| "Cream of carrot soup. |
| Veal chops, breaded; scalloped canned tomato; sweet potatoes. |
| Chocolate custard. |
| Coffee," |
wrote Dolly.
"Now that is what I call a good dinner," Mrs. Thorne said approvingly. "The left-over carrots you made up into soup. You had no pork to use up, so you got two veal chops, and those are fairly cheap. Having tomatoes was a master stroke, because they go so well with veal, and you will have enough of them over for a second dinner. I suppose the custard does not call for eggs?"
"No, it's a soft corn-starch pudding served in glasses. But, Mary, I did not intend to use up the tomatoes for a second dinner, but to have them for luncheon as Spanish toast."
"Oh, very well, that will do for once, especially as I hope you bought only a small can of them. By the way, speaking of luncheon, remember when you have cabbage for dinner, to keep out half after it is creamed, and the next day have it baked with layers of cheese; that is a delightful luncheon dish. You can use up boiled rice in the same way with white sauce and cheese, or you can merely mix your tomato and rice and bake that. Or, you could have rice croquettes and tomato sauce. But I am getting off the subject. Now try a July dinner, for a change."
"Oh, that's easy.
| "Cream of celery soup. |
| Lamb chops and peas; new potatoes in cream. |
| Strawberry shortcake. |
| Coffee." |
"Where will you buy celery in July, my dear? That must come off your menu the very first thing. Remember you can have only seasonable things. And lamb chops are always expensive by the pound, and very small, with lots of bone and trimming, too, so they will not do; you must change them for a cheaper meat. As to strawberries—strawberries in July?"
"It's the very first of the month, Mary. They are still plenty and cheap."
"All right, then. But if the weather is warm I don't think Fred will care for a hot soup and hot coffee too. Why soup at all?"