In praise of wooden spoons and muddy paws!

[British Red]

Some of you will recall that I had a good whinge a while back about the lack of large spoons available for the homesteader and preserver of food in bulk. The wonderful gents of Kepis and Muddy Paws sorted me out with some that to many look like small oars but are perfect for five gallon saucepans!

Anyway, to bring things up to date, Muddy paws contacted me recently and asked if I needed more? In all honesty I was embarrassed to accept given his previous generosity, but the good man reassured me so I grabbed greedily!

Spoons by British Red, on Flickr

The top and bottom are large and small Kepis models used for brewing wort and Indian cookery ( hence the stains )

My new muddy paws models are the middle two. Yes, I have already stained the large one in use

The smaller ( relatively) of the two is a thing of incredible tactile beauty. 18" of sycamore, MP polished it with wood shavings to a silly sheen. It's incredible to hold.

So what does one do with such a thing?

Why wreck it by stirring caramalised onion chutney for three hours of course!


New spoon and caramalised onion chutney by British Red, on Flickr


It's just the perfect size for my medium (18 litre) pan.


Weirdly my only shortages now are conventional sized spoons and spatulas. Thankfully those, while nothing like as satisfying to use, can be bought!

 

[Clouston98]

Serious spoonage! Looks the business, nice job muddypaws & kepis .

 

[GGTBod]

Cool gifts, you can tell you really enjoy paddling around in big pans of your home grown goodies

 

[British Red]

Cool gifts, you can tell you really enjoy paddling around in big pans of your home grown goodies

Very much indeed. That caramalised onion chutney would never be made commercially, its still cooking now . Same with our pickled onions, it takes ten different spices to make our pickling mix. But it tastes great


Just dug up the spuds, carrots and parsnips for Sunday dinner. Some of last years sloe jelly will complement them and the roast chicken wonderfully I think .

 

[Robson Valley]

". . . . a thing of incredible tactile beauty." Recent Farmer's Market was Friday, besides grape vines (sold 16), I took a bucket of spoons and forks (sold 4).
Not uncommon comment about the tactile smoothness to hold the spoons/forks. A baked-in veg oil finish will prevent staining.

 

[British Red]

I must admit I prefer the stain to anything that may taint what I am cooking up. It's all a sign of the tool being used!

 

[Fraxinus]

Well deserved gifts BR, karma in action I reckon Nice spoons too, so good work by muddy paws and kepis.
Oddly I have just cooked up a batch of red onion relish and pickled some golden beetroot, just not on the scale that you do things

Rob

 

[GGTBod]

Very much indeed. That caramalised onion chutney would never be made commercially, its still cooking now . Same with our pickled onions, it takes ten different spices to make our pickling mix. But it tastes great


Just dug up the spuds, carrots and parsnips for Sunday dinner. Some of last years sloe jelly will complement them and the roast chicken wonderfully I think .

Sounds delicious

 

[Muddypaws]

Hi Red

Nice to see the new spoons being pressed into service already. Since I have got into making and using wooden cookware I have come to regard staining as a badge of honour, or "added character". My favourite " go to " spoon is half the size of your new sycamore spoon, and is collecting its added character nicely.

Glad you like yours