  ALICE PRACTISES ECONOMY "OH, Bettina," said Alice, delightedly, as she opened the door. "I'm so glad to see you! I've just been thinking about you! What do you suppose I'm doing?" "Getting dinner? That is what I must be doing very soon. I stopped in for only a minute on my way home." "I am getting dinner, and I want to tell you that it is a very economical dinner. And it's going to be good, too. I thought and thought about your advice, and decided to practise it. So I searched through all my cook books for the recipes I wanted, and finally decided on this particular menu. But, Bettina, now I can tell you the flaw in your system of economy!" "What is that? Harry doesn't like it?" "Goodness no! Harry was delighted with the idea! My argument is this: It's going to take me an endless amount of time to plan economical meals that are also good, time that I ought to spend in polishing silver and making calls, and sewing on buttons, and——" "I don't believe it'll be as bad as you think, Alice, dear," laughed Bettina. "For instance, if this meal tonight is good and economical, and Harry is pleased, don't forget the combination, but write it down in a note-book. You can repeat the menu in two or three weeks, and you have no idea how soon you will collect the best combinations, and ideas of economy! Tell me what you are having tonight." That night Alice served: BETTINA'S RECIPES (All measurements are level) THE RECIPES ALICE USED Baked Eggs (Two portions) 2 eggs ½ C-milk 2 T-soft bread crumbs 1 T-butter ¼ t-salt 1/8 t-paprika Butter two individual moulds, and break an egg into each. Mix the salt and pepper in the milk, and pour half of the mixture over each egg. Melt the butter, and add the crumbs. Place the buttered crumbs on top of each egg. Bake in a moderate oven twenty minutes. Serve in the moulds. Potatoes Escalloped with Bacon (Two portions) 3 medium-sized potatoes 3 slices of bacon ¼ t-salt 1/8 t-paprika 2 T-flour 1 C-milk Broil the bacon, cut each piece in three parts. Butter a casserole and place in it a layer of peeled sliced potatoes. Sprinkle part of the flour, salt and paprika over the potatoes, and add three pieces of bacon. Continue in this manner until the dish is filled. Pour the milk over the contents, and bake forty minutes in a moderate oven. Peach Cup (Two portions) 4 halves of canned peaches, sweetened 1 T-egg 3 T-milk 2/3 C-flour 1½ t-baking powder 1/8 t-salt 1 t-melted butter ¼ t-vanilla 2 T-sugar Mash two peach halves, add the egg, milk, vanilla, melted butter, flour, baking powder and salt. Mix thoroughly. Place a tablespoon of the mixture in the bottom of a well-buttered baking cup. Add a peach half, and cover with the batter. Sprinkle one tablespoon of granulated sugar on the top and bake twenty minutes in a moderate oven. Turn from the cups and serve hot with peach sauce. Peach Sauce (Two portions) 2/3 C-peach juice 1 T-lemon juice 1 T-flour ½ t-butter ¼ t-salt Mix one tablespoon of the peach juice with the flour. Gradually add the rest of the peach and lemon juice. Add the salt Cook one minute. Add the butter. Serve hot. |
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