Foods and home making

When refreshments are served, eat them if possible. The hostess has spent time or money or both in her preparations. One would appear to have little appreciation of her efforts if the food were left untasted. Eat with the same care that you would at the table. Suggestions for eating sandwiches, salads, ice cream, and cake, and for drinking beverages (pages 130, 133, and 134) apply to foods served at a party as well as to a meal served on the dining table. What should you say when you leave a party? When it is time to leave a party, you should say “ Good-by ” to the sponsor of a school party or the hostess of a home party. If the party is in a home, it is courteous to say “ Good-by ” to the mother or parents of your hostess. Parties at School and at Home 577 When leaving a party you should not merely say “ Good-by ” or “ Good night ” but add at least a “ Thank you ” to let your sponsor or hostess know you appreciate her hospitality. To the sponsor of a school party, one might say, “ Good night, Miss Adams. Thank you for helping us to have such a good time.” To a friend having a party at her home, the following might be appropriate : “ Good-by, Alice, I have had a very good time, as I always do in your home.” Whatever you say, say it sin- cerely. If you say merely, “ Good-by, Mary. Thank you,” put a sincere ring in your voice. The way you say “ Good-by ” or “ How do you do ? ” may count more than what you say. What shall you serve for refreshments? Refreshments for a party are usually served in the afternoon or evening — not at meal time. The amount of food should, therefore, be less than that served at a meal. Simple refreshments — ■ not more than one course — are best for most parties. It is well also to use wholesome foods for refreshments. For a party at school or at home, the following may be sug- gestive : Cookies (page 444) and cocoa (page 69) Cocoa with marshmallows or whipped cream (page 69) and wafers Apples and gingerbread (page 321) Pop-corn balls (page 578) and cocoa (page 69) Fruit cup (page 313) and cake (pages 551-558) Fruit salad (page 294), wafers, and cocoa (page 69) Ice cream (page 569) and cake (pages 551-558) Fruit punch (page 578) and assorted cakes (page 444) Sandwiches (page 230) and cocoa (page 69) Gelatin dessert (page 439) and cakes (page 444) or wafers Cream puffs (page 579) and cocoa (page 69) How are pop-corn balls made? Who does not like to pop corn? It is fun to hear the kernels pop and to see them hop around. They act as if they were having a merry time. It is disappointing when some of the kernels do not pop. Let us learn how to make almost every kernel burst open. 578 Hospitality Pop corn must be dry before it will pop. However, just before popping, the kernels should be moistened. To do this, put the corn in a strainer and let the water run through it. Drain. For popping corn a wire popper, a frying pan, or a new kind of popper having a crank handle may be used. Some of the latter kind are heated by electricity. No matter what kind of utensil is used, the pop corn must be kept moving while heating. If a frying pan or wire popper is used, shake it constantly. If one of the new kind is used, turn the crank while heating.