UNCLE JOHN A GUEST AT DINNER
"WELL, well! In time for dinner; am I?" said Uncle John, letting in a
gust of snow-filled air as he opened the front door.
"Why, Uncle John, I should say you are!" answered Bettina with delight
as she removed her kitchen apron. "Do you smell my date buns? I believe
you'll like them!"
"Date buns? Never heard of anything so absurd in my whole life! What are
they?" And then, without waiting for an answer, he went on, "A regular
blizzard tonight, I do believe! I telephoned your Aunt Lucy that I
wouldn't be back to the farm till morning, then I found a place to leave
my car, and came up here to see if I couldn't get a bite to eat. But
date buns! I don't know about that! I'm not used to anything so fancy."
"Well, Uncle John, there's a salmon loaf baking in the oven, and also
some lemon rice pudding, so I believe there'll be something you'll
like."
"Maybe!" said Uncle John, doubtfully, but with a twinkle in his eye that
belied his words. "But let me see! Aunt Lucy sent you something; what
was it? Oh, yes, some cream!" And he took a glass jar from its
wrappings.
"Oh, Uncle John, how lovely!" said Bettina. "Won't we just revel in
cream! There comes Bob now! Get behind the door, Uncle John, and say
'boo'! the way you used to do with me when I was a little girl!"
That night for dinner Bettina served:
Salmon Loaf Creamed Potatoes
Date Buns Butter
Cranberry Sauce
Lemon Rice Pudding
Coffee
BETTINA'S RECIPES
(All measurements are level)
=Salmon Loaf= (Three portions)
1 C-flaked salmon
1/2 C-fresh bread crumbs
2/3 C-milk
1 egg-yolk
1/2 t-salt
1/4 t-paprika
1 t-melted butter
1 t-flour
Mix the salmon, bread crumbs, milk, egg-yolk, salt and paprika. Pack
down in a well-buttered pan. Pour one teaspoon of melted butter over the
top. Dredge with flour. Bake thirty-five minutes in a moderate oven.
Serve hot or cold.
=Date Buns= (Twelve Buns)
3 C-flour
1/2 t-salt
1 yeast cake
2 T-sugar
1/3 T-butter
3/4 C-milk
1 egg
2/3 C-dates
Mix and sift the flour and the salt. Add the dates, which have been
pitted and cut into small pieces. Mix with sugar the yeast cake (broken
up). Heat the milk and add the butter. When the butter is melted, cool
the milk mixture slightly, and add it to the yeast mixture, stirring
carefully until the yeast is dissolved.
Add the egg well-beaten to the milk mixture, and add this to the flour.
Mix thoroughly and toss onto a well-floured board. Knead two minutes.
Place in a warm place and allow to rise one hour. Divide into twelve
pieces by cutting with a knife. Allow to rise ten minutes. Brush the
tops with one tablespoon of egg to which has been added one tablespoon
of milk. Bake twenty minutes in a hot oven.
=Lemon Rice Pudding= (Three portions)
2/3 C-cooked rice
1/4 t-salt
1 C-milk
1 egg
1 T-lemon juice
1/4 C-sugar
1 T-powdered sugar
1 t-lemon juice
Beat the egg-yolk, add the sugar, salt and lemon juice. Add the milk and
the rice. Cook one minute, stirring constantly to prevent scorching.
Pour into a well-buttered pudding dish. Beat the egg-white very stiff.
Add the powdered sugar and the lemon juice. (One teaspoon.) Pile lightly
on top of the pudding. Bake thirty minutes in a slow oven.