Bannock

2 ½ cups flour

2 Tablespoons baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

1/3 cup shortening or lard

1c water

1 or 2 eggs, (totally optional.)  If using eggs, use in water so it all equals 1 cup total

Whisk dry ingredients together to mix, cut in lard or whatever shortening you choose to use thoroughly, add liquid and stir till it pulls away from bowl’s sides.  Mix together with your hands till it all sticks well, pat down into a big flat cake and let it rest for 10 or so minutes. 

After a bit, heat up a cast iron skillet on medium heat and grease it lightly, lay the cake into the pan, it’s ok if it sizzles a bit at first.  Put a lid on top of the skillet and turn the heat low and leave it to bake about 12 to 15 minutes, then turn it over.  You may have to use a platter to turn it, this will actually be a pretty tender ‘cake’ so it could well break up, be gentle.  Put a lid back on, and cook for another 10 or more minutes.  Take the cover off for another 5 – 10 minutes till it’s done, this lets some of the moisture out.  I can’t tell you exactly how long for each of these steps, I’m sorry, but it’s both a variable thing and still very forgiving.

You can put it into the oven at a high temp, (400?) I think, but I never have.  To me, this is a stovetop or campfire thing.  You can make it into smaller roll sizes too, but again, I've always done one big giant patty. heh

I’ve made this when camping, lived in a dormitory while overseas without access to an oven, (in an electric wok for goodness sake!), and even in the middle of the night when I had to be quiet but wanted ‘something’.  It’s incredibly tender, flakey and good.  I like that it doesn’t have baking soda in it, I dislike the texture soda gives things.  This is really like a cross between bread, and a giant biscuit.

I’ve added cheese, herbs (fresh or dried), or cracked black pepper to this.  I bet there are other things that would be good too.