Escalloped Eggs and CheeseBaked Potatoes Currant JellyRollsPlum Pudding with Yellow SauceCoffee
BETTINA'S RECIPES
(All measurements are level)
Escalloped Eggs with Cheese(Three portions)
3 hard-cooked eggs2T-butter2T-flour1C-milk1C-soft bread crumbs2C-cheese, cut fine1t-salt1t-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)
1C-fresh bread crumbs¼C-suet, chopped fine½t-soda1/8t-ground cloves½t-ground cinnamon1/8t-salt1t-baking powder¼C-molasses1 egg1/3C-milk4T-raisins4T-nuts
Mix the bread crumbs, suet, soda, cloves, cinnamon, salt and baking powder. Add the raisins cut fine, and the nuts. Break the egg into the molasses, beat well, and add the milk. Mix with the first ingredients. Stir and mix thoroughly. Fill a well-buttered pudding mould one-half full. Steam one and a half hours, and serve with yellow sauce.
Yellow Sauce(Four portions)
1 egg¼C-powdered sugar1T-milk½t-vanilla
Beat the egg white until stiff and dry. Add the yolk and beat one minute. Add the powdered sugar and continue beating. Add the milk gradually and the vanilla. Continue beating for one minute. Serve at once over a hot pudding.
CHRISTMAS GIFTS
"SPEAKING of Christmas gifts," said Charlotte, "wouldn't anyone be delighted to receive a little jar of your Russian dressing, Bettina?"
"I'm sure I'd like it!" said Frank Dixon. "Much better than a pink necktie or a white gift book called 'Thoughts at Christmas-Tide!'"
"Mary Owen makes candied orange peel for all of her friends," said Bettina, "and I think that is so nice, for hers is delicious! She saves candy boxes through the year, and all of her close friends receive the same gift with Mary's card. We all know what to expect from her, and we are all delighted, too. And you see she doesn't have to worry over different gifts for each one. I do think Christmas is growing more sensible, don't you?"
"My sister in South Carolina sends out her Christmas gifts a few weeks early," said Frank. "She sends boxes of mistletoe to everyone. They seem to be welcome, too. By the way, Bob, did you and Bettina decide on your Christmas cards?"
"Yes," said Bob, "and they are partly ready. But we are waiting to get a little picture of the bungalow with snow on the roof—a winter picture seems most appropriate—and the snow isn't forthcoming! The weather man seems to be all upset this year."
"Charlotte has been making some small calendars to send out," said Frank. "She has used her kodak pictures, and I'mafraid they're mostly of me! I don't know what some of my friends will say when they see me with an apron around my neck, seeding cherries!"
"They'll be surprised, anyhow," said Charlotte. "I rather like that picture myself!"
For dinner that night Bettina served:
Escalloped Oysters Baked PotatoesHead Lettuce Russian DressingBaking Powder Biscuits Apple JellyPrune Whip CreamCoffee
BETTINA'S RECIPES
(All measurements are level)
Escalloped Oysters(Four portions)
2C-oysters2C-cracker crumbs3T-melted butter1t-salt¼t-pepper1½C-milk
Look over the oysters carefully and remove any particles of shell. To the melted butter add salt, pepper and cracker crumbs. Place a layer of crumbs in the bottom of a well buttered baking dish, and add the oysters and more crumbs until the dish is filled. Pour the milk over the oysters and crackers. Bake twenty minutes in a moderate oven.
Russian Dressing(Four portions)
1C-salad dressing1t-chopped pimento1t-chopped green pepper1t-vinegar½t-paprika¼t-salt½C-olive oil½C-chili sauce
To the cup of salad dressing, add the oil, chili sauce, seasonings, vinegar and finely chopped vegetables. Beat two minutes. Pour over head lettuce.
Prune Whip(Four portions)
1/3lb.prunes3 egg-whites1T-lemon juice½C-sugar
Look over and wash the prunes. Soak for three hours incold water. Cook until soft. Rub through a strainer, and add the sugar and lemon juice. Cook this mixture for five minutes. Beat the egg whites until very stiff, and add the prunes when cold. Pile lightly into a buttered baking dish and bake twenty minutes in a slow oven. Serve with cream.
A CHRISTMAS SHOWER
"DEAR Bettina," wrote Polly, "somehow I never do like to write letters—certainly not at this busiest time of the year!—but I simply must tell you about a luncheon that Elizabeth Carter and I gave the other day for one of our holiday brides. (Angeline Carey; do you remember her? A dear girl—rather quiet, but with plenty of good common sense.)
"We had a large Christmas table (aren't they simple and effective?), with a Christmas tree in the center, strung with tiny electric lights, and hung with tinsel and ornaments. Strings of red Christmas bells stretched from the chandelier above the table to the four corners. The favors at each place were several kinds,—Santas, little Christmas trees, snow men and sleds, all of them concealing at their bases the boxes holding the salted nuts. The place-cards were simply Christmas cards.
"Before the guest of honor stood a small Santa, larger, however, than any of the other Santas, and in his hands were the ends of twenty or more narrow green ribbons, each leading to a separate shower-package at the base of the tree. These packages (it was a miscellaneous shower) made an interesting-looking heap, but we didn't ask Angeline to open them until we had reached the salad course. Then she drew each one toward her by the end of a ribbon, opened it, and read the verse on the gift. You have no idea how clever some ofthe gifts and verses were! Margaret McLaughlin—do you remember her?—had dressed a dishmop in two tea towels, making the funniest old woman! This she introduced as Bridget, Angeline's cook-to-be! One of the girls who sketches cleverly had illustrated her card with pictures of Angeline in her kitchen.
"But I am forgetting our table decorations! We had furnished four rooms for Angeline, doll size, and the furniture of each was grouped along the table. Besides the living room, bedroom, dining room and kitchen, we presented Angeline and Dean with an auto (in miniature, of course), a cow, a horse, several ducks and chickens, a ferocious dog and a sleepy cat. Weren't we good to them? And lo and behold! beside the auto stood Dean himself, disguised as a little china kewpie man; while Angeline, always a lady, stood gracefully in the living room and refused to help him with his menial tasks, or to assist Nora, who was hanging out the clothes in the back yard. Angeline was a kewpie, dressed in style.
"We had the greatest fun finding and arranging these decorations! And now I must tell you about the luncheon itself. I'm even enclosing our recipes, for I know you'll be interested...."
"Hello, there, Bettina!" called Bob at this moment, coming in with a rush, "is dinner ready? What do you suppose I've done? I've absolutely forgotten to send a Christmas gift to Aunt Elizabeth, and I know she'll feel hurt. Will you go with me after dinner to get it?"
Polly's luncheon menu was as follows:
A CHRISTMAS SHOWER
Grapefruit with Maraschino CherriesChicken Croquettes Candied Sweet PotatoesCreamed PeasLight Rolls ButterCranberry JellyVegetable Salad Salad DressingSanta Claus SandwichesChocolate Ice Cream a la TannenbaumChristmas White CakeSalted Nuts Coffee Candy Canes
"I wish, Bettina," Polly's letter continued, "that you might have seen the cunning sandwiches that we served with the salad. They were cut with a star-shaped cooky cutter, and on each one was perched a tiny Santa Claus. The sandwiches were arranged on a tray decorated with Christmas tree branches.
"And now comes the dessert. The chocolate ice cream was served in small flower pots lined with waxed paper, and in each flower pot grew a miniature Christmas tree. Around the base of the tree, whipped cream was heaped to represent snow. They were really very cunning.
"Served with the ice cream was a large round white cake decorated very elaborately with icing bells and holly. On the top was placed a real candy bell, large and red. This cake was carried in to Angeline to cut. Around the base, inside the cake, were twenty tiny favors wrapped in waxed paper. They were of all sorts: pipes, canoes, flat irons, animals, birds, many things, but all very tiny. Narrow white bows tied on each favor indicated its position in the cake so that the pieces could be cut to give each guest a favor. Angeline cut her piece first and drew her favor by pulling the little white ribbon. It was really great fun drawing and unwrapping the favors, and the girls tried to interpret the meaning of each. Mary Katherine, Angeline's younger sister, drew the ring, and delightedly proclaimed that she would be the next bride. At this the girls looked a little doubtful, for at the table were no less than six engaged girls besides Angeline. Mary Katherine may fool them—who knows?—but I hope not, for she is far too young and silly to 'settle down' for many years.
"With the coffee we served striped candy canes.
"Well, Betty, I believe I've told you everything about our Christmas luncheon. Do write me soon again, for I love to get your letters. Stir Bob up to write occasionally; he has forgotten his sister—now that he has a wife.
"Yours always,"Polly."
BETTINA'S RECIPES
(All measurements are level)
Chicken Croquettes(Twenty-five croquettes)
A 3-lb.chicken, cooked and cut fine1lb.lean veal, cooked and cut fine4T-chopped green pepper½t-paprika2t-salt1C-chicken fat½C-flour1T-salt2C-milk2 eggs3T-water3C-cracker crumbs
Melt the chicken fat. Add the flour and salt and mix well. Gradually add the milk, stirring constantly. When the mixture gets thick and creamy, allow it to cook, with an asbestos mat under the pan, for five minutes. This cooks the flour thoroughly. Beat one minute to make it creamy. Add the chicken, veal, green pepper, paprika and salt. Allow the mixture to cool. Take one tablespoon of the cooled mixture, and dip in the beaten egg to which the water has been added. Dip in the crumbs and shape any desired shape, preferably conical. Allow the croquettes to stand at least one hour before frying. Fry in deep fat and drain on brown paper. Keep hot in the oven until serving.
Vegetable Salad(Twenty portions)
10 tomatoes2t-salt1t-paprika1C-cottage cheese1C-pimentoes, cut in strips½C-green pepper, cut in strips20 pieces of lettuce2C-salad dressing½C-oil from the canned pimento½C-whipped cream
Arrange the lettuce leaves (washed) on salad plates. Place one slice of tomato, two slices of pimento and two slices of green pepper on each. Sprinkle the vegetables with pepper and salt. Add two teaspoons of cottage cheese. Place one teaspoon of salad dressing on each portion.
To prepare the salad dressing, mix boiled dressing and pimento oil together and then add the whipped cream. Mix well, and pile attractively on the salad.
BETTINA GIVES A DINNER
"THE Christmas feeling is everywhere now!" said Bettina, as she arranged a small artificial fir tree in the center of the table. "It may be a little early, but I can't keep from using Christmas decorations to-night. Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum, you look wonderfully festive with snow at your foot and your branches strung with tinsel and ornaments! All that you lack is candles, but I shall use my red shaded candles on the table instead. Let me see, everything is ready, even to the biscuits which are in the ice box waiting to be popped in the oven when the guests arrive. The salad is mixed and waiting, and that Washington pie does look delicious! I'm glad I made it, for Bob is so fond of it. Wonder why Bob doesn't come! I want him to see the table and the tree before the others get here! And build up the fire in the fireplace. It's snowing hard outside, and I want it to be warm and cozy inside. There's someone! Well, off goes my apron!"
The "someone" proved to be Bob, who came in, very pink as to his face, and very white as to his snow-covered shoulders.
"It's growing colder every minute!" said Bob. "Well, a Christmas table! I like that! Makes a fellow feel festive!"
"I couldn't resist the spirit of Christmas," said Bettina.
"I couldn't, either," said Bob, taking a half-dozen gorgeous yellow chrysanthemums from their wrappings. "So I bought you an early Christmas gift. Like 'em?"
For dinner, Bettina served:
Pork Tenderloins Candied Sweet PotatoesCreamed CauliflowerBaking Powder Biscuits ButterCurrant JellyOrange and Cherry Salad WafersWashington Pie Coffee
BETTINA'S RECIPES
(All measurements are level)
Orange and Cherry Salad(Two portions)
2 oranges½C-white cherries½C-diced celery1/8t-salt½C-salad dressing
Remove the white membrane from the pulp of two oranges, and cut each section into half, crosswise. Add the seeded cherries, celery and salt. Mix thoroughly. Add the salad dressing, and serve very cold on lettuce leaves.
Washington Pie(Six portions)
11/3C-sugar3 eggs½C-water½t-lemon extract2C-flour2t-baking powder
Beat the egg-yolks five minutes, add the sugar and beat three minutes. Add the water, lemon extract, flour and baking powder. Mix thoroughly. Fold in the beaten egg whites very carefully. Bake twenty-five minutes in two round shallow pans in a moderate oven. When cool, put the following filling between the layers. Sprinkle the top with powdered sugar.
Cream Filling for Washington Pie
2/3C-sugar1/3C-flour½t-salt1½C-milk1 egg-yolk½t-vanilla½t-lemon extract
Mix thoroughly the sugar, salt and flour. Gradually add the milk, stirring constantly. Pour into the top of a double boiler, and cook until very thick. Add the egg-yolk, vanilla and lemon extract, and cook two minutes. Beat until creamy and cool. Spread on the cake. Serve Washington pie with whipped cream if desired.
BOB'S CHRISTMAS GIFT TO BETTINA
BOB had walked home from the office through the falling snow—and it was no short distance—with thought for neither snow nor distance. He was distinctly worried,—Christmas only two weeks off, the first Christmas since he and Bettina had been married, and as yet he had no idea what sort of a Christmas gift he ought to purchase for his wife. What did she need? Unfortunately he had heard her say only a few days ago that she didn't need a thing. What did she secretly long for? A glass baking dish! Shucks, what an unromantic present! Surely Bettina had been teasing him when she mentioned such a prosy gift as that! Well, if he didn't have some inspiration by the day before Christmas there would be nothing to do but get her violets, or candy, or perhaps some silly book that she didn't want.
"Hello, Bob!" said a voice almost at his feet.
"Say Mister Bob, Billy," another voice corrected severely.
"Hello, Jacky! Good evening, Marjorie! Coasting good?"
"Oh, pretty good. You don't know what we've got at our house!"
"Four Angora kittens!" interrupted Marjorie eagerly, before Bob had a chance to guess. "Four whole kittens. Can't see a thing, though, but they'll learn after a while! We're going to sell three of 'em, and keep one, and——"
"See here, Marjorie!" exclaimed Bob. "I'd like to buy one myself, for a Christmas present to some one! How about it? You ask your mother to save one for me—I'll stop in tomorrow morning and talk to her about it. Could you take care of it for me till Christmas morning?"
And Bob strode on with a happy grin on his face. Wouldn't Bettina laugh at the idea of an Angora kitten!
For dinner that night Bettina served:
Beef Steak Baked PotatoesCauliflower in Cream Cranberry Jelly MouldsBread ButterBurnt Sugar Cake Confectioner's IcingCoffee
BETTINA'S RECIPES
(All measurements are level)
Cranberry Jelly(Three portions)
2C-cranberries2/3C-water¾C-sugar
Look over the cranberries, removing any stems and soft berries. Add the water and cook until the skins have burst and all the berries are soft. Press through a strainer, removing all the pulp. Add the sugar to the pulp, and cook until the mixture is thick, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. When the jelly stands up on a plate it is done. Pour into moulds (preferably of china or glass) which have been wet with cold water.
Burnt Sugar Cake(Sixteen pieces)
½C-butter1½C-sugar2 eggs¼t-salt2½C-flour4t-baking powder1C-boiling water1t-vanilla
Caramelize two-thirds of a cup of sugar. When the sugar is melted and reaches the light brown or the "caramel" stage, add the water. Cook until the sugar is thoroughly dissolved in the water. Allow it to cool. Cream the butter, add the rest of the uncooked sugar, and then add the egg-yolks. Mix well. Add the salt, flour, baking-powder, vanilla and the cooled liquid. Beat two minutes and add the egg-whites stiffly beaten. Pour into two pans prepared with buttered paper. Bake twenty-five minutes in a moderate oven. Ice with confectioner's icing.
Confectioner's Icing(Sixteen portions)
2T-cream or milk½t-vanilla1T-carmelized syrup or maple syrup1½C-powdered sugar
Mix the cream, vanilla and syrup. Add the sugar (sifted) until the right consistency to spread. Spread carefully between the layers and on the top. Set aside to cool, and to allow the icing to "set." (More sugar may be needed in making the icing.)
A CHRISTMAS BREAKFAST
OF course a tiny Christmas tree was the centerpiece on Bettina's breakfast table, set for a nine o'clock family breakfast. All of the Christmas gifts except those that were too large were grouped around the base of the tree. Bettina refused to allow even Bob to have a peep at the gifts until the guests, Father, Mother, Uncle John and Aunt Lucy, had arrived.
"Now, don't you give us too much to eat, Bettina," laughed Father. "I know your mother has been making some mighty elaborate preparations for dinner at home, and you must leave us with an appetite."
"Well, you won't have any appetite left if you eat all you want of these waffles of mine!" exclaimed Bob, coming in from the kitchen with a spoon in his hand and an apron tied around his neck.
"Go back to the kitchen, Cook!" said Uncle John. "We don't want to see you, but we're willing to taste your waffles. Bring 'em on!"
"First," said Bettina, "we'll eat our grapefruit. Then we'll open our packages, and then, Bob, you can help me serve the rest of our Christmas breakfast."
"Come on!" said Uncle John. "Then I'll be Santa Claus and deliver the presents!"
For breakfast Bettina served:
Grapefruit with Maraschino CherriesOatmeal and Dates Whipped CreamHam Cooked with Milk Creamed PotatoesMuffins Orange MarmaladeWaffles Maple SyrupCoffee
BETTINA'S RECIPES
(All measurements are level)
Oatmeal with Dates(Six portions)
1C-oatmeal1½C-water1t-salt½C-dates, cut fine
Mix the oatmeal, salt and water, and cook directly over the fire for three minutes. Add the dates, put in the fireless, and cook all night. Serve with unsweetened whipped cream.
Ham Cooked in Milk(Four portions)
1lb.ham (a slice two-thirds of an inch thick)1C-milk
Pour boiling water over the ham, and allow it to stand ten minutes. Remove the ham, and place in the frying-pan. Add the milk, and allow to cook slowly for twenty-five minutes. Remove from the milk and garnish with parsley.
Muffins(Twelve muffins)
2C-flour4t-baking powder1/3C-sugar½t-salt1 egg1C-milk2t-melted butter
Mix the flour, baking powder, sugar and salt. Add the egg, beaten, and milk, and beat two minutes. Add the melted butter. Fill well-buttered muffin pans one-half full. Bake twenty minutes in a moderate oven.
Waffles(Six portions)
1¾C-flour2T-sugar1t-salt3t-baking powder2 well-beaten eggs¾C-milk1T-melted butter
Mix and sift the flour, sugar, salt and baking-powder. Add the eggs and milk. Beat two minutes. Add the butter. Bake in well-greased waffle irons.
A SUPPER FOR TWO
"WELL, this is something like it!" said Bob, as he sat down to dinner one evening several days after Christmas. "A good plain meal again. I'm so tired of Christmas trees and Christmas flowers and Christmas food that I don't believe I'll care to see any more of them till—well, next year."
"Everything is put away now," said Bettina. "All the presents are in their permanent places. Except Fluff," she added, glancing at the Persian kitten cuddled in an arm chair. "I couldn't put Fluff away, and don't care to. Isn't he a darling? Just the very touch that the living room needed to make it absolutely homelike!"
"Well," said Bob, "we did need a cat, but I think we need a dog, too. About next spring I'll get one, if I can find one to suit me."
"Oh, Bob, won't a dog be a nuisance? And destructive? And do you suppose Fluff could endure one?"
"Fluff can learn to endure one," Bob said. "Every home ought to have a dog in it. Oh, we'll get a good dog some day, Bettina, if I keep my eyes open."
"Have another muffin," said Bettina. "They'll do to change the subject. Some day I may long for a dog, too, but just now—well, Fluff seems to be a pet enough for one house."
For supper that night they had:
Bettina's Scrambled Eggs Creamed PotatoesCorn Gems Plum ButterHickory Nut Cake Confectioner's IcingCoffee
BETTINA'S RECIPES
(All measurements are level)
Bettina's Scrambled Eggs(Two portions)
2 eggs1t-onions, cut fine1/8t-celery salt1T-chopped pimento1T-green pepper, chopped2T-ham, cooked and cut fine2T-milk½T-butter1/3t-salt1/8t-paprika
Melt the butter in a frying-pan, and when hot, add the onions, pimento and green pepper. Let cook slowly one minute. Beat the egg, add the milk, celery salt, salt, paprika and chopped ham. Add the mixture to that in the frying-pan. Cook, stirring until it is thick and creamy. (About two minutes.) Serve immediately on a hot platter.
Corn Gems(Six gems)
½C-corn meal3T-sugar½C-white flour2t-baking powder¼t-salt1 egg½C-milk1T-melted butter
Mix the cornmeal, sugar, flour, baking-powder, salt, egg and milk. Beat two minutes. Pour into well-buttered muffin pans, filling each half full. Bake twenty minutes in a moderate oven.
Simpler meals and wiser buying,——More of planning,—less of hurry,——More of smiling,—less of sighing,——More of fun, and less of worry,In this New Year's Resolution,Trouble finds a swift solution.
Woman with letters at left hand and cherub at right
ALICE COMES TO LUNCHEON
Two women chatting at a table
"IDO love to cook!" exclaimed Alice enthusiastically.
"And we have had such delicious meals since we began to keep house, if I do say it! But oh, the bills, the bills! 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 everythingyou 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 PotatoesBaking Powder Biscuits Cranberry jellyCaramel Custard Whipped CreamCoffee
BETTINA'S RECIPES
(All measurements are level)
Chicken Loaf(Two portions)
½C-cooked chicken½C-ground, cooked veal½C-soft bread crumbs½t-salt1/8t-celery salt1t-chopped parsley1 egg½C-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)
1C-milk3 egg4T-sugar1/8t-salt¼t-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. Beatthe 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.
RUTH STAYS TO DINNER
"SEE, 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."
"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 SteakBaked Tomato, Cheese and RiceBread ButterTapioca and Date Pudding CreamCoffee
BETTINA'S RECIPES
(All measurements are level)
Baked Veal Steak(Three portions)
1 slice of veal steak (three-fourths of a pound, one-half inch thick)3T-flour1t-salt¼t-paprika2T-bacon fat2T-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)
1C-cooked rice1/3C-tomatoes4T-cheese, cut fine1T-pimento1t-salt¼t-paprika1T-flour½C-milk1T-melted butter¼C-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. Spread the buttered crumbs on the rice mixture. Bake in a moderate oven for twenty-five minutes.
Tapioca and Date Pudding(Three portions)
4T-tapioca¼t-salt2T-cold water1C-boiling water2T-sugar8 dates, cut fine1T-lemon juice1 egg-yolk1 egg-white1t-vanilla
Soak the tapioca in cold water for ten minutes. Add the salt and boiling water and cook in a double boiler until transparent. (About twenty minutes.) Add the sugar and the dates cut fine, the lemon juice, egg-yolk and vanilla. Remove from the fire and add the stiffly beaten egg-white. Pile the mixture lightly in glass dishes and serve cold.