Twisted Bread Over a Wood Fire!

You just might crave this bread more than toasted marshmallows!! This is a fun activity to do at a outdoor party with children or down at a sugar house like we do here at Justamere Tree Farm! It takes some work ahead of time but definitely  gives you the feeling of satisfaction.
With the perfect fire the crust gets crisp and singes in a way I like, and the crunch is soft and springy. It’s quick work to bring the dough together, which affords a satisfying sense of accomplishment through minimal effort.

Cooking sticks that are thin but sturdy work best, and they must be green (fresh) to prevent from them burning in the process! The bark may be whittled away, or left on and brushed clear of any loose bits or visible dirt. Be sure to gather plenty, because everyone will want a hand at this!

Ingredients

2 ½ cups all-purpose flour (plus more for dusting)
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon maple sugar
½ teaspoon course sea salt
¼ cup butter or bacon fat could work here as well
½ cup milk or non dairy milk
½ cup water, approximately
Add herbs if desire-(I used thyme and garlic)

Method

In a decent-size bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, sugar and sea salt. With two knives or a pastry cutter, cut the butter into a dry mix, as you would when making biscuits. Keep cutting the fat until it is evenly distributed. Stir in the milk, and only enough water for the mixture to come together into a dough, using more or less water as needed.

Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead gently until smooth. With a floured pin roll the dough into a 1/4 inch thickness. Using a pastry cutter or sharp knife, cut the dough into 8 strips. Wrap one strip of dough around a prepared stick, starting at the top of the stick and twisting around and down, like the stripe on a candy cane. Continue wrapping the remaining pieces of dough, each onto a new stick.

Toast the bread over hot coals rather than high flames, so that the heat is able to reach the center of the dough before the outside burns; rotate the stick often to ensure even cooking. The bread will be done when it has a deeply golden exterior and sounds hollow when tapped—around 5 minutes, depending on the heat and how thinly the dough was rolled.

Eat immediately, as much as you would want. With butter is your best bet!

Makes 8 pieces