UNCLE JOHN AND AUNT LUCY MAKE A VISIT
UNCLE JOHN and Aunt Lucy had driven Bob and Bettina home from a Sunday
spent in the country.
"Do come in," begged Bettina, "and have a little lunch with us. After
such a bountiful dinner, we really ought not to be hungry, but I confess
that the lovely drive home has given me an appetite. And you've never
been here for a meal! Don't be frightened, Uncle John, I really thought
of this yesterday, and my cupboard isn't entirely bare. It would be so
much fun to show you our things and the house!"
"I'm not afraid I won't be fed well," said Uncle John, "but those clouds
are black in the east. If it should rain we'd have trouble getting home.
Besides, I don't like to have the car standing out in a storm."
"I don't believe it'll rain, John," said comfortable Aunt Lucy. "And if
it does, well, we'll manage somehow. I, for one, would like to see
Bettina's kitchen--and all the rest of her house," she added.
Bettina arranged the dainty little meal on the porch table, and Aunt
Lucy and Uncle John sat down with good appetites.
"This looks almost too pretty to eat," said he as he looked at his plate
with its slice of jellied beef on head lettuce, served with salad
dressing, and its fresh crisp potato chips. And the nasturtium and green
leaf lay beside them.
"Have a radish and a sandwich, Uncle John," said Bettina. "We have
plenty, if not variety. Our only dessert is fresh pears."
"But it all tastes mighty good!" said Uncle John. "Say, Bob, it is
beginning to rain, I believe!"
"Sure enough, a regular storm! We must put the car in the empty garage
across the street. I'm sure we can get permission." And he and Uncle
John hurried out.
"It will blow over, I'm sure," said Aunt Lucy.
"But if it doesn't--why, Aunt Lucy, stay here all night! We'd love to
have you! The guest room is always ready. I know you'll be comfortable,
and they can manage without you at home for once, I'm sure."
"Of course they'll be all right, and it would be quite exciting to be
'company' for a change. If only Uncle John thinks he can do it!"
"It looks as if there'll be nothing else to do," said Uncle John, when
he and Bob returned. "Not but what I'd enjoy it--but I haven't been away
from home a night for--how long is it, Lucy?"
"Seven years last May, John. All the more reason why this'll do you
good."
"Oh, I'm so glad you'll really stay!" said Bettina. "Now tell me what
you like for breakfast!"
"Anything you have except those new fashioned breakfast foods," Uncle
John replied. "I might feed 'em to my stock, now, but not to a human
being. But don't you worry about me, Betty! Because I don't worry about
the breakfast proposition. Bob here is a pretty good advertisement of
the kind of cooking you can do!"
The lunch that night consisted of:
Jellied Beef Potato Chips
Radishes
Peanut Butter Sandwiches
Iced Tea Fresh Pears
BETTINA'S RECIPES
(All measurements are level)
=Jellied Beef= (Four portions)
1 C-cold chopped cooked beef
1/2 T-chopped onion
1 T-chopped pimento
1/2 t-salt
1/4 t-pepper
1 T-chopped parsley
1 T-lemon juice
2 t-granulated gelatin
1 T-cold water
1/2 C-boiling water
Soak the gelatin in one tablespoon cold water for three minutes. Add the
boiling water and dissolve thoroughly. Add the meat, onion, pimento,
salt, pepper, lemon juice and parsley. Stir well together and turn into
a mould that has been moistened with cold water. (A square or
rectangular mould is preferable.) Stand in a cold place for two hours.
When cold and firm, unmould on lettuce leaves and cut into slices. Salad
dressing may be served with it.
=Radishes= (Four portions)
12 radishes
1 C-chopped ice
Wash the radishes thoroughly with a vegetable brush. Cut off the long
roots and all but one inch of green tops. These tops make the radishes
easier to handle and more attractive. Serve in a bowl of chopped ice.
=Peanut Butter Sandwiches= (Twelve sandwiches)
4 T-peanut butter
1/8 t-salt
1 t-butter
1 T-salad dressing
12 slices of bread
12 uniform pieces of lettuce
Cream the peanut butter, add the butter. Cream again, add the salt and
salad dressing, mixing well. Cut the bread evenly. Butter one side of
the bread very thinly with the peanut butter mixture. Place the lettuce
leaf on one slice and place another slice upon it, buttered side down.
Press firmly and neatly together. Cut in two crosswise. Arrange
attractively in a wicker basket.