Baking Bannock (winter holiday version)

January 13, 2025January 13, 2025 JohnLeave a comment

Bannock is a popular food item for us to make on canoe and camping trips. It is a simple, warm and tasty bread that can be easily baked over an open fire / oven. From the recipes of the First Nations people to the Scottish, there are innumerable ways to prepare bannock. Some involve leavening agents and some don’t. Some people bake it and others fry it. Over the years, I’ve learned to keep it simple, light and fluffy.

Over the winter season of 2025, Richmond, Virginia received snowfall on January 5-6 (approx 3 inches) and then subsequently January 10-11 (another 3 inches), we decided to was the perfect chance to make some winter holiday bannock (with cranberries). The kids did not mind the extended holiday break. Let’s get started.

INGREDIENTS

2 cups of all purpose flour
2 teaspoons of baking powder
1/4 cup of pecans
1/2 cup of fresh cranberries
2 teaspoons of brown sugar
oil
1 cup of milk (can also use dry milk powder and water as a replacement)

INSTRUCTIONS

Dry mix the flour, baking powder, pecans and brown sugar
pour in the cup of milk and add the cranberries
gently mix all of it together to disperse the milk evenly. (You don’t want to over mix it because this will punch out all of the gas)
If you’re cooking with an oven, oil the cast iron skillet and get the oven temp to 350F. Place the contents into the skillet and bake until ready (usually approx 25min to 30min)
If you’re cooking over an open fire, keep your skillet facing the fire, you can usually use a stick to prop it up. Based on the weather conditions, it will be done when it’s ready, the surface will become slightly brown and hardened.
FINISHED

ENJOY

Enjoy! Hope everyone stays safe and healthy this winter!

Outdoor baking tip: (consider a reflector oven!)

If you spend a reasonable amount of time baking outdoors, you could consider getting a reflector oven. The reflector allows for a more even heat distribution and easier to control temperatures than an open fire. Svante Freden of Sweden, makes an excellent, lightweight, aluminum reflector oven for baking in the outdoors. https://www.canadianoutdoorequipment.com/reflector-oven-by-svante-freden.html?srsltid=AfmBOoqjuGjAky6FZN4tMEjufelaGKQlVISv6CPWfuRRWCOc3bn41gn-

Over the years, we’ve gotten alot of use out of our reflector oven from Svante Freden.

Ice storm

February 16, 2021 JohnLeave a comment

February 14, 2021: On the outskirts of the North American Ice storm of 2021, Virginia got it’s share of ice.

Snow day in Forest Hill Park

February 3, 2021 JohnLeave a comment

January 31, 2021 – Richmond, VA was blanketed with 4 inches of snow on the last day of January.

An early snow

December 9, 2018December 11, 2018 John2 Comments

December 9, 2018 – We were hit with an early and unexpected snowstorm, accumulating over 13 inches in Richmond, Virginia. This is certainly an early start to the snow season for us and much heavier than in the past. After a review of the Richmond weather records dating back to 1897, the heaviest snow that occurred earlier than Dec 10 was 7.3 inches on Nov 6-7, 1953. The record for December snowstorm for Richmond was 17.2 inches on Dec 22-23, 1908. Stay safe out there.

First Snow in Richmond

January 8, 2017January 13, 2017 John7 Comments

The Winter Storm Helena arrived to Richmond, Virginia on January 7, 2017, making it the River City’s first official snowfall of the year. We received over 8 inches of snow and with temperature highs around 20s F, it created for the perfect winter wonderland. We spent the weekend playing and exploring this new landscape, blanketed in snow.

We first dominated the slopes of Forest Hill Park and somehow ended up on local TV. We were a little older than the average sledder by about 20 years but that didn’t stop us. We drank at the local craft brewery (Ardent) and hung out at cafes. Despite the condition of the roads, we all gathered to celebrate the wedding of some old friends. The snow made for some great pictures for them.

Unlike your northern US cities, snow in Richmond falls maybe 3-5 times a year. The average US city accumulates 26 inches of snowfall per year. In Richmond, the yearly average is about 12 inches. The city is not really equipped to deal with it, and as a result, everything essentially shuts down. Everyone is in full relaxation mode – getting outside to build snowmen, sled down the hills or gather at breweries. I sure do miss snow.