Knives and fire... - Gustatory Gratification Tour: NRWC Edition!

As mentioned previously, Northern Region War Camp was my happy place.

In our impromptu camp were sarahbyrdd and myself, hugh-mannity, gryphonsinistre, ladypeyton, mrmanx (yes, her hubby has an LJ!) and their 7YO, measanan, Master Feral, and at times Darren (sp?), Dragonship Haven's own cheerleader and recruiting officer ;-D

Other than that fine mix of people, there were many other highlights: A beer lesson on Saturday from liamstliam, fair skies for most of the time and only a little spitting rain after Friday's precipitation, a decent Farmer's Market not far from the site, getting to hang out with Campbell as is my wont, Master Feral playing a command performance of "11th Century Blues" for the assembled masses, and to cook over the fire for the weekend.

I've been so wrapped up lately with running "Chef Jaji" establishments and schlepping propane kitchens all over that I had forgotten how much fun it was to blow the embers of an apparently lifeless fire to life in the morning and simply make toast on the grate (Thanks baronadhemar for the loan of said grate and the pit below it!). Of course, the Need to Feed is ingrained, and even though I was making eggs one at a time in an "egg spoon" which was really a Chinese wok ladle on a long handle I managed to make them for whoever wanted one.
 

Friday night was sausages grilled over the fire. I'd brought some lamb sausage with me, and hugh_mannity found some most excellent goat sausage at the Farmer's Market. I tried out my new pottery pipkin and made couscous with dates and slivered almonds (next time some red onion also). sarahbyrdd made a cucumber and yogurt salad, and we called it dinner. 
Saturday AM was eggs poached in oil in the egg spoon served on toast, with hugh_mannity's lox for good measure (Quoth he: "Oh, the privations we must endure!") Coffee was passably made in the pottery chocolate pot, and the large tin kettle kept water going during the day. Lunch was marinated lamb along with leftover couscous (with leftover lamb sausage added and some raw veggies.
Dinner that night was the crowning glory of the day, since we had invited several friends to join us. I was of course a little nervous for a while, since I had not cooked thus in years, let alone for a crowd. By the time I left site around 3 to pick up the cake for sarahbyrdd, all pots were filled and on the fire: beef roast in the cauldron, beef ribs in the small dutch oven, garlic holding in the smaller kettle, and a freakin' slab of Tristan's bacon in the large dutch oven. (Have I mentioned recently how incredibly amazing my protege is?) At the Farmer's Market we got string beans and swiss chard (of many colors); the beans were blanched and tossed with olive oil, lemon juice and Auntie Arwen's Paisan's Pleasure Mediterranean spice mix, and the chard was boiled with currants and tossed with butter. A plus that night was the broth from the roast and the ribs made damn fine sops with the leftover biscuits I pulled from the freezer and brought with me. ladypeyton & mrmanx added a wonderful beef and lentil stew (stoup?) to the dinner board, and it drew the acclaim of all who tried it. 
  In addition to my campmates, joining us for dinner were liamstliam, althea_eastrid, and HRH Konrad & Brenwen ("um, your Highness, that's a mosquito stick burning behind you. Please don't set yourself on fire")  After dinner was the Beer Lesson from Liam (see his LJ for details), the performance (and War Stories!) by Master Feral, and cake. Not just any cake, but chocolate cake with raspberry filling and chocolate buttercream icing. And rum. :-D Also stopping by to celebrate sarahbyrdd's natal day with us were gwenlianna, hawkyns, gwendolynbasing, lady_kathryn_r and many other friends who if they are on LJ are unknown to me. And we made them eat cake!  Sunday AM was much simpler, being naught for breakfast but leftovers: toast, biscuits, eggs, bacon, and lox. And a rib for me. :-D
 

My thanks to all who put this event together. Haven't had this much fun at an event in years!

Pictures thanks to sarahbyrdd ;-D

Breakfast!


Me and my "establishment"


"...as great joints seethed in cauldrons..."


Lamb for lunch, aka "a place for all God's creatures"