Welcome to my little corner of culinary delights.

“Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.”  This is not necessarily true. 

Smoke indicates that either the heat is high or that the fire is not burning efficiently; lacking sufficient oxygen. 

In trying to start a fire, and it begins to smoke, start fanning it or blowing on it.  As a rule, this will cause the fire to burst forth.  Once this occurs, begin building the fire by adding more substantial combustible materials.  These materials should progressively get larger as the fire grows larger.  Seasoned pine branches are great for this.

Earlier, I had mentioned the three-legged iron stand for suspending kettles.  The store-bought type should also provide a flat plate that suspends from the center of the tripod.  A skillet can be placed on the flat plate or solid foods such as potatoes and corn on the cob.  Returning to the kettle, a small one is best unless it is for a large family.  If you have no access to the tripod stand, there are other options.

Use a sturdy fresh, moist pole as your holding arm.  Cut a “V” notch in the edge top end of the arm.  This works as a channel for the cord or small chain the holds the kettle over the fire.  Placed the arm on the support with the top notch up.  Anchor the bottom end to the ground.  Make the support from the fork of a tree branch.  It is to be cut, fashioned, and driven into the ground near the camp fire.  Think of it like a fixed teeterboard.

A cord, with a hook on the end, is put through the top notch.  The other end of the cord is fastened near the base of the arm.  A kettle or pot is hung on the hook just above the fire.  The lovely part to this design is that the pot can be lowered or raised as needed during the cooking.  This controls the heat inside the kettle since the fire is not easily controlled or finitely regulated.  The kettle itself should protect the cord from burning.

If one wishes to be fancy, the end of the cord can be tied to a chain and a nail driven near the tip end of the arm.  In that way, the kettle can be raised or lowered quickly and incrementally by slipping the chain links over the nail head.

Another way is to have two forked branches on opposite ends of the firepit supporting a simple straight pole.  The cord, with the hook at one end, is placed over the cross pole with the other end of the cord fastened to a tent stake anchored in the ground.  The cross pole would need to be high enough for the flames not to burn it.  Cooking over a campfire can be quite an experience and fun to say nothing of a challenge.  Do not forget the insect repellent.

Until next time, peace to all.