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...