  BETTINA ENTERTAINS HER FATHER AND MOTHER "WE had no such steak as this in California!" declared Bettina's father with satisfaction, as Bob served him a second helping. "But then," said Bettina's mother, "did you find anything in California that you thought equalled anything in your own state? Father never does," said she, laughing. "He seems to enjoy traveling because it makes him feel that his own home is superior to every other place on earth. And it is," she agreed, looking about her happily. "I can say that after a summer spent in California, I'm more than thankful to be back again." "I was afraid that you and father would be so anxious to open up the house that you wouldn't agree to come here for your first meal." "Of course we're anxious to get home," said Mother, "but after you wrote Father that if he would come here to dinner tonight you would have a steak cooked just to suit him, he was as eager as a boy to get here." "Well, who wouldn't look forward to it, after a summer spent in hotels?" said Father. "And I must say that Bettina's dinner justifies my eagerness. It's exactly right—steak and all." "Now for dessert!" said Bob. "This coffee that I've been making in the percolator is all ready, Bettina!" For dinner that night they had: BETTINA'S RECIPES (All measurements are level) Pan-Broiled Steak (Six portions) 2 lb. sirloin steak an inch and a half thick 1 T-butter ½ t-salt 1 T-parsley 1 T-lemon juice Wipe the meat with a damp cloth. Have a tin pan sizzling hot. Place the meat in the pan and cook directly under the broiling flame. Turn frequently with spoons, as a fork will pierce the meat and allow the juices to escape. A steak an inch and a half thick should be cooked from eight to ten minutes. Place the steak on a hot platter. Sprinkle with salt, lemon juice and parsley. Dot with butter. Serve very hot. Gravy (Six portions) 2 T-drippings from the steak 2 T-flour ½ C-water ½ C-milk ¼ t-salt Pour the drippings from the steak into a pan, add flour and mix well. Allow the flour to brown, add water and milk very slowly to the flour and drippings. Add the salt and allow to cook until the gravy thickens. If there are not two tablespoons of drippings, add sufficient butter to equal the amount. Carrots (Six portions) 6 medium-sized carrots 2 T-butter ½ t-salt ¼ t-pepper Wash and scrape the carrots, cut into two-thirds inch cubes and cook until tender in enough boiling water to cover. (About fifteen minutes.) Drain, add the butter, salt and pepper. Heat thoroughly and serve. Carrots may be scraped and steamed whole or cooked whole in boiling water. Quick Cake (Sixteen pieces) 1/3 C-butter 1½ C-brown sugar 1 egg ½ C-milk ¼ t-salt 12/3 C-flour 3 t-baking powder 1 t-cinnamon ½ t-nutmeg 8 dates, cut fine Cream the butter, add the sugar and mix well. Add the egg and milk, salt, flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and dates. Beat for two minutes. Bake in a well-buttered loaf cake pan for thirty-five minutes. Icing 1 egg white 2 T-cold water ¾ C-powdered sugar ½ t-vanilla Beat the egg white until very stiff; add water and sugar gradually. Beat thoroughly and add the flavoring. Beat until it will stand alone, then spread on cake. More sugar may be added if necessary. Thousand Island Salad Dressing (Six portions) ½ C-olive oil juice of half a lemon juice of half an orange 1 t-onion juice ¼ t-salt ¼ t-paprika 1 t-Worcestershire sauce ¼ t-mustard 1 T-chili sauce 1 T-green pepper cut fine 1 t-chopped parsley Place all the above ingredients in a pint fruit jar, fit a rubber and top tightly on the jar, shake vigorously until well mixed and creamy, and pour over head lettuce, tomatoes, asparagus, peas, beans or spinach. Serve as a salad. |
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