Monday 16 January 2012

Learning all the time

I came across a new one this morning  - bannock spathe; am currently trying to find out exactly what it is/was. Turned this up:


Margaret, like other women for whom a high degree of residential mobility was an inevitable part of life, had long since learned to be adept at packing. Her kist held clothes and bedding and the family's few treasured belongings. In addition, there were the basic cooking utensils - a three-legged pot, a spurtle or porridge stick, bowls and spoons; a girdle, brander, toasting-stone and bannock spathe. With these and a bag of oatmeal she had all she needed to provide for her family upon arrival at their new home.



A friend sugests a flat metal implement for baking bannock on, presumably over an openfire.
Anyone got any more info?

2 comments:

Karen Lizzie said...

http://tribes.tribe.net/backyardgardensurvivalists/thread/652713ce-86d9-4063-b7d4-b5b69c10fdd0

I think this gives you the answer, it's a kind of pallet knife. As the word spathe seems to refer to part of a plant I am guessing that perhaps they originally used a flat part of a leaf or something to turn the bannocks.

MrsL said...

Ah interesting, thankyou :) Meanwhile, I turned up a short clip of The Cottage GArdenDiaries onYoutube, where it shows Fiona turning barley bannocks on a girdle with a flat metal (iron I shouldhtink) implement with a handle - I'm fairly certain it's that.
Thanks for your input, it's much appreciated :)

MrsL
x