UNCLE JOHN AND AUNT LUCY
AS Bettina was standing before a beautiful exhibit of honey in the
agricultural building, she was startled by a hand upon her shoulder.
"Gracious, Uncle John!" she exclaimed. "How you frightened me! But I'm
so glad to see you! Where is Aunt Lucy?"
"Here, somewhere. You know she took a few prizes herself and is probably
hanging around to hear any stray compliments for her butter or
preserves."
"Aren't you ashamed, John!" said Aunt Lucy, herself appearing like
magic. "I was just looking for the queen bee among the others in this
glass case."
"And here she is!" said Uncle John, laying his hand on Bettina's
shoulder, and laughing delightedly at his own joke. "You've been looking
in the wrong place."
"For that, Uncle John, I'm going to beg you and Aunt Lucy to come home
with me to dinner. Won't you? When did you come in?"
"This morning, and we're making a day of it. We'd like to see the
fireworks this evening, but perhaps we could go to your house and get
back again. For that matter, you and Bob could go with us to see the
fireworks. How about it?"
"Oh, that would be splendid! Bob couldn't come to the fair this
afternoon, and I came with a friend."
"Well, we'll take you both home in the car. When shall we see you? Five
o'clock? Fine! And you and Bob must come back with us this evening."
Dinner that night consisted of:
Broiled Ham
Hashed Brown Potatoes Pickled Beets
Bread Butter
Coffee
BETTINA'S RECIPES
(All measurements are level)
=Hashed Brown Potatoes= (Four portions)
2 C-chopped potatoes
1/2 t-salt
a pinch of pepper
4 T-fat
Put fat in frying-pan, when very hot, add the potatoes, salt and pepper.
Cook three minutes, allowing to cook without stirring for two minutes.
Fold as an omelet and turn onto a hot platter. Garnish with parsley.
=Pickled Beets= (Four portions)
6 beets
2/3 C-vinegar
2 T-sugar
Wash the medium-sized beets thoroughly, and cook until tender in boiling
water. Drain, cover with cold water and slip off the skins. Slice the
beets into one-fourth inch slices. Cover with vinegar and sugar. Allow
to stand two hours before using.
=Brown Betty= (Four portions)
2 C-sliced apples
1 C-fresh bread crumbs
1/4 C-brown sugar
1 t-cinnamon
3 T-butter
1/2 C-water
Mix the apples, all but two tablespoons of the bread crumbs, brown
sugar, and cinnamon. Add the melted butter and pour into a buttered
baking-dish. Pour the water over the whole mixture. Use the remainder of
the crumbs and a little melted butter for the top. Bake forty-five
minutes in a moderate oven. Serve hot or cold with hard sauce.
=Hard Sauce for Brown Betty= (Four portions)
4 T-butter
1 C-powdered sugar
1/2 t-vanilla extract
1/2 t-lemon extract
1 t-boiling water
Cream the butter, add the boiling water, and the sugar gradually. Stir
until the sauce is creamy. Add vanilla and lemon extract. Set in the
ice-box to harden. Serve cold.