The Mary Frances cook book

"Well! Well! Good friend," smiled Mary Frances, looking at her book, "your turn has come!" No. 40. — Pan-broiled Beefsteak. 1. Heat an empty frying pan to blue heat, or until it smokes. No greasing is necessary. 2. Put in the steak. 3. Cook half minute. 4. Turn on other side. 5. Cook about 4 minutes. 6. Turn, and cook about 5 minutes longer. 7. Place on a hot platter, and spread with butter. 8. Sprinkle with a little pepper and salt, and 1 tablespoon finely chopped parsley. 9. Squeeze over it a little lemon juice. 10. Cover with another platter. 11. Remove top platter just before serving. Note. — Mutton or Lamb Chops are pan-broiled in the same way. Smiled happil)^ "I'm frying p an'.' 170 The Mary Frances Cook Book That'^ it!" ''That's it!" cried Frying Pan, delighted. "That's as good as broihng, though it took people a long time to find it out." ''It is not!" cried Gridiron Broiler angrily clicking his wires. "It is not, Spider!" "For shame!" said Mary Frances. "Don't call names!" "He isn't calling names," answered Frying Pan, "that's my other name, Frying Pan Spider." Then to Gridiron he added, "Come, don't let's quarrel, you'll admit pan-broiling is very nearly as good for chops as broiling over the coals in a broiler, and quite as good for steaks — nearly." "I was just getting ready to say," said Gridiron, you didn't mean 'quite.'" "It's time to commence!" loudly struck in Mantel Clock. And then Mary Frances looked on in amazement. In walked Basket with the potatoes for the potato soup; up sprang Knife ready to pare them; over ran Boiler Pan with some water. "Why! Why!" exclaimed Mary Frances. "Why!" "Yes!" said Tea Kettle, "we'll do everything in not! r Mary Frances Gets Dinner 171 the recipes you've already made. All you need to do is to make the new recipes — with our help," which Mary Frances did. Whenever she'd make a mistake, some one of the Kitchen People would correct and help her. At six o'clock all the dinner was ready to serve, and the table was set. "Oh, thank you, dear Kitchen People," said the beaming little girl; 'Hhis is the happiest time of my life." r'^'"U^e)q*e drajid I" chuckled Jfluntie , I X Aollin^ Pin. Canj^ou bake them? CHAPTER XXVI MOTHER S SURPRISE AFTER one last look, Mary Frances, hearing the sound of carriage wheels, ran to answer the door before the bell rang; but Billy was there, too, and they opened the door together. "Oh, Mother!" cried Mary Frances; "you dear, darhng Mother! What a 'cry-baby' I am!" (as the tears rolled down her cheeks, and Mother kissed her and Billy and Father again and again) "What a 'cry- baby!'" "Which she is not!" declared Billy. "Tell Mother, — Mary Frances, I can't wait for you to tell your secret!" "A secret?" smiled Mother. "A secret, Mary Frances?" "Oh, how good something smells!" said Mother. "It makes me hungry." "Come right out, then," said Mary Frances, bow- ing, "Dinner is Served." [173] -A secretT " Y^u dear, darling pother!" 174 The Mary Frances Cook Book ''Here?" asked her mother. ''I im-ag-ined we'd go over to Aunt Maria's." ''No, Mother, dear," laughed Mary Frances, hap- pily; "it's the 'surprise' for you." And they went into the dining-room. "Wh — wh — why! how did this happen?" asked Mother. "Where did this feast come from?" Everybody laughed and talked at the same time.