Recipe for Trouble

  Contents

  Chapter 1: A Sweet Spring Vacation

  Chapter 2: The Cupcake Disaster

  Chapter 3: Bubble Trouble

  Chapter 4: A Salty Surprise

  Chapter 5: The Chocolate-Fingerprint Clue

  Chapter 6: More Suspects in the Mix

  Chapter 7: Setting a Tasty Trap

  Chapter 8: The Culprit Confesses

  1

  A Sweet Spring Vacation

  Yay! It’s spring vacation!” Eight-year-old Nancy Drew said happily.

  Nancy’s best friend George Fayne, whose real name was Georgia, skipped along next to her. “No school for a whole week!” George said.

  George’s cousin, Bess Marvin, trailed behind the two of them. Bess was Nancy’s other best friend. “But what are we going to do for a whole week?” Bess moaned. “We’ll be totally bored!”

  The three girls were walking home from Carl Sandberg Elementary School. They were third-graders there. It was Friday afternoon, the beginning of their spring vacation.

  The warm April breeze stirred Nancy’s strawberry-blonde hair. There were flowers everywhere: pink cherry blossoms, yellow daffodils, and bright red tulips. Nancy loved spring!

  “There’s lots of stuff we could do for spring vacation,” Nancy told Bess.

  Bess scrunched her nose. “Really? Like what?”

  “We could play video games,” George suggested.

  “I’m sick of my video games!” Bess complained.

  “We could do science experiments,” Nancy said.

  “That’s too much like school,” Bess pointed out.

  “Don’t worry, Bess, we’ll come up with a really fun plan!” George told her.

  They soon got to Nancy’s house. Bess and George had gotten permission to stay for dinner too.

  Nancy and her friends found the Drews’ housekeeper, Hannah Gruen, in the kitchen. Hannah had helped Mr. Drew take care of Nancy since Nancy’s mother died five years ago. She was flipping through a cookbook.

  Nancy’s dog, Chocolate Chip, was sitting at Hannah’s feet. She was a black Labrador puppy. Chip bounced to her feet and licked Nancy’s hand.

  “Hi, ladies,” Hannah called out cheerfully. “I was just looking for something yummy to make for dinner.”

  Nancy put her backpack on the counter. She gave Hannah a hug. “How about tacos? Your tacos are super-yummy!”

  “How about chocolate cake?” Bess suggested. “Your chocolate cake is super-super-yummy!”

  Hannah laughed. “Chocolate cake is usually for dessert.”

  “Did someone say dessert?”

  Nancy turned around. Carson Drew was standing in the doorway. He was dressed in a blue suit, white shirt, and a tie with Labrador puppies all over it. Nancy had given the tie to him last year for Father’s Day.

  Nancy ran up to her father and threw her arms around his neck. “Hi, Daddy!”

  “Hi, Pudding Pie,” he said. “Pudding Pie” was his special nickname for her. “Hi, Bess. Hi, George. Hi, Hannah. Are you all plotting what to make for dinner?”

  “Yes, Daddy!” Nancy replied.

  “And before that, we were plotting something else—what to do for spring vacation,” George piped up.

  Bess nodded. “We didn’t come up with any cool ideas, though. So we have lots more plotting to do.”

  Mr. Drew’s blue eyes twinkled. “Well, I may be able to help you out with that one.”

  “You can, Daddy?” Nancy said excitedly.

  “I sure can.”

  Mr. Drew reached into his suit pocket and pulled out a colorful brochure.

  Nancy and her friends gathered around him and stared at the brochure.

  It said:

  Welcome to Le Gourmet Cooking School

  Weeklong Dessert-Making Class

  For Ages 8-10

  Cookies, Cakes, and Other Fun Desserts

  Taught by Renowned Chef

  Monsieur Jadot!

  Underneath the caption was a photograph of a man. He had a big round face, curly black hair, and a bushy black mustache. He wore a tall white chef’s hat on his head.

  “Cool hat!” George said.

  Nancy flipped open the brochure. Inside were photos of desserts—lots of desserts. She saw a fancy-looking cake with flowers all over it. There was also a blueberry pie with whipped cream on top, plus there was a plate piled high with brownies and cupcakes.

  Bess’s blue eyes grew enormous. “Now I’m really hungry.”

  “I still don’t get it,” Nancy said to her father. “What does this have to do with spring vacation?”

  “I called Monsieur Jadot. There are still some openings left in his dessert-making class for kids. And it starts next Monday!” Mr. Drew announced.

  “Can I take it, can I take it?” Nancy begged her father.

  Mr. Drew nodded. Then he turned to George and Bess.

  “I talked to your parents this morning. They said you girls could take the class too, if you want,” he said.

  Bess and George began jumping up and down. “Yes! Yes!” they said together.

  “Will they be making those fancy French desserts, like crème broo-whatchamacallit?” Hannah said worriedly. “Won’t that be too difficult for the kids?”

  Mr. Drew shook his head. “I think Monsieur Jadot saves the fancy French desserts for the adult class. In the children’s class he sticks to cookies and brownies and other basic desserts.”

  Nancy couldn’t believe it. She and her friends were going to spend their spring vacation making desserts!

  “Thank you, Daddy!” she said, hugging her father.

  “No problem. Now what was that I heard about chocolate cake for dinner?” Mr. Drew asked, grinning.

  • • •

  “Bonjour, ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to my class. I am Monsieur Jadot. That’s pronounced ‘ja dough,’ like cookie dough.”

  Nancy sat up taller on her kitchen stool so she could see Monsieur Jadot better. He looked just like he did in his picture.

  It was the first day of dessert-making class. Nancy looked around. The classroom was a huge kitchen with lots of sinks and stoves. There was a long marble counter with a dozen stools. The air smelled like cinnamon and sugar.

  Bess and George were sitting on the stools on either side of Nancy. Bess was wearing a pink apron with ruffles all over it. George was dressed how she was usually dressed: jeans and a soccer jersey.

  There were five other kids in the class. Nancy knew some of them from school. There was Brenda Carlton, who was kind of snobby and mean, and her friend Alison Wegman. Kenny Bruder, who was in fourth grade, was also taking the class.

  Nancy didn’t recognize the other two kids. Their nametags read: MIDORI TANAKA and JARED STEIN. Midori had long, shiny black hair, and brown eyes. Jared had curly red hair, and glasses. They looked like they were the same age as Nancy and her friends.

  They must go to River Heights Elementary School, Nancy thought.

  “And speaking of cookie dough!” Monsieur Jadot exclaimed. “We are going to spend the week making cookies and other excellent desserts. You will become young dessert experts!”

  Kenny Bruder raised his hand. “Do we get to eat them, too?”

  “Mais, oui. Of course!” Monsieur Jadot said.

  “What does he mean, ‘may we’?” Bess whispered to Nancy.

  “I think that’s French for ‘of course,’” Nancy whispered back.

  “At the end of the week, your papas and mamas will be invited to a special party,” Monsieur Jadot continued. “They will taste your dessert creations. Also at the party I will award a prize for Top Chef. The winner will receive a most beautiful trophy as well as a very special dessert created by me, Monsieur Jadot.”

  “
What is it, what is it?” Bess burst out.

  “It is my very own strawberry mousse cake,” Monsieur Jadot replied, twirling his mustache.

  “Yum!” Bess said.

  “Double-yum!” George agreed.

  “I’m going to work extra-hard to try to win the prize,” Nancy told Bess and George.

  “Yes, of course you will!” Monsieur Jadot exclaimed, overhearing Nancy. “I assure you my strawberry mousse cake will be worth it!” He turned to the blackboard.

  Just then, Nancy felt something hit her on the side of the head. A paper airplane landed on the counter in front of her.

  Nancy was annoyed but curious. She opened the airplane.

  Inside was a message scribbled in blue Magic Marker. It said: There’s no way you’re going to be Top Chef because I will!

  2

  The Cupcake Disaster

  Nancy couldn’t believe it. Who would be mean enough to send a paper airplane crashing into her head—especially one with a nasty message on it?

  Nancy glanced around the room. She did a double take.

  Kenny Bruder was staring at her. When Nancy caught his eye he blushed and turned away.

  Then Nancy noticed that he had blue Magic Marker smudged on his right hand.

  “Kenny Bruder, you did that!” Nancy blurted out. She heard Brenda and Alison snickering.

  Monsieur Jadot stopped writing on the blackboard and whirled around. “What is happening?” he demanded.

  Nancy pointed at Kenny. “He threw a paper airplane at me!” she told Monsieur Jadot.

  “Did not!” Kenny shot back. He blushed even more.

  Monsieur Jadot marched over to Nancy’s stool. He picked up the piece of paper and read the message on it.

  Then he marched over to Kenny’s stool. He frowned at the blue smudges on Kenny’s right hand.

  “I’m afraid you are—how do you say it—busted,” Monsieur Jadot told Kenny sternly. “The evidence is all over your hand. Monsieur Bruder, in the future, please refrain from these foolish shenanigans. I do not tolerate flying objects in my room.”

  “Yes, sir,” Kenny mumbled. He slouched down on his stool.

  George leaned over to Nancy. “Why is Kenny being such a bully?” she whispered.

  Nancy shrugged. “I don’t know. But I’m just going to ignore him.”

  “Definitely,” Bess agreed. “Let’s all ignore him. We’ll just make yummy desserts and have fun!”

  Monsieur Jadot returned to the blackboard and continued scribbling. “Flour . . . egg . . . sugar,” he read out loud. “These are some of the ingredients that will go into today’s recipe.”

  “What is today’s recipe, Monsieur Jadot?” Midori Tanaka asked.

  “Les petits gâtéaux,” Monsieur Jadot announced. “That is to say, cupcakes!”

  Nancy noticed Jared Stein lean over and say something to Midori. Midori smiled. They must be friends, Nancy thought.

  “Cupcakes!” Bess cried out. “Yay! They’re my favorite dessert.”

  Monsieur Jadot looked around the kitchen. “We need to pass out aprons and chef’s hats. But where is my assistant?” He frowned.

  Just then the door burst open. A girl came running into the kitchen. She had long, curly red hair that was tied back into a ponytail. She was wearing jeans and a wrinkly white T-shirt that read CHOCOLATE FREAK on the back. She looked like she was about fourteen years old.

  “Where have you been, Annabelle?” Monsieur Jadot said, putting his hands on his hips. “You were supposed to be here thirty minutes ago!”

  “I’m sorry, Papa. I was helping out in the office and I forgot the time,” Annabelle said breathlessly.

  “I need you to pass out aprons and hats. Oh, and please lay out all the ingredients for this assignment,” Monsieur Jadot said.

  “Okay, Papa,” Annabelle said. Under her breath she added, “Whatever.” Monsieur Jadot didn’t hear her, but Nancy did.

  “Monsieur Jadot’s assistant is his daughter!” Nancy whispered to her friends.

  “It’s funny that she works for her dad,” George remarked.

  “Have you ever worked for your dad, Nancy?” Bess asked.

  “Not really. But maybe someday I will. I could help him with his cases,” Nancy said with a grin.

  Carson Drew was a lawyer. He often handled tough cases where he had to solve a mystery or two.

  Nancy loved solving mysteries. She had already solved a bunch of mysteries at school and elsewhere. In fact her father had given her a special blue notebook for keeping track of suspects and clues.

  Annabelle passed white chef’s hats and white aprons to the eight students in the class. Bess took off her pink ruffly apron and put on one of the white ones, so she, Nancy, and George would match.

  Soon all eight kids were wearing the chef’s hats and aprons. We look like real chefs in a fancy restaurant! Nancy thought.

  “Mademoiselles et monsieurs, let me explain to you all about the art of the cupcake,” Monsieur Jadot said. He held up two mixing bowls, one in each hand. “It is basically like making a cake. In one bowl we will mix the dry ingredients: flour, baking powder, salt. In another bowl we will mix the wet ingredients: butter, then sugar, then egg yolks.”

  “But sugar isn’t wet,” Brenda pointed out. She flipped her long, dark hair over her shoulders.

  “Yes, but it will be after it is mixed with the butter and eggs,” Monsieur Jadot explained.

  Soon the room was filled with the sounds of eggs cracking and beaters whirring. Monsieur Jadot and Annabelle carefully supervised while the students used the beaters.

  Nancy had made cupcakes before, with Hannah and her father. But these cupcakes seemed extra-special. Maybe it was because she was making them in a real cooking school!

  “I’m going to decorate my cupcakes with flowers,” Bess said as she licked butter from her fingers.

  “That’s dumb! I’m going to decorate my cupcakes with the flags of countries in Europe!” Brenda bragged.

  “Miss Show-off!” Bess muttered under her breath.

  Monsieur Jadot went around the room and showed everyone how to pour their cupcake batter into muffin tins.

  An hour later everyone’s cupcakes were done. The room was filled with wonderful baking smells. Monsieur Jadot and Annabelle helped everyone take their cupcakes out of the oven.

  Nancy was really proud of her cupcakes. They had come out golden-brown, and she had decorated them with yummy chocolate frosting and silver sprinkles.

  “I will now sample everyone’s creations,” Monsieur Jadot announced.

  “Ohhh, I hope he likes mine!” George whispered to Nancy and Bess.

  Monsieur Jadot went to Jared’s workstation first. He picked up one of Jared’s cupcakes and took a large bite. “Very good . . . ah, très bien! You have talent, Monsieur Stein.”

  “Gosh, thanks.” Jared adjusted his glasses and broke into a big smile.

  Next Monsieur Jadot tasted one of Brenda’s cupcakes. “Ah, excellent! You too have talent, Mademoiselle Carlton!”

  “Thank you,” Brenda said to Monsieur Jadot. Then she turned to Nancy and her friends and gave them a smug smile.

  After Brenda, Monsieur Jadot came over to George’s workstation. Nancy knew that George had worked extra-hard on her cupcakes. Each one was decorated with strawberry frosting and thin little strawberry slices.

  Monsieur Jadot lifted one of George’s cupcakes to his mouth. He took a big bite—and made a horrible face. He spit the cupcake out.

  “Bleh! This is awful!” Monsieur Jadot cried out. “This is the worst cupcake I have ever tasted in my life!”

  3

  Bubble Trouble

  Monsieur Jadot grabbed a bottle of sparkling water from the counter and gulped down half of it. “Ugh! C’est terrible! Mademoiselle Fayne, what on Earth did you put in your so-called cupcakes?” he practically yelled at George.

  George’s eyes swam with tears. “I-I just put in what you said, Monsieur Jadot. S-Sugar and flour
and eggs and stuff like that. P-Plus my special strawberry frosting,” she added, her lips quivering.

  “Strawberry frosting! This does not taste like strawberry frosting. This tastes more like . . . like . . . mouthwash!” Monsieur Jadot took another gulp of the sparkling water.

  “Don’t worry, George. Maybe he’s just in a crabby mood,” Bess whispered to her cousin.

  “Yeah, he’s in a crabby mood—about my cupcake!” George said, sniffling. “Jared’s cupcake didn’t make him crabby. Neither did Brenda’s!”

  Across the room, Brenda whispered something to Alison. The two girls started giggling.

  Nancy peered over at George’s plate. Nancy picked up one of George’s cupcakes. She looked at it carefully.

  She noticed that the pink frosting was sparkly. That’s weird, she thought. Why would strawberry frosting be sparkly?

  Then Nancy brought the cupcake up to her nose and sniffed. It smelled minty.

  She stuck her pinkie finger in the frosting, then took a lick. She made a face. It was toothpaste!

  “Yuck!” Nancy cried out.

  George looked hurt. “Oh, no, Nancy! Now you’re crabby about my cupcake too!”

  Nancy shook her head quickly. “No, George, that’s not it! There’s toothpaste in this frosting!”

  “Toothpaste!” George repeated. “No way!”

  “What else did you put in there, Fayne? Dental floss?” Kenny guffawed. Brenda and Alison began cracking up.

  “It’s definitely toothpaste,” Nancy said worriedly. “How did it get there?”

  “I didn’t put it there,” George insisted.

  “Well, if you didn’t, who did?” Bess piped up.

  Monsieur Jadot put his bottle of sparkling water down with a loud thump. “Toothpaste? But how could this be?” he cried out.

  He turned to his daughter, who was taking some cupcakes out of the oven. “Annabelle! Did you double-check all the ingredients for the cupcakes?” he asked her.

  “Of course, Papa,” Annabelle replied. “I was very careful. Besides, how could I mistake toothpaste for frosting?” She rolled her eyes in exasperation.

  “Hmmm,” Monsieur Jadot said in a grumpy voice. “I will investigate this situation myself.” He frowned at Nancy and the other students. “In the meantime let us continue with our class. I will resume my cupcake inspection. And I’d better not taste any more toothpaste!”