8 a Planning the Party

cake or cookies; or ice-cream in scooped-out individual sponge cakes,
crushed fruit topping it; or individual pineapple up-side-down cake, a red
or green cherry centering the pineapple slice. (Again, the Easy-Way Cake
Book); dates or tender well-soaked prunes stuffed with tinted butter icing,
nutmeats; fruit-ade; cocoa with a marshmallow floating on each cup.

Especial dates call for especial treatments. The appropriate printed
paper table cloth, napkins; cut-outs to garnish the dishes, to act as doilies,
decorations; bright crépe paper trimmings; abundance of favours. A gay
centre-piece—it’s the only table that may be crowded—this party table
for the children! There’s gay detail adaptable to youth, in many of the.
recipes in this book. »

FIRESIDE SUPPERS

After winter sports—an evening trip—any activities that whet appetite—

The small table, easy chairs—

The toaster, grill or waffle iron—

Batter for griddle cakes, or for waffles, beaten up in the kitchen—
brought in, with the syrup, honey, lemon butter or jelly to serve with the
smoking hot cakes—so instantly ready with a prepared flour!

Toasted bacon with pancakes, perhaps—if there is genuine hunger. Or
small flat sausage-cakes or little sausages—demanding mustard, of course.

The scrambled eggs, popularized for odd-time serving by the younger
set, gladly accepted by all ages: and made more savoury with a little
bacon first chopped and fried; or with some green pepper and a little chopped
onion fried first in the butter; the eggs beaten, one or two tablespoons milk
allowed for each egg, the mixture kept in motion, well-scraped from the
pan, until set to creaminess; hot buttered toast ready, of course. And if
for an actual scheduled meal, try a very flat fried sausage cake under the
scrambled egg. And weiners, usually with heated rolls, have their moments.

Toast—hot, buttered, quickly spread with a prepared mixture—seasoned
fish paste, a devilled meat mixture, or any potted meat; a dish of relish, or
bottle of sauce on the table. Any of the Spread-Your-Own section’s sug-
gestions, |

THE SPREAD-YOUR-OWN PARTY

Informal—table and sideboard spread with ‘‘the makings’”—

Foods extra savoury. No sweets at all, if you like—or any of the
moulded dishes, fruits, etc., that could be placed on the table ready for
the guests to help themselves.

An adaptation of the buffet idea—but more el Smart—modern— ,
good fun— |

Set your table with a big over-all cloth; candles, flowers—but well out —
of the way of busy amateurs. The sideboard to help.

Crisp crackers of all kinds—white, and wholewheat; salt-wafers, cheese
wafers; water biscuits, butter wafers; small tea biscuits.

Crisp shapes of toast—thin but not necessarily hot; or hot toast sup-
plies, or even the toaster itself on a tray, for a small party.

Butter—smartest in little ball or shell shapes on a bed of cracked ice;
or neat slices; several butter dishes.

Spreads—as many as you like! Bowls of different mixtures—well-
seasoned sardine, shrimp, tuna, salmon—have extra sauces and relishes