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.

Place on the table:

3 freshly boiled potatoes 1 onion b.u.t.ter parsley flour dredger pepper salt 1 pint milk (2 cups)

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 b.u.t.ter in a little pan.

8. Throw into it 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.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Two cups of milk]

[Ill.u.s.tration: To divide a spoonful]

"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."

[Ill.u.s.tration: "I just hurry them along"]

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."

"'Puree' is the word for thick soups," suggested Boiler Pan. "It seems more stylish, don't you think?"

"Yes, indeed!" said Mary Frances. "I do believe I'll write a card for each of us to have at our places at the table!" and she quickly brought her school pad from her desk.

[Ill.u.s.tration: She brought her school pad.]

Then she wrote:

MENU

Billy's Potato Lunch

Puree of Potato Potatoes-in-the-Sh.e.l.l Cold Meat Mashed Potatoes Sliced Bananas with Cream Milk

"That 'Potato-in-the-Sh.e.l.l' sounds 'swell,'" said Coffee Pot, "but it seems to me you ought to have something to drink, like coffee, or something of that kind."

"Oh, that's true," Mary Frances replied, "but I don't know how to make coffee, and Mother said I must make everything in the order it came in my book----"

"Won't you look to see if my turn doesn't come soon?" interrupted Coffee Pot.

[Ill.u.s.tration: "See if my turn doesn't come soon?"]

"Not to-day," Mary Frances shook her head. "To-day we have milk.

[Ill.u.s.tration: "To-day we have milk."]

"Why, to-morrow!" as she looked in her book. "Isn't that fine!

But--those potatoes must be done. I should think so! A minute more, and they'd have been burned!" she said as she drained off the water.

"Now, ready for the masher!"

"Quite ready," said a little voice, and Mary Frances was not surprised to see Potato Masher tumble over the edge of Boiler Pan as she put him on the table.

[Ill.u.s.tration: "Quite ready."]

"Push my head down hard!" said he in a thick, mushy voice, and Mary Frances did as he directed.

Suddenly Potato Masher stopped work.

"How will you know how much potato to put into the soup?" he asked.

"Why," said Mary Frances, "there were only six boiled ones altogether, so the three for the soup will be just half."

"Pretty good, pretty good for a little girl just learning to cook,"

Potato Masher said, and ducked his head into the potatoes again.

When they were finished Mary Frances said:

[Ill.u.s.tration: "Push my head down hard"]

"You know so much about potatoes, perhaps you can sit right up on that box," pointing to the sugar box, "and tell me when I make a mistake. I'm going to do 'xactly as my book says--you cry out, 'Stop!' when I do anything the wrong way."