LXXV The Wedding Invitations

Bettina, isn't it terrible? But you can't get any meal at all without paying for it, can you? I really do dread having Harry get the first month's grocery bill, though." "You ought not to have to say that, Alice," said Bettina, laughing nevertheless. "Why don't you have an allowance, and pay the grocery bill yourself?" "Because I know I could never manage to pay it," said Alice, making a little face. "I do love to have perfect little meals and cooking is such fun, but you just can't have things right without having them expensive; I've found that out. Last night we had a simple enough dinner—a very good steak with French fried potatoes and creamed asparagus on toast. Then a fruit salad with mayonnaise and steamed suet pudding and coffee. Harry said everything was perfect, but——" "I'm sure it was, Alice. You are so clever at everything you do. But wasn't that expensive for just a home dinner for two? Steak and creamed asparagus! And mayonnaise is so expensive! Then think of the gas you use, too!" "I didn't think of the gas," said Alice ruefully. "I thought of Harry's likes, and of variety, and of a meal that balanced well. But not much about economy. I'll have to consult you, Bettina. I'll tell you: Couldn't I plan my menus ahead for a week, and bring them over to you to criticise? That would be fun, and I'm sure you could teach me a great deal." "I'd love to have you, Alice," smiled Bettina.

For luncheon Bettina served: Chicken Loaf Creamed Potatoes Baking Powder Biscuits Cranberry jelly Caramel Custard Whipped Cream Coffee

BETTINA'S RECIPES

(All measurements are level) Chicken Loaf (Two portions) ½ C-cooked chicken ½ C-ground, cooked veal ½ C-soft bread crumbs ½ t-salt 1/8 t-celery salt

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1 t-chopped parsley 1 egg ½ C-milk

Mix the chicken, veal and bread crumbs. Add the salt, celery salt, parsley, egg and milk. Mix thoroughly. Bake in a well-buttered pan thirty minutes in a moderate oven.

Caramel Custard (Two portions) 1 C-milk 3 egg 4 T-sugar 1/8 t-salt ¼ t-vanilla

Melt the sugar to a light brown syrup in a sauce pan over a hot fire, add the milk and cook until free from lumps. Beat the egg, sugar, salt and vanilla, and pour the liquid slowly into the egg mixture. Pour into buttered moulds. Set the moulds in a pan of hot water and bake in a moderate oven until the custard is firm (about forty minutes). Do not let the water in the pan reach the boiling point during the process of baking.

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CHAPTER CV

RUTH STAYS TO DINNER

"S

EE, Ruth, it's snowing harder—a perfect blizzard. That means that you'll have to stay to dinner." "I'm only too glad to find an excuse, Bettina, but you must remember that I'll have to get back some time, and I suppose that now is best." "Well, Bob will take you after dinner. See, I've put on a place for you." "That's fine, Bettina, and I suppose I may as well stay. I've been anxious to ask you what you were putting in the oven just as I came in." "A dish of tomatoes, cheese and rice baked together; Bob is fond of it. You know I almost always plan to have two or more oven dishes if I am using the oven at all, and tonight I was making baked veal steak." "I learned something new yesterday, Bettina, that I have been anxious to tell you. Mother was preparing cabbage for cold slaw (she always chops it, you know), and it suddenly occurred to her that she might easily use the large meat grinder. So she did, and the slaw was delicious. I would have supposed that the juice would be pressed out in the grinding, but it wasn't."

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"I must remember that. I suppose that other people may have thought of it, but I never have, and I'm glad to know that it works so well." "I believe I hear Bob, Bettina. He must be cold, for it is snowing and blowing harder every minute." "Well, I'm glad I started the fire in the fireplace. There's nothing like an open fire."

For dinner that night Bettina served: Baked Veal Steak Baked Tomato, Cheese and Rice Bread Butter Tapioca and Date Pudding Cream Coffee

BETTINA'S RECIPES

(All measurements are level) Baked Veal Steak (Three portions) 1 slice of veal steak (three-fourths of a pound, onehalf inch thick) 3 T-flour 1 t-salt ¼ t-paprika 2 T-bacon fat 2 T-water

Wipe the veal and cut off any rind. Mix the flour, salt and paprika. Roll the steak thoroughly in this mixture. Place the bacon fat in the frying-pan and when hot add the meat and brown thoroughly on both sides. Place the drippings and the meat in a small baking pan. Add the water, cover, and place in the oven. Cook one hour. More water may be added if necessary. Baked Tomato, Cheese and Rice (Three portions) 1 C-cooked rice 1/3 C-tomatoes 4 T-cheese, cut fine 1 T-pimento 1 t-salt ¼ t-paprika 1 T-flour ½ C-milk 1 T-melted butter ¼ C-cracker or bread crumbs

Mix the rice and flour, and add the tomatoes, cheese, salt and paprika. Add the milk. Pour into a well-buttered baking dish. Melt the butter and add the crumbs.

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