Venturers usually don't do jamboree-style camping, but we can. This time, we brought a lot of heavy gear. Doing cooking demos means that you are bringing everything, including the kitchen sink -- literally. We used my car as a proofing box to raise the yeast dough we made. I just wish I'd made a faux street sign that said, Drury Lane.
For our demo was an English Cream Tea. We made four batches of English muffins (about eight dozen in all) -- from scratch. We spent all morning mixing, kneading, raising, and proofing. Then we spent all afternoon baking and serving. English muffins are baked on a griddle like pancakes instead of being baked in an oven, so we brought my big propane burner and my 24" cast iron skillet. To toast the muffins, we brought a cast iron hibachi. To slather on them (the better to increase one's joy), we had clotted cream, orange marmalade, strawberry preserves, red currant jelly, creme fraiche, Nutella, cream cheese, and, of course, butter. We also made several pots of tea throughout the afternoon. And no, we were not capitalizing on the royal wedding; we thought of this weeks ago.
Other units were doing cool things, too. There were Pinewood Derby competitions, displays, games. I walked around a bit and enjoyed seeing what people were doing.
Feeding ourselves was fun, too. I taught the Venturers how to make omelettes over a one-burner backpacking stove. For supper, we made Monte Cristo sandwiches and St. Davy's Trifecta (a dish of bacon, leeks, and asparagus). And, by coming home last night, we beat the rain, which was nice.
I went back out this morning at 6:30 to do church for those who braved the weather. It went well. Then I came back to town and did church at my regular stand. That went well, too.
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Nice setup Crew 119 moves in |
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Can't make an omelette without breaking some eggs Kaleb masters the technique |
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Kneady people Kaila whomps up some muffin dough while Kara and Ben look on |
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A bridge too far Asst SM Jeff Marshall helps Troop 219 get their monkey bridge up |
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Give a man enough rope Tiernan the Boybarian |
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Griddle me this Baking English muffins |
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Sack time Pack 229 conducted sack races |
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Hold your nose Jeffrey and Dean waterproof tents after the gear has been removed |
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Ready to go home Somebody get me a bungee cord |