THE FARMERS' MONTHLY, DECEMBER, 1928 



Around The County 



With The H. D. Agent 



Thanksgiving Dinners Held 



Blushing apples have proven very 

 attractive on the Thanksgiving table as 

 well as very tasty. Both the Pelham and 

 Southampton groups talked over appro- 

 priate Thanksgiving dishes. Color schemes 

 for both table decorations and food wei-e 

 planned. At our next meeting Christmas 

 suggestions are to be given. 



The following menu was served at the 

 Southampton meeting: 



Cheese and potato croquettes 



Cabbage, Carrot and Peanut Salad 



Cinnamon Apples — Dark Bread 



Norwegian Prune Pudding 



Leader Training Classes Increase 



Mrs. J. Bitner of Hatfield says: "If 

 any one knew how much a leader got out 

 of being a leader, she wouldn't elect any 

 one but would go herself." This .shows 

 that leaders are interested in their jobs 

 as leaders. 



Every one of the leaders have reported 

 that their groups are very much interest- 

 ed in the Garment Finish project. In 

 four cases their numbers have increased 

 from the first meeting. This shows that 

 the leaders are doing a good piece of ex- 

 tension work. We are all looking for- 

 ward to our final exhibit where all the 

 communities will be competing one with 

 the other. 



At a recent meeting in Hatfield Mrs. 

 John Bitner was elected leader of the 

 Hatfield group. 



Our second leader training meeting 

 proved very interesting. At this meet- 

 ing the leaders brought in what we called 

 a "White Elephant." The garments 

 were checked over and new ideas were 

 given as to how to remodel them. Winter 

 materials were displayed and discussed. 



Tied and Dyed Worl< Still of Interest 



Fifteen women met in Florence for a 

 tied and dyed demonstration. At this 

 meeting each member present made a 

 luncheon set and a few made scarfs and 

 handkerchiefs. The luncheon sets are 

 very inexpensive and are extremely popu- 

 lar just now that we are living in this 

 age of color. Plans for "dying" parties 

 were made that evening so that Christmas 

 presents and Christmas fairs might be 

 made less expensive. 



Better Children Survey Continues 



Westhampton has been surveyed in pre- 

 paration for our big "Better Children" 

 campaign. Everywhere the agent has 

 been so far the mothers prove very much 

 interested in this plan. We are in hopes 

 of reaching 1000 mothers. 



If you are interested in the feeding of 

 children, all under 21 years of age, just 

 let us know for we want to reach every 

 one. 



Using Our Canned Products 



Those of you who canned this summer 

 are now ready to use the products no 

 doubt. Perhaps many of you will be glad 

 of some new recipes. Let us start with 

 perhaps the first product that you canned, 

 asparagus. The following recipes have 

 proven very popular. 



Asparagus Custard 



1 qt. jar asparagus, di'ained and cut in- 

 to 1 inch lengths and place in a buttered 

 casserole dish. Beat 2 eggs slightly and 

 pour over them a pint of scalded milk 

 Add 2 tsp. salt, a few drops of Worcester- 

 shire sauce and unless the milk is very 

 rich a tsp of salt. Pour all over the 

 asparagus and set the casserole in a slow 

 over 325°F. Bake until set about 3.5 

 minutes. 



Hot graham muffins and jolly red apples 

 baked, makes a good meal both flavorful 

 and colorful to put any family in good 

 humor. 



Baked Creamed Asparagus 



Put creamed asparagus into a buttered 

 casserole with slices of hard cooked eggs 

 of pieces of leftover cooked chicken and 

 cover with buttered crumbs to which a 

 few chopped nutmeats are added. Brown 

 the topping by setting the dish into a hot 

 oven for about 20 minutes. 



Asparagus Shortcake 



Make individual biscuits and serve 

 cream asparagus on them. Instead of 

 using the regular cream sauce with it, 

 add i\ to ^ cup of grated cheese to each 

 pint of cream sauce. 



A fruit may bo sei-ved for dessert. 



Instead of using baking powder biscuits, 

 the hot asparagus can be put between 

 .slices of buttered toast and the cheese 

 sauce poured over all. Crisp bits of bacon 

 can be sprinkled over the cheese sauce f^r 

 garnish. 



Make Girls' School Dresses 

 Simple and Easy to Launder 



Possibly no task gives a mother more 

 real enjoyment than selecting or making 

 the dresses worn by her small daughter 

 when she is between 3 or 4 and 10. Some- 

 limes the mother herself feels once more 

 like a little girl with a doll to dress, and 

 takes so much pleasure in planning her 

 "doll's" wardrobe that she allows her 

 imagination to run riot. The little girl, 

 too, has ideas about frills and ruffles and 

 fancy decorations she has seen on other 

 children's clothes. The result is often an 

 elaborate, overtrimmed, impractical set 

 of dresses which not only give much work 

 in making but also in "doing-up." 



Dresses that ai'e too fussy or too fragile 

 for everyday wear prevent a child from 

 indulging in normal active play, and 

 make her too conscious of herself and her 

 appearance; or else they are soon dirty 

 and draggled and much less pleasant to 

 look at than plain, sturdy play suits. An- 

 other unfortunate point, too, is that the 

 frocks that make a little girl look like a 

 dressed-up doll are not really in good 

 taste except for "dress-up" occasions. If 

 worn to school the child is likely to be 

 criticized rather than admired. 



The Bureau of Home Economics, 

 United States Department of Agricul- 

 ture, has been interested in designing 

 dresses for the little girl that can be easi- 

 ly made and laundered, that are com- 

 fortable to wear, pleasing to look at, and 

 easy to put on and take off. Even a 3- 

 year-old can learn to dress herself if the 

 the fastenings are few in number, with 

 large, findable buttons, placed in front. 

 It is not necessary to choose dull, un- 

 interesting colors, for there are many 

 gay, fast-colored cotton prints available 

 that appeal to any little girl. In winter 

 time they may be replaced by warm wash- 

 able challies in similar designs. Plain 

 colors, too, are good in such materials as 

 broadcloth or poplin. 



The fact that little girls grow continu- 

 ally and in all directions should always 

 be kept in mind in selecting patterns for 

 them. Raglan sleeves are the most sat- 

 isfactory for allowing for chest expan- 

 sion. Lengthening must be possible by 

 means of wide hems, tucks that can be 

 let out, and loose finishes at neck, wrists, 

 and knees. Waist bands on bloomers or 

 the line where a waist and skirt join 

 should be loosely fitted at first. 



