Title: "The Cook-Off"
Author:  Michelle W.
Disclaimers:  The characters & story of "Christy"
belong to the LeSourd family.  I am not seeking
financial gain for this story; it is written for
nonprofit entertainment purposes only.  Any additional
characters &/or storylines are the author's invention.


"The Cook-Off"


An eerie silence blanketed the Cove.  A lone
tumbleweed rolled along the dirt path in front of the
mission house, the occupants of the building mutely
watching its journey.

The sound of rapidly approaching hoofbeats jolted the
quartet out of their trance-like state.

"Lordy, Miss Alice," whispered Ruby Mae.  "Hit's Doc
MacNeill an' he looks meaner than Bessie Coburn's pa
when he. . ."  Not appreciating the poke in the ribs
from Christy, the redhead fell silent once more.

"Hush, Ruby Mae.  Lets just find out why he's here."

But no one had the chance to question the doctor as he
vaulted off his horse and stormed up the stairs,
stopping when he reached David.

"I'd like to know the meaning of this, Reverend!"
bellowed Neil as he thrust a square tin under David's
nose.

"It would appear to be a small silver tin, Doctor,"
David evenly replied.  Snorting in disgust, Neil
removed the tin's lid and again put it under David's
nose.

"Breathe deeply, Grantland, and tell me. . .what do
you smell?"  David quickly decided it was best to
comply with Neil in his agitated state.

"Um, I do believe it is butterscotch."

Alice, Christy, and Ruby Mae, who had been quietly
watching until now, gasped in shock at this
revelation.

"Exactly, Reverend.  And I would like to know why
there is no longer any butterscotch in there.  I know
I did not give *all* of it to the good little girls in
Cutter Gap."  Christy blushed as Neil's gaze lingered
briefly on her.

"Let me smell your breath."  Neil took a step forward.

"Huh?" was all David could say.

"Are you deaf, man?  Or have you been hit in the head
a few too many times with wee balls?  I said, let me
smell your breath!"  He took another menacing step
forward.

Quickly Miss Alice placed herself between the two men.

"Gentlemen," she began, "may I make a suggestion?" 
Neil and David nodded their heads.

"In days past, men would often settle their disputes
with a duel."

"Let me get my rifle," grumbled David, moving towards
his bunkhouse as Neil prepared to rummage through his
saddlebags.

"We will have no such thing here!" Miss Alice stated
forcefully.  Both men meekly turned their attention
back to the missionary.  Miss Alice smoothed her hair
and apron before continuing.

"I am suggesting something. . .new.  A cook-off."

Neil, David, Christy, and Ruby Mae all stared at Miss
Alice, their mouths agape.

"I will have thee all know I am completely serious. 
Neil and David will each make something of their
choosing.  Christy, Ruby Mae, and I will determine the
winner, who will in turn be responsible for
replenishing the doctor's butterscotch reply - no
questions asked."  Casting a mischievous look in
Christy's direction Alice added, "We wouldn't want any
girls to go without their butterscotch now, would we?"

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Scrambled Eggs and Toast"

several eggs                 salt
approx. 4 Tbsp. milk         1 slice American Cheese
(the key ingredient)         wheat bread
oregano                      orange juice
red pepper                   grapefruit juice
pepper                       cran-raspberry juice
garlic powder

   I use several eggs, about 4 tablespoons of milk
(the key ingredient), a dash of oregano, red pepper,
pepper, garlic powder and salt.  Mix all together and
add a couple small pieces of your favourite cheese. 
(One slice of American will do the trick.)  A touch of
butter or pam to grease the pan, which I pre-heat to
medium high and I'm off to the pulpit!  Scramble away
until the eggs are fairly dry, though not too dry.
   Whole wheat toast with a touch of butter and maple
syrup ("tasty, toasty" as my Grandmother called it)
and a glass of half orange, half grapefruit, with a
splash of cran-raspberry juice and you are in for a
treat and a great day.

                          *~Randall Batinkoff

"Dr. Mac's Dessert"

Kumquats (about half a pound)   good quality vanilla 
1 punnet of blueberries *          ice cream

   Slice the kumquats skin on of course in 1/8th inch
slices.  Add to blueberries.  Ratio 50/50.  Add ice
cream to taste.  Serves 4.  You can get kumquats at
most large food stores.  The small citrus fruit are
sweet and sour and when mixed with the blueberries and
ice cream make an incredible tangy dessert.
             *Punnet - small tub or container

                      *~ Stewart Finlay-McLennan

~~from "Everything But Ruby Mae's Possum Surprise -- A
Cookbook by "Christy" Fans", pgs. 29, 83. pub. 2000 by
Fundcraft Publishing~~

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Everyone reconvened in the mission's kitchen.  Christy
tried unsuccessfully to stifle a giggle at the sight
of both men wearing aprons.  Neither seemed to notice,
however, as they were trying to get a peek at the
other's recipe.

"A punnet of blueberries?!  What in the world is a
punnet?" asked David.

"Not that it is any of your concern," muttered Neil,
"but it is a small tub or container.  I thought you
were an educated man."

"I am," David retorted.  "And I thought you knew how
to construct a proper sent--"

"Scrambled eggs and toast?!" Neil interjected.  "You
need a recipe to make scrambled eggs and toast?  No
wonder you're in such a blasted hurry to find a wife! 
You can't even make toast!"

David's face reddened in anger as he pushed his hair
off his forehead.

"At least I know the *proper* word for a container! 
And I have some actual measurements listed for my
ingredients!  The ice cream will all be melted for
your dessert before anyone has figured out how much
fruit they need!"  

A curl fell over Neil's forehead as he scanned David's
recipe again.

"Well, at least *my* recipe doesn't pose a fire
hazard!  Don't you know a hot frying pan should never
be left unattended, especially when melting butter? 
And what's with this 'tasty, toasty' nonsense?"

"That's *not* nonsense!" David yelled.  "My
grandmother said that!"

"Well maybe she was hit by. . ."

Neil was cut off by David's fist hitting his jaw. 
This did not faze the doctor, who was all too happy to
return the favour.

"Miss Alice, shouldn't we do something?" Christy
implored.

The Quaker woman's expression was grim as she turned
to leave the kitchen.

"I'll go get my rifle."

The End