A THOUSAND WAYS TO PLEASE A HUSBAND
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
A THOUSAND WAYS TO PLEASE A HUSBAND
WITH BETTINA'S BEST RECIPES
BY LOUISE BENNETT WEAVER AND HELEN COWLES LECRON
[Illustration]
_The Romance of Cookery_ AND HOUSEKEEPING
Decorations by ELIZABETH COLBOURNE
A. L. Burt Company
Publishers New York
Copyright, 1917
by
Britton Publishing Company, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
Made in U. S. A.
[Illustration]
A DEDICATION
_To every other little bride
Who has a "Bob" to please,
And says she's tried and tried and tried
To cook with skill and ease,
And can't!--we offer here as guide
Bettina's Recipes!_
_To her whose "Bob" is prone to wear
A sad and hungry look,
Because the maid he thought so fair
Is--well--she just can't cook!
To her we say: do not despair;
Just try Bettina's Book!_
[Illustration]
_Bettina's Measurements Are All Level_
C = cup
t = teaspoon
T = tablespoon
lb. = pound
pt. = pint
B.P. = baking-powder
[Illustration]
CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE
I HOME AT LAST 11
II BETTINA'S FIRST REAL DINNER 14
III BETTINA'S FIRST GUEST 17
IV BETTINA GIVES A LUNCHEON 21
V BOB HELPS TO GET DINNER 25
VI COUSIN MATILDA CALLS 28
VII A NEW-FASHIONED SUNDAY DINNER 33
VIII CELEBRATING THE FOURTH 36
IX UNCLE JOHN AND AUNT LUCY MAKE A VISIT 39
X RUTH INSPECTS BETTINA'S KITCHEN 42
XI BETTINA'S BIRTHDAY GIFT 46
XII BETTINA'S FATHER TRIES HER COOKING 49
XIII BOB HELPS WITH THE DINNER 53
XIV A SUNDAY EVENING TEA 56
XV A MOTOR PICNIC 59
XVI BETTINA HAS A CALLER 62
XVII BOB GETS BREAKFAST ON SUNDAY 65
XVIII BETTINA GIVES A PORCH PARTY 69
XIX BETTINA AND THE EXPENSE BUDGET 73
XX MRS. DIXON AND BETTINA'S EXPERIMENT 77
XXI A RAINY DAY DINNER 81
XXII BUYING A REFRIGERATOR 84
XXIII BETTINA'S SUNDAY DINNER 87
XXIV BETTINA VISITS A TEA-ROOM. 90
XXV BETTINA ENTERTAINS ALICE AND MR. HARRISON 93
XXVI OVER THE TELEPHONE 97
XXVII BETTINA HAS A BAKING DAY 100
XXVIII POLLY AND THE CHILDREN 103
XXIX BETTINA PUTS UP FRUIT 107
XXX A COOL SUMMER DAY 111
XXXI BOB AND BETTINA ALONE 114
XXXII BETTINA ATTENDS A MORNING WEDDING 117
XXXIII AFTER THE "TEA" 121
XXXIV BETTINA GIVES A PORCH BREAKFAST 124
XXXV A PIECE OF NEWS 127
XXXVI BETTINA ENTERTAINS HER FATHER AND MOTHER 130
XXXVII THE BIG SECRET 133
XXXVIII AFTER THE CIRCUS 136
XXXIX MRS. DIXON ASKS QUESTIONS 139
XL A TELEGRAM FROM UNCLE ERIC 143
XLI BETTINA ENTERTAINS STATE FAIR VISITORS 147
XLII UNCLE JOHN AND AUNT LUCY 149
XLIII SUNDAY DINNER AT THE DIXON'S 151
XLIV A RAINY EVENING AT HOME 154
XLV RUTH MAKES AN APPLE PIE 159
XLVI BETTINA MAKES APPLE JELLY 162
XLVII AFTER A PARK PARTY 166
XLVIII BETTINA SPILLS THE INK 169
XLIX BETTINA ATTENDS A PORCH PARTY 171
L A DINNER COOKED IN THE MORNING 173
LI A SUNDAY DINNER 176
LII BOB MAKES PEANUT FUDGE 179
LIII DINNER AT THE DIXON'S 182
LIV A GOOD-BYE LUNCHEON FOR BERNADETTE 185
LV BETTINA PLANS AN ANNOUNCEMENT LUNCHEON 188
LVI RUTH AND BETTINA MAKE PREPARATIONS 191
LVII A RAINBOW ANNOUNCEMENT LUNCHEON 193
LVIII AN EARLY CALLER 197
LIX RUTH COMES TO LUNCHEON 200
LX A KITCHEN SHOWER FOR ALICE 205
LXI A RAINY NIGHT MEAL 209
LXII ALICE GIVES A LUNCHEON 212
LXIII MOTORING WITH THE DIXONS 215
LXIV RUTH MAKES BAKING POWDER BISCUITS 218
LXV PLANS FOR THE WEDDING 220
LXVI A GUEST TO A DINNER OF LEFT-OVERS 222
LXVII A HANDKERCHIEF SHOWER 224
LXVIII JUST THE TWO OF THEM 227
LXIX A LUNCHEON IN THE COUNTRY 229
LXX A "PAIR SHOWER" FOR ALICE 232
LXXI BOB MAKES POPCORN BALLS 235
LXXII AND WHERE WAS THE DINNER 237
LXXIII ALICE TELLS HER TROUBLES 240
LXXIV THE DIXONS COME TO DINNER 242
LXXV THE WEDDING INVITATIONS 245
LXXVI HALLOWE'EN PREPARATIONS 248
LXXVII HALLOWE'EN REVELS 250
LXXVIII A FORETASTE OF WINTER 255
LXXIX SURPRISING ALICE AND HARRY 258
LXXX A DINNER FOR THE BRIDAL PARTY 261
LXXXI REHEARSING THE CEREMONY 264
LXXXII AFTER THE WEDDING 267
LXXXIII A "HAPPEN-IN" LUNCHEON 270
LXXXIV UNCLE JOHN A GUEST AT DINNER 273
LXXXV DURING THE TEACHERS' CONVENTION 275
LXXXVI A LUNCHEON FOR THE TEACHERS 278
LXXXVII RUTH COMES TO LUNCHEON 281
LXXXVIII THE HICKORY LOG 284
LXXXIX SOME CHRISTMAS PLANS 287
XC AFTER THE FOOTBALL GAME 289
XCI A THANKSGIVING DINNER IN THE COUNTRY 292
XCII PLANNING THE CHRISTMAS CARDS 295
XCIII HARRY AND ALICE RETURN 299
XCIV THE FIRELIGHT SOCIAL 302
XCV ALICE'S TROUBLES 305
XCVI SOME OF BETTINA'S CHRISTMAS PLANS 308
XCVII MORE OF BETTINA'S CHRISTMAS SHOPPING 311
XCVIII CHRISTMAS GIFTS 313
XCIX A CHRISTMAS SHOWER 316
C BETTINA GIVES A DINNER 320
CI BOB'S CHRISTMAS GIFT TO BETTINA 322
CII A CHRISTMAS BREAKFAST 325
CIII A SUPPER FOR TWO 327
CIV ALICE COMES TO LUNCHEON 331
CV RUTH STAYS TO DINNER 334
CVI HOW BETTINA MADE CANDY 337
CVII RUTH'S PLANS 339
CVIII A LUNCHEON FOR THREE 342
CIX THE DIXONS COME TO DINNER 345
CX A STEAMED PUDDING 349
CXI ON VALENTINE'S DAY 352
CXII RUTH GIVES A DINNER FOR FOUR 354
CXIII ALICE PRACTICES ECONOMY 357
CXIV A COMPANY DINNER FOR BOB 360
CXV SUPPER AFTER THE THEATRE 363
CXVI WASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY PLANS 366
CXVII AN AFTERNOON WITH BETTINA 368
CXVIII A WASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY TEA 370
CXIX ANOTHER OVEN DINNER 373
CXX BOB MAKES POP-OVERS 376
CXXI IN MARCH 379
CXXII A FIRELESS COOKER FOR AUNT LUCY 382
CXXIII THE DIXONS DROP IN FOR DESSERT 384
CXXIV RUTH PASSES BY 387
CXXV BETTINA ENTERTAINS A SMALL NEIGHBOR 389
CXXVI A SUNDAY NIGHT TEA 392
CXXVII A SHAMROCK LUNCHEON 395
CXXVIII AT DINNER 397
CXXIX AN ANNIVERSARY DINNER 399
CXXX RUTH COMES TO DINNER 402
CXXXI MILDRED'S SPRING VACATION 407
CXXXII HELPING BETTINA 410
CXXXIII HELPING WITH A COMPANY DINNER 413
CXXXIV MILDRED'S DAY 415
CXXXV POLLY COMES FOR MILDRED 418
CXXXVI MILDRED'S PLANS 421
CXXXVII A LUNCHEON FOR POLLY 424
CXXXVIII FURS TO PUT AWAY 427
CXXXIX PLANNING A CHILDREN'S PARTY 429
CXL THE PARTY CIRCUS 432
CXLI PLANNING A LUNCHEON 435
CXLII THE NEW CAR 437
CXLIII IN HOUSECLEANING TIME 441
CXLIV MRS. DIXON HAPPENS IN 443
CXLV ENGAGEMENT PRESENTS 446
CXLVI WITH HOUSECLEANING OVER 449
CXLVII SPRING MARKETING 451
CXLVIII PLANS FOR THE WEDDING 453
CXLIX ENTERTAINING THE WEDDING GUESTS 455
CL THE BRIDESMAIDS' DINNER 457
CLI A MORNING WEDDING IN JUNE 459
CLII THE FIRST YEAR ENDS 461
[Illustration]
_JUNE._
_No, you cannot live on kisses,
Though the honeymoon is sweet,
Harken, brides, a true word this is,--
Even lovers have to eat._
CHAPTER I
HOME AT LAST
[Illustration]
"HOME at last!" sighed Bettina happily as the hot and dusty travelers
left the train.
"Why that contented sigh?" asked Bob. "Because our wedding trip is over?
Well, anyhow, Bettina, it's after five. Shall we have dinner at the
hotel?"
"Hotel? Why, Bob! with our house and our dishes and our silver just
waiting for us? I'm ashamed of you! We'll take the first car for home--a
street-car, not a taxi! Our extravagant days are over, and the time has
come to show you that Bettina knows how to keep house. You think that
you love me now, Bobby, but just wait till you sit down to a real
strawberry shortcake made by a real cook in a real home!"
Half an hour later Bob was unlocking the door of the new brown bungalow.
"Isn't it a dear?" cried Bettina proudly. "When we've had time to give
it grass and shrubs and flowers and a vegetable garden, no place in town
will equal it! And as for porch furniture, how I'd like to get at
Mother's attic and transform some of her discarded things!"
"Just now I'd rather get at some of Mother's cooking!" grinned Bob.
"Oh, dear, I forgot! I'll have supper ready in ten minutes. Do you
remember my emergency shelf? Why, Bob--Bob, they must have known we were
coming! Here's ice--and milk--and cream--and butter--and bread--and
rolls, and even a grape fruit! They knew, and didn't meet the train
because they thought we would prefer to have our first meal alone!
Wasn't that dear of them? And this will save you a trip to the corner
grocery!"
Bettina fastened a trim percale bungalow apron over her traveling suit,
and swiftly and surely assembled the little meal.
"I like that apron," said Bob. "It reminds me of the rainy day when we
fixed the emergency shelf. That was fun."
"Yes, and work too," said Bettina, "but I'm glad we did it. Do you
remember how much I saved by getting things in dozen and half dozen
lots? And Mother showed me how much better it was to buy the larger
sizes in bottled things, because in buying the smaller bottles you spend
most of your money for the glass. Now that you have to pay my bills,
Bob, you'll be glad that I know those things!"
"I think you know a great deal," said Bob admiringly. "Lots of girls can
cook, but mighty few know how to be economical at the same time! It's
great to be your----"
"Dinner is served," Bettina interrupted. "It's a 'pick-up meal,' but I'm
hungry, aren't you? And after this, sir, no more canned things!"
And Bob sat down to:
Creamed Tuna on Toast Strips
Canned Peas with Butter Sauce
Rolls Butter
Strawberry Preserves
Hot Chocolate with Marshmallows
BETTINA'S RECIPES
(All measurements are level)
=Creamed Tuna on Toast Strips= (Two portions)
1 T-butter
1 T-flour
1/4 t-salt
1/2 slice pimento
1 C-milk
3 slices of bread
1/2 C-tuna
Melt the butter, add the flour, salt and pimento. Mix well. Gradually
pour in the milk. Allow the mixture to boil one minute. Stir constantly.
Add the fish, cook one minute and pour over toasted strips of bread.
=Hot Chocolate= (Three cups)
1 square of chocolate
3 T-sugar
2/3 C-water
2 C-milk
1/4 t-vanilla
3 marshmallows
Cook chocolate, sugar and water until a thin custard is formed. Add milk
gradually and bring to a boil. Whip with an egg beater, as this breaks
up the albumin found in chocolate, and prevents the coating from forming
over the top. Add vanilla and marshmallows. Allow to stand a moment and
pour into the cups.
=Strawberry Preserves= (Six one-half pt. glasses)
4 lbs. berries
3 lbs. sugar
3 C-water
Pick over, wash and hull the berries. Make a syrup by boiling the sugar
and water fifteen minutes. Fill sterilized jars with the berries. Cover
with syrup and let stand fifteen minutes to settle. Add more berries.
Adjust rubbers and covers. Place on a folded cloth in a kettle of cold
water. Heat water to boiling point and cook slowly one hour. Screw on
covers securely.
=On Bettina's Emergency Shelf=
6 cans pimentos (small size)
6 cans tuna (small size)
6 cans salmon (small size)
6 jars dried beef
12 cans corn
12 cans peas
6 cans string beans
6 cans lima beans
6 cans devilled ham (small size)
6 cans tomatoes
6 pt. jars pickles
6 pt. jars olives
6 small cans condensed milk
6 boxes sweet wafers
1 pound box salted codfish
3 pkg. marshmallows
3 cans mushrooms
2 pkg. macaroni