By Charles F. Smith
Can you imagine anything easier for the Tenderfoot than wrapping his meal in aluminum- foil and tossing it on a small flat bed of hardwood embers without blaze? Perhaps not, but one question, and an important one, is still to be answered. How long shall I leave this meal on the fire, the cook wants to know. To find out he must do some experimenting on his own. For the Tenderfoot this may not be too easy, yet everything considered, Scoutmasters and older Scouts may be justified in thinking that it involves but little woodcraft and gives little opportunity to learn the ways of the woods.
An Aluminum-Foil Tenderfoot Meal
While a small criss-cross hardwood fire is burning down lay out your meal on aluminum- foil, as illustrated. To make a double envelope you need two pieces of foil, both twice as long as the standard width of a roll of foil. Butter both sides of the chopped meat and season with salt and pepper and place on foil, as illustrated. Surround the meat with %"-thick slices of onion (if you like it) and potato. Fold one-half of the foil over the food and double fold the three open edges. Around this envelope fold a second piece of foil and triple seal the open edges to make an airtight envelope around the first one.
Now comes the time to be careful. Carefully place the double envelope on a bed of hardwood embers. Turn very carefully (without breaking the air-tight envelope) at the end of 8 minutes and cook the other side for another 8 minutes. Open the package, and there you are, a delicious meal of meat and vegetable, spread out on its very own foil-plate. Add a little more seasoning and butter and - what's stopping you, go ahead and eat!
Tip
The tiniest puncture will permit steam to escape and oh! Oh! it will ruin your pressure cooker. Scouts will think one envelope is quite enough, but here's a slogan for them to follow: "Use two to be sure and one to court failure."
To broil steak turn up the edges of a piece of foil put it on the embers and broil to taste on both sides. Use foil for plate.
Tenderfoot and Second Class Scouts can travel light on a five-mile hike or 24-hour camp with a roll of aluminum foil. Carry the food wrapped in foil (cook anything desired in it) and use for cups or dishes.
