  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: BETTINA'S RECIPES (All measurements are level) Cranberry Jelly (Three portions) 2 C-cranberries 2/3 C-water ¾ C-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) ½ C-butter 1½ C-sugar 2 eggs ¼ t-salt 2½ C-flour 4 t-baking powder 1 C-boiling water 1 t-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) 2 T-cream or milk ½ t-vanilla 1 T-carmelized syrup or maple syrup 1½ C-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.) |
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