Encyclopedia Brown Cracks the Case by Donald J. Sobol

Author:Donald J. Sobol [Sobol, Donald J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
ISBN: 9781101200643
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
Published: 2007-09-06T07:00:00+00:00

The Case of the Counterfeit Dough

The morning of the Idaville Cookie Bake-off, Joey Perkins, Encyclopedia’s classmate, walked into the Brown Detective Agency.

“I need your help,” he said, placing a quarter on the red gasoline can. “I have three recipes for chocolate-chip cookies. I want to hire you to tell me which one is best.”

“You can pay me to eat your cookies anytime,” Encyclopedia said.

Sally agreed. “But what are you worried about?” she asked. “You’re sure to win the bake-off this year.”

Joey’s cookies had come in second to Christina Vargas’s three years in a row in the twelve and under class. But Christina had turned thirteen in June. No one else’s sweet treats would come close to Joey’s in a taste test.

“There’s a new twelve-year-old baker in town, Mary Macaroon,” Joey said. “Her cousin is one of the judges, and she’s tough. My cookies have to be perfect.”

“I heard that this year’s first prize is fifty dollars, and the winning recipe will be printed in a cookbook,” Sally said.

Joey nodded. “I’ve always dreamed of having my recipes published.”

He placed a plate with six cookies on the workbench—three cookies for each detective. Then he handed them water bottles so that they could rinse their mouths after tasting each one.

The detectives munched on the delicious cookies, carefully rinsing their mouths after each taste.

“Yum,” said Sally, “they’re all delicious.”

“What’s this in cookie number two?” Encyclopedia asked. “A hint of cinnamon?”

Joey shook his head with a grin. “It’s a secret,” he said. “I won’t tell.”

“They’re all winners,” Encyclopedia said. “But I like cookie number two best.”

Sally took another bite of cookie number three. Then she tasted cookie number two again. “Cookie number two it is,” she said.

“I sure hope I win this year,” Joey said, picking up his plate and heading down the driveway. “I want a first place ribbon and my cookie recipe in that cookbook!”

“We’ll be there to cheer you on,” Encyclopedia said.

“Good luck!” Sally called after him.

Later that afternoon, Encyclopedia and Sally biked to the high school. The bake-off was being held in the school’s kitchen. Four tables were set out for the contestants in the twelve and under category. Each table held flour, sugar, butter, eggs, chocolate chips, and a few spices like cinnamon and nutmeg.

Encyclopedia and Sally watched Joey measure his ingredients carefully and mix his cookie dough.

Two of the contestants—Emily Drew and Michael Esposito—each seemed to be making more of a mess than a cookie. Flour flew when Michael tried to mix his dough, sprinkling the judges and making them sneeze.

Mary Macaroon looked like a serious challenger. She even wore an official chef’s hat and apron.

“Fashion doesn’t win bake-offs,” Sally said with a sniff.

But Encyclopedia noticed that she whisked her eggs and creamed her butter and sugar like a pro.

Joey was the first to slide his cookie sheets into the oven, followed by Mary. Soon the smell of baking cookies filled the room. Encyclopedia’s mouth watered.

Ten minutes later, four oven timers buzzed, one after the other. As soon as all four trays of cookies were on the table, the judges took out their clipboards.

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