Saturday night the scouts and Mrs. Vernon planned the dinner for the next day.
“We’ll use some of those onions, and cut potatoes into dice to add to them; then I’ll take a small can of tomatoes, some rice and a bit of bacon, and make a good chowder of the whole. If we only had a few of the little fish Joan caught the other day, they would give it a fine flavor,” suggested the Captain.
“You said we might open a jar of our strawberry preserve, Verny,” reminded Julie.
“Yes, but not for a course; it is too precious for anything but dessert.”
“After the chowder, what can we have?” asked Ruth.
“We’ll boil that artichoke root we dug up this morning. When that is seasoned it tastes just like salsify. If Eliza doesn’t bring any meat, we can run along the mountain-path and cut one of the beefsteak mushrooms I showed you yesterday. I doubt if your folks will be able to tell the difference between it and a tenderloin steak,” the Captain said, chuckling.
“My, won’t they be surprised when they see all we have learned in two weeks!” exclaimed Betty, proudly.
“I hope it doesn’t rain to-morrow,” ventured Julie.
“Yes, ’cause we’ve got to have Eliza’s supplies!” added her twin sister.
“Can you think of anything else that’s novel, Verny, for dinner?” asked Joan.