THE WEDDING INVITATIONS
BOB and Bettina had scarcely sat down to dinner one crisp cold evening,
when they heard laughing voices at the door. "It sounds like Alice,"
said Bettina. "What can she be up to now? And Harry, too!"
Bob had already thrown open the door, and there, as Bettina had guessed,
were Alice and Harry, each carrying a large box.
"We've come to deliver your invitation to the wedding," said Alice. "It
may be unconventional, but it's fun. The rest we are going down to
mail--that is, if we don't get frightened at the idea, and pitch the
boxes in the river instead."
"If that's the way you feel," said Harry firmly, "I'll carry your box
myself."
"Please don't, Harry! Just think, I may never have another opportunity
of mailing the invitations to my own wedding, so don't deprive me of the
privilege."
"Stay to dinner won't you?" said Bettina. "We had really planned on
having Uncle John and Aunt Mary this evening, but they didn't come to
town after all. So I am sure we have plenty, even to apple dumplings for
dessert."
"Harry had asked me to take dinner with him down town," said Alice, "by
way of celebrating when these invitations were mailed. But perhaps we
might stay here instead, since this was the very place in which we met
first! Harry, I believe sentiment demands that we accept Bettina's
invitation."
"I must broil another steak," said Bettina, "but that will take only a
few minutes. I'm so glad you can stay."
"But we'll have to leave immediately after dinner," said Alice, "for
these invitations simply must be mailed this evening."
That night for dinner, Bettina served:
Beefsteak Mashed Potatoes
Turnips
Lettuce Bettina's Russian Salad Dressing
Apple Dumplings and Cream
BETTINA'S RECIPES
(All measurements are level)
=Turnips= (Four portions)
4 turnips
1 T-butter
1/4 t-salt
1/8 t-pepper
Wash, pare and cut the turnips in small pieces. Cook until transparent
and tender. Drain, mash, add the butter, salt and pepper, mix thoroughly
and return to the fire to dry out the superfluous water. Serve hot with
vinegar. (Never cook turnips until brown.)
=Head Lettuce= (Four portions)
1 head lettuce
Remove the outer leaves and core of the lettuce. Clean thoroughly. Place
very wet in a towel, wrap well and lay directly on the ice. Allow to
stand one hour before serving to allow the lettuce to get very cold and
crisp.
=Bettina's Russian Dressing= (Four portions)
1/2 C-salad dressing
2 T-chili sauce
1 T-chopped green pepper
Mix the ingredients in the order named. Shake thoroughly in a glass jar.
Serve cold.
=Apple Dumplings= (Four portions)
1 C-flour
2 t-baking powder
1/4 t-salt
2 T-lard
1/3 C-water
4 apples
1/2 C-sugar
1 t-cinnamon
Mix thoroughly the flour, baking powder and salt. Cut in the lard with a
knife, and then add the water, mixing to a soft dough. Roll on a
well-floured board to one-fourth of an inch in thickness. Wipe and pare
the apples, and cut them in quarters.
Cut the dough in four square pieces. Place four quarters of apple in the
center of each piece of dough. Sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon. Moisten
the edges of the dough with water. Bring the four corners of each piece
up around the apple, pressing tightly together. Pierce with a fork to
allow the escape of steam. Place each dumpling upside down on a floured
tin, and bake thirty-five minutes in a moderate oven. Serve warm with
cream.