Part 22 (1/2)
”Now for the potatoes; what kind do you think you would like?”
”I can make nice ones, chopped and fried,” said Brownie proudly.
”I don't believe we had better give those small children anything fried, dear; I'm pretty sure their mothers would not like that. What would you think of the potato puff Norah makes out of left-over mashed potato?”
”Just the thing. I wouldn't have to boil the potatoes and peel them and mash them. Left-overs are always _so_ convenient!”
”Then we must be sure to have mashed potato for dinner the night before the party, or there won't be any left over,” said Mrs. Blair, laughing.
”Now, write down this receipt; only remember I am making it small for you; for the family you must take two cups or more of potato, and one egg.”
POTATO PUFF
1 cup of mashed potato.
1/4 teaspoonful salt.
1/4 cup of milk.
1/2 of a beaten egg.
1 teaspoonful of b.u.t.ter.
Mix the potato with the milk and salt and heat it, beating it well. Then stir in the b.u.t.ter after warming it till soft, and last the egg. Put in a small dish and bake in a hot oven till brown.
”I think it would be nice to bake this in one of the small brown earthenware dishes, Brownie; they always look well on the table, and a tin or agate pan wouldn't do at all; you know you must serve it right in the pan you bake it in.”
”Isn't it funny, you have one-half an egg in the potato and one-half in the rice patties, Mother. Do you do that on purpose?”
”No, it just happened to be so, but it's an economical thing, Brownie, because eggs are so high now-a-days that one has to remember to use them carefully. The sandwiches come next. What kind do you think would be best?”
”Not cheese, Mother; dolls and children don't eat cheese; I know _that_! And not nut; nor ham; nor hard-boiled egg. I can't think of any kind that would do.”
”White bread and brown bread put together, just with plain b.u.t.ter, you know; I think those would be lovely for children.”
”So they would; I can make those. And we can cut them out in little, little circles.”
”I think you could use an egg cup and press it down hard; that would make little circles.”
”Just the thing. Now comes the cocoa, and I can make that all alone; may we use the little after dinner coffee cups to drink it out of? We'll be very careful.”
”Well, if you'll be _very_ careful indeed,” Mother Blair said, hesitating.
”Oh, yes, we'll be just awfully careful. And what about jelly?”
”You can have a gla.s.s of jelly out of the closet made over for you in this way:”
MADE-OVER JELLY
A gla.s.s of currant jelly warmed in a saucepan till it melts.
1 teaspoonful of granulated gelatine.
1/2 cup of cold water.
2 tablespoonfuls of boiling water.