Title: The Mary Frances Cook Book or Adventures among the Kitchen People
Author: Fryer, Jane Eayre
Publisher: Philadelphia: The John G. Winston Co.
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[Illustration: A girl wearing a checkered apron stands in front of a kitchen table which is covered with animated cooking utensils, all of which have arms and legs and smiling faces. The girl is holding the hand of an old-fashioned toaster and a covered pot, while the other utensils dance on the table in front of her.]
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[Illustration: The seal of the Beatrice V. Grant Stand Fast Endowment Fund.]
BEATRICE V. GRANT
MSU 1929 - 1965
PROFESSOR of FOODS & NUTRITION
COLLECTOR of RARE COOKERY BOOKS
Her private collection of rare cookery books was donated by her sister, Dr. Rhoda Grant, to the MSU Libraries, May 1984.
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[Illustration: A girl wearing a checkered apron stands in a kitchen, holding an old-fashioned toaster over the top of a stove. Smiling cooking utensils look on from a table in the background. The clock on the wall and the tea kettle on the stove are also smiling at the girl.]
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[Illustration: An illustrated border featuring a variety of smiling, animated cooking implements surrounds this page.]
THE
MARY FRANCES
COOK BOOK
OR
ADVENTURES AMONG THE
KITCHEN PEOPLE
>
By
JANE EAYRE FRYER
Full page Illustrations by
MARGARET G. HAYS
Other Illustrations by
JANE ALLEN BOYER
[Illustration: A small illustration of an animated black cooking pot with a sullen look on its face.]
PHILADELPHIA.
View page [preface]
This book tells the story of Mary Frances, a little girl whose great ambition was to help her mother. So anxious was she to do this that even the humble Kitchen People became her teachers and instructors. They talked to her, a thing never heard of before; helped her over the hard places, and explained mysterious secrets she could never otherwise have understood. They wove around a simple little book of recipes her mother had made for her the spell of Fairyland; they led her through a series of delightful adventures such as never happened to any girl before, in which she lived for three whole happy weeks, and out of which she emerged no longer a little girl, but a real little woman.
Some very wise people would call this a story book, some a manual training book, and others a cookery book, but Mary Frances knows better; she
[Illustration: An illustration of a young girl looking out of an open window forms the lower border of the page, while the curtain of the same window creates a border to the right.]
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[Illustration: An illustration of a letter lying near an opened envelope, surrounded by a thin black border.]
knows that it is a Book within a Book that introduced her to Aunty Rolling Pin and a lot of other dear, dear friends, such as no little girl ever had before, and whom she now wishes to introduce for the first time to all other little girls. (I know that she gained their consent to do this because she told me so.)
In the hope that Mary Frances' wish may be realized, this record of her adventures is sent out to the girls of America with the best wishes of
[Illustration: A seated girl holds a large book open on her lap and smiles at four smaller children, who are gathered around looking up at her expectantly. The illustration is surrounded by a thin black border.]
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[Illustration: An illustration of an open book forms a backdrop for the CONTENTS heading on this page.]
> CONTENTS
| CHAPTER | PAGE | |
| I. | THE KITCHEN PEOPLE........................................ | 11 |
| II. | TOASTER MAN............................................... | 14 |
| III. | MARY FRANCES' MOTHER...................................... | 24 |
| IV. | MARY FRANCES' WARNS THE KITCHEN FOLKS..................... | 27 |
| V. | AUNT MARIA................................................ | 30 |
| VI. | JACKET-BOILED POTATOES.................................... | 33 |
| VII. | THE POT-AND-KETTLE FIGHT.................................. | 40 |
| VIII. | THE POTATO LUNCH.......................................... | 46 |
| IX. | MARY FRANCES GETS BREAKFAST............................... | 56 |
| X. | THE BREAKFAST BURNS UP.................................... | 65 |
| XI. | A JOKE ON AUNT MARIA...................................... | 70 |
| XII. | THE TRAMP................................................. | 75 |
| XIII. | COMPANY TO LUNCH.......................................... | 83 |
| XIV. | A PATENT DISH-WASHING..................................... | 91 |
| XV. | THIMBLE BISCUITS.......................................... | 94 |
| XVI. | THE DOLLS' KITCHEN PARTY................................. | 104 |
| XVII. | THE SICK NEIGHBOR........................................ | 110 |
| CHAPTER | PAGE | |
| XVIII. | A MAN'S LUNCH............................................ | 116 |
| XIX. | POOR BLUE PITCHER........................................ | 127 |
| XX. | MARY FRANCES GIVES A COOKING LESSON...................... | 131 |
| XXI. | THE PICNIC............................................... | 135 |
| XXII. | THE CANDY PULL........................................... | 139 |
| XXIII. | GETTING READY FOR A PARTY................................ | 144 |
| XXIV. | THE TEA PARTY............................................ | 154 |
| XXV. | MARY FRANCES GETS DINNER................................. | 159 |
| XXVI. | MOTHER'S SURPRISE. "GOOD-BYE, LITTLE MISS"............... | 173 |
[Illustration: Three girls wearing aprons and chef's hats stand and sing from large books, which they are holding open in front of them.]
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[Illustration: An illustration of several bunches of bananas surrounded by a black border.]
> LIST OF RECIPES
PAGE
1. PLAIN TOAST...................................................15
2. BUTTERED TOAST................................................19
3. MILK TOAST....................................................20
4. JACKET-BOILED POTAOTES........................................35
5. BAKED POTATOES................................................46
6. BOILED POTATOES...............................................47
7. MASHED POTATOES...............................................47
8. POTATO SOUP...................................................49
9. BOILED EGGS...................................................60
10. HARD-BOILED EGGS..............................................61
11. COFFEE........................................................63
12. TEA...........................................................76
13. OMELET........................................................77
14. WHITE SAUCE...................................................84
15. BAKED APPLES..................................................86
16. THIMBLE BISCUITS..............................................97
17. BAKING POWDER BUSCUITS........................................98
18. COCOA........................................................102
19. GINGERBREAD COOKIES..........................................108
20. SOFT CUSTARD.................................................111
PAGE
21. STEAMED RICE.................................................111
22. BOILED RICE..................................................112
23. POACHED EGGS.................................................114
24. RICE PUDDING.................................................117
25. BOILED MUTTON................................................118
26. SAUCE FOR BOILED MUTTON......................................119
27. APPLE SNOW...................................................127
28. STUFFED EGGS.................................................136
29. PICKANINNY FUDGE.............................................141
30. WALNUT KISSES................................................142
31. SPONGE CAKE..................................................145
32. DREAM CAKE...................................................150
33. QUEEN OF HEARTS TARTS........................................160
34. PASTRY.......................................................160
35. SALAD DRESSING...............................................166
36. CREAMED NEW CABBAGE..........................................167
37. BREAD PUDDING................................................167
38. BANANA BREAD PUDDING.........................................168
39. HARD SAUCE...................................................168
40. PAN-BROILED BEEFSTEAK........................................169
[Illustration: An assortment of fruit, including bananas, grapes, oranges, peaches, and a melon, surrounded by a black border.]
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[Illustration: A small bunch of radishes tied together, surrounded by a black border.]
[Illustration: A variety of vegetables, including potatoes, tomatoes, cauliflower, cabbage, and carrots, spills from an overturned basket. The illustration is surrounded by a black border.]
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> THE KITCHEN PEOPLE
Tea Kettle
Sauce Pan
Boiler Pan
Big Iron Pot
Pie Plate & Tea Pot
Coffee Pot
Mantel Clock & Blue Pitcher
Auntie Rolling Pin
Toaster Man
Baking Dish & Potato Masher
Platter & Ladle
Yellow Bowl & Measuring Cup
Frying Pan
Basket
Perforated Skimmer & Can Opener
Round & Square Cake Tins
Iron Griddle & Little Pitcher
Fork Knife & Spoon
[Illustration: A cartoon illustration of each of the above kitchen utensils appears to the right of its name in the list. Each utensil is animated, with a face.]
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[Illustration: A cartoon illustration of each of the above kitchen utensils appears to the right of its name in the list. Each utensil is animated, with a face.]
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> CHAPTER I
> THE KITCHEN PEOPLE
ALL the Kitchen People were terribly excited.
"I see my finish!" puffed Tea Kettle from his perch on the stove.
"That's slang!" snapped Sauce Pan, who sat near by.
"Slang or no slang," said Tea Kettle, "I'll melt if somebody doesn't come fill me soon."
"Where's the cook? Where's the mistress?" asked Boiler Pan.
"Why, the cook's left--left this morning and the mistress's sick. What's that I smell burning?"
"That's the potatoes in the oven," said Toaster.
"Oh, my lid!" cried Tea Kettle holding his nose. "Pour on water! Quick!"
"Whew!" mimicked Sauce Pan. "Whew!--That
[Illustration: An illustration of a frowning teapot sitting on top of a stove. A cloud of steam rises from underneath the lid of the teapot and climbs up the right side of the page.]
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won't help! If you say Whew! to an oven door, will it open?--Somebody open the door!"
"Good idea, Saucy!" exclaimed Tea Kettle. "You might try it yourself!"
"Owoooh! O-w-o-o-o-h!" strained little Sauce Pan at the heavy door. "O-w-o-o-o-h! I can't-t budge it! Cauch! Cawc! Ochee!" he coughed. "What smoke! Somebody else come try!"
"Get out of the way, then," said Big Iron Pot, making heavily toward the stove.
"Knew your arms were too short," laughed Tea Kettle, seeing Iron Pot couldn't reach the knob.
"Well, they're as long as yours," said Iron Pot angrily.
"Kick it open!" sug-gest-ed Sauce Pan. "Everybody allowed one kick!"
"First go!" exclaimed Iron Pot.
Whack! came a muffled sound. Then, "Oh, my poor feet! Oh! Oh!"
"What's the matter?" asked Sauce Pan.
"Nothing," said Big Iron Pot, hopping around on one little leg, and holding the other with his hands. "Only I wish you'd had 'First go!'"
[Illustration: An animated black pot hops away from an old-fashioned stove, holding one foot in his hands. A column of smoke rises from behind the stove door and alongside the stove-pipe, to border the left side of the page.]
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[Illustration: An illustration of a potted flower on a shelf, surrounded by a black border.]
"Well," declared Tea Kettle, "unless help comes soon, we may as well give up all hope of rescue. This is dreadful!"
"Listen, then," ticked Mantel Clock, who didn't mind the smoke. "I know a secret: the dear little girl--"
"Oh, yes, we know!" cried the Kitchen People.
"Well!" asked Mantel Clock, "what do you know?"
"The little girl--that there is a little girl--"
"Is that all you know?" demanded Mantel Clock. "Now, when people interrupt--"
"Just dying to tell," said Sauce Pan in a loud whisper.
"Please, please, tell us the secret," begged the Kitchen People.
"Well," Mantel Clock ran on, "the dear little girl that lives in our house is going to learn to cook. What d'you say if we all turn in and help her?"
"Goody-goody!" Aunty Rolling Pin laughed so she nearly rolled off the table.
Just then the kitchen door-knob turned, and every one of the Kitchen People was as quiet as a
[Illustration: A large illustration of a mouse standing on its hind legs and pointing to the left.]
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> CHAPTER II
> TOASTER MAN
[Illustration: An illustration of a young girl wearing a dress and a scarf in her hair peeking around the edge of a door.]
IN ran the dearest, sweetest little girl.
"Oh, you poor Tea Kettle!" she cried. "You'll boil to death!" and she pulled it over to the cooler part of the stove.
Tea Kettle simmered his thanks.
"What can be burning?" she asked. "What can it be?" and she looked all over the stove.
"I do believe it's something in the oven!"
As she pulled open the oven door, out rolled the burnt potatoes.
"Now," she said, "now, for the toast," and she caught up her mother's apron from a hook, and tied it just under her arms, crossing the strings in front.
The Kitchen People held their breath to see what would happen next.
Suddenly she clapped her hands.
"The very thing!" she cried, and ran out of the room. In a minute she was back, with a little book in her hands.
[Illustration: An illustration of six blackened potatoes, with curls of steam rising from them.]
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"Mother was asleep," she whispered as though her mother was still in danger of being wakened by any sound--"but I just tip-toed up to the table, and got the book she's been making for my cooking lessons. This must be it--it's Mother's writing:
'The Mary Frances' First Cook Book.'
I believe--I just believe it tells about toast. Yes, here it is, right on the first page:
NO. 1.--PLAIN TOAST. |
1. Cut stale bread into slices, about 1/2 inch thick.
2. Remove crusts.
3. Put into wire toaster.
4. Hold over a fire, moving to and fro until a golden brown color.
5. Turn, and brown the other side.
"Let's see if there is any stale bread. I should think so! a whole loaf! Now, I'll cut two slices, and since I want it to be very nice, I'll cut off the crusts. I guess that will be enough; oh, how I wish somebody was here to help me."
"There is somebody--I'll help!"
[Illustration: An illustration of a book with the words "THE MARY FRANCES FIRST COOK BOOK" inscribed on its cover.]
[Illustration: An illustration of an animated teapot sitting on a stovetop and lifting its lid with its arms.]
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Mary Frances looked round in amazement. Seeing no one, "Why,--where? Why,--who are you?" she asked.
"I'm Tea Kettle, Miss," said Tea Kettle, lifting his lid very politely. "I'm gladly at your service, if you please."
Mary Frances could scarcely believe her ears.
"My," she said, "can you all talk? and will you help me? Isn't that grand!--But how you did s'prise me! Won't we have a lovely time!"
"Look at the fire! Look at the fire!"
"What a tiny voice!" thought the little girl,--but she quickly took the lids off the stove. Some very bright coals stared up at her.
"The fire is fine," she said aloud, and she looked all about to find where the voice came from, but she saw no one.
"Look down, please!" said the same tiny voice, this time very distinctly.
There stood the funniest little wire man, no higher than the little girl's elbow.
[Illustration: An animated saucepan with a smiling face, arms, and legs.]
[Illustration: An animated boiler pan, with a smiling face, arms, and legs.]
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"You didn't see me," laughed the little man, "but I know how to make toast."
"Of course!" said the little girl, "you're--why, you're the Toaster!"
"Yes, ma'am," said the little man, with a bow, "at your service, Miss Mary Frances."
"Try me, and see what I can do," went on Toaster Man. "Just put a slice of that bread into my head, and hold me over the fire."
Mary Frances leaned over and gravely put a slice of bread in Toaster. He looked so funny standing there that she wanted to smile, but thought it wouldn't be exactly polite to so helpful a friend. But when he said, "Slide up my collar," in a thick, smothery sort of voice, she laughed aloud before she could stop, but turned the sound into a cough so quickly that Toaster Man looked up at her queerly only a moment; and she pulled the ring up until it held the bread tightly in place.
"Now, lift me up over the fire!" he demanded.
Mary Frances hesitated--she couldn't tell where to take hold of him.
"Never mind my legs," he said, as though he read
[Illustration: An animated wire bread toaster standing with its hands on its hips.]
[Illustration: A girl, seen only from the waist down, attempts to put a slice of bread into the animated wire toaster.]
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her thoughts, "I'll see to them," and he folded them up so close that when Mary Frances lifted him up, she could find no sign of them.
"Oh, you'll be burnt!" she cried, as she held what Toaster Man had called his head over the bright fire.
"Not I," he laughed, "not I. I like it. It's the toast that'll be burnt, if I'm not turned over soon."
Mary Frances took the hint, and turned Toaster carefully over.
"Not too close to the coals at first, Little Miss," said the little fellow. "Now,--closer! That's it!"
"How is it?" he asked, as Mary Frances took him from the fire.
"What a beautiful piece of toast!" she cried.
"Grand-if-i-cent!" exclaimed Toaster. "Now, you do the next piece without my saying a word--but first spread that with butter, and put it in the oven. Now, you read in your book, and see if that's not the way to make Buttered Toast."
"Read it out!" said the little man.
"When I speak that way, Mother tells me to say 'Please,'" said she.
[Illustration: An illustration of an open book.]
[Illustration: An illustration of a dancing animated wire toaster.]
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"Beg pardon," said the little man, "Please."
No. 2.--BUTTERED TOAST. |
1. Spread toasted bread evenly with butter.
2. Pile one slice on top of the other, and cover with a bowl.
3. Place in oven.
"That's it! that's what I told you," cried the little fellow. "I'm always right about toast. Can you make the next slice without a word more?"
"I think so," said Mary Frances; and she didn't utter a sound until she had taken the second piece out of Toaster.
"What a beautiful piece of toast!" exclaimed Toaster. "It's better than the first."
"Oh, I don't think--" Mary Frances started.
"I know!" snapped the little man. "Don't contradict me about toast! By the way," he asked, "why don't you make it into Milk Toast for your mother? it would be softer, and more palat--palat--"
"Pal-a-table," said Mary Frances.
"Yes," said he, "you know a good deal for a little
[Illustration: Three slices of toast, drawn as though falling onto a flat surface (one slice has already come to rest).]
[Illustration: A stack of toast slices on a plate. A cover for the plate is propped up on one side.]
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girl,"--and he began to choke. Mary Frances patted him hard.
"A piece of toast?" she asked.
"No," he exclaimed in-dig-nant-ly, "a long word always makes me choke. That's why I seldom use them. Now, please read about Milk Toast."
"If you know--" sug-gest-ed Mary Frances.
"Well, it's more like real grown-up people to have it out of a book," said the little man. "Go on!"
And Mary Frances read from her little Cook Book.
1. Make ready the toast.
2. Heat the milk until smoking hot.
3. Melt the butter in a small saucepan.
4. Throw the flour into the butter. Cook until it bubbles a little, stirring all the time. Take from the fire.
5. Pour 1/3 milk upon the butter and flour, a little at a time, stirring with the back of a spoon to press out the lumps.
6. Place over fire, and gradually stir in the remaining milk.
7. Add the salt. Let boil a minute.
8. Put slices of toast in a heated dish; pour the sauce over and serve hot.
[Illustration: An illustration of two milk bottles.]
[Illustration: An animated cup decorated with dotted lines standing next to an animated pitcher.]
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All measures are made level with the top of cup or spoon. To measure level spoonful:
Fill spoon heaping full, and level it off with the back of a knife.
For half spoonful, cut through lengthwise.
For quarter spoonful, divide a half spoonful across.
A saltspoon is 1/3 teaspoon.
"That's right!" said Toaster Man. "That's the way my grandmother made it. If I were you, I'd make only half of that sauce for only two slices of toast. You did so well with the Plain Toast; you go right ahead with the Milk Toast, and see if you can make it all yourself, and if you need any help, I'll be on the spot in a twinkle. Follow carefully what your little Cook Book says. You know you must measure everything even with the top of the spoon, or cup."
So Mary Frances did exactly what the recipe told her.
As she poured the last of the sauce over the toast, which she had put in a pretty dish, the little man, who had been running here and there, watching everything
[Illustration: An illustration of a dancing animated wire toaster.]
[Illustration: An animated toaster leans over to look into a dish, which is being presented to him by a pair of small hands.]
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she did, shouted, "Hurrah!" At least, he tried to shout, but his voice would scarcely reach to a grown-up person's ear. "You are the best pupil I ever had!"
"Have you had many?" asked Mary Frances.
"You are the only one," said Toaster. "Why?"
"I should think," said the little man, standing on his toes, to look over the edge of the dish, "that that Milk Toast would taste awful good!"
"Won't you try it?" asked Mary Frances. She was very much afraid he would, but she wanted to show her gratitude for his kindness.
"Oh, no," sighed the little man, "I never eat."
"You never eat!" exclaimed Mary Frances.
"It may seem strange to you," said the little man, "but everything that is put into my head falls out backwards, and I simply can't eat."
"It must be dreadful!" said Mary Frances.
"It keeps me very thin," complained Toaster, "but if I'm not mistaken, your mother will eat all that toast,--if she gets it while it's hot."
"Oh, I hope so," said Mary Frances; "and I thank you so very very much."
[Illustration: An illustration of an animated wire toaster holding a small bowl and being fed from a spoon.]
[Illustration: An animated wire toaster, smiling and looking proud.]
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"Good-bye!" added the little girl, as she went out of kitchen, followed by the admiring gaze of all the Kitchen People.
[Illustration: A small illustration of a flower surrounded by a black border.]
[Illustration: A young girl wearing a checkered apron stands proudly holding a plate in one hand and a smiling animated wire toaster in the other.]
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> CHAPTER III
> MARY FRANCES' MOTHER
MARY FRANCES pushed open the door of her mother's room very softly.
"What has my little girl there?" asked her mother.
"Oh, are you awake, Mother? It's a s'prise for you," and she carried the tray over to the bed.
Her mother carefully lifted the lid of the dish.
"Milk Toast! the only thing I could eat! why--who made it?"
"If it hadn't been for Toaster, it couldn't have been made," said Mary Frances.
Her mother looked at the little girl in surprise.
"I mean," she added, "that Toaster really did it--he showed me how--"
"Oh!" laughed her mother, as she lifted a slice of toast out on a saucer. "Well, dear, anyway I want you to have some toast with Mother"--and she handed the saucer to Mary Frances, who said she would much rather watch her mother eat it than to have some
[Illustration: A head-and-shoulders illustration of a woman with her head inclined.]
[Illustration: A young girl with a large bow in her hair holds out a plate with both hands, as though presenting it to someone.]
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herself; but, after her first taste, she found how hungry she was.
"It's the best toast I ever ate," said her mother, "and Mary Frances, dear, I feel much better already."
She would have said more had not Mary Frances' brother bounded up the stairs two steps at a time with,--
"What do you think! I met Father downtown, and he says Aunt Maria's coming over to keep house for us. In the daytime, she must be at home; but she'll come over to get breakfast for us, and we'll go there for our dinners--and Father says Mother is going to the seashore to have a 'perfect rest' until she's well. Anyhow, I'm glad we won't starve. I wish Sis knew how to cook!" and he teasingly pulled one of Mary Frances' curls.
"Hush, Brother!" said the mother, "you should have been here to see the lovely Milk Toast Sister just brought me. It was the best I ever ate--and she made it all herself."
"Oh, yes," said her mother, "the dear little girlie wants Toaster to get part of the praise."
[Illustration: An illustration of a boy's face, smiling.]
[Illustration: A head-and-shoulders illustration of a young girl, who is holding her hands to her temples and looking distressed.]
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[Illustration: An illustration of potted plants, surrounded by a black border.]
"Ha, ha!" laughed Brother, and Mary Frances, somehow, couldn't explain about the Kitchen Folks.
Instead, "When does Aunt Maria come?" she asked. "Does she come to-night?"
"She's coming right over," answered her brother.
"Oh, oh!" thought Mary Frances, "I must warn the Kitchen People."
"Brother," she began, nervously, "you stay with Mother--I want to take these things down."
But Brother was already sitting quietly near Mother, and Mary Frances hurried softly downstairs.
"The poor dears! The poor dears!" she kept whispering all the way down.
[Illustration: A woman reclining in a bed has one arm around a young girl, while gesturing to a tray on her lap with the other. The girl is holding the woman's hand and smiling.]
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> CHAPTER IV
> MARY FRANCES WARNS THE KITCHEN FOLKS
TO the kitchen door she ran, and was about to rush out, when she thought she heard voices--thin, little voices they were--so she peeped out, for the door was ajar,--and this is what she saw:
Toaster Man, all tired out, was leaning back in a chair, snoring softly; but all the other Kitchen People were wide awake. It was Tea Kettle that was speaking:
"So, he put the eight feathers in a pan, and cooked them--"
"The Jack Rabbit--and then he ate their fringe all off, and gave the bones to the cat. Then he bragged--he bragged that he'd eaten eight whole chickens at once."
"Is that all?" asked Sauce Pan.
"Humph!" said Sauce Pan. "Was that his recipe for Fried Chicken?"
"My, I'd love to hear more about the Jack Rabbit,"
[Illustration: An illustration of an extremely long-eared rabbit, which is sitting up on its hind legs and raising one front paw in the air.]
[Illustration: An animated wire toaster asleep on a straight-backed chair with a woven wicker seat.]
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[Illustration: An illustration of a young girl with long curly hair wearing a large frilled hat and an apron. The girl is lifting up the corners of the apron. Smaller illustrations of the hat and apron appear at either side of the caption as well.]
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thought Mary Frances, "but I must warn them about Aunt Maria"; and she hurried out into the kitchen.
"Listen!" she whispered, with upraised finger. "Listen!--Mother is going away, and Aunt Maria's coming over to keep house. Don't ever say a word--she'll never understand you, and she'll scrub and scour you till you ache, poor things!--she'll do that anyway, but don't talk before her. I hurried down to warn you--I was so afraid you might."
"Never fear," spoke up Tea Kettle; "we never, never talk before 'grown-ups'--we can't help them. I forgot to tell you--if you speak about us to anyone, we can never, never speak again."
"Oh," said Mary Frances, "it's a secret! I'm so glad you told me--I came so near telling Mother about Toaster Man--I might have, only--"
[Illustration: An illustration of an animated clock, plate, and coffeepot, looking worriedly downward.]
[Illustration: A young girl leans over a table covered with animated cooking implements, lifting a finger as though chastizing them.]
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> CHAPTER V
> AUNT MARIA
"FOR the land's sakes!" cried Aunt Maria. "For the land's sakes! Where in the world has that child been? Look at those hands! Have you been playing in the coal?"
"I put coal on the fire," said Mary Frances.
"I guess I'll take a look at that fire, myself," Aunt Maria continued, as she started toward the kitchen.
Just then, she caught sight of the tray which Mary Frances had brought downstairs.
"Milk Toast," she sniffed. "Who sent that in?"
"I--I made it," Mary Frances began.
There was one tiny piece left. Aunt Maria looked at it hard.
"It's wonderful," she said, "wonderful; who showed you how?"
"Who showed you how?" she demanded, as Mary Frances stood silent.
"N-no-body,--at least, no real person. I read about how to make it in my cook book."
[Illustration: An illustration of a prim looking woman in a long dark dress and glasses, with her hair tied back in a bun.]
[Illustration: An illustration of a young girl looking bashful, with her hands behind her back and her right foot crossed behind her left.]
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"Your cook book--you mean your mother's cook book."
"No," said Mary Frances, "I mean my cook book Mother's been making for me. I'll show it to you," and she ran to get it. "See!--in Mother's writing--'Mary Frances' First Cook Book!'"
"Well," said Aunt Maria, "you may turn out of some account, after all. It's about time to call for a ref-or-ma-tion."
"Yes, ma'am," said Mary Frances, not un-der-stand-ing the big word--"do you want me to call for it now?"
"Don't be saucy!" snapped the old lady.
Then she set about washing the little girl's hands and face, rubbing so hard that it made the tears come, finishing off with the towel until Mary Frances felt her face shine.
"Wonder if she thinks I'm a stove," she thought. "Maybe she'll black me some day by mistake! I don't believe she knows how old I am--she treats me like a baby, for all the world sometimes, yet she thinks I ought to know more. Queer!"
[Illustration: An illustration of a girl pointing at an old-fashioned stove, which stands a few feet away.]
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[Illustration: An illustration of a book, a plate on a tray, and a spoon, surrounded by a black border.]
While Aunt Maria was busy getting dinner, she ran up to her mother's room.
"Mother," she asked, "Aunt Maria will be gone home most of the day time, while you're away, won't she?"
"Yes, dear," said Mother; "you and Brother are to go to her house to lunch."
"Mother, dear," begged Mary Frances, "can't I get lunch for Brother and me? I was going to tell you I read--I found the recipe for the Milk Toast in my little cook book you've been making for me. I came up and found it while you were asleep--I just know I can get our lunches. Please, Mother, can't I try?"
"Well, dear," said Mother, smiling, "I really believe you may. I've just been thinking about the toast, and what a woman my dear little girl is."
[Illustration: An older woman holds a young girl's head in place while she wipes the girl's face with a cloth. The girl looks slightly uncomfortable.]
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> CHAPTER VI
> JACKET-BOILED POTATOES
"GOOD-BYE, Billy! Take good care of Sister. Good-bye, little Housekeeper!" said Mother, leaning from the car window. The children waved "good-bye," and watched the train until it was a speck in the distance.
"I'm off to the mill-race, with the boys, Sister,--catch!" cried Billy, tossing Mary Frances the key.
"All right," she called, "be sure to come home to lunch--twelve o'clock."
Mary Frances suddenly felt very lonesome.
"But I'll go home to my Kitchen Folks--they'll be good company," she thought.
When she let herself into the house, how big and empty it seemed! She was almost afraid to go in, but she bravely locked the door behind her.
She thought she heard a noise. Surely the curtain moved! Her heart went pit-a-pat! The curtain moved again. Out sprang Jubey, and scampered off into the kitchen.
[Illustration: The head of a woman wearing a stylish hat, looking downward. The woman is holding one hand up to her cheek, and the scarf on her hat billows up to the top of the page.]
[Illustration: The heads of a girl wearing a straw hat and a boy with slightly tousled hair look up at the illustration of the woman described above.]
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"Oh, you darling kitten!" she cried, running after her. "How you scared me, Jubey!"
Everything was as neat as a pin. All the Kitchen Folks were in their places, prim, and quiet, and scared, just as Aunt Maria had left them, but when they saw her they brightened up, and smiled a welcome.
"How do you do, Kitchen Folks?" she said.
"How do, little Miss?" merrily sang Tea Kettle.
"H-o-w d-o?" ticked Mantel Clock.
"What in the world shall I have for lunch?" mused the little girl. "That boy will be as hungry as two bears,--and I don't know many things to cook yet. Toast is all right for a sick person, but it isn't much for a hungry boy,--and I ought to make something new. Let me see what my little book says," and she fetched it out of its hiding place.
"Oh, I know! I'll make everything! I do hope I get through the book before Mother comes back! Let's see,--here's 'How to Cook Potatoes,' and 'Eggs'; here are 'Biscuits,' and even how to make 'Tarts' and 'Cakes,'--and Goody! Candy! Oh, how I'd love to make candy right away, but Mother said I must make
[Illustration: An illustration of a small black cat looking startled, with its incredibly long tail standing straight upwards.]
[Illustration: An illustration of two bears marching purposefully across the page.]
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the things in the order they come in the book. So to-day I make
No. 4.--JACKET-BOILED POTATOES. |
1. Scrub rather small potatoes well.
2. Pare a ring around each the long way; drop into cold water.
3. Drain; cover with boiling water; add 1 tablespoon salt.
4. Let boil about 35 minutes, or until a fork will easily pierce the largest.
5. Drain off all the water, and set pan at back of stove to dry off the potatoes.
6. Serve in their jackets.
"I wonder how many Billy will eat," she thought, as she brought the basket. "I guess about--about--I don't know. He has an e-nor-mous appetite. I guess I'll cook a hundred."
Mary Frances looked around. Boiler Pan was climbing down from the closet shelf.
"Hello! How do you know?" asked Mary Frances. "You never saw him eat."
"Hear that! Hear that!" cried Boiler Pan. "As though I hadn't cooked potatoes before you were born.
[Illustration: An illustration of a potato, with a thin strip of peel falling into a curl beneath it.]
[Illustration: An illustration of an amused-looking animated boiler pan.]
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Eat a hundred? Why, I can't hold a hundred--so there!"
"Ho, ho!" said Mary Frances, "that must be so How many can you hold?"
"Oh, about thirty, I guess," swelling with pride.
"Well," said Mary Frances, "you've no notion how many that boy can eat, and there isn't much else for lunch. I guess I'll cook about twelve,"--and counting them out, she began to wash them.
"Be sure to get all the sand out of their eyes, laughed Boiler Pan. "But first, will you help me jump up on the stove, and fill me?--then I can boil while you're 'ringing' the potatoes."
This done, he was very quiet, while she finished the potatoes.
Just then the clock struck eleven.
"Why, I must hurry," exclaimed Mary Frances.
"I'm ready," bubbled Boiler Pan.
"Oh, yes, I'm coming," and she dropped the potatoes in one by one.
"Now, put on my hat," said Boiler Pan, and Mary Frances put on the lid.
"Are they all right?" asked the little girl.
[Illustration: An illustration of an animated mantel clock on a shelf, looking happily downwards.]
[Illustration: An illustration of an animated boiler pan with its sides swelling outwards, making it a bit rounder than usual.]
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"All right!" he answered in a muffled voice.
Mary Frances then went in the dining-room, and busied herself about setting the table.
Soon, she heard a "rumpus" in the kitchen. She ran out. Bubbles were sputtering over the sides of Boiler Pan, and the lid was dancing a jig.
"What shall I do? What shall I do?" cried Mary Frances, jumping up and down.
"This hat's crazy! Take it off, quick!" Boiler Pan besought her.
Without thinking, she seized the lid with her fingers, but dropped it with a cry of pain.
"I'm scalded, I'm scalded," she sobbed. "What will I do for it?" and she ran for some cold water.
"Don't do that, child," said Aunty Rolling Pin. "Butter it and then powder it with baking soda the way your mother does."
"I'm so sorry," said Boiler Pan, "but I really couldn't get my old hat off. I should have told you to take a holder."
"Never mind, it's better now. Those potatoes must be done. Yes," as she tried them with a fork, "even
[Illustration: An illustration of a sagely-looking animated rolling pin wearing glasses with rectangular lenses.]
[Illustration: An illustration of a boiler pan with clouds of steam seeping from beneath its lid.]
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the biggest is done in the middle. I'm so glad, for I expect that boy any minute."
"So'm I," said Boiler Pan, "for I feel the effect of this stren-u-os-i-ty."
Mary Frances pretended not to notice this speech, but carefully drained the water from the potatoes, and shook Boiler Pan over the fire to dry them off.
"I--I--learned--that--that--wor--word--after year--years--of--stud--study," he said between the shakes, "and you--nev--never--notic--noticed--"
So Mary Frances, hastily putting Boiler Pan on the back of the stove, ran to let him in.
"Hello, Sister! Here we are! Lunch ready?"
"Yes, all ready. I'll put it on. You sit in Father's place, and we'll play we're grown up."
"Scrumptious!" exclaimed Billy, as Mary Frances set the smoking dish of potatoes on the table.
"What an excellent cook you must have, Madam," he said, after his first taste. "Such good potatoes!"
"I have ten," said Mary Frances.
"Ten! You are fortunate, indeed, Madam," said
[Illustration: An illustration of a young boy's head; the boy's mouth is open in speech.]
[Illustration: An illustration of a black and white cat, which is sitting and raising one front paw to rest on the opposite leg, and looking inquisitively upwards.]
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[Illustration: An illustration of a proud-looking long-haired cat surrounded by a black border.]
Billy, for all the world as though he were a grown-up young gentleman. "How quiet they keep."
"Yes," laughed Mary Frances, "but they're 'most always busy," and she held up her ten pink little fingers.
"Oh, Billy," she added earnestly, "I'm so glad you like them--the potatoes, I mean. There is only one left--won't you have that?"
"Oh, let's give that to Jubey--Jubey might be hurt if you didn't let her try them. I would,--if I were Jubey."
[Illustration: A girl seated at a small round table holds up both of her hands in front of her, gesturing to a boy who is seated across from her, looking rather impressed.]
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> CHAPTER VII
> THE POT-AND-KETTLE FIGHT
"GOOD morning, Kitchen People," said Mary Frances, after breakfast next day, "this is a very important morning with me."
The Kitchen People looked pleased and important, too.
"You see, it's this way," she continued as she took her little book and sat in the rocking chair. "I am very anxious to get through every recipe in my cook book before Mother comes home, so I guess we'll just finish all the potato recipes to-day,--and give Billy a Potato Lunch! Won't that be fine?"
The Kitchen People all smiled in approval.
"O--h, Billy! Billy!" she called; "you're invited to a Potato Lunch in our dining-room at twelve o'clock."
"All right, I'll be on time," answered Billy from the garden.
"Let's see," said Mary Frances to herself, "four
[Illustration: An animated coffeepot wearing a wide smile, seen in profile.]
[Illustration: The profile of a young girl wearing a large ribbon in her curly hair, her mouth open as though calling to someone.]
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more recipes--about two potatoes each. Four times two,--eight."
She washed the potatoes carefully, and had no sooner set about paring them, than the kitchen door opened, and in walked Aunt Maria.
"What in the world is that child doing? Paring potatoes? Did I ever!--Such thin, close parings, too! How well she does it!--But you must drop them into cold water as soon as they are pared, child. I wish I could stay and show you how to cook, but duty calls me--I must be going!"
Mary Frances stepped to the door with her.
"When I was your age, child, I could cook 'most everything and piece patch-work for quilts,"--and she kept Mary Frances on the porch ten minutes, telling her that little girls weren't brought up any more to be useful the way they were when she was a little girl.
"Oh, my lid!" sang Tea Kettle, as Mary Frances stepped back into the kitchen. "Oh, my aunt!--has the old lady went?"
"Gone!" said Big Iron Pot from the back of the stove.
[Illustration: An illustration of a hand dropping potatoes into a large bowl.]
[Illustration: An animated tea kettle with steam coming out of its spout.]
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"Who dares correct me?" simmered Tea Kettle.
"I dare," sputtered Iron Pot. "I dare,--and I dare tell you other things, too!"
"You do, do you?" bubbled Tea Kettle. "You do! Well, what do you dare tell me?"
"I dare tell you, Mister," said Iron Pot, "that you've got a dirty face--yes, a black face."
Tea Kettle, it was plain to be seen, was boiling mad. Steam blew out of his nose in every direction.
Now, everybody who knows anything about a tea kettle can imagine how very angry Tea Kettle was.
As soon as he could get his breath, he blew steam all over Iron Pot.
"My face is black, is it? Well, yours is black,--and it will soon be black and blue!"
"You swallow them words!" and Iron Pot raised his queer little fists.
"Sput!" mocked Tea Kettle, getting ready to spout again. "Take that!"
Wang! came down the little fist,--but not on the lid of Tea Kettle. Oh, no; for just as that was going to happen, Mary Frances lifted him high in the air.
[Illustration: An angry-looking animated tea kettle blows steam through its spout at an animated black pot.]
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"Let go of me! Let me at Iron Pot!" He was at white heat.
"Be quiet!" said Mary Frances, shaking him quite hard. "What's all this about?"
"Iron Pot commenced it!" sullenly simmered Tea Kettle. "Iron Pot called me names!"
"Why," said Mary Frances, "this is disgraceful! Now, you sit there!" She put Tea Kettle on the front of the stove.
"And you, there!" She pulled Big Iron Pot as far back as she could.
"What makes them quarrel so, I wonder," Mary Frances said half to herself. "All the Kitchen People seem so kind and helpful."
"Why, don't you know, child?" asked Aunty Rolling Pin. "I thought everybody knew that story."
A story! Mary Frances was always ready to listen to a story.
Aunty Rolling Pin cleared her voice, and rolled
[Illustration: An illustration of a smiling animated rolling pin.]
[Illustration: An angry-looking animated tea kettle blowing steam through its spout; the cloud spreads all the way across the page.]
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back an inch or two to a more comfortable place on the table.
"You see, it's this way, child," she began.
"In the days of your great-grandmother there were no stoves, only open fireplaces were used for cooking,--and kettles were just as black then as that old black Pot there.
"So, when the Pot called the Kettle black, the Kettle said:
"'Black yourself!' and no harm was done.
"But when your mother got that fine new cook stove, she bought that bright, shiny Kettle, too.
"But that silly old Pot doesn't know that the new Kettle is bright and shiny, so it keeps on calling names. That Pot doesn't know it's fooling itself,--for all it sees is its own homely old black self in the shiny Kettle making faces.
"And that's what comes of calling names, child," chuckled Aunty Rolling Pin, as she ended her story.
Then Mr. Tea Kettle puffed steam importantly, and clapped his little lid.
Nothing more was said in the kitchen for several seconds.
[Illustration: An illustration of a frail-looking woman in a bonnet and a dress, as seen from behind.]
[Illustration: A black pot and kettle hanging in a brick fireplace.]
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"Thank you!" at length said Mary Frances gratefully to Aunty Rolling Pin.
Then she added, very firmly and gently to Iron Pot and Tea Kettle:
"I want you to promise me never to call names again, either one of you, for it makes me feel so sad.
"I promise," brightly answered Tea Kettle.
"I pro-promise," solemnly declared Big Iron Pot.
[Illustration: An illustration of an animated saucepan, coffeepot, and measuring cup glancing downwards and looking shocked.]
[Illustration: A sad-looking girl lifts an animated black pot from the top of a table, while also tugging on the handle of an animated tea kettle. The implements are frowning at each other.]
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> CHAPTER VIII
> A POTATO LUNCH
"I'M so relieved," said Mary Frances with a sigh.
"Now, I can hurry along the Potato Lunch."
"Yes," chimed in Mantel Clock, "it's quarter past eleven. You have only three-quarters of an hour."
"That's so!" said Mary Frances. "The next recipe is:
NO. 5.--BAKED POTATOES. |
1. Choose potatoes of the same size--rather large.
2. Scrub well, and wipe.
3. Bake in a hot oven from 30 to 45 minutes, or until soft when pressed between thumb and fingers.
4. Roll each between the fingers: this makes them mealy.
5. Serve on a napkin.
"Why, I won't need to pare those! I'll put two of these I've washed in the oven. The oven's grand and hot!
"Let me see,--will all the others need paring?
[Illustration: An illustration of a smiling animated mantel clock.]
[Illustration: An illustration of potatoes and a paring knife.]
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"Yes," she laughed, "I didn't notice the heading of the chapter before--
NO. 6.--BOILED POTATOES. |
1. Wash potatoes.
2. Pare, throwing into cold water.
3. Drain; cover with boiling water, allowing 1 tablespoon salt to every twelve potatoes.
4. Let boil 1/2 hour, or until the largest is soft when pierced with a fork.
5. Drain off all the water.
6. Shake over fire, or place on back of stove to dry off the potatoes.
NO. 7.--MASHED POTATOES. |
1. Boil potatoes. Drain; dry off.
2. Mash in pan in which they were cooked.
3. For every cupful, add
1 dash pepper,
1 saltspoon salt,
1/2 tablespoon butter (scant).
4. For every cupful, heat 2 tablespoons milk.
5. Throw the heated milk on potatoes.
6. Beat with a wire fork until creamy.
7. Pile lightly on a hot dish. Serve uncovered.
[Illustration: An illustration of three potatoes.]
[Illustration: An illustration of two identical men's jackets.]
[Illustration: An illustration of three measuring spoons, labeled "1 TEA SPOON", "1/2 TEA SPOON", and "1/4 TEA SPOON".]
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[Illustration: Two children (a boy and a girl) sit at a small table decorated with a raised bowl of fruit in the center, eating. A cat watches the scene from the foot of the table, and a bird in a cage also looks on from its perch by the window. A small illustration of a dish of potatoes and a bowl of soup appear to the left and right of the caption, respectively.]
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NOTE.--Remember that all measurements are level or even with the top. To divide a spoonful, cut it through the middle lengthwise, for a half; and across that, for one-quarter of a spoonful.
NO. 8.--POTATO SOUP. |
1. Put the milk in the upper part of a double boiler, half filling the under part with boiling water.
2. Throw in 2 slices of onion, and put double boiler on the stove for 10 minutes.
3. Mash potatoes and add to the hot milk.
4. Add 1 teaspoon salt and a dash of pepper.
5. Put through a wire strainer, rubbing the potatoes through with a spoon.
6. Put into double boiler and place on stove.
7. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a little pan.
8. Throw into it 1/2 tablespoon flour. Stir well.
9. Dip a little of the hot milk on this, stirring well, then pour into the soup.
10. Let boil 10 minutes.
11. Add 1 tablespoon chopped parsley. If too thick, add hot water or milk.
12. Serve very hot.
[Illustration: An illustration of an animated measuring cup in front of a milk bottle.]
[Illustration: A hand holding a knife traces a line (marked as a dotted line) down the middle of a spoon, dividing the spoon's contents in half.]
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"Oh, I know how to cook boiled potatoes! They're just like jacket-boiled, only they have their jackets off," she cried.
"Why, certainly," exclaimed Boiler Pan, which she had put on the stove half full of water, "I know my part--I just hurry them right along in a jiffy."
He looked so interested that Mary Frances laughed as she dropped the potatoes in.
"Are they all to be boi-boiled?" stuttered the bubbling Boiler Pan.
"Yes," said Mary Frances, "all except those I put in the oven. Listen! I'll tell you the menu for Billy's Potato Lunch. We'll begin, of course, with soup--Potato Soup."