QUICK REFRESHMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22723, 8 November 1935, Page 17

QUICK REFRESHMENTS

What to do in the way of quick refreshments when a few friends have gathered together for a chat or a game or just to pass the time of day over their knitting should never be a tremendous problem for any hostess of hospitable bent. Doubtless sandwiches or canapes, first aid to last-minute entertaining, will be her first thought. And here are .several that can be made quickly and easily. Crispy cucumber sandwiches call for two medium-sized cucumbers pared and chopped fine, then blended with just enough horse radish to give a pungent flavour, and a very little French dressing. Slice white bread thinly, spread with softened butter, and stamp out in circles; cover with the cucumber filling and put together, pressing lightly. Jam sandwiches that are quite unusual can be made from white, whole-wheat or graham bread sliced very thin and spread with softened butter. Then one-half of the sandwich is covered delicately with raspberry or strawberry jam, the other verv lightly with whipped cream. Walnut-and-celery sandwiches are prime favourites. Chop fine half a cupful of walnut meats, and shred three stalks of celery, mix, moisten with mayonnaise and a few drops of lemon juice, use as a filling for rye, whole-wheat, or white bread.

Smoked salmon sandwiches. Slice bread thin, spread with softened butter, then with a very light layer of anchovy paste, sprinkled with a few drops of lemon juice, and on the paste a paper-thin slice of smoked salmon. Put together as usual. Cream cheese is a wonderful mixer, and adapts itself to all sorts of usee for piquant sandwiches. Mash a large package very fine, and mix with India relish or chili sauce, and place between thin, w;ell-buttered slices of graham bread. Or if you prefer a sweet sandwich, having mashed the cheese thoroughly, blend it with a dash or two of sweet cream, and finally add strained honey to the required sweetness. Mix well and spread between buttered slices of cracked-wheat or wholewheat bread. If you prefer, substitute marmalade, a tart jelly, or finely-chopped preserved ginger with enough of its syrup to give the sandwich a distinct tang. Caviar and water-cress canapes are quickly turned out. Chop or shred fine six to eight sprays of watercress, add a few drops of French dressing, then

blend with the contents of the smallest sized tin of black caviar mixed with a teaspoonful of lemon juice. Spread on crackers, and place a dot of red pinnento or a tiny pearl onion in the centre of each. Serve with a garnish of watercress sprays or crisp radishes. • Spanish canapes are especially suited to an evening affair when men are present. Slice" Spanish onion very, very thin and soak in ice water for a few moments, while you chop one or two hard-cooked eggs very fine and mix with red caviar. Moisten with lemon juice, then spread on the onion slices which have been drained on a paper towel. A fleck or two of pimiento garnishes these canapes delightfully. ' Tomato canapes are made in the same way, using black caviar in place of the red. Either canape looks extra nice bordered with finely-chopped paisley. Devilled peanut sandwiches are delicious, and combine well with canapes if you wish to serve both. Mix one small can ot devilled ham with a third of a cupful of peanut butter, a few grains of salt, and a quarter of a cupful of mayonnaise. Spread between buttered slices of graham bread. Crab meat a la king. Make two cupfuls of smooth cream sauce. Remove from stove and add the yolks of two eggs well beaten and two tablespoonfuls of sherry. Fold in the crab meat, and place in individual ramekins. Sprinkle lightly with buttered bread crumbs, and brown in a moderately hot oven. Raspberry parfait is another delectable sweet easily and quickly concocted. Place a tablespoonful of raspberry iam in the bottom of a slender glass, cover with ice cream, add a second portion of the jam, then more cream, smooth the surface neatly, top with a bit of whipped cream or sprinkle with grated unsweetened chocolate, cocoa, ov chopped nut meats. Banana split calls for bananas peeled and halved lengthwise, spread with a very little jam or jelly, and' topped with ice cream and chopped nuts or whipped cream. Sarsaparilla cream served with sandwiches or cookies is very refreshing and quickly made. Place a generous table.spoonful of vanilla ice cream in the bottom of glass, and fill with sparkling root beer. Top with a cherry.

Fromage patties are made on a base of vanilla wafers or other sweet cookies. Beat cream cheese to a paste with a little sweet cream, flavour with brandy or sherry extract, arrange on sweet wafers by pressing through a pastry tube, and dot the centres with q. cube of currant jelly or a preserved strawberry. Ladyfinger fantasies are_ made from fresh plump ladyfingcrs split lengthwise. The flat surfaces are spread with jelly, a thin layer of whipped cream tops this, and bits of candied fruit decorate the tops. Macaroon dainties. Spread the flat surface of macaroons with confectioners'' chocolate icing; spread others with white . icing. When partially set put together in pairs and frost all over with while or chocolate icing. Fruit orangeade made with sparkling water; ginger ale combined with grape juice or grapefruit juice; grape juice with sparkling water; pineapple and (grape juice: or any of the sparkling fruit juices which are so refreshing and delicious, make excellent beverages for hurried hostesses. And, of course, there is always iced tea, iced or hot coffee or cocoa which can be made quickly. Coffee-chocolate is novel and delicious. Place two tablespoonfuls of cocoa syrup over crushed ice in a glass; add half if 3 cupful of clear, strong coffee, a quarter of a teaspoonful of vanilla and sugar to taste. Then fill with cream. This may be made in quantity and shaken well, then served in small glasses with a teaspoonful of whipped cream on each. — American magazine.

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