THE FIRELIGHT SOCIAL
"AND what have you been doing all day?" asked Bob after he had related
his own experiences at the office. "Just my usual work this morning, and
this afternoon I went to a meeting of the social committee of our Young
People's League; you know I've promised to help this winter. They plan a
social to be given in about two weeks to raise money for the orphanage
fund, and I do think their idea is a clever one. You see, it's a
'firelight social'; admission ten cents. Mrs. Lewis has offered her
house for it. Invitations are to be sent to all members of the church,
Sunday school and league, inviting people to 'come and read pictures in
the fire.' The cards are to be decorated with little pen and ink
sketches of hearthstones with burning logs on them. Of course there will
be a huge log in her big fireplace. Then as soon as the guests are
gathered around, someone is to read aloud that passage from 'Our Mutual
Friend,' where Lizzie Hexam reads the pictures in the firelight for her
brother. Then pencils and paper will be passed among the guests and each
one writes a short description of the pictures he sees in the fire. In
ten minutes these are collected and read aloud, with a prize for the
best one. Then corn will be popped and marshmallows toasted, and weird
ghost stories told. (Of course certain clever people have been asked
beforehand to be prepared.) Then supper will be served by candlelight;
it will consist of things like sandwiches, cider, coffee, nuts and
cookies. Don't you think a firelight social will be fun?"
"Sure it will! But I'm glad to-night we can be alone by our own
firelight, Bettina!"
That evening for dinner Bettina served:
Fried Oysters Baked Potatoes
Bettina's Relish Asparagus on Toast
Apple Tapioca Cream
Coffee
BETTINA'S RECIPES
(All measurements are level)
=Fried Oysters= (Two portions)
12 oysters
1/2 C-cracker crumbs
1 T-egg
1 T-water
1/4 t-salt
1/8 t-paprika
2 T-fat
Look over the selected large oysters to remove the shells. Mix the egg,
water, salt and paprika. Dip the oyster in the egg mixture and in the
crumbs. Place the fat in the frying-pan, and when hot add the oysters.
Brown nicely on each side, three minutes. Serve very hot on a hot
platter. Garnish with parsley.
=Bettina's Fried-Oyster Relish= (Two portions)
1 C-cabbage, cut fine
1 green pepper, cut fine
1 pimento, cut fine
1/4 t-celery salt
1/8 t-mustard
1/4 t-salt
1 T-"C" sugar
2 T-vinegar
Mix the celery salt, mustard, salt and sugar, add the vinegar. Pour over
the pimento, green pepper and cabbage. Serve as a relish with oysters
and meats. This relish should be served within one-half hour after it is
made.
=Asparagus on Toast= (Two portions)
1/2 can asparagus tips
1 C-vegetable white sauce
1/4 t-salt
1/8 t-pepper
2 slices of toast
Heat the asparagus tips in the liquid in the can. When hot, remove from
can upon slices of toast, sprinkle salt and pepper over each portion.
Pour one serving of white sauce over each portion.
=Apple Tapioca= (Two portions)
4 T-pearl tapioca
3 T-cold water
1 C-boiling water
1/8 t-salt
4 T-sugar
1/4 t-vanilla
2 sour apples
Soak the tapioca in the cold water for ten minutes in the upper part of
the double boiler. Add the boiling water and salt. Cook until
transparent. (About twenty minutes.) Cut the apples fine, mix thoroughly
with the sugar, place in the bottom of a small baking dish, pour the
tapioca mixture on them, and bake in a moderate oven until the apples
are soft. (About twenty-five minutes. The time depends upon the variety
of apple.)