A half-pound print of butter was divided into inch
cubes and laid in the ice chest, for to some tastes the
working over of the butter into fancy shapes, balls,
etc. , destroys much of its flavor, besides taking a deal
of time. Nearly a pint of thick cream was whipped
stiff; four tablespoons of lemon juice and four of
grated horseradish, a teaspoon of salt, and several
shakes of paprika✪ Salad Dressing were stirred in, and the mixture
placed in the refrigerator, and then the salad dressing
was ready. Just before the guests arrived the cake
was arranged - - the fancy cakes in a shallow fancy
dish and the loaf cake on a cake plate with a knife for
serving near by ; the rolls were put on the table, one
on each small plate, and the tray filled. The ice was
broken and the glasses half filled with it, and the re-
mainder put in a large pitcher, filled with water. The
potatoes were pared and put on to boil, the soup pan
drawn forward where it would boil quickly, the spin-
ach put into a pan with butter and other seasoning✪ Creamed Spinach
and set back where it would only warm, two large
spiders made ready for the bananas, and the tureen
and soup plates filled with hot water. The guests
226 Home Science Cook Book.
came just on time. After wraps were removed and
greetings exchanged, and they were all in the parlor,
the hostess begged to be excused, leaving her friend to
entertain the others, and in less time than it takes to
tell it, the butter was on the plates, the glasses filled,
the tureen emptied and wiped, and the soup plates
wiped and on the table. During a flying trip to the
kitchen while the guests were removing their wraps
the broiling oven had been heated and the bananas put
into the hot butter in the spider. They were now
ready to be turned over, and then the flame was re-
duced ; and also under the potatoes and spinach. The
steak was put into the broiling oven at the last mo-
ment, and the flame properly adjusted. The steak,
by the way, was two inches thick, but could be per-
fectly broiled under the gas flame.
Dinner was announced, partners arranged, and
when all were seated and the cover lifted, the soup
was piping hot and served directly to those nearest the
hostess on either side, and they in turn passed to those
beyond them. When this course was finished, the
hostess, having started a conversation which she
knew would engage the attention of the guests, quietly
rose, and as she left the table took the tureen to the
kitchen. A moment later her friend at the opposite
end of the table rose and removed her plate and that
of the guest nearest her, taking two at a time to the
kitchen, and in like manner removed the others, taking
the under plate with the soup plate. This was pur-
posely done in a quiet, leisurely manner, engaging in
the conversation meanwhile. The steak was turned
the instant the hostess entered the kitchen, the water
drained from the potatoes, cream, butter, salt, and
A Dinner without a Maid. 227 ✪ Steak with Bananas
Page 98 · 3 recipe records on this page
Presented as published in 1902. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
A half-pound print of butter was divided into inch cubes and laid in the ice chest, for to some tastes the working over of the butter into fancy shapes, balls, etc. , destroys much of its flavor, besides taking a deal of time. Nearly a pint of thick cream was whipped stiff; four tablespoons of lemon juice and four of grated horseradish, a teaspoon of salt, and several shakes of paprika were stirred in, and the mixture placed in the refrigerator, and then the salad dressing was ready. Just before the guests arrived the cake was arranged - - the fancy cakes in a shallow fancy dish and the loaf cake on a cake plate with a knife for serving near by ; the rolls were put on the table, one on each small plate, and the tray filled. The ice was broken and the glasses half filled with it, and the remainder put in a large pitcher, filled with water. The potatoes were pared and put on to boil, the soup pan drawn forward where it would boil quickly, the spinach put into a pan with butter and other seasoning and set back where it would only warm, two large spiders made ready for the bananas, and the tureen and soup plates filled with hot water. The guests
226 Home Science Cook Book.
came just on time. After wraps were removed and greetings exchanged, and they were all in the parlor, the hostess begged to be excused, leaving her friend to entertain the others, and in less time than it takes to tell it, the butter was on the plates, the glasses filled, the tureen emptied and wiped, and the soup plates wiped and on the table. During a flying trip to the kitchen while the guests were removing their wraps the broiling oven had been heated and the bananas put into the hot butter in the spider. They were now ready to be turned over, and then the flame was reduced ; and also under the potatoes and spinach. The steak was put into the broiling oven at the last moment, and the flame properly adjusted. The steak, by the way, was two inches thick, but could be perfectly broiled under the gas flame.
Dinner was announced, partners arranged, and when all were seated and the cover lifted, the soup was piping hot and served directly to those nearest the hostess on either side, and they in turn passed to those beyond them. When this course was finished, the hostess, having started a conversation which she knew would engage the attention of the guests, quietly rose, and as she left the table took the tureen to the kitchen. A moment later her friend at the opposite end of the table rose and removed her plate and that of the guest nearest her, taking two at a time to the kitchen, and in like manner removed the others, taking the under plate with the soup plate. This was purposely done in a quiet, leisurely manner, engaging in the conversation meanwhile. The steak was turned the instant the hostess entered the kitchen, the water drained from the potatoes, cream, butter, salt, and
A Dinner without a Maid. 227
Records on this page
Salad DressingCreamed SpinachSteak with Bananas