New-York tribune., 1909-11-18
THANKSGIVING MENU,
For Sir Persons Bare Cost of
EdibIes Is SS.

Thanksgiving Day is thing 10 be thank
fUi for. OF course, and a day on which
TO be thankful. hut for tho father Of n
family il comes high. The bare materials
Tor a real turkey dinner fer a family OF
six persons. the average family. can
hardly be procured for less than IS. That
estimate takes no account OF the butter
used in basting the turkey. the stufiing.
the seasonings for the vegetables. the gas
for the cooking or the time spent I'm prep
aration. Eight dollars is pretty nearly
the minimum cost for the essentials. The
maximum can he anything one chooses
10 have IL.
The menu, with the cost of the vari-
Gus items. would be about as follows on
the S estimate:
Three dozen oysters on the half she'll
at Is cents dozen. 45 cents: consomme,
requiring four pounds of round steak at
20 cents n pound. and a few vegetables.
s. cents: twelve-pound turkey at p cents
a pound, s.: a quart OF cranberries. 10
cents; a quart OF sweet potatoes. 10 cents;
a quart OF white potatoes. cents; two
quarts OF Brussels sprounts. % cents: a
bunch OF celery. 20 cents; six dinner rolls,
IL cents; olives. 40 cents: a mince pie
(home made). ~ cents. Two pounds OF
nuts At IS cents pound. and raisins
enough 10 top off with would be about 40
cents; a half dozen apples would be S5
cents. a half dozen oranges. . cents, and
grapes enough for the party. about 30
cents. Half a pound of French coffee.
which makes the best black coffee 10 sip
when the desert is over will cost - cents.
The IS estimate includes nothing stronger
than water 20 drink with the food. IL the
diners desired cider the feast would cost
30 or 20 cents more. while wine, OF course,
would bring Il higher.
It is possible 10 knock few cents of
this menu here and there. Some people
prefer grapefruit instead OF oysters for
the first course. and . cents VIII buy
three Of these delicious appetizers. making
six half portions. The mince pie at 40
cents is made OF the commercial mince-
meat, sold at % cents a can or there
about But IL the mistress of the house
is provident and has her mincemeat made
at home il will not cost her more than
Is cents pie.
II. ON the other hand. she saves trouble
by buying a pie at the caterers, il will
cost her 81, 81 50 or 81. according 10 quail
ity. The 81 pies are undeniably skimpy.
Pumpkin pies. which many prefer because
they aren't as heavy as mince. cost about
cut out pies and puddings at the end Of a
fun dinner. and TO have ice cream instead.
= quart Of ice cream. which is quite enough
for Sax persons. can be made at home for
- cents. IL purchased at the caterers il
will cost about o. cents or more il it is Of
the fancy variety.
Bonbons and decorations for the Thanks
giving table. which give so much pleasure
TO the children. are not too frightfuIIy ex-
pensive. For instance. there are the Mar
zipan sweets, imported from Ldbeck, Ger
lnany-Tealistic apples and strawberries
HE size. done in delicious sugar paste. A
dollar and a half would buy enough 10
make a pretty show on the table and sat
isfy the sweet teeth of a family Of six
one New York caterer displays sugar
grapes, pink and green and yellow. of do
mestic make, at - CENTS a bunch. Then
there are tiny. brightly colored bonbons
I'm vegetable shapes at 81 a pound, and the
ordinary mixed bonbons at 50 cents
pound.
IL one wishes 10 indulge in more expen-
sive grapes than the Tokay or Concord.
there are the hOthouse grown, al 81 a
pound a fair-sized bunch of these weighs
pound and quarter, and il takes about
three punches for a good centrepiecc.
Country-bred people. accustomed 10 a
Thanksgiving table grOaning with many
dishes, may think rather meanly OF a menu
comprising only one vegetable besides no
iatoes They would want 10 add Hubbard
squash-which would add - cents 10 TIE
oost-and quart OF boiled onions-15
cents more. But the general feeling is iu
favor OF Thanksgiving dinner that allows
people To enjoy themselves afterward. in
stead Of nodding AT one another till bed
timc.
There II a chance that turkeys may rise
IN price before Thanksgiving Day from y
IL y cents a pound or so. The best deal
orS say, however that even il that ham
Pens they won't charge their customers
more than 25. We ship them direct
one dealer told Tribune reporter, and