Mary Frances blushed, but she didn't say anything.

After lunch, she started home as soon as possible.

Once in the house, she ran to the kitchen for her book.

"Of all things! As Aunt Maria would say," she cried, "it comes next!"

[Ill.u.s.tration: "Of all things!"]

NO. 20.--SOFT CUSTARD.

1 cup milk 1 egg 2 tablespoons sugar dash of salt nutmeg

1. Heat the milk smoking hot.

2. Beat egg. Add sugar and salt.

3. Pour the hot milk on, beating well.

4. Pour into upper part of double boiler, or set pan in boiling water.

5. Cook until it thickens, or until a coating will be formed on a clean spoon when dipped into the custard.

6. Sprinkle with a few gratings of nutmeg.

7. Serve cold.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Soft Custard]

"How perfectly lovely!" exclaimed Mary Frances; "I'll make soft custard for Mary Ann Hooper. But that isn't very much. Oh, isn't this too good?

I can serve it on the next recipe. It's

NO. 21.--STEAMED RICE.

cup rice 2 cups boiling water teaspoon salt

1. Wash rice. This may be easily done by putting in a strainer and shaking in a pan of cold water.

2. Put with the salt and boiling water, into the upper part of a double boiler.

3. Pour boiling water into lower part, and cook 1 hour.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Steamed rice]

4. To test whether it is done, press several grains between the fingers. If not perfectly soft, cook longer.

5. If it becomes hard and dry, add a little boiling water from time to time.

6. A few raisins are sometimes cooked with the rice.

Add these during the last fifteen minutes of cooking to prevent discoloring.

7. Serve with soft custard or cream and sugar. Plain cooked rice may be served as a vegetable.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Drain through a colander.]

NO. 22.--BOILED RICE.

Use a plain boiler and a large quant.i.ty of salted boiling water.

cup rice 5 cups boiling water teaspoon salt

1. Wash rice by putting it in a strainer and shaking in a pan of water.

2. Drop a few grains at a time into boiling water, stirring well to prevent sticking.

3. Boil rapidly 25 minutes, or until soft when pressed between the fingers.

4. Drain through a colander. Pour over it 2 cups boiling water.

5. Set in a warm place to dry off, until ready to serve.

"Yes," said Mary Frances, putting the rice on to boil, "I'll make both.

Oh, won't Mary Ann Hooper be pleased!"

[Ill.u.s.tration: Use a plain boiler.]

"Who's that?" asked Aunty Rolling Pin. "A new kind of cooking pan?"

"No, no, Aunty Rolling Pin," laughed Mary Frances; "she's an old lady who is sick. Aunt Maria told me about her at lunch. She's such a funny old lady."

"It isn't funny to be ill," said Aunty Rolling Pin.

"No," answered Mary Frances, seriously, "but I meant she does such funny things: Last summer, she told Elvin Phelps if he didn't keep his bees from stealing honey out of her flowers, she'd shoot them--she (oh, dear!)--wanted--him--to tie each one--by his hind leg--to keep--them--home--oh, dear," laughed Mary Frances.

"What did he do?" asked Aunty Rolling Pin, anxiously.

"He told her (excuse my laughing--but it's so funny!) he would rather--put a 'No Trespa.s.sing' sign up in her garden for them to read!

Ho-ho! Tee-hee." Mary Frances shook with laughter.

Silence in the kitchen until Mary Frances felt a tug at her tug at her dress.

Looking down, she spied Toaster Man.

[Ill.u.s.tration: "A sign for them to read"]

[Ill.u.s.tration: She spied Toaster Man.]

"Yes, you may speak," she smiled.