Cooking with family treasures - part 2
Ultimately for the best results you should burn Poplar wood, then you must let the ash build up on the top of the oven to prevent your bread from burning and you must also keep the soot cleaned out of the bottom. For this you need a little tool it’s a thin rod with a rectangular piece of light metal attached to the end, that’s how you pull the soot to the front for removal. Until recently you could still purchase this tool from McClellan’s store in Pierceland. With this out of the way you are ready to bake or cook in the oven. Using kindling and small pieces of wood will get your oven temperature up quickly. This past Christmas season was spent with my brother and his family from Toronto along with friends from Calgary. Christmas morning Donna came downstairs with Marlow the cat, I was having coffee and chatting with Milan a friend from Calgary. Donna has a routine of starting her day by first feeding the cat who sits at the counter, then lighting the cook stove. As she reached for her kindling there was none it was gone. Donna was not a happy camper demanding where was her kindling. Milan broke the silence by saying he thought he saw Peter take it to start the fire in his cabin. “WHAT” was the response she had chopped it the night before and set it in the box to dry for the morning? There are several things in Donna’s house that you don’t mess with, you don’t put her laundry in the dryer as she hangs her clothes on the line outside summer and winter, and the other is her kindling. Milan observing her wrath questioned if Peter were to get down on bended knee and beg forgiveness would that help; in reply she said maybe but most likely not, although she still managed to get the fire started. From here Donna was prepping the turkey making the stuffing, she had put the stuffing inside a cheese cloth bag, or so she thought, as she went to put it in the turkey the bag opened up and a good half landed on the floor where by our dog Major Wilson was there to help out with the clean up devouring the mishap. Everyone was now gathering for breakfast including Peter the now suspect kindling filcher and Donna was waiting for the opportune moment to question him. The day passed quickly wood kept the stove up to temp as the turkey slowly absorbed the heat and the sweet smell of Christmas filled the house. That was not all that filled the room it seems the stuffing was working its magic in Major Wilson and the silent flatulence he was emitting quickly banished him to the bowels of the house. Peter was the purveyor of some wonderful wine, Milan a whole array of fine cheese and Youree the most incredibly light and tasty crępes. After dinner our conversations continued with laughter & wine. At one point Donna slid in a comment about her kindling Peter was confused and denied any knowledge, he appeared innocent yet there was a witness, we made a few jokes and still no one fessed up. The next morning the kindling topic reappeared with a new witness who apparently saw Milan using the kindling as regular fire wood although silence still remains. If you were to visit our home you may be welcomed by heat of Mary’s cook stove baking fresh bread or the fresh smell of Donna’s freeze dried laundry draped over the chairs. To all the family, friends & customers who have joined us at Ministikwan Lake we cherish the memories. We wish everyone a Health & Happiness in the New Year and if you are in need of a lot of kindling check out “kindlet pro” |
