LXIX A Luncheon in the Country

CHAPTER XCVI

SOME OF BETTINA'S CHRISTMAS PLANS

"T O-NIGHT," said Bettina at the dinner table, "I expect to finish three Christmas gifts—one for Alice, one for Mary and one for Eleanor. Now aren't you curious to know what I've been making?" "Curiosity is no name for it," said Bob, "but I'm even more curious to know what particular thing it is that makes this ham so tender. Is it baked? Anyhow, it's the best I have ever eaten." "Thank you," said Bettina, "but you always say that about sliced ham, no matter how it is cooked. But this is a little different. It is baked in milk." "Great, anyhow," said Bob. "Now tell me about your conspiracy with Santa Claus." "Well, I am making for Alice an indexed set of recipes—a card index. All the recipes are just for two, and they are all tried and true." "Just for two, Tried and true— Sent, with Betty's love, to you." echoed Bob. "You can write that on the card that goes with it." "I shall have you think what to say on all the gifts, Bob. I must show you the box of cards. It is only a correspondence-card box, with the white cards to fit, but I'm sure that Alice will like her new cook book. Then for Mary and Eleanor I have made card-table covers. Mary's is of white Indian head—just a square of it, bound with white tape and with white tape at the corners for tying it to the table. It is to have a white monogram. Eleanor's is linen-colored and is bound in green with a green monogram. Hers is finished and I shall finish Mary's this evening—that is, if you will read to me while I work!" "Hurray!" said Bob. "What shall I read? Mark Twain?"

For dinner that night they had: Baked Ham Baked Potatoes Corn Bread Butter Cranberry Sauce

BETTINA'S RECIPES

(All measurements are level) Baked Ham (Three portions) 2/3 lb. slice of ham one inch thick 1 C-milk

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1 T-flour 1 T-water

Cover the ham with boiling water and let it stand ten minutes. Remove from the pan, and place the ham in a pan just large enough to hold it. Cover with the milk. Place in a moderate oven and bake thirty minutes. More milk may be added if necessary. When the ham is done, add more liquid (enough to make one-half a cup). Mix flour with water. Add the hot milk to this slowly. Heat and cook one minute. Serve with the ham. Corn Bread (Three portions) ½ C-corn meal 2/3 C-flour 3 T-sugar 2 t-baking powder ½ t-salt 1 egg-yolk 2/3 C-milk 1 T-melted butter

Mix the corn meal, flour, sugar, baking powder and salt thoroughly. Add the egg-yolk and milk, and beat two minutes. Add the melted butter. Mix well. Pour into a well buttered square cake pan. Bake in a moderate oven twenty minutes. Cranberry Sauce (Four portions) 1 qt. cranberries 2 C-sugar 2 C-water

Look over and wash the cranberries. Cook them in the water until they are soft and the skins are broken. Remove from the fire, add the sugar and stir well. Cook three minutes. Pour into a mould which has been dipped in cold water.

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CHAPTER XCVII

MORE OF BETTINA'S CHRISTMAS SHOPPING

"B

OB," said Bettina, as she served the plum pudding, "Christmas is in the very air these days!" "Did the Christmas spirit inspire this plum pudding?" said he. "Blessings on the head of Santa Claus! But why your outburst?" "Because today I went shopping in earnest! I bought the very things that seem most Christmassy: tissue paper, white and green, gold cord, a ball of red twine, Santa Claus and holly stickers, and the cards to tie to the packages. I love to wrap up Christmas things!"

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"And are most of your gifts ready to be wrapped?" "No, not all, for some of them can't be made till the last minute. For instance, I thought and thought about Uncle Eric's gift! I want so much to please him, but he has everything that money can buy except perhaps a cook that suits him. Finally I decided to send him a box containing a jar of spiced peaches, a jar of Russian dressing, a little round fruit cake, and a box of fudge. The things will all be wrapped with tissue paper, and gold cord and holly——" "Lucky Uncle Eric!" sighed Bob. "I wish Santa Claus would bring me a Christmas box like that—fruit cake and spiced peaches and Russian dressing——" "Maybe he will if you're very good!" laughed Bettina. "If you eat everything your cook sets before you." "Tell me something hard to do!" said Bob, with enthusiasm. For dinner that night they had:

Escalloped Eggs and Cheese Baked Potatoes Currant Jelly Rolls Plum Pudding with Yellow Sauce Coffee

BETTINA'S RECIPES

(All measurements are level) Escalloped Eggs with Cheese (Three portions) 3 hard-cooked eggs 2 T-butter 2 T-flour 1 C-milk 1 C-soft bread crumbs 2 C-cheese, cut fine 1 t-salt 1 t-parsley

Melt the butter, add the flour and mix well. Gradually add the milk. Cook one minute, add the cheese and the eggs cut in slices. Add the parsley and the salt. Place one-half the crumbs in the bottom of a well-buttered baking dish, add the egg mixture and cover with the remaining crumbs. Dot with butter, and brown in a moderate oven.

Bettina's Plum Pudding (Four portions) 1 C-fresh bread crumbs ¼ C-suet, chopped fine ½ t-soda 1/8 t-ground cloves ½ t-ground cinnamon 1/8 t-salt

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