A few days ago Darlin posted on baking some bannock and she had some awesome pictures of her production. Now I like bannock so her post got me thinking about my experiences with bannock.
The basics of bannock are flour, water, baking powder and salt. After that, all bets are off. There are literally thousands of bannock recipes.The things that go with your bannock are endless. The history of bannock is very, very old. Unleavened bread is mentioned in the bible and has a place in religious practices. In biblical times , I don't think they could run to the store for some Flieschman's yeast or pick up any Blue Ribbon baking powder either. All cultural groups have some form of bannock. Aboriginals had a form of bannock before the Europeans came. They had certain roots the were ground up to make something similar to flour.
Baking powder biscuits are a form of bannock and they are baked in the oven. Many bannock recipes can be baked. My Mom furiously baked some baking powder biscuits when she was caught without bread and someone was coming to visit.
Now to get to my experience with bannock. I was exposed to bannock when I spent 5 years in the Arctic. The Inuit and Indians used bannock on a regular daily basis in their homes but their experience with bannock was really when they were out in the country. They would take a small bag of flour and baking powder with them and they were set. To make a bannock they usually made a small depression in the flour at the top of the bag. They poured in some water and mixed the flour and water by hand. The dough produced this way was flattened and put into a frying pan with lots of lard. It didn't take long and you had fresh hot bannock. If you had any meat then your meal was complete. For many travelers they started out from home with a bag of bannock. Bannock is very dry so it doesn't freeze. The first time I went out I took my bread sandwich. Guess what? When it came time to eat my sandwich, it was frozen as hard a steel. It was embarrassing. Someone had to give me some lunch. Getting back to the flour sack..it was sometimes a ghastly mess by the end of the trip.
I still remember the great taste of bannock. I still remember all the things I put on my bannock...mostly jams and syrup.
It's hard to believe that bannock is rarely made since it is such a simple process. It has great taste and leaves a pleasant aroma in your house.
Red I guess people are just too busy to make things which taste good! But like you mentioned, it doesn't take much time at all to make bannock and with enough practice and as I learn to get the feel for the right consistency I know without a doubt I'll rarely buy bread. I'm going to try this with whole wheat flour as well and see how that works out.
ReplyDeleteI smiled when I read what happened to your sandwich, the things we learn in life and how we learn them are rather interesting.
Have a wonderful weekend!
People seem to have their own recipes when they make bannock on a regular basis. Sadly we don't make bannock here .
DeleteI had forgotten about these. I'll have to make some now.
ReplyDeleteEasy to make and appetizing.
DeleteRed it is great to begin following your blog - connected through our lovely Darlin. Your Bannock sounds great - Australian's have something called Damper http://alldownunder.com/oz-u/food-recipes/damper.htm
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to read all about your adventures.
Beverly
Beverly I'm going to venture on over to the link, thanks! :-) Red, I know, blog invader over here! lol
DeleteThanks for taking a look at my blog I hope you enjoy some of the things I ramble on about.
DeleteI have never heard the term bannock before, but it makes sense you would need something that doesn't freeze up there in the frozen North. Very interesting post, Red. :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you've probably had something similar but with a different name. there are many forms and varieties.
Deleteit sounds delicious! i like biscuits, breads, and tortillas, so i bet i'd like bannock - with a spot of butter, please. :)
ReplyDeleteYou'll like bannock. I like jam o syrup as bannock is a little dry. Tea goes well with bannock. The old guys in the bush boiled their tea...none of the steeped stuff for them.
DeleteVery informative read, Red. My Mom used to make bannock quite often. I never made it myself and now that you have written a post about it, I think I might just do that. Have a wonderful day :)
ReplyDeleteBannock is great but it tends to be a little dry so make lots of tea.
Deleteha,ha right you are - will do.
DeleteMMMM I have some bread rising right now.
ReplyDeleteSounds great!
DeleteI know the term scones but not bannock. Thanks for the new word Red!
ReplyDeleteI would have to look at a basic scone recipe to see how they compare. I think scones have sugar but some recipes for bannock have sugar.
DeleteBannock!!! Well out came my trusty wikipedia, as I didn't have a clue what it was etc.
ReplyDelete""Bannock" is a Scots word of Celtic origin. The Oxford English Dictionary states the term stems from panicium, a Latin word for "baked dough", or from panis, meaning bread. Its first cited use was in 1000, and its first cited definition in 1562. Its historic use was primarily in Ireland, Scotland and Northern England".
Beverley ( Australian commenter) is I believe correct. Seems similar to our "damper", which is rarely heard of these days.
I do recall eating "damper" when flood bound years way back.(1950's). No such things as supermarkets in those days here, bread shops reigned supreme. I think a supermarket was a large open market, selling all types of things, cakes, vegetables, old furniture etc etc held in showgrounds or such.
You do come up with the most interesting of reports - makes people think.
You'll be pleased to know that I have finished reading "My Friend Flicka", now up to Chapter 7 of "Thunderhead" of the trilogy of the Mary O'Hara books. Besides the horse information, brilliantly done, the topography of Wyoming is described fantastically.
Keep up these great reports, we live and learn from you.
Cheers
Colin (Brisbane. Australia)
Rain gone, and thankfully perfect weather here, for the massive clean-ups underway by the volunteer "Mud Army", the Military and the Emergency crews.
Try Smoky by Will James!
DeleteI used to bake----lots---now it is a struggle trying to do everything gluten free! :(
ReplyDeleteLinda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
http://deltacountyhistoricalsociety.wordpress.com
The gluten free situation makes things complicated. I think many people are not aware that they have some gluten intolerance.
DeleteI've never eaten Bannock. Very interesting!
ReplyDeleteYou've likely eaten things similar to bannock. Baking powder biscuits are similar.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds really good! I never had Bannock before.
ReplyDeletewww.modernworld4.blogspot.com
I would love to read some more about your days up north!
ReplyDeleteI like to make scones..they are similar..I learned to make them over the open fire in a skillet..just like in the olden days:)
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful! I'd never heard of bannock, and yet I LOVE baking powder biscuits...
ReplyDeletePearl
I had fried bannock out west. Yum!
ReplyDelete