"That's just right!" as Mary Frances lifted up the paste.
"Now, sift a little flour on the board and--oh, how many tarts are you going to make?"
"All right. Cut the paste into five even pieces, and with _me_ (Mary Frances laughed, Aunty Rolling Pin seemed so pleased) roll out each piece about one-eighth of an inch thick. After cutting out, save all the left-over trimmings to use for the last one. Plates ready?"
"All ready!" answered the little heart-shaped Tart Plates.
"How do I make a pretty border?" asked Mary Frances, cutting the trimmings from the edge of Tart Plate with a knife held upright along the edge.
Fork came dancing from the edge of the table.
"Oh, I remember!" said Mary Frances, pressing the prongs into the outer edge of the crust.
"They're grand!" chuckled Aunty Rolling Pin. "Can you bake them? You need a very hot oven to bake them."
"But the cherries!" said Mary Frances, glad to think she had caught Aunty Rolling Pin in an oversight.
"Not until the pastry's cooked, child," said Aunty Rolling Pin, with a smile.
Mary Frances slipped the little plates into the oven, and made room on the table to place the dinner as she prepared it.
In a short fifteen minutes the tarts were ready.
"Aren't they sweet!" the little girl exclaimed. "My! I wish they were thought to be very good for children!"
"What's for dinner?" asked Tea Kettle, anxiously.
[Illustration: Slipped them into the oven.]
"I'll tell you," said Mary Frances, "I've written out the
Potato Soup Pan-broiled Steak Creamed Cabbage Mashed Potatoes Tomato and Lettuce Salad Banana Bread Pudding with Hard Sauce Coffee
"Very elegant!--but that's a lot to do, isn't it?" said Tea Kettle. "Perhaps, if you read over all the new recipes, and we talk them over when its each one's turn to commence, we can work better."
"Oh, thank you, Tea Kettle," said Mary Frances, "that is a very bright idea." Tea Kettle glistened.
"I'll read them," continued Mary Frances, "as they come in the book."
[Illustration: "Lettuce washed, and tomatoes sliced."]
"I have the lettuce well washed, and the tomatoes sliced. All I have to do is to dry the lettuce at dinner time, and soon I can make the
1 teaspoon salt ¾ teaspoon mustard 1½ tablespoons sugar 2 teaspoons flour ¾ cup sour cream (or milk) 1 egg 1 tablespoon vinegar 1 teaspoon butter A few grains of red pepper.