And, do your best, if you are to serve dinner No. 3 for four persons you cannot make it cost over three dollars.
Are you satisfied, now, that I know how to make dinners grow?
JUNE
“For her own breakfast she’ll project a scheme,
Nor take her tea without a stratagem.”
Clams West Island Style
CLAMS are good and plentiful now,” said the fish dealer one day, and as I was in the frame of mind to take him at his word I hastily ran over in my mind the various ways in which this delectable fish may be prepared, the while I ordered from him the quantity I thought I could use. It doesn’t take very long to sum up the gastronomical possibilities of the clam that are cherished in the minds of most housekeepers, you will admit. But, with time and opportunity favoring, there is room for expansion of ideas with regard to clams. For instance, this is one way to expand: Poach, say, a pint of them in their own liquor, then drain off the liquor, adding to the clams milk thickened with egg yolks and seasoned with pepper and salt; forget economy and put in the butter you know it requires to make the flavor perfect, and on top of all have some tiny rice croquettes. You can’t know till you try it just what this dish may reveal served at breakfast. But I will not spoil the story by telling you in advance. If, however, it’s for luncheon that you would be thinking of having them cooked in this way, add the juice of an onion to them.
Clam and Lobster in Shells
If you trust to me so far as to adopt the foregoing way of cooking clams you certainly will try this next way of preparing them at the slightest provocation. Have as many as you like and chop them. Add to them an equal quantity of chopped boiled lobster. Sprinkle in some parsley, also chopped, and butter to the amount above recommended. Season with white pepper and salt, and with the mixture fill some of the deepest clam shells, sprinkle bread crumbs over the top and brown in a hot oven. This may be counted on at any time for a luncheon dish when you are planning to go some persons who have entertained you at least one better.