  BETTINA ENTERTAINS STATE FAIR VISITORS THE next morning when Bob and Uncle Eric had partaken of a cereal-less breakfast, and Uncle Eric had even complimented the cook, Bettina called her mother on the telephone. "I was about to call you, Bettina. Won't you go to the fair with us this afternoon? You know Cousin Mabel and the children are here from Ford Center, and Cousin Wilfred may arrive some time this morning." "You do have your hands full this week, don't you, Mother? Uncle Eric is at home only for breakfast, and I called up to ask if you would all come here to dinner tonight." "Oh, Bettina! I'm afraid it will be too much work for you, dear!" "I'll plan a simple meal, Mother; one that I can get together in a hurry. In fact I've already planned it." "But, in that case, you couldn't go to the fair with us this afternoon, could you? And it's said to be especially good today." "Why, yes, I could go. I can get the most of my dinner ready this morning. What time would you start?" "At two, I think. Well, Bettina, we'll come, but you must make the meal simple, for we won't be back till six." "Don't worry, Mother." Bettina hastened to make her preparations, and at half after one her house was in order and she was ready to go. Besides, she was comfortably conscious of a well-filled larder—cold fried chicken ready and waiting, cold boiled potatoes to be "It will take only a few moments," she thought as she arranged the nasturtiums on her dining table, "to set the table, cream the potatoes, boil the corn, slice the peaches and make the tea. And I believe it's the sort of a dinner that will suit them." The dinner for state fair guests consisted of: BETTINA'S RECIPES (All measurements are level) Creamed Potatoes as Bettina Served Them (Six portions) 3 C-cold, cooked potatoes, chopped 2 T-butter 3 T-flour 6 T-grated cheese 1½ C-milk ½ t-salt 1/8 t-pepper Melt the butter, add the flour and seasoning and mix well; gradually add the milk and cheese. Cook until the consistency of vegetable white sauce (about one minute after it boils). Add the potatoes, cook four minutes, stirring constantly, and serve. Chocolate Cookies (Three dozen) 1 C-sugar 1/3 C-butter 1 egg ¼ C-milk 2 C-flour ½ t-cinnamon ½ t-salt 3 t-baking powder 1 square chocolate 1 t-vanilla Cream the butter, add the sugar and cream well. Add alternately the sifted flour, salt, baking powder and egg beaten in milk. Add the melted chocolate and vanilla. Turn out on a floured board and roll a small portion at a time to one-fourth of an inch in thickness. Cut with a floured cooky cutter. Place on a buttered, floured pan and bake in a moderate oven until slightly brown. (About ten minutes.) |
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