  THE FIRELIGHT SOCIAL "AND what have you been doing all day?" asked Bob after he had related his own experiences at the office. "Just my usual work this morning, and this afternoon I went to a meeting of the social committee of our Young People's League; you know I've promised to help this winter. They plan a social to be given in about two weeks to raise money for the orphanage fund, and I do think their idea is a clever one. You see, it's a 'firelight social'; admission ten cents. Mrs. Lewis has offered her house for it. Invitations are to be sent to all members of the church, Sunday school and league, inviting people to 'come and read pictures in the fire.' The cards are to be decorated with little pen and ink sketches of hearthstones with burning logs on them. Of course there will be a huge log in her big fireplace. Then as soon as the guests are gathered around, someone is to read aloud that passage from 'Our Mutual Friend,' where Lizzie Hexam reads the pictures in the firelight for her brother. Then pencils and paper will be passed among the guests and each one writes a short description of the pictures he sees in the fire. In ten minutes these are collected and read aloud, with a prize for the best one. Then corn will be popped and marshmallows toasted, and weird ghost stories told. (Of course certain clever people have been asked beforehand to be prepared.) Then supper will be served by candlelight; it will consist of things like sandwiches, cider, coffee, nuts and cookies. Don't you think a firelight social will be fun?" "Sure it will! But I'm glad to-night we can be alone by our own firelight, Bettina!" That evening for dinner Bettina served: BETTINA'S RECIPES (All measurements are level) Fried Oysters (Two portions) 12 oysters ½ C-cracker crumbs 1 T-egg 1 T-water ¼ t-salt 1/8 t-paprika 2 T-fat Look over the selected large oysters to remove the shells. Mix the egg, water, salt and paprika. Dip the oyster in the egg mixture and in the crumbs. Place the fat in the frying-pan, and when hot add the oysters. Brown nicely on each side, three minutes. Serve very hot on a hot platter. Garnish with parsley. Bettina's Fried-Oyster Relish (Two portions) 1 C-cabbage, cut fine 1 green pepper, cut fine 1 pimento, cut fine ¼ t-celery salt 1/8 t-mustard ¼ t-salt 1 T-"C" sugar 2 T-vinegar Mix the celery salt, mustard, salt and sugar, add the vinegar. Pour over the pimento, green pepper and cabbage. Serve as a relish with oysters and meats. This relish should be served within one-half hour after it is made. Asparagus on Toast (Two portions) ½ can asparagus tips 1 C-vegetable white sauce ¼ t-salt 1/8 t-pepper 2 slices of toast Heat the asparagus tips in the liquid in the can. When hot, remove from can upon slices of toast, sprinkle salt and pepper over each portion. Pour one serving of white sauce over each portion. Apple Tapioca (Two portions) 4 T-pearl tapioca 3 T-cold water 1 C-boiling water 1/8 t-salt 4 T-sugar ¼ t-vanilla 2 sour apples Soak the tapioca in the cold water for ten minutes in the upper part of the double boiler. Add the boiling water and salt. Cook until transparent. (About twenty minutes.) Cut the apples fine, mix thoroughly with the sugar, place in the bottom of a small baking dish, pour the tapioca mixture on them, and bake in a moderate oven until the apples are soft. (About twenty-five minutes. The time depends upon the variety of apple.) |
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