LXII Alice Gives a Luncheon

(All measurements are level) Broiled Lamb Chops (Two portions) 2 lamb chops 1 t-salt ¼ t-paprika

Wipe the chops and place in a red-hot pan over the flame. When the under surface is seared, turn and sear the other side. Turn often for twelve minutes. When nearly cooked, sprinkle with salt and paprika. Escalloped Potatoes (Two portions) 1½ C-raw potatoes, sliced ½ t-salt 1 T-flour ½ C-milk 1 T-butter 1/8 t-paprika 1 T-chopped green pepper

Mix the potatoes, salt, flour, paprika and green pepper. Place in a buttered baking dish or casserole. Pour the milk over the mixture and dot with butter. Put a cover on the dish and allow to cook for half an hour. Remove the cover and allow to cook twenty minutes more. More milk may be added if the mixture is too dry. Egg Plant (Three portions) 1 egg plant 1 t-salt 1 T-egg-yolk 1 T-water ½ C-cracker crumbs 2 T-lard

Peel and slice the egg plant in slices one-half an inch thick. Sprinkle each slice with salt. Place the slices on top and allow to stand for two hours. This drains out the liquid. Wipe each piece with a cloth and dip in the beaten egg-yolk, to which the water has been added. Dip in the cracker crumbs. Place the lard in a frying-pan, and when very hot, add the slices of egg plant. Brown thoroughly on both sides, lower the fire and cook five minutes. Serve on a hot platter with the slices overlapping each other.

Ginger Drop-Cakes (Fifteen cakes) 1 C-molasses ½ C-boiling water 2¼ C-flour 1 t-soda 2 t-ginger ½ t-salt ½ C-chopped raisins 4 T-melted butter

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Put the molasses in a bowl, add the boiling water and the dry ingredients, sifted. Then add the raisins and the melted butter. Beat well for two minutes. Pour into buttered muffin pans, filling the pans one-half full. Bake twenty minutes in a moderate oven.

CHAPTER LXXXIX

SOME CHRISTMAS PLANS

"C HRISTMAS is in the air today, I believe," said Charlotte as she took off her hat and warmed her cold hands at Bettina's open fire. "You ought to see the children around the toys downtown—swarming like flies at the molasses! Still, we ought to think about Thanksgiving before we begin our Christmas plans, I suppose." "I try to get all my Christmas packages ready by Thanksgiving," said Bettina. "Of course, I don't always succeed, but it is a splendid aim to have! There is always so much to do at the last minute—baking and company and candy making! This year we plan to give very few gifts—but to send a card at least to each of our friends. We're racking our brains now to think of something that will be individual —really ours, you know. I think a tiny snapshot of yourself or your home, or your baby or your dog—or even a sprig of holly or a bit of evergreen on a card with a few written words of greeting means more to a friend than all the lovely engraved cards in the world! Of course, some people can draw or paint and make their own —Alice will, I'm sure. One girl I know makes wonderful fruit cake, and she always sends a piece of it, in a little box tied with holly ribbon, to each of her friends. Aren't the little gifts that aren't too hard on one's purse the best after all—especially when they really come straight from the giver, and not merely from the store?" "Bettina, I'll be afraid to send you anything after such an eloquent sermon as this!" "Oh, Charlotte, how you talk! I'm telling you my idea of what a Christmas gift should be, but I'll probably fall far below it myself! Luncheon is ready, dear."

For luncheon Bettina and Mrs. Dixon had: Mutton in Ramekins Rice Peanut Bread Butter Apple Sauce Tokay Grapes Coffee

BETTINA'S RECIPES

(All measurements are level) Mutton in Ramekins (Three portions)

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1½ C-cold mutton 2/3 C-brown gravy ½ t-salt 1 t-chopped mint 1 egg-yolk 1 egg-white, beaten stiff

Mix the mutton, gravy, salt, mint and egg-yolk thoroughly. Add the egg-white. Turn into well-buttered ramekins or china baking dishes. Bake in a moderate oven in a pan of hot water for twenty-five minutes. Serve in the ramekins. Rice (Three portions) ½ C-rice 2 qts. boiling water 1 t-salt 1 T-butter

Wash the rice, add slowly to the boiling salted water. Boil twenty minutes. Pour the rice in a strainer and rinse with cold water. Place in the oven for five minutes to dry. Serve warm, dotted with butter. Peanut Bread (Twelve slices) 2 C-flour 4 t-baking powder ½ t-salt 4 T-"C" sugar 1 egg ½ C-chopped peanuts ¾ C-milk

Mix thoroughly the flour, baking powder, salt, sugar and peanuts. Add the egg and milk. Stir vigorously two minutes. Place in a well-buttered bread pan, and bake thirty-five minutes in a moderate oven.

CHAPTER XC

AFTER THE FOOTBALL GAME

"T HERE are the men now," said Mrs. Dixon, rolling up the hose she had been darning. "Good!" said Bettina. "The dinner is just ready for them, and I'm glad they didn't keep us waiting." "Hello! Hello!" shouted Frank and Bob, letting in a gust of cold air as they opened the door. "Whew! It's cold!" "How was the game?" "Fine! 39 to 0 in favor of Blake!"

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