Camping and woodcraft - Scoutmastercg.com

3i8CAMPING AND WOODCRAFTof a canvasback. Seasoning and stuffing destroyall that. A canvasback should not be washedeither inside or outside, but wiped clean with a drycloth. Duck should be served with currant jelly,if you have it. (See also page 297.)Wild Duck, Stewed.— Clean well and divideinto convenient pieces (say, legs, wings, and fourparts of body). Place in pot with enough coldwater to cover. Add salt, pepper, a pinch of mixedherbs, and a dash of Worcestershire sauce. Cutup fine some onions and potatoes (carrots, too, if5^ou can get them). Put a few of these in the potso they may dissolve and add body to the dish(flour or corn starch may be substituted for thickening).Stew slowly, skim and stir frequently.In forty-five minutes add the rest of the carrots,and in fifteen minutes more add the rest of theonions and potatoes, also turnips, if you have any.Stew until meat is done.A plainer camp dish is to stew for an hour inwater that has previously been boiled for an hourwith pieces of salt pork. (See also page 300.)Fish-eating Fowls.— The rank taste of these canbe neutralized, unless very strong, by using plentyof pepper, inside and out, and baking with an onioninside. Or, skin, draw, and immerse overnight ina solution of ^^ small teacup of vinegar to a gallonof water; then fry or bake.Coots, sheldrake or old-squaw are rid of theirfishy taste, without sacrificing the game flavor, bya process described by Mary Walsh:"Pluck and draw the birds immediately; don't allo-wthem to hang with the entrails in. Wash thoroughlywith cold water both outside and in. Cut off the tailfor about one inch with the fatty tissue at the base.Sprinkle with pungent white pepper both inside and out,using two teaspoonfuls to each bird. Place in the ice-boxbut not touching the ice, and keep for at least one week,better ten days. Then wash with salt water (handful tothe pint), dry and roast for twenty minutes with anapple placed in each bird. Then serve, removing theapple before placing on the table."