Next years nice list? Sorted out already? I'm all over that! Going to give Antony N. Elf a go and guess his tune...

Next years nice list? Sorted out already? I'm all over that! Going to give Antony N. Elf a go and guess his tune...
https://youtu.be/98R8o8SPI7Y
https://youtu.be/98R8o8SPI7Y

First penny stove attempt, want too bad actually! Little out of control at one point, but only a little :-)

First penny stove attempt, want too bad actually! Little out of control at one point, but only a little :-)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8Lebid3vjo&feature=autoshare

Fading inversion

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBg7jal2yfk&feature=autoshare

Not exactly high quality production, but the notion to show this to Patrick Dickinson​ after one of his videos shows...

Not exactly high quality production, but the notion to show this to Patrick Dickinson​ after one of his videos shows why I don't have a YouTube following :-)
Anyhow, if you like proper coffee whilst you are out and about, you really could do a lot worse than an Aeropress. Quick to make a really smooth and rich coffee, quick and easy to cleanup and not that heavy (although heavier and bulkier than a coffee bag it a packet of instant).
Wouldn't normally carry a litre of milk but we were camping on my school field and were well equipped...
https://youtu.be/a3ZbBom0_b4

Aeropress, speedy outdoor coffee.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3ZbBom0_b4&feature=autoshare

Fine looking thing you might want to win?

Fine looking thing you might want to win?
https://youtu.be/3NtaTkpUQNw

Well today's little experiments revolved around little batches of bannock by everyone in the family.

Well today's little experiments revolved around little batches of bannock by everyone in the family. I managed to burn the bottom of most of them, but that's what knives are for, right? Nic (my wife) produced the tastiest with the addition of cinnamon and raisins. Mine was the lightest, accidentally, by mixing the last of the dough and leaving it in its tub whilst we walked. It rose a little, much to my surprise, having no yeast added.

The final experiment though was cinnamon dusted pineapple. Well, the cooked pineapple was delicious, but I may have been heavy handed with the cinnamon. Maybe it needed rubbing in, maybe just less cinnamon, maybe cinnamon and sugar and more heat to caramelise. Who knows! But we will find out, next time...

Might not be the first time we have made this chilli, but it is the first time that involved rain, snow, hail and...

Might not be the first time we have made this chilli, but it is the first time that involved rain, snow, hail and sunshine. Less tomato this time but cleaning up the pot was remarkably easy. It is after all it's own washing up bowl.

That's the potatoes boiling away, give them a few minutes then the grill can swing into action with some sausages...

That's the potatoes boiling away, give them a few minutes then the grill can swing into action with some sausages...

Yay, pizza night :-)

I made a rubbish spoon...it is however the first I have made that could actually function as a spoon.

I made a rubbish spoon...it is however the first I have made that could actually function as a spoon. I am quite pleased!
Chunk of wood from what I am pretty sure were sycamores that were being pollarded in a park near the school I teach in. Begged a bunch of the wood to take to school to use with the kids and inevitably played with an axe for a bit splitting it. Before you know it the kids have got me attempting to go for it with a spoon. Time rapidly ran out and it was bundeled into my pack. Today however my own kids wanted entertaining, so back out it came. Still moist enough to be fairy easy going and soon enough the sandpaper was cracked out and the three of us were beavering away. The two girls on my first two, massively primitive, attempts and me defending what is turning out to be an actual spoon.
Followed no pattern, didn't draw on it, just kept picking it up and making indentations where my fingers were. Still needs to dry a little and get a final sanding, but I am pleasantly surprised. I might actually do something with this, maybe even eat something!
I'll add a picture or two but, what do I do now to make it a more durable thing? I have no oils or anything specific, are there any home-brew recipes to coat/protect it? One forum I follow suggested walnut oil, as it hardens in time. Sounds good to me...

New favourite local Chinese...

We haven't made bannock before.

We haven't made bannock before. So, a plan was hatched. Mix a batch (ably assisted by the girls, 3 and 5) take it into our camp in the local woods with a cast iron skillet and my shiny new, waiting to be broken in, Zebra billy, 14cm.
Half decent for prep had a hit little for going in no time and up went the billy with 3 balls of tin foil holding a small cake tin of the bottom and a ball of the dough. Then wait for the coals to form before starting on the skillet...

Once the coals we ready they were spread out a little and on went the rest of the dough in a flattened lump. The skillet was too hot, burned one side, nearly burned the other and I ended up splitting it thinner and cooking the inside that way... and the billy was too cool, so dropped it into the fire.

The skillet batch was quickly cooked and very edible so that was wolfed down. It was around then that the wind really picked up and I checked the little thermometer. 2°C... Maybe shorts were a touch optimistic, anyhow it was time for the second half of skillet style and time to check the billy...

It was cooked, and soft, and generally lovely! Tricky to spread butter that has been at 2°C for a while but still, well worth it :-)

Matlock snow watch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRn0kmCYl-M&feature=autoshare

Just a dim, low resolution experiment with Live Truck and an old phone to see if we get much snow arriving.

Just a dim, low resolution experiment with Live Truck and an old phone to see if we get much snow arriving... Here is hoping for some sledge action in the morning!
https://youtu.be/DRn0kmCYl-M

First day out playing with another Christmas present, Morakniv Heavy Duty Companion Carbon, used it to baton through...

First day out playing with another Christmas present, Morakniv Heavy Duty Companion Carbon, used it to baton through a stick to get a fire going. Bounced it off a stone, awesome! 20 minutes with the DC4, strop and some compound and we are cutting the hairs on my arm again. Great for the knife, but I need to stop making bald patches on my arm... Hey ho.

The firepit/tripod/cauldron combo had its first play tonight.

The firepit/tripod/cauldron combo had its first play tonight. Drizzling, breezy and no decent wood but still, chili from the new Christmas present cook book was very tasty and really easily controlled for the temperature. Never tried chorizo in chili before. It can come again!

Well the photographer didn't catch it but if you look in the bottom left of the non-marshmallow shot, you might spot...

Well the photographer didn't catch it but if you look in the bottom left of the non-marshmallow shot, you might spot the sieve? Turns out, if you find a slightly sheltered cave, you can not only so some standard marshmallow roasting but freshly popped popcorn in temperatures hovering around zero degrees C.
Was going to pop a link to the stove, a wood gassification stove that uses a fan to enhance and accelerate the process, making for a speedy and efficient burn. The site has been taken over and nowhere seems to sell it any more. Never mind, it was a great way to start the year :-)