* * * * * * *
"I wish I could cook," she sighed, when Mary Frances dished the dessert of Baked Apples, and the three praised everything on the table.
"I wish you could, Sis," exclaimed Robert.
"Maybe some day I'll teach you some of the things I can make," said Mary Frances.
"Oh, Mary Frances, will you?" cried Eleanor.
"If your mother says so," nodded Mary Frances.
and Eleanor.
Geranium
"I know she will," declared Eleanor. "She hates to cook, but she'll let me learn. She never goes into the kitchen if she can help it. And no wonder. Our kitchen is an awful place to go into, Maggie is so cross. She wouldn't let me try."
"Pity the poor Kitchen People," thought Mary Frances.
"Oh, we'll have fun!" she said aloud.
"When will you want me to come?" Eleanor asked.
"Some time, when I get near the end of my book, I'll let you know."
"Won't that be lovely! I'll bring my own bowl and spoon."
"I'll read," said Sauce Pan. "What was the last?"
A PATENT DISH-WASHING
"OH, my!" sighed Mary Frances, gazing at the great pile of dirty dishes on the kitchen table, where she had carried them after the company had gone. "Oh, my, cooking is fun—but washing dishes is another thing. I'm 'most tired enough to drop,—and there must be a hundred dishes to do! I'm glad Tea Kettle is full of hot water."
grapesgrapes
"Bubble! Bubble! Piff! Piff!" puffed Tea Kettle, mys-ter-i-ous-ly smiling as though he knew something was about to happen.
Mary Frances couldn't see anything very pleasing with so much of a task before her.
She put the large dish pan on the table and poured in the water, whirling the soap around in it several times to make it a little sudsy.
Then she sat down to rest.
dishes
"Really, I didn't know I was so tired," she thought; "maybe my age is telling on me the way Aunt Maria says!"
Her weary little head began to nod, and she was soon fast asleep. She hadn't been asleep long before she was aroused by a great racket.
"Click, clack! Click-ety-clack! Splash!"
"Come," she said to herself, rather sharply, "I do believe you've been asleep, Mary Frances! You'd better get to work, child."
"Click! Clack!"
Again came the sound.
With her sleepy lids half open she glanced toward the table, and such a sight she never saw! She sat up with mouth and eyes wide open, but nobody paid any attention to her.
There were the dishes jumping higgledy-piggledy, pell-mell into the dish pan.
First a cup, followed by a saucer, then a spoon, followed by a fork.
"Make room for me," cried Platter, diving in head first.
"Look out, or you'll chip me," cried Tea Cup, tumbling out on the other side of the pan.
"I'm next!" a big dinner plate splashed in "kerplunk."
"Click, clack! Click-ety-clack! Splash!"
Mary Frances couldn't say a word—she was so afraid they might break their heads.
"Ouw! this is hot!" screamed Little Pitcher.
All the other Kitchen People were looking on and laughing. Aunty Rolling Pin was rocking to and fro, laughing so hard the tears were rolling down her cheeks.
When Yellow Bowl bounced into the water, "Chase yourself!" cried Soup Ladle, making hard after.
In less time than it takes to tell, the dishes were all clean, and had piled themselves up neatly on the table.
Then Mary Frances realized what had happened.
"That was a patent dish-washing," she said. "I don't want you to do that often. I was afraid my mother's china would be broken all to pieces! But I am very much obliged, this time, I'm sure."
dishes
There were the dishes jumping higgledy-piggledy, pell-mell into the dish pan.
THIMBLE BISCUITS
"It's an invitation to a Dolls' Party."
MARY FRANCES carried all her dolls to the window seat in her room, and placed them in a row. Then she held up an envelope.
Poor Peg, who had fallen on her side.
"Misses Angelina, Marie, Cosette, Lady Gay, Peg, Master Alfonso, why, listen! Here's a letter come for you. What can it be? Pay very strict 'tention while I read it. If you'd gone to school every day I've been so busy, perhaps you could read it yourselves; but, of course, when my hands are so full, I can't possibly get you off, and you are so helpless. Aren't you 'shamed? I think—yes, I think you all look ashamed except Peg. If you don't look ashamed in one minute, Peg,—just one minute I'll give you,—you sha'n't hear this! There, that will do! You needn't cry, dear child! Now, I'll read."
Mary Frances cut open the envelope.
Every doll looked deeply interested except poor Peg who had fallen on her side. "Why, it's an invitation to a Dolls' Party! Listen!"
My dear Dollies: May I have the pleasure of your company at a Doll's Kitchen Party this afternoon at three o'clock? Your loving (Mistress) Mary Frances. P.S. Anyone coming late will be fined a pink riblon. In case she has'nt a pink riblon her hair will be pulled. M. F.
"Of course you'll wear your dress suit."
"Now, dears," Mary Frances smiled upon them, "no wonder you look surprised; for that's a grand invitation, all written out on real paper. I had an awful time getting it to sound right. I'm not sure that it is just exactly correct yet. So we'll get dressed right away. Now don't all ask at once what you'll wear. Yes, Fonsey, of course you'll wear your dress suit. What of it if it isn't proper to wear it until after six o'clock? You have only your work clothes and that suit and you'll have to wear your best."
Everybody was quiet and good as gold while Mary Frances finished dressing them.
"There," she said to herself, "the last sash is tied. Goodness, I'm tired—tired-er than if I'd been cooking the whole morning! Aren't dolls stupid compared with Kitchen Folks? I do wonder what the Kitchen Folks will do. Will they talk before them?"
Looking very anxious and excited.
"Now, you dolls, be good, and take a nap," she warned, "so that you won't be sleepy at the party. I must go and get ready."
* * * * * * *
As she tied on her apron in the kitchen, she noticed Aunty Rolling Pin looked very anxious and excited.She couldn't seem to keep still, but kept rolling to and fro, watching Mary Frances' every motion.
"Well, Aunty Rolling Pin?" said Mary Frances.
"Did you, or did you not, please," asked Aunty Rolling Pin, "mention 'Biscuits' this morning?"
"I guess I did," replied Mary Frances, "when I glanced at my book. Here, I'll read it out:
½ cup milk
No. 16.—Thimble Biscuits.(Nice for Dolls' Tea Party.)
1 cup flour2 teaspoons baking powder1 tablespoon butter½ cup milk (scant)¼ teaspoon salt1. A hot oven and a greased pan.2. Sift flour, baking powder and salt three times.3. Rub butter lightly into the flour.4. Pour the milk on gradually, mixing all the while with a knife, until a soft dough is formed.(Perhaps not all the milk will be needed.)5. Turn the dough on a well-floured board.6. Pat it with the rolling pin until ¼ inch thick.7. Use a large thimble as a cutter, and cut biscuits as close to each other as possible.8. Place in pan a little distance apart.9. Bake about 5 minutes.
1 cup flour2 teaspoons baking powder1 tablespoon butter½ cup milk (scant)¼ teaspoon salt
1. A hot oven and a greased pan.
2. Sift flour, baking powder and salt three times.
3. Rub butter lightly into the flour.
4. Pour the milk on gradually, mixing all the while with a knife, until a soft dough is formed.
(Perhaps not all the milk will be needed.)
5. Turn the dough on a well-floured board.
6. Pat it with the rolling pin until ¼ inch thick.
7. Use a large thimble as a cutter, and cut biscuits as close to each other as possible.
8. Place in pan a little distance apart.
9. Bake about 5 minutes.
"Did you mention 'Biscuits' this morning?"
No. 17.—Baking Powder Biscuits.
1. Make exactly the same as Thimble Biscuits (No. 16), only pat the dough out about three-quarters of an inch thick. Prick with a fork.2. Cut with a biscuit cutter, and place in pan, a little distance apart.3. Bake in a quick oven from 12 to 14 minutes.
1. Make exactly the same as Thimble Biscuits (No. 16), only pat the dough out about three-quarters of an inch thick. Prick with a fork.
2. Cut with a biscuit cutter, and place in pan, a little distance apart.
3. Bake in a quick oven from 12 to 14 minutes.
"Ever make any biscuits, child?"
"No, Aunty Rolling Pin, but I believe I can with your help, if you'll be so kind."
"'Deed I will, child." Aunty Rolling Pin gave a delighted chuckle. "I've been waiting patiently for the chance."
"'Deed I will, child."
"I'm going to give a Dolls' Kitchen Party, Aunty."
"Ah, I'm glad you told me, child; that makes everything more important than ever. So, as you gather together the things you'll need, you can listen—ahem!—to Aunty Rolling Pin's Wisdom."
"You know about 'most everything!" said Mary Frances. "I'd be much obliged to you for any other hints during the rest of my lessons."
"I'll be glad to help, child," said Aunty.
Baking Powder Biscuits.
"Mother expected to explain everything to me, you see——"
"Yes, yes, child," smiled Aunty Rolling Pin, seeing Mary Frances looked sad; "but I see you have sifted the flour and baking powder and salt into a bowl and poured it back. Instead of using a bowl, it's a good idea to use a piece of heavy paper. When this is folded funnel-like, the flour can readily be poured into the sifter again and again."
"That certainly is easier," said Mary Frances, putting the hint to practice.
"Poured into the sifter again and again"
"In order to get the baking powder into every bit of the flour, they should be sifted together three times. Now, I see you are working the butter into the flour. Rub lightly with your finger tips. That's it—pour the milk gradually, mix well—the dough should be almost sticky, but not too soft to handle. Now it's my turn," she chuckled, as Mary Frances turned the dough on a well-floured board. "But if you are going to make Thimble Biscuits, one half of the dough is enough to pat out for them——"
"And I can make the rest into real biscuits! What a splendid idea!" said Mary Frances.
Turned the dough on a well-floured board.
"Wonder if the handles are her ears," she thought, softly patting the dough with Aunty Rolling Pin.
As she bent over, she caught the sound of singing, and this is the song Aunty Rolling Pin sang:
"Roly-poly, roly-poly,To and fro,Roly-poly, roly poly,O'er the dough.Round as an apple,Straight as a rule;Guess who I amOr I'll send you to ——
As she bent over she caught the sound of singing.
"Where?" she asked suddenly stopping.
Mary Frances jumped. She had been rolling Aunty Rolling Pin to and fro, unconsciously keeping time with her song.
"Where?" she again demanded, her mouth full of flour.
"Dear me," answered Mary Frances, "I don't know."
"School, of course," laughed Aunty Rolling Pin; "I thought you'd surely know."
"Roly-poly, roly-poly, to and fro."
"Oh, yes, of course," laughed Mary Frances; "Cooking School."
"Certainly, child," laughed Aunty Rolling Pin. "To what other school could you go to learn about me?"
"That's beautiful poetry," said Mary Frances.
"I think so," smiled Aunty Rolling Pin; "I made it up myself. It's sofloury, you know," blowing the white dust in the air.
"Tee-hee," giggled Mary Frances.
"Tee-hee," giggled Mary Frances.
Aunty Rolling Pin looked offended.
"Excuse me," said Mary Frances, "you mean 'flowery.'"
"I mean what I say," said Aunty Rolling Pin; "isn't that what I said?"
As it certainly was what she said, and Mary Frances didn't like to explain, she hastily turned to her work.
It didn't take long to cut the biscuits, as she had often helped her mother in baking. She knew how to dip the cutter each time into flour, that the dough might not stick. She used the large thimble she had brought down from the sewing room in the same way as she had used the biscuit cutter.
"It didn't take long to cut the biscuits."
"Aren't they too sweet!" she cried delightedly, as she laid the tiny biscuits side by side, but not touching, in the little baking pan. With the rest of the dough, she had made three larger ones. "One for each of the family," she said, slipping them with the Thimble Biscuits into the oven.
"Let me see what's next. Oh, yes, the cocoa. I do declare, it's little Sauce Pan's turn again. No wonder he's puffed up," she thought. "Strange, he hasn't said a word. I'm 'most sure I have to use Sauce Pan. Perhaps he doesn't understand. I'll read aloud:
No. 18.—Cocoa.
For each cup:1 tablespoon cocoa1 tablespoon sugar½ cup boiling water½ cup milk1. Heat milk.2. Mix cocoa and sugar.3. Pour boiling water on them gradually, making a smooth paste.4. Add the milk, and cook a half minute.5. Beat with an egg beater.
For each cup:
1 tablespoon cocoa1 tablespoon sugar½ cup boiling water½ cup milk
1. Heat milk.
2. Mix cocoa and sugar.
3. Pour boiling water on them gradually, making a smooth paste.
4. Add the milk, and cook a half minute.
5. Beat with an egg beater.
"Oh, yes, the cocoa."
* * * * * * *
Silence.
"Don't bother me."
"Sauce Pan!" one of the Kitchen People near himwhispered loudly, "Sauce Pan! Why don't you speak?"
Letter
"Don't bother me. I'm asleep," muttered Sauce Pan drowsily, "sound asleep!"
Mary Frances gasped.
"What 'n awful story!" exclaimed the one who had first spoken.
"You're not very polite to question my word to my very face," Sauce Pan retorted angrily. "Now, if someone else had told you, that would have been different; then you'd had some excuse."
"Come," thought Mary Frances, "that's too silly! I'll put an end to this. I don't need any help with this simple recipe."
Seizing Sauce Pan quite carelessly, she quickly made the cocoa.
Mary Frances carried all her dolls to the window seat in her room.
THE DOLLS' KITCHEN PARTY
"Better look in the oven!"
"NOW, everything is ready," she said, glancing carefully at the table she had set with her little dishes; "I'll go up and bring the dolls. Wait a minute, Mary Frances," she added after a moment's pause. "Let's see if everything is ready. There's
Thimble BiscuitsJam Cocoa
"Better look in the oven!"
"Oh, my, I'm glad you 'thought me,' Aunty Rolling Pin," cried Mary Frances, opening the oven door.
"Oh, dear me! Most of the Thimble Biscuits are burnt up and the big ones are just done, I guess!"
"The thicker things are, the 'slower' the oven, child. The thinner, the hotter the oven——"
"Oh, dear me!"
"Aunty Rolling Pin," cried Mary Frances, not realizing she had interrupted, "there are enough Thimble Biscuits not burnt to go 'round. Isn't thatgood? And the dolls can't make themselves sick with them."
"It's not much of a waste," smiled Aunty Rolling Pin, "and (seeming to be seriously thinking) the dolls can't make themselves sick on them—eating too many, I suppose."
"You see it's like this"
"Well," said Mary Frances, "you see, it's like this:
"When I my dolls invite to tea,It is a pretty sight to seeThe things one seldom gets to eatAll on the table spread, so sweet;But to my dollies I explain,Don't eat too much—you'll have a pain."Then, just to save them such a trial,I let them sit and look a whileAt cakes, and tarts, and candies, too.Then eat them up myself—wouldn't you?For thus they're saved from being ill,And I, likewise, a doctor's bill.But—just between you, dear, and me—They couldn't eat at all, you see."
"Dolls can't make themselves sick."
The Doll's Kitchen Party
And away ran Mary Frances to bring the dolls.
* * * * * * *
"It was a lovely Tea Party, wasn't it, Angie?" sighed Mary Frances, putting her family to bed after it was all over.
After it was all over.
"And you did 'behave a credit' to your mother. I feel sure now you will remember all I've taught you. Not one of you would eat soup from the point of a spoon, nor spread a whole slice of bread at once, nor leave your spoon in your cup, which is a great comfort to a mother. Only Peg, you poor child, you should not have spilled that cocoa down your best dress. But 'Children will be children,' I 'spose—and you're very dear children."
("I wouldn't have them, for the world, jealous of the Kitchen People—and I've neglected them shamefully of late.")
* * * * * * *
"I'm not much taken with those things called 'dolls,' Aunty Rolling Pin," said Sauce Pan, seating himself on the edge of the top closet-shelf, and crossing one leg over his knee. "They're not much use."
"They're not much use."
"Ah," sighed Aunty Rolling Pin, looking wise, "a doll's a doll, for all that."
"A doll's no good boiled!"
"Of course," said Sauce Pan, "but a doll's no good boiled!"
"Well, no," admitted Aunty Rolling Pin, "the best, of course, arebakedof
No. 19.—Gingerbread Cookies.½ cup molasses2 tablespoons butter2 tablespoons lard flour½ tablespoon ginger½ teaspoon salt½ teaspoon baking soda1 tablespoon warm water"The best, of course, are baked."1. Warm the molasses.2. Put the butter and lard in a bowl. Pour over them the molasses.3. Dissolve soda in the warm water. Add to the molasses.4. Sift ginger, salt and ½ cup flour together.5. Sift into the molasses, beating well. If necessary, add more flour to make a soft dough.6. Grease a shallow pan.chair"It was a lovely Tea Party, wasn't it Angie?"7. Roll the dough out 1/3 inch thick.8. Cut out with a little round cutter, dipping it into flour each time.Place cookies some distance apart on the pan. Bake about 10 minutes.
No. 19.—Gingerbread Cookies.
½ cup molasses2 tablespoons butter2 tablespoons lard flour½ tablespoon ginger½ teaspoon salt½ teaspoon baking soda1 tablespoon warm water
"The best, of course, are baked."
1. Warm the molasses.
2. Put the butter and lard in a bowl. Pour over them the molasses.
3. Dissolve soda in the warm water. Add to the molasses.
4. Sift ginger, salt and ½ cup flour together.
5. Sift into the molasses, beating well. If necessary, add more flour to make a soft dough.
6. Grease a shallow pan.
chair"It was a lovely Tea Party, wasn't it Angie?"
7. Roll the dough out 1/3 inch thick.
8. Cut out with a little round cutter, dipping it into flour each time.
Place cookies some distance apart on the pan. Bake about 10 minutes.
Note.—Instead of rolling out, little spoonfuls may be dropped far apart on the pan and flattened with the bottom of a round tin cup.
Note.—Instead of rolling out, little spoonfuls may be dropped far apart on the pan and flattened with the bottom of a round tin cup.
"Then you——
"Oh, Aunty Rolling Pin, nobody's doing a lesson. Besides, after it's baked it's done!" cried Sauce Pan impatiently.
"So'm I!" smiled Aunty Rolling Pin.
THE SICK NEIGHBOR
"Mary Ann Hooper is very ailing."
"MARY ANN HOOPER is very ailing," said Aunt Maria at the lunch table. She had invited the children over to lunch that day. "She needs nourishment more than anything else, I should say. That cook she has can't make a decent thing. No wonder she's weak!"
"If only," thought Mary Frances, "if only I could cook something for her! Wait until I look in my book. I wonder if she could eat to-day's lesson."
She laughed aloud—that seemed so funny.
"Well," snapped Aunt Maria, "of all things; to laugh at a poor sick neighbor in such a pre-dic-a-ment."
Mary Frances blushed, but she didn't say anything.
After lunch, she started home as soon as possible.
Once in the house, she ran to the kitchen for her book.
"Of all things! As Aunt Maria would say," she cried, "it comes next!"
"Of all things!"
No. 20.—Soft Custard.
1 cup milk1 egg2 tablespoons sugardash of saltnutmeg1. Heat the milk smoking hot.2. Beat egg. Add sugar and salt.3. Pour the hot milk on, beating well.4. Pour into upper part of double boiler, or set pan in boiling water.5. Cook until it thickens, or until a coating will be formed on a clean spoon when dipped into the custard.6. Sprinkle with a few gratings of nutmeg.7. Serve cold.
1 cup milk1 egg2 tablespoons sugardash of saltnutmeg
1. Heat the milk smoking hot.
2. Beat egg. Add sugar and salt.
3. Pour the hot milk on, beating well.
4. Pour into upper part of double boiler, or set pan in boiling water.
5. Cook until it thickens, or until a coating will be formed on a clean spoon when dipped into the custard.
6. Sprinkle with a few gratings of nutmeg.
7. Serve cold.
Soft Custard
"How perfectly lovely!" exclaimed Mary Frances; "I'll make soft custard for Mary Ann Hooper. But that isn't very much. Oh, isn't this too good? I can serve it on the next recipe. It's
No. 21.—Steamed Rice.
½ cup rice2 cups boiling water½ teaspoon salt1. Wash rice. This may be easily done by putting in a strainer and shaking in a pan of cold water.2. Put with the salt and boiling water, into the upper part of a double boiler.3. Pour boiling water into lower part, and cook 1 hour.
½ cup rice2 cups boiling water½ teaspoon salt
1. Wash rice. This may be easily done by putting in a strainer and shaking in a pan of cold water.
2. Put with the salt and boiling water, into the upper part of a double boiler.
3. Pour boiling water into lower part, and cook 1 hour.
Steamed rice
4. To test whether it is done, press several grains between the fingers. If not perfectly soft, cook longer.5. If it becomes hard and dry, add a little boiling water from time to time.6. A few raisins are sometimes cooked with the rice. Add these during the last fifteen minutes of cooking to prevent discoloring.7. Serve with soft custard or cream and sugar. Plain cooked rice may be served as a vegetable.
4. To test whether it is done, press several grains between the fingers. If not perfectly soft, cook longer.
5. If it becomes hard and dry, add a little boiling water from time to time.
6. A few raisins are sometimes cooked with the rice. Add these during the last fifteen minutes of cooking to prevent discoloring.
7. Serve with soft custard or cream and sugar. Plain cooked rice may be served as a vegetable.
Drain through a colander.
No. 22.—Boiled Rice.
Use a plain boiler and a large quantity of salted boiling water.½ cup rice5 cups boiling water½ teaspoon salt1. Wash rice by putting it in a strainer and shaking in a pan of water.2. Drop a few grains at a time into boiling water, stirring well to prevent sticking.3. Boil rapidly 25 minutes, or until soft when pressed between the fingers.4. Drain through a colander. Pour over it 2 cups boiling water.5. Set in a warm place to dry off, until ready to serve.
Use a plain boiler and a large quantity of salted boiling water.
½ cup rice5 cups boiling water½ teaspoon salt
1. Wash rice by putting it in a strainer and shaking in a pan of water.
2. Drop a few grains at a time into boiling water, stirring well to prevent sticking.
3. Boil rapidly 25 minutes, or until soft when pressed between the fingers.
4. Drain through a colander. Pour over it 2 cups boiling water.
5. Set in a warm place to dry off, until ready to serve.
"Yes," said Mary Frances, putting the rice on to boil, "I'll make both. Oh, won't Mary Ann Hooper be pleased!"
Use a plain boiler.
"Who's that?" asked Aunty Rolling Pin. "A new kind of cooking pan?"
"No, no, Aunty Rolling Pin," laughed Mary Frances; "she's an old lady who is sick. Aunt Maria told me about her at lunch. She's such a funny old lady."
"A sign for them to read"
"It isn't funny to be ill," said Aunty Rolling Pin.
"No," answered Mary Frances, seriously, "but I meant she does such funny things: Last summer, she told Elvin Phelps if he didn't keep his bees from stealing honey out of her flowers, she'd shoot them—she (oh, dear!)—wanted—him—to tie each one—by his hind leg—to keep—them—home—oh, dear," laughed Mary Frances.
"What did he do?" asked Aunty Rolling Pin, anxiously.
"He told her (excuse my laughing—but it's so funny!) he would rather—put a 'No Trespassing' sign up in her garden for them to read! Ho-ho! Tee-hee." Mary Frances shook with laughter.
Silence in the kitchen until Mary Frances felt a tug at her tug at her dress.
Looking down, she spied Toaster Man.
She spied Toaster Man.
"Yes, you may speak," she smiled.
"Thank you,—I don't like to suggest, but a Dropped Egg on Toast would——"
"Be grand!" finished Mary Frances. "I'm sure I saw that recipe; yes, this is it!"
No. 23.—Poached Eggs.
1. Put a pint (2 cups) boiling water into a shallow pan. Add ½ teaspoon salt.2. Break egg in a saucer.3. Whirl the water 'round and 'round with a spoon, and draw pan back on stove where it will simmer, but not boil hard.4. Slip the egg into the whirling water.5. Cook until the white is coated over the top.6. Serve on toast.
1. Put a pint (2 cups) boiling water into a shallow pan. Add ½ teaspoon salt.
2. Break egg in a saucer.
3. Whirl the water 'round and 'round with a spoon, and draw pan back on stove where it will simmer, but not boil hard.
4. Slip the egg into the whirling water.
5. Cook until the white is coated over the top.
6. Serve on toast.
Note.—It is best to cook only one egg at a time.
Note.—It is best to cook only one egg at a time.
"Ready!"
"Ready!" hummed Tea Kettle.
"Ready!" exclaimed Sauce Pan, and Mary Frances poured the hot water.
"Ready!" cried Toaster Man, and Mary Frances made the toast.
"Oh!" cried the little girl suddenly, her fingers crushing through the eggshell, "what a shame!"
"Ready!" "Ready!"
"A sharp rap with a knife and a quick pull with the thumbs," somebody said.
"Thank you," smiled Mary Frances, too busy to discover who was her helper.
Very soon she had lifted the poached egg with Per-for-at-ed Skimmer on the piece of toast.
Teapot on cloth
When she had arranged the tray, she brought it out for the Kitchen People to see.
She had used her mother's daintiest china plates, and had scattered violets here and there over the cloth.
"Beau-ti-ful!" they exclaimed in one voice, as though that was all that could be said; but this is what Mary Frances heard as she closed the door:
"Wish I could eat," sighed Toaster Man.
"I know Jube'll want some of that," he added after a moment. "That cat can eat any time of day! I envy her appetite."
"Humph!" exclaimed Sauce Pan, "Jube won't get any of that. This time Jube'll get
A GREAT BIG ROUND PIECE O' NOTHING!
A MAN'S LUNCH
"Thank you, Miss Mary Frances."
"MOTHER writes that she is so glad you are giving Billy such good lunches," said Father, looking up from his letter. "I've been waiting a long time for an invitation to lunch, little daughter. Do you know, I'll be quite jealous of Billy if my turn doesn't come soon!"
"Oh, Father," Mary Frances begged, "won't you come to-morrow? I didn't think you could get away from the store,—and I don't know so very much to cook."
"Thank you, Miss Mary Frances, I'll be most happy to lunch with you to-morrow," said Father, in a real so-ci-e-ty tone.
When Mary Frances went into the kitchen next morning, she said:
"I guess I'll make the dessert first; rice pudding is good cold."
"It is ex-cel-lent cold."
"It is ex-cel-lent cold," spoke the deep voice of Baking Dish, "es-pec-i-ally if made by
No. 24.—Rice Pudding.
3 tablespoons rice¼ cup sugar1/8 teaspoon saltsprinkling nutmeg4 cups milk, or 3 cups milk and 1 cup water1. Pick over the rice, and wash by putting in a strainer and shaking in a pan of water.2. Butter the baking dish.3. Stir rice, sugar and salt into the milk.4. Pour into the baking dish.5. Sprinkle with nutmeg.6. Cover with a lid, and bake slowly 2 hours.7. Uncover and brown ½ hour.
3 tablespoons rice¼ cup sugar1/8 teaspoon saltsprinkling nutmeg4 cups milk, or 3 cups milk and 1 cup water
1. Pick over the rice, and wash by putting in a strainer and shaking in a pan of water.
2. Butter the baking dish.
3. Stir rice, sugar and salt into the milk.
4. Pour into the baking dish.
5. Sprinkle with nutmeg.
6. Cover with a lid, and bake slowly 2 hours.
7. Uncover and brown ½ hour.
Note.—Seeded raisins may be added before browning. If desired, a thin narrow shaving of the outside rind of a lemon may be used as flavoring. Put this in the milk with the rice.
Note.—Seeded raisins may be added before browning. If desired, a thin narrow shaving of the outside rind of a lemon may be used as flavoring. Put this in the milk with the rice.
"Why, thank you, Baking Dish," exclaimed Mary Frances. "Will you kindly say it over slowly? I'll do it then, keeping time with your directions."
This he did, and as Mary Frances slipped him into the oven, "I'm sure this will be good," he said; "I can always tell."
"I'm sure this will be good"
"I'm very glad," said Mary Frances, gratefully.
"Now for the Boiled Mutton," she said. "I guess, Iron Pot, you can tell me about that."
Slipped him into the oven.
"Yes, ma'am," said Iron Pot, importantly climbing from the shelf, and eying critically the piece of meat Mary Frances had placed on the table.
"That's a pretty nice cut of meat—pretty nice. It will be all right to cook it as I will tell you. But, really, mutton is less greasy if it is boiled long enough before needed to let the gravy cool. Take off the cake of fat which will form on the top when cold. Of course, take the meat out as soon as it is tender, and after 'skimming' the gravy, put it in again to re-heat."
"I haven't time!" said Mary Frances, anxiously.
"You can put yours in a bowl, and stand the bowl in ice water to cool the liquor quickly, and do the same thing that way, now——"
"You give the recipe?" asked Mary Frances.
Iron Pot looked pleased, and began:
No. 25.—Boiled Mutton.
About 3 pounds rack of mutton or "yearling."1. Wipe with a damp cloth.2. Pour 3 cups boiling water into a large pot.3. Throw in 2 peeled onions.4. Put in the meat. Cover.5. Boil 10 minutes.
About 3 pounds rack of mutton or "yearling."
1. Wipe with a damp cloth.
2. Pour 3 cups boiling water into a large pot.
3. Throw in 2 peeled onions.
4. Put in the meat. Cover.
5. Boil 10 minutes.
Stand the bowl in ice water.
Iron Pot looked pleased.