Cream shortening, add sugar and beaten egg; mix well; add milk very slowly; sift flour, baking powder, salt and spices together and add slowly; chop fruit; dredge with flour and add.  Drop from spoon on greased tins and bake in moderate oven 15 minutes.

FRUIT SHORTCAKES

Although strawberries are more commonly used, other fruits such as raspberries, blackberries, loganberries, peaches, bananas, and oranges, and even stewed, dried or canned fruits can be substituted and make delicious shortcakes.

OLD-FASHIONED SHORTCAKE

2 cups flour 1/2 teaspoon salt 4 teaspoons Dr. Price’s Baking Powder 2 tablespoons sugar 3 tablespoons shortening 3/4 cup milk 1 quart berries

Sift dry ingredients; cut in shortening; add milk to make soft dough; smooth out lightly.  Bake in greased deep layer cake tin in hot oven 20 to 25 minutes.  Split while hot and spread between layers with crushed and sweetened berries or other fruit.

STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE

2 cups flour 1/2 teaspoon salt 4 teaspoons Dr. Price’s Baking Powder 2 tablespoons sugar 3 tablespoons shortening 1 egg 1/2 cup milk

Sift dry ingredients, cut in shortening; add beaten egg to milk and add to dry ingredients to make soft dough.  Divide dough in half.  Take one half, pat out lightly and put into greased deep layer tin; spread with butter; cover with other half of dough which has also been patted out to fit pan.  Bake in hot oven 20 to 25 minutes.  Split while hot and spread crushed and sweetened berries and whipped cream between layers; cover top with whipped cream and whole berries.  Dust with powdered sugar and serve.

STRAWBERRY CAKE

1 cup sugar 4 tablespoons shortening 1 egg 2 cups flour 3 teaspoons Dr. Price’s Baking Powder 1/8 teaspoon salt 1 cup milk 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/2 pint heavy cream 1 quart strawberries

Cream sugar and shortening together; add beaten egg; add part of flour, baking powder and salt which have been sifted together, then part of milk; mix well and add remainder of flour; mix in remainder of milk and flavoring.  Bake in shallow greased pan in moderate oven 20 to 30 minutes.  When cold split in half and spread whipped cream and crushed sweetened strawberries between layers.  Cover top with whipped cream and whole strawberries.

PUDDINGS AND OTHER DESSERTS

BAKED CUSTARD

4 eggs 1/2 cup sugar 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 quart milk

Beat eggs, sugar, salt and vanilla together; scald milk and add very slowly, stirring constantly.  Put into greased baking dish or small molds; place in pan of water in slow oven and bake 30 to 40 minutes.  Test with knife which will come out clean when custard is baked.  For caramel custard add to eggs 4 tablespoons caramel sauce page 25.