The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-07-24
Tiny St0ob
SaUes Trips
to COuntYy
BY JULIA BLANSHARD
NEA Service Writer

+NNh 0~A WI WAAArA
NEW YORK, July 24.-Al fresco
dining has a romantic glamor about
it impossible to capture in the most
sunptuous meal served inside.
To become known as an expert in
outdoor hospitality is to be the most
popular summer hostess in town,
and to have your friends clamor-
ing for an invitation to dine
1t is not necessary to have
country estate, corps of servants,
a mint Of money to give your guests
the treat Of eating in the open air.
Frances Adams, a New York de-
signer, has proved that miracles can
be done with a six-by-seven and a
half-foOt city back porch, about $50
cash and plenty Of artistic ingen-
uity in color schemes and menus.
From Stoop to Porch
Last year Miss Adams had
dinky little three-foot stoop at
the back door of her apartment,
which is the first floor of a lovely
old brick house. From this stoop
steps ran down to the yard,
which is small bit of green grass
flanked by hedge, elephant ears
and flower beds.
With $40 worth of lumber and one
days work Of carpenter, the stoop
grew to be little back porch, sur
rounded by a railing.
Miss Adams painted 1t all a
real outdoor green, laid green and
gray checked linoleum on the
floor, all bound with metal for
neatness sake, and placed win
dow boxes flanked with lattice
work along the wall connecting
with the next yard so that morn
ing glories would eventually trail
up and lend color to the scene and
privacy to the porch.
Chooses Gay ColOrs
Next, she bought a green topped
garden table, with a big striped
parasol stuck down through the
center Of it, since tall buildings
with many windows surround her
place.
For this table she had a larger
top made in two half circles which
faSten together around the UNI
brella handle. Two or three can
eat out on the porch on the little
table. Six can enjoy their evening
meal in comfort on the big top.
For seating, she reprinted an in
expensive green bench and made a
gay removable cover of one yard of
quilted American print, in bright
red, yellow and green, bound with
green, with ends of green tape left
for tying on to the bench. Also she
painted two kegs for extra seats
and two iron garden chairs.
One of the incest touches is the
addition of a camp lantern,
bought in the camping depart
ment Of a store, which can be
lighted after dark and swings from
one spoke of the parasol.
Uses Peasant Ware
On her table she uses only
bright peasant ware, with covers
or doilies in Russian or Spanish
patterns, gay pottery plates and
cups and colorful Spanish glass
ware.
Of especial interest are the
"olla" or Spanish water jug with its
double spout and unglazed surface
that, through evaporation, keeps
cold water cold, and her covered |
dishes.
The latter include a deIectable
green Spanish glass beverage pitch
er which is a corked bottle, covered !
sugar bowls, cream pitchers and one
squat, brown Spanish earthenware
casserole not unlike Boston bean |
pot.
Simplicity Secret of Cooking
Out of this Spanish baking pot |
come the more palatable concoc-
tions: Spinach cooked just the !
right number of minutes, topped |
with boiled f1let of sole and the
whole covered with F1orentine
sauce; chicken en- casserole, with
fresh peas, carrots, tiny onions;
genuine old-faShioned lamb stew,
with everything seasoned to the
queens taste.
For this pot can go into the oven,
or on top of the stove, and. there
fore, can take food to the table and
keep it in piping-hot condition.
Perhaps the secret of this host
ess' success is the perfect sim
plicity of her enjoyable meals: one
substantial hot dish, usually differ
ent enough to be absolutely excit-
ing; an ice cold salad, such as ALI
gator pear salad, cucumbers, toma-
toes and romaine; and some nice
homemade pie or cake, or fresh
berries, melon or fruit, and coffee.
FLOTNCES RTIFFL.EC