Baking bannocks and bread on a Rayburn; preserving and cooki...
Track Information
Original Track ID
SA1970.242
Original Tape ID
Summary
Baking bannocks and bread on a Rayburn; preserving and cooking with pork fat.
Peats were never exported south [to mainland Scotland] because of the cost. When Brucie Henderson was a boy there were no Rayburns, but by the time he was married, his wife always used one. Bannocks could be baked on top using an iron at the right pitch of fire. Bread was said to be healthier than bannocks, and oat bread was baked on both the girdle [gridle] and the brandiron.
He recalls great brunies [oatmeal cakes] being made with hog's fat. The fat was placed for a day on top of the pickle when a hog was salted down. It was then put in a cloth. The tallow could also be used for making puddings. It could be kept fresh for two years just by covering it in flour and keeping it airtight. If cut and kept out in the air it soon went sour.
Recording Location
County - Shetland
Island - Yell
Parish - Yell
Village/Place - Arisdale
Item Location
County - Shetland
Island - Yell
Parish - Yell
Language
English, Scots
Genre
Collection
Source Type
Reel to reel
Audio Quality
Good