Evening star., 1944-05-25
Report to the Housewife

II your mind Is set on . Memorial
Day picnic, In the traditional
fashion, you won't be disappointed
Judging by q general round up OF
local markets There7l be lots OF
hams, o good selection Of cold cuts,
plenty of frankfurters--which have
been scarce recently-and even lus-
cious watermelons, shipped In from
Florida. These last will be expen-
sive, from all indications. but If
you've been yearning for blowout,
here's your chance!
Other meats will more or less re-
peat last weeks setup-with fairly
adequate supplies of beef, pork,
lamb and veal available. Frying
chickens are on hand in good sup
ply. and of fine quality; there1l be
more stewing chickens offered than
We have seen for some time-so If
you pine for chicken salad, you can
count on it this week end. Some
markets still feature the plump
ducklings we have been enjoying of
late, and there are fat squads to be
had-at a price. And, good news
for those Of you who have been dis
appointed lately in your pursuit OF
bacon. dealers say there will be new
and much bigger shipments arriving
today or tomorrow.
The fish line up is impressive;
there will be plenty Of haddock, cod,
perch and founder fillet, porgies,
croakers. perch and butterf1sh. Good
sea bass, trout, rockfisn and Boston
mackerel are on hand. Shad is be-
coming scarcer. Crabmeat, lump,
claw and regular is to be had, to-
gether with adequate supplies of
cooked shrimp; raw shrimp. how
ever, remains on the light side. BY
the way, If you don't serve fish
often. because of the unpleasant
aroma 1t may shed while cooking,
invest in one of those miracles of
modern chemistry, an innocent
looking little wick in a bottle, that
win rout all kitchen odors in jiffy.
Blackberries have made their
initial bow of the season, and are
sweet and juicy. Tiny little peaches
from Georgia have also arrived
they remind one Of the scrub"
fruit that used to grow on the
neglected tree in grandmother's
back yard-better wait before in
vesting in them. Strawberries are
only fair In quality, as they have
been all season. Some pears from
Argentina have been received, but
are definitely of the cold storage
variety, and pretty tasteless.
Cherries were poor last week, but
this weeks arrivals seem to be a
bit bigger and better, though still
high in price. A few sugar loaf
pineapples have found their way to
our speciality markets, along with
some very excellent mangoes.
Dealers expect the first cantaloupes
from the Imperial Valley in Cali
fornia in about two weeks, they tell
us. Despite rumors to the contrary,
there are no fresh blueberries to be
found In local markets as yet.
Corn, which was scarce the first
OF the week, will be back in good
supply for the week end. Mush-
rooms are poor and very expensive.
Tomatoes are among the most
plentiful items and are being fea-
tured In good many markets. They
are firm and ripe-some of them
of the "beefsteak" variety, 50 de-
hcious, in salads. New Jersey
asparagus, artichokes from Cali
fornia, fine egg plant from Florida,
are recommended. Big Boston lettuce
and romaine are good; iceberg let
tuce has not been Of very high quail
ity Of late. There are plenty of
onions, all kinds of squash, nice
green peppers and celery to be had.
Greens are running rampant all
over the markets and you can find
everything from collards to rape.
and cabbage cuttings. Nice leeks
and okra have been seen, peas and
snap beans are both good b,,ys