Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-19
WHERE We DO EXCEL
Cooking and Serving Our
Thanksgiving Dinners.
LEAD ALL NATIONS
ESPECIALLY IN PREPARING THE
NATIONAL BIRD.
Timely Decorations for the Spread
Comical and Other
wise.
Written for The Evening Star.

day mas gone Dy Wnenf Sur1eIf OF SoOu
things is considered essential to thankful
spirit, and the modern housewife has con-
sequently cut short her grandmother's long
bill of fare The national. bird is, however,
by no means eliminated from the modern
menu, and in most homes on Thanksgiving
day this piece de resistance will be offered
up as usual on the altar of the family table.
much to the delight of the small members
of the household as we'll as of the grown
ups at the feast.
| In the cooking and serving of the turkey
Americans certainly excel all other peoples.
Monsieur the Partisan chef will serve the
bird parboiled and send him to table in a
limp, detected and tasteless style. Should a
suggestion of the ACCESSIBILITY of roasting
the gobbler be made to this autocrat he
:heerfully accedes after his lights. but the
usst part of the program is left out-that- or
tao stuffing-and the historic bird Is an an
achronism even to himself.
In Russia they roast the turkey before
huge open fire indoors barbecue fasmon'
and it is only luck that saves him from be-
ing done to death. When served the Rus
sian bird is smothered In fearful ana WON
derful hot sauce.
John Bull has been known to marvel in his
usual insular manner that the turkey should
be our national bird of feasting, and small
wonder, for in the snug little island he IS
cooked until even the tenderest breastbone
WOulu IeluoS " bui &c anu oiA JuASiAA~N'S -
lost.
A Heavy stufhng.
The turkey cooked after the German
recipe is outwardly all good Yankees
fond fancy could paint but the interior
decorations are appalling. The furnishing
is of bologna sausage and it's ilk, placed
there to flavor the meat. A fondness Tor
this delicate treatment may be acquired at
ter a long residence in Germany; but, ike
chop suey and other native good Things, IL
takes time to get there.
The Italian method robs the bird of its
imposing presence; but on the whole, 1t Is
not unappetizing. The turkey is roasted in
the ordinary way, with the unfailing 1tal-
ian flavor added by basting it with garlic
sauce. 1t Is served sliced with an onion
gravy.
The old southern cooks have perhaps best
solved the problem of turkey cooking, and
.'mammy'S'' instructions are to lay the bird
on his breastbone and not on the back, for
in the former position the juices are more
evenly distributed. She also insists that fat
bacon or pork must be tied over the turkey
while cooking, as 1t imparts fine flavor.
A dressing of chestnuts and breadcrumbs
or oysters always accompanies the genuine
southern turkey.
Quite an important consideration, ranking
equally with the menu, is the table decora-
ton, and there is wide scope in this di-
rection for Thanksgiving feast offers de-
lightful opportunities in the ornamental
line. OF course, as the dinner is generally
the occasion of family gathering, the dec
orations are not often either elaborate or
expensive, but rather appropriate, and Oft
times funny effects are aimed at by the
hostess.
Whimsical Ideas.
The shops afford abundant means of car
rying out any whimsical idea she may de-
termine upon. Very amusing are the Jack
Horner pumpkin pies, which may be pur-
chased at any department store for a small
sum. Filled with funny gifts for men,
bers Of the party, they afford lots of sport.
Each little present is tied with a long green
ribbon which reaches to the place of the
recipient. The pumpkin itself Is set
in the center of the table on a bed of large
green leaves. AT the corners OF the table.
standing guard, are four tall vegetable fig
ures. These funny figures are the very
newest developments in the way of Thanks
giving dinner table decorations, and are
made of coored papier mache, almost a
foot in height, in the form of men and wo-
men dressed to represent vegetables. Small
pumpkins to which are tied the place cards
are arranged at each cover and. filled with
nuts or candies, help along the scheme
When lights are used the JACKIE lantern
shades covering the candles are most appro-
pirate. One of the smartest of the new
dinner favors is the bronze turkey, an i'm
portant-looking gobbler standing his full
height, with his tail spread out in all the
panoply of feathered glory. These birds
have been seen before made of papier
mache and of feathers-the latter always
grewsome on a table-but the bronze bird is
entirely new, we'll made and exceedingly or
namental. His head comes off and leaves
an opening for small bonbons Around his
neck is tied the name card.
Foot Ball Effects.
The foot ball interests of the day afford
especially good opportunities for original
table decorations. The foot ball effect is
easy to manage, and the regulat .on-sized
pigsk1n may be bought having an opening
at the top in which are placed the flowers
whose coloring harmonizes with that of the
particular college to be honored The ball is
either suspended from the chandelier with
varsity colors or imbedded in a mound of
autumn leaves or thick greens to represent
the theater Of war, the gridiron. Ribbons
run out from the field" and lose themsel-
YES among tangle of flowers at intervals
about the table. Crimson chrysanthemums
are used If Harvard is the favorite team
or the famous Princeton huge ragged bios
som of the land of the mikado or the Yale
In the trappingS of war, with the college
Tall figures of the doughty players dressed
in the trappings of war, withthe college
letter proudly emblazoned on the breast of |
the sweater. are used as favors The heroes
can be easily taken off their feet for no
firmer foundation is theirs than a shallow, |
round box. Little pigskins to hold candles
are scattered about the table 49,
"Mums" and Leaves.
Brown oak leaves, chrysanthemums and |
red berries make an attractive center deco |
ration. and may be arranged in a rose bowl |
or holiowed-out pumpkin, over which are |
trailing vines of some delicate plant. The |
flowers should have long stems, with little |
or none of the foliage removed and should |
be allowed to hang loosely without any at |
tempt at punching. The new brown shades |
in connection with certain tones of yellow |
or cream white chrySanthemums are par
ticularly stunning this year. To carry out |
the general air of festivity branches of late |
foliage and tall cornstalks may be placed |
In the corners of the room. For identifying |
the sideboard nothing Is prettier than to use |
several little wicker hampers filled with |
fruit caught together with festoons of broad |
satin ribbon
The fruit centerpiece is rather a thing |
of the past, but if used an Expansion GEN.
ter decoration which suggests the THANKS
giving penitude of our possessions is the |
latest fad. This effect is best attained by |
surrounding pumpkin with apples, grapes, |
carrots and corn with the husks rolled down
to show the grains. Topping all should be |
luscious punches of Burgundy and Malaga
grapes. For favors miniature champagne |
bottles tied with ribbon are generally used
being particularly appropriate to this bac-
chanalian decoration.
For the table decoration of a descendant |
of the pilgrim fathers ship representing