SOME OF BETTINA'S CHRISTMAS PLANS
"TO-NIGHT," said Bettina at the dinner table, "I expect to finish three
Christmas gifts--one for Alice, one for Mary and one for Eleanor. Now
aren't you curious to know what I've been making?"
"Curiosity is no name for it," said Bob, "but I'm even more curious to
know what particular thing it is that makes this ham so tender. Is it
baked? Anyhow, it's the best I have ever eaten."
"Thank you," said Bettina, "but you always say that about sliced ham, no
matter how it is cooked. But this is a little different. It is baked in
milk."
"Great, anyhow," said Bob. "Now tell me about your conspiracy with Santa
Claus."
"Well, I am making for Alice an indexed set of recipes--a card index.
All the recipes are just for two, and they are all tried and true."
"Just for two,
Tried and true--
Sent, with Betty's love, to you."
echoed Bob. "You can write that on the card that goes with it."
"I shall have you think what to say on all the gifts, Bob. I must show
you the box of cards. It is only a correspondence-card box, with the
white cards to fit, but I'm sure that Alice will like her new cook book.
Then for Mary and Eleanor I have made card-table covers. Mary's is of
white Indian head--just a square of it, bound with white tape and with
white tape at the corners for tying it to the table. It is to have a
white monogram. Eleanor's is linen-colored and is bound in green with a
green monogram. Hers is finished and I shall finish Mary's this
evening--that is, if you will read to me while I work!"
"Hurray!" said Bob. "What shall I read? Mark Twain?"
For dinner that night they had:
Baked Ham Baked Potatoes
Corn Bread Butter
Cranberry Sauce
BETTINA'S RECIPES
(All measurements are level)
=Baked Ham= (Three portions)
2/3 lb. slice of ham one inch thick
1 C-milk
1 T-flour
1 T-water
Cover the ham with boiling water and let it stand ten minutes. Remove
from the pan, and place the ham in a pan just large enough to hold it.
Cover with the milk. Place in a moderate oven and bake thirty minutes.
More milk may be added if necessary. When the ham is done, add more
liquid (enough to make one-half a cup). Mix flour with water. Add the
hot milk to this slowly. Heat and cook one minute. Serve with the ham.
=Corn Bread= (Three portions)
1/2 C-corn meal
2/3 C-flour
3 T-sugar
2 t-baking powder
1/2 t-salt
1 egg-yolk
2/3 C-milk
1 T-melted butter
Mix the corn meal, flour, sugar, baking powder and salt thoroughly. Add
the egg-yolk and milk, and beat two minutes. Add the melted butter. Mix
well. Pour into a well buttered square cake pan. Bake in a moderate oven
twenty minutes.
=Cranberry Sauce= (Four portions)
1 qt. cranberries
2 C-sugar
2 C-water
Look over and wash the cranberries. Cook them in the water until they
are soft and the skins are broken. Remove from the fire, add the sugar
and stir well. Cook three minutes. Pour into a mould which has been
dipped in cold water.