  A "HAPPEN-IN" LUNCHEON BETTINA had finished her morning's work and was busy with her mending when the telephone rang. "Why, hello, Bob!" she answered, surprised to hear his voice at this time of day. "Bettina," said he, "could you possibly arrange to let me bring Carl Edwards and his wife home to luncheon? They blew in a few minutes ago and leave at two-thirty. We haven't much time, you see, and they are especially anxious to see the house. They are planning to build for themselves soon." "Why, of course, Bob," said Bettina, hesitating for the briefest possible second. "It's after eleven now, but I'll be glad to have you bring them. Let's see—I'll give them the salad I had planned for tonight, but I don't know what else—but, then, I'll manage somehow." "All right, dear; that's fine. We'll be there early—a little after twelve." Bettina's "emergency shelf" was always well stocked, and before her conversation with Bob was over her mind had hastily reviewed its contents. In a very short time, her oven held escalloped salmon, graham gems and "quick pudding," and she was setting the dainty porch table. "I'm glad the weather is so beautiful," she said to herself, "for it is so much fun to have a hurry-up luncheon like this out-of-doors. Well, whatever the guests think, I'm sure that Bob will like my menu, for 'quick pudding' is a favorite dessert of his, and he can always eat several graham gems!" For luncheon they had: BETTINA'S RECIPES (All measurements are level) Escalloped Salmon (Four portions) 1½ C-salmon 3 T-sweet pickles, chopped fine 1 T-lemon juice ½ C-cracker crumbs 1 egg ¼ t-paprika ½ t-salt ¼ C-milk 2 T-fresh bread crumbs 1 T-melted butter Pick the salmon apart with a fork and add the pickles, lemon juice, cracker crumbs, egg, paprika, salt and milk, using a fork for mixing. Place in a well-buttered baking dish. Melt the butter, add the fresh crumbs and spread evenly over the top. Bake twenty minutes in a moderate oven. Graham Gems (Ten gems) 1 C-graham flour 1 C-white flour 1 t-salt ¼ C-sugar ¾ t-soda ¾ C-sour milk 1 egg Mix the graham and white flour, the salt, sugar and soda, add the milk and egg. Beat two minutes. Fill well-buttered muffin pans one-half full. Bake twenty minutes in a moderate oven. Apricot Sauce (Four portions) ¼ lb. dried apricots 2 C-water ½ C-sugar Wash the dried apricots well. Add the water and allow them to soak for three hours or longer. Cook very slowly in the same water until tender. Add the sugar, and cook three minutes. Bettina's Vegetable Salad (Four portions) ½ C-cooked peas ½ C-diced celery ¼ C-green pepper, chopped ½ C-diced cooked potatoes 1 T-chopped onion 2 hard-cooked eggs, diced 2 t-salt 2/3 C-salad dressing Mix the peas, celery, green pepper, potatoes, onion, egg and salt thoroughly. Add the salad dressing, and serve cold on lettuce leaves. Garnish with rings of green pepper and egg slices. Bettina's "Quick Pudding" (Four portions) 2 egg-whites, stiffly beaten 4 T-powdered sugar 10 dates, cut fine 3 T-nuts, cut fine ½ t-vanilla 1/8 t-salt ¼ t-baking powder Beat the eggs stiffly, add the nut meats, dates, vanilla, salt, sugar and baking powder. Place in a well-buttered tin mould or a pan and bake in a moderate oven for twenty-five minutes. Allow the mould to stand in a pan of hot water while in the oven. Serve hot. |
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