wraps!"

For dinner that night Bettina served: Lamb Chops Escalloped Potatoes Egg Plant Bread Butter Ginger Drop-Cakes Tea

BETTINA'S RECIPES

[284]

[285]