BETTINA PLANS AN ANNOUNCEMENT LUNCHEON
"AND so I thought, if you were willing, I would have the luncheon the
last of this week," said Bettina to Alice one sultry afternoon which
they were spending on Bettina's porch.
"That's dear of you, Bettina. Oh, how queer it will seem to have
everyone know about it! You must let me help with the luncheon, of
course."
"No, indeed, Alice! Ruth and I are going to do it all alone, and the
guest of honor is not to lift a finger! You can advise us, of course,
but you mustn't arrive that day till everything is ready. I want to tell
you about a few plans I've made. I wish I could consult Harry, too."
"But he won't be at the announcement party!"
"No, but he's the leading man in the drama, and important even when off
the stage. Let's telephone him to come here to dinner tonight. It is so
warm that I have planned only a lunch, but we can set the porch table
and have a jolly informal time. Do call him up, Alice."
"I'd love to, of course, if you really want us."
"Indeed I do, but we'll have to hurry, for it's after five now."
"I'll help you," said Alice, after Harry had given his hearty
acceptance. "Let me fix the salad."
"All right, and I'll stir up some little tea cakes. It's better not to
cut those beets too small, Alice; it makes them soft. I never add them
till just before I serve the salad. There, that's fine! Do you want to
fix the parsley to garnish the ham? Ham looks so much better with
parsley that I never fail to garnish it. I have nasturtiums for the
center of the table, and we'll garnish the salad with them, too."
"It will be a festive little meal. What else can I do while you're
baking the tea cakes?"
"You can make the iced tea, Alice. You do everything so easily and
deftly that I love to watch you. And you have never cooked at all until
lately, have you?"
"No, but I really like it. Wouldn't it be a joke if I should become very
domestic?"
"Well, your fate is pointing in that direction! Time is swiftly passing,
and in a few short weeks--Alice, shall I call off the announcement
luncheon?"
"Oh, no, no, Bettina! Let fate do her worst! I'm resigned."
Supper that night consisted of:
Cold Sliced Ham Beet Salad
Bread Butter
Tea Cakes Apple Sauce
Iced Tea
BETTINA'S RECIPES
(All measurements are level)
=Beet Salad= (Four portions)
1 C-cold boiled beets cut in 1/2-inch cubes
1/3 C-cold boiled potatoes, cubed
1/3 C-diced celery
1 hard-cooked egg, diced
1/3 C-diced cucumber
1/2 t-salt
1/2 C-salad dressing
Mix the beets, potatoes, celery, egg, cucumber and salt very lightly
together with a fork. Mix with salad dressing. Serve in a bowl garnished
with nasturtium leaves and flowers.
="Lightning" Tea Cakes= (Twelve cakes)
1-1/2 C-flour
3/4 C-granulated or powdered sugar
2 t-baking powder
1/3 t-salt
3 T-butter (melted)
1 egg
1/2 C-milk
1/2 t-vanilla
Sift and mix together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Make a
"well" in the center of the mixture and pour in the melted butter, egg,
milk and vanilla. Stir all together and beat vigorously for two minutes.
Fill well buttered muffin pans half full of the mixture and bake fifteen
minutes in a moderate oven.