After great weeked camping in the Aylesbury Vale I thought i’d share some pictures I took along with the feast we russled up all cooked in a dutch oven. Two boned and roled legs of lamb , stuffed with garlic and rosemary, on a bed of onions choped in half with half a bottle of port.
I have found that linning your dutch oven with foil makes it much easier to clean. This dutch oven is the 8ltr size which is perfect for cooking roast it’s deeper. Available from our web site here
Cook for about 1hr then chuck in a load of new potatoes these will cook in the port and meat juices. Cook for another half hour or so.
And there you have it, succulent lamb roasted to perfection! This dish is seriously tasty, the lamb just falls apart and great served with the new potatos, caramelized onions and gravy juice. YUM YUM
We’ve finally managed to get our hands on these super ghillie kettles which are already proving very popular. Ben from bensbackwards.com across the pond in Michigan has kindly allowed us to use this great blog entry on his review of the Ghillie Kettle.
Last year I borrowed a Kelly Kettle from a friend to give a test run. It was one of those things that I wanted to try but really didn’t want to buy at the time… Well we tested it out and used it quite a few times and really really liked it. We used it in areas where we didn’t want to start a camp fire and most of the time we had our kids with us and the kettle was quick and easy…it was also really cool.
I decided I wanted to stock some type of kettle and finally got around to doing some research on them. I ran across the Ghillie Kettles that I have never heard of, they looked identical to the Kelly Kettles but had a cap with a whistle instead of a cork. This made a lot of sense to me so I emailed them for some info.
It turned out that these were made in the same factory that makes the other British kettles on the market, and that the Ghillie was the only kettle to have a cap with a whistle.
The Kelly Kettle I had borrowed was the large model and I really wanted to try the small one to see how it does..
These are the three models Ghillie makes.
As of right now I have only used the small model several times and really like it! Its a little larger than a 2 liter bottle and light enough to carry in a day pack easily …here is how they work..
Add water to the spout on the side and put the cap on with the whistle…
Add tinder and small size fuel to the base..
Start fire in base and set kettle on top.
The chimney effect will start working and the fire will flare up, you can then add larger fuel from the top.
I had to add a few floats under the base as it was sinking down into the snow..Putting it on a small base of sticks makes having a small fire quick and easy even in deep snow. When you have good dry fuel these will boil water in 3-5 minutes. You will hear the whistle and see the steam coming out of the cap when you reach a boil..this seems to be safer and more efficient than other kettles. Lift the kettle off the base as shown so you don’t burn yourself!
Tea Time!!
Pour the kettle with the loop handle and the chain. This smaller size does two large mugs, I get a good 24-26oz. of water per boil.
We currently have all 3 sized Ghillie Kettles in stock starting from £36.99 here
Thank you once again to Ben from www.bensbackwoods.com for the use of his blog entry.
While airgun technology may be advancing at a rate of knots, pellet design has remained static for decades.. Until now. These Thunder Bolt pellets push the boundaries of airgun pellet design and are set to create a storm. Thanks to the Thunder Bolt pellet’s unorthodox shape, unique skirt design & high-tech base material, these latest Thunder Bolt pellets shoot at extremely high velocities. Coupled with its super flat trajectory, it both impacts the target with maximum strike force & then penetrates much more deeply, making it ideal for pest control. With so many plus points the Thunder bolt is destined to make a big impact on the airgun scene. Initial test results in spring powered airguns are proving quite exceptional.
Available in snap shut tubs with 400 pellets in each for £9.99 at Ronnie Sunshines
Everyone loves Shrove Tuesday – a day where it’s imperative to eat as many
pancakes as you possibly can -totally guilt free. While searching online for
tasty pancake fillings we found this interesting video on cooking pancakes with
your dutch oven!
Pancakes in a Dutch oven? Yes, you read that right… almost. You don’t make
them in the Dutch Oven, you make them on the lid. In addition to seasoning your
oven with oil, you should be seasoning the underside of the lid. Flip the lid
over, rest it on a bed of charcoal with some pieces of wood at the side to
stabilize it, and voilà, you have a griddle for making pancakes, French toast,
scrambled eggs, etc.
We’ve been busy over the weekend and created our very own YouTube channel which will now enable us to create some interesting videos on some of our gear & item demonstration on how they work. Please take a moment to visit the channel and let us know your thoughts on what kit you’d like us to review.
These Bergen’s have been designed and tested in conjunction with the British soldiers that use them & are drop tested fully loaded onto concrete from ten meters. One big positive for this Bergen is the comfort factor while carrying heavy 120ltr loads. The shoulder straps are a bit wider and more padded than a number of rucksacks I’ve seen and it’s easily adjustable to get a good fit. Each Bergen comes complete with a separate yoke enabling you to convert the bergan’s side pouches into a 10 or 20 litre daysack, all this for just £69.99!
Anyone needing a warm, comfortable and totally waterproof wellington boot need look no further than these very resonably priced Jack Pyke ones at just £39.99. These Jack Pyke Wellies are neoprene lined, cushioned sole boots are light on the feet, extremely flexible and the adjustable gusset at the top allows even the sturdier-legged amoung us to walk in total comfort without having our boots flapping noisily and disturbing the blessed tranquillity of a morning moochabout.
These Jack Pyke Wellies are available on our web site here for £39.99.
Last night I tuned into the second episode of Jamie’s American Roadtrip, In which Jamie steps into the Wild West states of Wyoming and Montana to find out what life as a cowboy is really like. What thrilled me was that throughout the program he cooked in Dutch Ovens or (Cowboy Ovens) as they’re sometimes referred to. He cooks for proper cowboys, the proper cowboy way, over an open fire using dutch ovens. Jamie said “when they had good ingredients the actual styles of cooking they used – like slow cooking in dutch ovens over open fire or spit roasting – would have given the food they did cook amazing flavours and textures.” Jamie spent his time at a rodeo in Cody, before heading upstate into the mountains to try and cut it on a working cattle ranch. He then rides out into the wilderness and even sleeps rough under the stars!
If you missed the episode you can watch it again online on the CH4 website Here
We take customer service very seriously & try very hard to deliver a great service every time for anyone who visits our shop in Berkhamsted Herts or via our website. On the rare occasion that we get it wrong (hey we’re all human & mistakes happen) we will always try our hardest to put things right & make sure you leave happy. It’s always nice when customers get back in touch with us after a purchase especially when they do so to thank us for a pleasant service. Which is why I thought I’d share our latest email, sent by Keith after he visited our shop & purchased an air rifle.
From: Keith Subject: Credit Where Credits Due
I just wanted to say how pleased I was with the service I have received on my first visit to your Berkhamstead store. I went there to buy a new air rifle, and had in mind the SMK XS19, but the assistant also pointed out the Hatsan S60. I was given plenty of time to try out both rifles, and in the end bought the hatsan. The Hatsan seems to be an excellent full power rifle. The staff there are extremely helpful and don’t try to just sell you stuff. I returned the next day after deciding to buy a better scope. Again great service. I was given plenty of time to look at scopes and make a good decision. You are doing a great job.
Brattonsound are so confident of the quality of these Sentinel gun cabinets that they now offer customers in the UK a three year on-site gun cabinet warranty, which means in the highly unlikely event of a manufacturing fault, a locksmith will be sent out free of charge to fix your gun cabinet. No other gun safe company offers such a warranty. In addition to this gun cabinet warranty, Brattonsound also gives free Napier VP90 Corrosion Inhibitor and shooting magazine with every Gun Safe. Many of us think that we can store our guns in our wardrobe because it works as good as gun cabinets. Not many of us know that the law demands that we store our guns in a safe place. Therefore, storing them in our wardrobes is irresponsible. Whenever you buy a gun, always look for suitable s gun safe or gun cabines so that your guns are not lying around for everyone’s easy access.
Pellet spillages from tins have long been the bane of airgunners lives, particularly for those who use pellets packed in slip-lid tins. These new Snap Close pellet tins have a “claw” design which holds the lid firmly onto the base until released by pressing in the centre of the lid. The base has been cleverly designed so the tins can be stacked without “popping” open. It also does away with the necessity to have a tape seal.
This years CLA Game Fair is being held at Belvoir Castle on July 24th, 25th and 26th, there is something for everyone at the show. As we as top shooting events there will be angling exhibitions, gun dog championships and equestrian displays. One of our favourites that was introduced into the show last year is the Gunmakers Pub, which will be located in the heart of the area and is the perfect meeting point! There will also be many have-a-go events, competions, chances to see the latest gear and the opportunity to catch up with friends and like minded people.
What with the British climate being so changable, it’s sometimes difficult to know what to wear, especially when you are going to be in the field for a whole day. However, help is at hand in the form of the Jack Pyke Armour Top . Made from ‘smartweave’ high wicking material, this top keeps you cool when it’s hot and hot when it’s cool, the Armour op can also be worn as an under or over layer. Comes in the Jack Pyke’s very own English Oak Camo.
The Jaguar Crossbow is the newest addition to our crossbow range & we think its excellent value for money. The trigger pull is excellent, the accuracy was so good that as we adjusted the 3 dot sight firing bolt after bolt, we watched the bolt holes march right into the bulls eye. In the kit you also get 4 bolts, a sling & a removable bolt quiver proving this kit really is fantastic value for money. Take a look at the video clip below of it in action.
We had a fantastic time last weekend with a group of 16, at our woodland Bushcraft site at Berkhamsted. From Friday afternoon until Sunday lunchtime we guided the group through all the main subjects of Bushcraft and Survival being Shelter, Fire, Water and Food.
It has to be said that the group built some of the best natural shelters I have seen and made easy work of breasting pigeons, filleting trout and skinning rabbits all of which were cooked in Dutch ovens to make a very nice lunch and dinner. I also did my first Dutch oven apple and rhubarb crumble with custard which I have to say was a triumph.
The wood at this time of year produced some great foraging and was a fantastic place to be for the weekend. We finished the weekend off with a woodland sweat lodge which was a memorable experience and one which we will repeat.
If you fancy joining us on a Bushcraft Course please take a look on my web site for full details.
Some Feedback on the course.
“Hi David and Mambo. Just wanted to say thank you for a great weekend I had a really good time and thank you for all the advice you’ve been giving me.”
“THANK YOU, it was brilliant, can’t believe how much we did”
Here’s a way to get the best from your catch! Get a Fish Smoker – put in some fish, leave it to smoke with the wood kindling for a wee wile and hey presto – dinner! It’s perfect for picnics, at home, riverbank and also for other food like smoked cheese and meats. Light the two meths burners, sprinkle some sawdust on the base of the smoker, add your food and put the lid on. That’s it. There’s room for two 3-lb trout, which would take about 15 minutes to cook through. Steak and other meats taste great cooked this way too. This model is stainless steel, so resists corrosion much better than cheaper imitations. For transport, all the components stow inside the main compartment.
Really simple to use, works great with trout and easy to clean.
Buy your Fish Smoker from our Ronnie Sunshines web site Below: Fish Smoker For £29.99
Perfect Pitch Magazine the first ever online magazine totally dedicated to camping and festivals!
If you are looking for advice and guidance on festivals or campsites Perfect Pitch Magazine is the place to find this information, with regular features on camping, with tips and helpful hints, news on festivals, reviews of campsites, festivals and camping equipment. Want to know which tents will best suit your needs, or where to find the best pitch? Want to know how to make your camping or festival pitch more comfortable as well as practical. Need advice on how to look after your cast iron cookware, or inspiration on what to cook? Register to become a member of Perfect Pitch Magazine and instantly gain access to all of this information in the form of monthly features and regular news updates, as well as member only competitions, reader offers, and forums.
Head over to our shop and you’ll see these long-awaited words: BACK IN STOCK next to our complete range of cast iron cookware.
That’s right Dutch Ovens are back in stock. If the last batch is anything to go by then they won’t around for long. So whether you’re after a Dutch Oven, a tripod to hang it from, Griddle,LidLifter, Skillet you find it all in our shop. Oh and we’ve also listed a Cowboy style dinner bell gong so you call everyone in when grubs up!
This is the very latest upgrade for the very much loved and our best selling SMK XS78 Co2 Air Rifle. Its a multi shot adaptor magazine which turns the single shot XS78 into a 6 multi shot, it’s manual index action is really silky smooth and makes a very satisfying metallic ‘shnick’ when cycled. Why not visit our site for more info on the XS78 Multi Shot Magazine.
After great weeked camping in the Aylesbury Vale I thought i’d share some pictures I took along with the feast we russled up all cooked in a dutch oven. Two boned and roled legs of lamb , stuffed with garlic and rosemary, on a bed of onions choped in half with half a bottle of port.
Posted by ronniesunshines 
As of right now I have only used the small model several times and really like it! Its a little larger than a 2 liter bottle and light enough to carry in a day pack easily …here is how they work..
I had to add a few floats under the base as it was sinking down into the snow..Putting it on a small base of sticks makes having a small fire quick and easy even in deep snow. When you have good dry fuel these will boil water in 3-5 minutes. You will hear the whistle and see the steam coming out of the cap when you reach a boil..this seems to be safer and more efficient than other kettles. Lift the kettle off the base as shown so you don’t burn yourself!
Pellet spillages from tins have long been the bane of airgunners lives, particularly for those who use pellets packed in slip-lid tins. These new Snap Close pellet tins have a “claw” design which holds the lid firmly onto the base until released by pressing in the centre of the lid. The base has been cleverly designed so the tins can be stacked without “popping” open. It also does away with the necessity to have a tape seal.
We had a fantastic time last weekend with a group of 16, at our woodland Bushcraft site at Berkhamsted. From Friday afternoon until Sunday lunchtime we guided the group through all the main subjects of Bushcraft and Survival being Shelter, Fire, Water and Food.
I also did my first 
