Speaking of desserts, here is one that is both palatable and corrective. The last word refers to the need of the camper for food that will be slightly laxative to counteract the effects of the concentrated foods that he is likely to use. Take dried apples, apricots, peaches and prunes—all in a dried condition—soak in water overnight. Mix all together, adding water and sugar. Stew slowly for twenty minutes and you will have a tutti-frutti stew that will give a dessert which the camper will eat with rapturous relish. [[106]]
Cooking Over the Fire
The most common way of cooking over a camp fire is to cut two forked stakes or small posts and drive them into the ground far enough away from the fire so as to be in no danger of burning. The crotch of each fork is open to the fire, and in this crotch, which should stand a couple of feet up from the ground, a pole an inch or so through is laid. Over this pole above the fire is placed an iron hook, or a couple of hooks, with which the camper has provided himself at a hardware store before starting forth on his tour. From the lower loop of the hook hang the camp kettle or other utensil for cooking.
The dingle stick is another device sometimes used by the motor camper in cooking over his camp fire. This stick is an inch-thick sapling with one end stuck into the ground and the other end adjusted over the fire to a proper height by two forked stakes. Have brass chains with pot hooks attached to hang from the end of the stick. If there are no chains or hooks use forked, short branches with a notch in the lower end to take the bail of a pail.
Two small logs side by side and two short ones laid across underneath them and a small fire of twigs between the logs will do nicely for cooking emergency rations.
Whatever may be said in favor of stoves and the more artificial methods of preparing food for the motor camper, it must be said that food cooked on the open fire will taste best. But, on the other hand, [[107]]when it rains pitchforks, the little stove in the tent is a friend in need and a friend indeed.
Besides there are not only the state and national forestry regulations that apply to open fires. In addition to these in some states the counties take a hand in the matter, and in one open fires will be permitted, while in the county adjoining they may be taboo.
The two-burner Theroz kit burns solid alcohol that will not melt, and a thirty-cent can of cubes lasts the two burners about an hour. The heat from Theroz is not quite so hot as gasoline, but it can be put out instantly and what remains unburnt may be put away for the next time. Furthermore, any sort of solid alcohol is absolutely clean and sweet, with no appreciable smell. The fuel alcohol stove that is used in a single burner outfit arranged like a gas range is convenient, although not as safe as solid alcohol, and is hot enough to boil water in seven minutes. Such a stove comes with an alcohol reservoir that holds a quart, and the whole outfit weighs about ten pounds.