Bettinas knöliga kakor

October

Oh, hazy month of glowing trees,—

And colors rich to charm our eyes!
Yet—not less fair than all of these

Are Mother's fragrant pumpkin pies

 Nu när hösten oåterkalleligt är här, så är det kanske en god idé att göra som Bettina och Bob — tända en brasa, äta en enkel måltid som avslutats med kakor från Bettinas välfyllda kakburk. 

Knöliga kakor skulle vi kanske kalla Bettinas "rocks", jag har visserligen inte provat just det här receptet, men är tämligen säker på att de inte är stenhårda.

A RAINY NIGHT MEAL

WHY, Bob, I thought you'd be miles away by this time!" cried Bettina, as Bob came into the house at the usual time one evening.

"They called off our trip on account of the weather. And I supposed you'd be at your mother's!"

"It was raining so that I decided to build a cozy little fire in the fireplace and stay at home."

"Well, I'm glad you're here! I was expecting to come home to a cold, dark house, and this is much more cheerful."

"And I expected not to see you till midnight, so I'm well suited too! But, Bobby, you mustn't complain if I give you a 'pick-up meal.' I expected to eat only a lunch myself."

"I don't care what you give me, just so it's hot. My walk through the rain has given me an appetite. I'll help you get supper and wash the dishes, Bettina, and then afterward we'll pop corn and toast marshmallows by the fire. What do you say?"

"Fine, Bob! I cooked some celery today—just a little—and I think I'll fix 'celery au gratin' for you. The cooky-jar is full of rocks——"

"A full cooky-jar! Bettina, that ought to be the symbol of our happy home. May it always be full!"

"You're altogether too oratorical for a staid married man, Bob. Well, as I was saying, here is apple sauce, and I'll soon have some emergency biscuit stirred up. Then with scrambled eggs——"

"Hurry, Bettina! My appetite grows with every dish you mention!"

Rocks (Two dozen)
1½ C-brown sugar
²/₃ C-butter
2 eggs
1 t-cinnamon
¼ t-ground cloves
¼ t-salt
2½ C-flour
1 t-soda
1½ C-chopped nut meats and raisins
1 t-vanilla

Cream the butter, add the sugar, and cream the mixture. Add the eggs, well beaten, and the remaining dry ingredients (except nuts and raisins) sifted together. Mix well. Add the nut meats and chopped raisins, and vanilla. The mixture should be very stiff. Drop from a spoon onto flat buttered pans or preferably onto a buttered baking sheet. Bake about twelve minutes in a moderate oven.

(Bettina keeps rocks in a stone jar, and finds that they keep well, and are really better when a day old.)