Yeah, we are still here. Sorry for not writing for a while but have been busy-tired-busy-tired-hot-hot-hot-busy-tired. Anyway, we had a successful Guy Fawkes night despite a deluge the night before and the morning of the event. It was so wet and puddle-ridden, we thought that we might have to call the whole thing off. Luckily, the sun peaked out late morning and we decided that it was worth it to go on. The afternoon consisted of wheel-barrowing stuff over to the pond area (I want donkeys!!) and Master Fire-starter Gnome started a bonfire and fire (pits) for cooking. Here is Guy, traditionally made by Panda every year:
Guy Fawkes.
We had our usual merry friends around the camp-fire (did not sing Kum Ba Yah!) and we had a jolly good time. We had roast chicken, potatoes and onions cooked in coals. Very Nice…definitely the best way to cook chicken!
Camp Fire Chicken.
The sitting area was very comfortable and kept bug-free with the fires; Gnome being organised, had set up the shelter the day before and we had a test run of camp-fire food together in a romantic Munchkin and Gnome usual way…
Sitting Area.
It did not rain on Guy Fawkes night so the shelter was used as the food serving area. All in all, another good year so looks like we will keep the Bonfire Night Tradition going…
Hello! This is definitely my last entry on the chicken experience…I actually had a dream (bad) last night that I was in a hotel room and there were chickens running amok after me. Gnome says I have chicken in the brain (?medical term) and that it is best that I stop eating chicken for a while. (Or should I play number 22 in lotto??!!).
Okay, so I have pictures this time! Gnome dug two pits; one for bread and one for chicken.
Cooking Over Coals.Double Pit.
I made the bread with 3 parts flour and 1 part oats and placed it in a greased cast-iron pot. We aimed for 45 minutes but at 22 minutes, I sniffed the air and smelt some burning. We quickly opened it up and the upper crust was burnt. Nevertheless, the bread was cooked perfectly to a hot fluffiness. We cut the top part off and juggled pieces around to get the freshly baked bread into our mouths. Oooh scrumptious hot bread…
Campfire Bread.
Next time, we will bake the bread for 15 minutes and Gnome says we should put raisins in it for something different.
And, we did the potatoes in the usual way; put in paper bags soaked in water and then placed under shallow coals for about 45 to 60 minutes. The skin gets hard on the outside like a shell and the coals give it a charcoal flavour.
Camp Fire Potatoes.
The chicken; this time it was a smaller 5lb chicken and our estimate of 60 minutes was a bit too much so the skin got slightly burnt. It was still very, very tasty and dripping with juice and flavour. The test stuffing was composed of mashed potato, carrots, shiitake mushrooms and water chestnuts. We also added raisins since Gnome’s mother suggested that some dried fruits would go very well; this was a very nice addition. The stuffing was a success and absorbed the flavour of the chicken very well.
Camp Fire Chicken.
We think that it should be 10 minutes cooking time per 1lb of chicken so the 5lb chicken should only need about 45 to 50 minutes next time. We also halved unpeeled onions and placed them around the chicken…these caramelized (??burnt really to be honest with you) too much but still tasted good. The onion was so so soft that it could be scooped out of the onion shell.
Cam Fire Onions.
Verdict: we are getting quite confident at cooking with coals…it is practice, practice, practice as per usual. Here are some (coffee table magazine) pictures for you to look at so that you can live vicariously through the Munchkin and Gnome Blog (Ha-Ha!!).
Firewood.Chicken Pot.
Okay, this ends the chicken experience and I will endeavour to write on a different topic and then get funny dreams about that too…
