Paul Pierce

“ Perhaps one of the most embarrassing moments is when, the company assembled, unconsciously expectant and usually most flatteringly interested, the hostess prepares to fill and light the little lamp whose flickering flame begins the ceremony. If the hostess is wise and conversation seems to flag at this interesting moment, she will promptly start the ball rolling and relieve the tension by some extemporaneous remark, some light jest that will at least temporarily distract the attention of the merry assemblage. ”

“ Happy the camper who, taking hint from the big lumber camps, ties to his wagon an iron bean pot, and has always on hand for hungry souls a mess of delicious baked beans. Every well-regulated camp should have a bean-hole dug close by the camp fire, and then when guests come out from town, if the camp is near town, a bean bake enlivens things. ”

“ A chafing dish supper menu must necessarily be confined to those dishes which are the hosts' or hostess' specialty—Welsh rarebit, panned or creamed oysters, shellfish, eggs or meats. The very informality of a chafing dish supper is its charm, the guests sitting at the table while the dishes are prepared. Decide upon the chief dish and have everything possible prepared in the kitchen and ready to use at the table, the cheese or meat cut into dice, the bread or crackers toasted, the ingredients measured and in glasses or cups and all utensils ready to use. ”

“ All the easy chairs are pressed into service, the little iron lanterns blink joyously, and story-telling, music and smoking are the order of the evening. The light being dim, positions are uncertain and bachelor manners prevail, so unrestrained jollity reigns, and though the people in the other flats may hear the echoing laughter they pass it over with a good natured tolerance and wonder what there is that is so funny. ”

“ A clam-bake is a delight wherever and whenever partaken of, but when it is prepared in the piney woods of Cape Cod by the inimitable skippers of Buzzards Bay it is something that is not to be forgotten. It is a joy, from the gathering of the first stone to the swallowing of the last possible clam. ”

“ In one room is a "merry-go-round." The chairs are placed in a circle and a graphaphone in the center plays popular tunes. At 10 o'clock the doors to the dining room are opened. The table cloth is spread on the floor, surrounded by cushions. In one corner of the room are the baskets containing the supper of sandwiches, olives, pickles, baked beans, cake, pie and other picnic favorites. The girls take the viands from the baskets and arrange them on the floor, while the men serve coffee from a coffee boiler on a small table. ”

“ Suppose you are to serve panned oysters, on squares of toast, lettuce salad, bread and butter sandwiches and coffee, or Welsh rarebit, potato salad and coffee and sandwiches. Any of these is a good menu as you will not want sweets or ice cream at such a supper.
For safety place your chafing dishes on metal trays and do not fill the lamp too full. Many hostesses prefer to have their ingredients on the table in bowls which will not break and on Japanese trays and use wooden spoons for stirring as they do not become hot, and do not scratch the dishes. ”

“ Place the cake on a table wreathed in greens or flowers or on a flower-trimmed tray. As many prefer scarlet carnations, this flower and red candles will make a pretty party. Just after supper pass the loving cup filled with claret, or fruit punch or cider. Each guest takes a sip to the health of the host. If your guests enjoy cards, let them play bridge, euchre, cinch, hearts, or the new card games in which figures are involved. If they do not care for cards a short program of old ballads by a good singer is always liked. ”

“ The supper is a very simple one. Make creamed oysters in the chafing dish and serve them in home-made pate shells. Then have celery sandwiches made of thin slices of bread rolled around tender splintered stalks of celery, and dainty lettuce sandwiches with the lettuce crisp and cold and the mayonnaise of good stiffness and small cups of coffee.
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To divert the attention while the hostess is cooking the oysters put at each plate a large oyster shell with a verse painted upon it in the form of a recipe which brings out little characteristics of each one of the guests. ”

“ About half-past ten, when stories wane and a change seems desirable, the little low tea table appears and a rarebit, souffle of oysters, or some chafing-dish dainty, is prepared by the hostess. Occasionally, when one of the men has a firmly founded reputation for some special dish he is asked to officiate, which he does amid the joyous jokes of his [Pg 34] roistering colleagues, while everyone within reach renders able assistance and the others keep up a running fire of disabling comments. ”

“ Along one end of the room is constructed a high lunch counter with every equipment of the metropolitan station. There is the steaming coffee urn, the familiar glass covers under which repose pumpkin pie and doughnuts, old-fashioned cake-stands with fruit, and so on. Bright colored placards on the wall announce the eatables, including chicken and ham sandwiches, stuffed eggs, hokey-pokey ice cream, assorted cakes, coffee, chocolate and milk.
The floral decorations in this "buffet car" are effective. ”

“ This with brown bread or cone pone, baked in the ashes, and good strong coffee, makes a meal in itself, and if the beans are served hot, the hungry campers feel they have had a feast fit for a king. Those who cling to their bean-pots keep one mess of beans baking all the time and are never without this dish. Even city folks have had royal good times at bean bakes given at some home with large yard, and, with an addition to the beans, salads, sandwiches, cakes, and other frills, generally scorned and passed by for the delicious baked beans. ”

“ Creeping in and out of the vines have artificial snakes, frogs, and other reptiles. Have the napkins held by toy spiders and fasten bats over the chandelier globes. If one wishes a plain dinner serve oyster cocktails, tenderloin steak with mushrooms, French fried potatoes, stewed corn, Lima beans, tomato and onion salad with mayonnaise, cheesestraws, Bavarian cream, peach cake, cheese, crackers, coffee. Pass cigars. Have colored waiters who are good singers and between each course have them give a jubilee song. After dinner let them entertain the guests with songs, and banjo and guitar music. ”

“ Knowing that men prefer substantial dishes with generous helpings to a great number of fancy "messes" as they term it, we would therefore suggest a Beefsteak supper. First serve raw oysters. After the oysters have the steaks brought in on separate platters, placing platters before the second, fifth, eighth, eleventh, etc, guests. These men cut the steak for the men on their left and right. With the steaks serve French fried potatoes and the Vienna [Pg 24] bread or rolls, the very hard crusty kind. For the second course serve cheese, a rarebit on hard crackers, or any strong cheese. ”

“ We all retain just enough of the old Adam to relish a well earned victory, and the old lady whose light hand for cake is the talk of the township, is just as much of an artist in her own way as the fashionable decorator. ”

“ These are the women who, with studied patience and ready tact, overlook the small ills our flesh is heir to and bring forth into the bright sunshine the many opportunities which everyone's life contains. ”

“ Wipe dry, and broil over a hot, clear fire, turning often. When done to a golden brown, lay in a hot dish and anoint with melted butter. Season each squirrel with a salt spoon of salt and half spoon of pepper. They are delicious.
Hot Pocketbooks—One pint of sweet milk, brought to boiling point, to which, add one tablespoonful of sugar, half teaspoonful of salt and butter the size of an egg; let cool till luke warm, then add half cake of yeast, two eggs and a quart of flour. Let the dough rise in a warm place until very light, then put down with the hand and let rise again ”

“ As soon as any one misses two words he or she is dropped out. Finally when only one is left, award a prize, a little water color, painted by the hostess, and framed passe-partout, to the "unabridged dictionary" as the winner might be called. The one who fails and retires first from the field receives a toy chafing dish. In the dining room the polished table is daintily set with doilies under the olive and almond dishes, and under the plates and glasses. ”

“ It might seem the height of human imagination to combine beer and raisins in a soup or bouillon, but the Germans proceed a step further and make a favorite soup, broth or bouillon out of beer and milk, which are mixed together in the proportion of two pints of milk to one pint of beer and prepared with the addition of currants, flour and salt. Fruit soups, broths and bouillons of all kinds play an important part at German luncheons, dinners and suppers, and really some of them are delicious. ”

“ Big, staring eyes add a touch of realism. The owls are attached to the branches, singly and in groups, with glue.
For supper serve creamed chicken patties, tiny hot rolls, brandied peaches or sweet watermelon pickle; salad of cucumbers and mayonnaise served on lettuce leaves or cress, peanut butter, and chopped smoked tongue sandwiches, ice cream served in sherbet glasses, assorted cakes, coffee or chocolate. ”

“ It is with a realization that they constitute the better half of the best aristocracy in the world—probably the only real aristocracy of the present day. It is an aristocracy of real merit, entree to which is attained by achievement, not by mere inheritance. No titles are inherited there; they are bought with effort and accomplishments. ”

“ Have plenty of alcohol on hand to avoid the possibility of the lamp's going out just before some dish is completed, otherwise, if you are a man, you may be tempted to use language almost warm enough to cook the ingredients.
If your chafing dish lamp has not been used for some time, pour only a little alcohol into it at first, let it stand, and then fill it up.
If obliged to refill the lamp in the process of cooking, do not do it while the lamp is very hot, as the igniting point of alcohol is low. ”

“ For the young married couples' supper carry out the heart-shape idea. Outline large heart in smilax on the table. Have the smilax at least three inches wide. Dot it with clusters of roses, lilies of the valley or any preferred flower. In the center have a mound of the same flowers and between the center and the smilax place individual candlesticks with white candles and shades to match the flowers. A few single flowers may be scattered over the cloth. For a menu serve a fruit cup in the parlor before asking the guests to the dining room. ”

“ If one wishes a dainty and appetizing menu for a card supper serve sweetbread and celery salad, stuffed olives and tiny pickles, assorted sandwiches and plain vanilla ice cream with hot chocolate sauce, fruit cake, white cake and coffee. ”

“ Blanch and roast almonds, then pound in a mortar to a smooth paste. Put one-half the cream and the sugar on to boil, stir until the sugar is dissolved, then add the remaining pint of cream and the almonds; stand away to cool; when cold, add the caramel, vanilla and sherry. Freeze and pack. For the nut cake, use two pounds nuts cut fine, eight eggs, one pound sugar, one pound flour, one teacup butter, two heaping teaspoons baking powder, one cup milk, and juice of one lemon. Mould the cheese balls round with the hands, and stick an English walnut meat on either side. ”

“ The sweetbread salad is made of cold cooked sweetbreads and celery cut into dice and covered with mayonnaise. If one adds a few sliced almond meats and mushrooms the flavor is improved. Serve ham sandwiches cut in shape of playing cards and decorated with bits of pickled beets to simulate card spots, heart shaped sandwiches of [Pg 86] chopped green peppers and mayonnaise, cucumbers and watercress mixed with mayonnaise, plain bread and butter sandwiches, using brown and white bread. If one wishes a hot course, serve oyster or cream chicken patties and tiny hot rolls. ”

“ The simplest way to prepare this is to toast white bread cut in strips, then spread each with butter and essence of anchovy. Fry some fine oysters. Prepare plenty of cabbage salad or cold slaw, with boiled dressing. From a delicatessen store procure dill pickles and a nice Edam cheese.
After these, serve rich compotes of fruit—cherry and plum, with anise seed cookies and little nutmeg and cinnamon cakes, so that if, perchance, dreams follow, they will be of the tropic seas and the fragrant breezes of the Dutch spice islands.
Bohemian Supper for Men. ”

“ If one is willing to take advantage of their very present opportunities it seems to me that limited means lose half their disadvantages. Choose your apartment with a view to entertaining. If your bed-room opens from the parlor make it dainty and sweet and close the portieres until merely a glimpse appears. ”

“ If coffee is made at the table assign this task to one guest and appoint two or three waiters to [Pg 14] see that the sandwiches, coffee, salad and the chafing dish product are handed about. Dill pickles are popular for chafing dish suppers, and so are wienerwursts, rye bread and Swiss cheese. The main idea of such a supper is to keep everyone busy helping and seeing that the supper does not lag. ”

“ When all have assembled in the parlor, where lights are turned low, have a guide in red with a Mephisto make-up or a witch to instruct the party before it starts on the "ghost hunt." Not a word must be spoken no matter what the provocation, not a giggle must be heard, no one must turn his head or eyes, but look straight ahead. ”

“ Candles may be used for a centerpiece and also to outline the figures representing the number of years. A pretty ceremony, if you use candles on a birthday cake, is to have each guest light a candle with a wish for the guest of honor. When the cake is cut, blow out the candles and lift them off.
For the red color scheme, garnish the dishes with radishes, slices of tomatoes, red peppers, beet rings, candied cherries. Serve cream of [Pg 50] tomato soup, tiny radishes cut in rose forms, wafers, salted almonds. Broiled lobster garnished with slices of fresh tomatoes and cucumbers. ”

“ Before their horrified eyes will gleam a thousand unsolvable difficulties, and an attempt to successfully evade them might engulf them still further, so this appeal for the much maligned "tenement" of the day is to some bright little woman whose very touch transforms and whose ready brain devises with unerring accuracy. ”

“ We are most of us familiar enough with simple cooking to prepare any ordinary dish, and without entering into a list of formulæ, the following suggestions will be found all sufficient:
Ham, oyster, bacon, cheese, potato, jelly, celery or preserved fruit omelets; scrambled eggs; curried oysters or chicken; minced ham or minced tongue souffle; fried shad roe, calves brains, chops, sausages or sardines; creamed chicken with mushrooms, creamed sweetbreads, liver, bacon, lobster, oysters, cold boiled fish of all kinds ”

“ For one year old have a baby in a cradle or in its mother's arms; for seventh birthday, a little boy starting to school with books and apple or candy; for the fourteenth birthday have a youth in sweater with football in arms rushing to the goal; have the twenty-first birthday represented by the young man courting, the twenty-eighth by the wedding; and for the [Pg 49] thirty-sixth have someone dressed and made up as nearly like the guest of honor as possible.
For decoration have a frieze of ropes or smilax caught with scarlet ribbon. ”

“ Throughout this broad land of ours, thousands of campers will be folding their white tents into compact rolls, tying gay blankets into portly bundles, investing in mosquito netting and hammocks, packing into boxes their cooking utensils and fishing tackle, and finally loading all into boat or farmer's wagon, to gain health and happiness, and incidentally, to have a royal good time. ”