A Basket of Chips: An Autobiography

Basket of Chips, page 131

Rzlminations of Life and Art The joy of strawberries. And how she did like to gather and prepare them! Strawberry short cakes made in her own way! There will never be another for me. And her pies that with the juice soaked through was covered with Brownie's cream! Chil- dren, you will remember them as long as you live, those short cakes and pies! The poultry afforded fresh eggs which she cooked in all sorts of ways, but the choicest repast in their production was the young fries [fryers]. Then, when the chickens were large enough, they were stuffed and baked in the oven. As I told a friend who took dinner with us: "You will never taste the like again for this reason. For two weeks the young cockerel is care- fully fed on a fattening mash; then all food withheld from him for eighteen hours. In that time all waste had passed through, and there was very little odor when cleaned for cooking." I attended to all but the drawing. The cooking part I cannot de- scribe, but it was most delicious when served. Next were the roasters. Those we had for occasions like birthdays and holidays. They were treated as the friers as to feeding and killing. The roasting we were instructed in from the sick room, so that we became expert cooks. Our garden peas and beans were the best I ever tasted. She and I took such care in the picking; she the beans, and I the peas. In most families that work is turned over to the children with the result that the vines are not picked clear of all that are ready, and in a few days there will be peas that are too old mixed in and the flavor spoiled. Besides, the vines of both will pass out of bearing if a few are left to ripen. I took great care to grow an abundance of the fruits and vegetables. She was most fond of asparagus. She was also very fond of beets. The best crop I ever had came too late for her. The only delicacy I can think of that she did not care for was mushrooms, but she cooked them very nicely for us. She would never taste cottage cheese, but she made it for the others. When her father was at his best, we had him to dinner for green corn 131