Mrs. Wilson's Cook Book Part 112

One-half cup of water, Two level tablespoons of cornstarch.

Stir to dissolve the starch and then bring to a boil and cook for five minutes.

VIRGINIA STYLE BAKED HAM

Purchase a boiled boneless ham and place in baking pan.

Open one and one-half pound can of syrup and add

Two tablespoons of cinnamon, One tablespoon of nutmeg, One teaspoon of allspice, One teaspoon of cloves, One teaspoon of ginger.

Mix well, then spread on the ham and dust lightly with the flour.

Baste frequently with the syrup. Bake in a slow oven for one and one-fourth hours.

MENUS FOR THE NEW YEAR'S PARTY

Planning a real, old-fas.h.i.+oned watch party to see the old year out and the new one in will afford a real entertainment. Have the folks arrive about 10 o'clock and then pa.s.s an hour and a half in dancing, singing and generally having a real good old-fas.h.i.+oned time. Then about 11.45 serve the supper, so that just before midnight all are ready with a toast to the new year.

Arrange so that each guest is in his place standing, with a wa.s.sail cup in hand, and then at three minutes of 12, darken the room. When 12 o'clock is struck, turn on the lights and drink a Happy New Year.

New Year merrymaking is as old as the history of England. There the head of the house a.s.sembles the family around the wa.s.sail bowl to drink the healths of every one. The Saxon phrase "Wa.s.shael" means "Your health"; hence the wa.s.sail bowl. In many of the s.h.i.+res and counties the lads and la.s.sies secure a large bowl and ornament it with ribbons and artificial flowers, and, with this visit the gentry, all the while singing songs suitable to the occasion.

AN ENGLISH Wa.s.sAIL

Place two gallons of cider in a large punch bowl and add

A large lump of ice, One-half dozen bananas, cut in thin slices, One-half dozen oranges, cut in slices and then in small pieces, One medium-sized bottle of maraschino cherries, Small baked apple.

Cut the cherries into tiny bits and use the juice also. Put in one baked apple for each guest. The apples are afterward eaten with a fork. Mix and serve.

Here are some suggestions for supper:

MENU NO. 1

Celery Olives Home-made Pickles Chicken a la King Potato Croquettes Cheese Crackers Cake Jelly Coffee

MENU NO. 2

Radishes Celery Home-made Relishes Virginia Baked Ham Potato Salad Rolls b.u.t.ter Coffee Cake

COUNTRY SUPPER

Radishes Celery Home-made Relishes Roast Suckling Pig Brown Gravy Apple Sauce Mashed White Potatoes Sauerkraut Coleslaw Bread and b.u.t.ter Cranberry Pie Coffee

An old custom of the new year has been revived--making calls. Folks now visit about on New Year's Day very much in the same way as grandma entertained and kept open house on this day.

To serve on New Year's visits:

Celery Olives Pimento Sandwiches Baked Ham Sandwiches Celery and Cheese Sandwiches Tea, Coffee or Cocoa

Other folks will prefer to entertain with a New Year's dinner. Perhaps this will give a suggestion:

Oysters on Half Sh.e.l.l Celery Ye Olde-tyme Vegetable Soup Boiled Fish Egg Sauce Baked Ham Champagne Style Sauce Browned Potatoes Peas Coleslaw Mince or Apple Pie Coffee Nuts Raisins

COD Ba.s.sLANO

The serving of a fish entree with the Sunday dinner gives just the right zest to the meal. Select two slices of cod or other sliced fish. Cut into small fillets and season and then roll in flour. Dip in beaten egg and then roll in fine bread crumbs. Fry until golden brown in hot fat and serve with tartare sauce.

ROAST LOIN OF PORK

Select a five- or six-pound cut and have the butcher remove the entire chine bone. Wipe and place in a baking pan and pat in one cup of flour. Core one apple for each service and place meat in the hot oven.

Let brown and then reduce the heat and allow one-half hour for the meat to the pound to cook in a moderate oven. Baste with boiling water.

CRANBERRY DUMPLINGS

Chop two cups of cranberries very fine and add

One-half cup of seedless raisins, One cup of brown sugar.

Place in the mixing bowl

One and one-half cups of flour, One-half teaspoon of salt, One teaspoon of baking powder.

Stiffen to mix and then rub in three tablespoons of shortening and work to a dough with one-half cup of cold water. Roll out one-quarter inch thick and spread with cranberry mixture. Roll like for jelly roll and then wrap in a pudding cloth. Plunge in a saucepan containing boiling water; cook for forty minutes and then lift and drain. Serve, cut in inch-wide slices with sweetened cranberry sauce.

Many persons like the old-fas.h.i.+oned idea of entertaining on New Year's Day with a real old-time dinner. An ideal number is either eight or twelve persons. Put the full quota of leaves in the dining-room table and pad it nicely. Cover with your best table cloth. A miniature tree or a bush of mistletoe or holly for a centre-piece is both seasonable and appropriate.

To serve this meal with one maid, it must be arranged so as to relieve her of the waitress tasks. Mould the b.u.t.ter into b.a.l.l.s and arrange the service, allowing at least twenty-two inches between the guests. Place the celery and relish in gla.s.s dishes at intervals along the side of the table and serve the salad with the dinner.

A SUGGESTIVE COLONIAL MENU

Oyster Soup Celery Home-made Relishes Roast Beef, Yorks.h.i.+re Pudding Brown Gravy Horseradish Sauce Mashed Potatoes b.u.t.tered Onions Spiced Cantaloupe and Watermelon Rind Beet and Cabbage Salad Plum Pudding Mince Pie Coffee

RECIPES FOR TWELVE PERSONS

Strain the juice of fifty stewing oysters, then look them over carefully and remove all bits of sh.e.l.l. Wash and then place in a saucepan and add two tablespoons of b.u.t.ter. Now place in a large saucepan