Glory,
I completely forgot to send this recipe with my last letter. A couple of days ago, I picked up a bottle of Lysol at the co-op grocery and it came with a free rationing cookbook. Aren’t I the lucky duck?
So I was flipping through and, lo and behold, found this dish called Eggs Marguerite. Irene and Charlie thought it delicious when I had them over last night.
Those two continue to confound me. I’ve hosted them for dinner a few times, and on the surface they seem quite the young (-ish) couple. Charlie is very solicitous of Irene. He holds her chair when she sits, and outstretches a gentlemanly hand when she rises. He makes her laugh, and teases her in the manner of someone who knows enough of her personality to do so. Irene smiles at him in response, and I caught her staring at his angular face when he was preoccupied with dessert.
Something is off, though. I can’t quite put my finger on it. Whenever I broach the subject of romance with Irene, she finds a polite way to steer the conversation in another direction. Could it be Charlie has something to hide, therefore Irene does? He did show up at my house with a full box of cherry chocolates. How in the world does a vitamin salesman get his hands on that?
The more difficult explanation almost pains me to write. Do you think there are some people who are meant to be alone? Or possibly, has Irene, at thirty-eight, kept the door closed on love for far too long and now finds it’s sticking?
Then again, I suppose people can take a while to find each other, even when the person is standing right in front of them.
Anyway, enjoy the recipe. I brought some over to Mrs. K. to try after Charlie and Irene left. She chided me for using common cheddar, but gobbled it up before I walked out the door. If you have the rations, it accompanies a meat dish quite nicely. The two together would make a very nutritious meal for your Robbie. Here goes:
Eggs Marguerite
6 baked Idaho potatoes
3 cups creamed vegetables (Melt 1½ tablespoons butter, add 1½ tablespoons flour to form almost a paste, then 1½ cups hot milk. Stir over heat until boiling. Turn off the burner and add some nutmeg, salt and pepper. Keep mixing as it thickens. When it does, add a whole mess of lightly cooked vegetables from your garden. De-lish!)
6 poached eggs
½ cup grated American cheddar cheese
Scoop all pulp from potatoes; mash; season. Fill shells with creamed vegetables. Make a border of mashed potato; place poached egg on top of creamed vegetables. Sprinkle egg with cheese. Place in a moderate oven (350°F) until cheese melts and browns.
This makes six portions—enough to feed all of you.
Well, I’ve got to run—we’re rolling bandages today at the American Legion and if I miss it Mrs. Kleinschmidt will force me to join her for lard collection duties.
Take care, hon,
Rita
P.S. I passed the tavern on my way to the co-op. Roylene was standing out front, sweeping the sidewalk in her tattered men’s overcoat and galoshes. Her eyes grew round when she spotted me, and she stepped back to let me by without saying a word. This time I didn’t keep walking. I invited her to tea, Glory. Oh, yes, I did! And after a moment of looking completely panic-stricken, she agreed to come. I know it’s unseemly, but I’m feeling ridiculously proud of myself.