Atomic Shrimp2023-02-01T12:10:35+00:00urn:md5:c0b98cd55ab1d3c468ecdbd19e8bc1dbDotclearPlay PRANG!urn:md5:80e11d3382e4425eaa5e96c4cc24b9de2020-01-10T19:36:00+00:002022-04-06T19:46:15+00:00MikeGamesProjects<p><img alt="" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/p/prangsmallthumb.png" style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;" />PRANG! is a brand new retro-style game - Play PRANG!</p> <h3 class="clearleft">Origins</h3>
<p>PRANG! started out life as a joke - in one of my scambaiting videos, a scammer accused me of 'playing prang of the transaction' (I think they meant 'playing pranks') - In my video, I turned this into a little mockup of an 8 bit video game; you can see that at around the 2:40 timestamp in this video:<br />
</p>
<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FgxD9WiCPrw" width="560"></iframe></p>
<p>Much, much later, it occurred to me that I could make PRANG! into a real game - and here it is!</p>
<h2>Credits</h2>
<p>None of this would have been possible without the coding skills of <a href="https://www.fiverr.com/gamegeek3">GameGeek3 on Fiverr.com</a>, who coded this game from my sketchy design and game rules.</p>
<p>The music for the game comes from the album <a href="https://ozzed.net/music/dunes-at-night.shtml">Dunes At Night from OZZED.net</a>, comprising:the three tracks: <em><strong>Secret Treehouse</strong></em>, <em><strong>A Calmer Day</strong></em> and <em><strong>Boink </strong></em>- the composer also has a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCczW2AAWEWI2gR-wTh5jMrQ">YouTube channel here.</a></p>
<h2>Playing PRANG!</h2>
<p>Click the big ol' button below to open PRANG! in a new tab or window</p>
<p><a href="http:\\atomicshrimp.com\prang" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/p/playbutton.png" style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;" /></a></p>
<p class="clearleft">Instructions are inside the game, but in a nutshell:</p>
<p>You're PRANG (a yellow octopus thing). Click or tap somewhere on the screen to make PRANG go there in a straight line</p>
<ul>
<li>Collect food items for points</li>
<li>You can't go through the obstacles (green trucks)</li>
<li>The pink umbrella is a powerup - it gives you 15 seconds during which you move faster and can destroy enemies (for points), but if you hit an obstacle during powerup, you lose a life</li>
<li>The enemies (each named for a different scammer I have baited) all have different behaviours; some of them chase you; some move randomly; some can traverse walls; some can destroy the same food you are collecting</li>
</ul>
<p>As the game progresses, obstacles get more numerous, as do enemies, who get faster; food gets more scarce</p>
<h2>Sources</h2>
<p>Want to make your own version or implementation of PRANG!? You Can!</p>
<p><a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/" rel="license"><img alt="Creative Commons Licence" src="https://i.creativecommons.org/l/by-sa/4.0/88x31.png" style="border-width:0" /></a><br />
<span property="dct:title" xmlns:dct="http://purl.org/dc/terms/">PRANG!</span> by <a href="http://atomicshrimp.com/post/2020/01/10/Play-PRANG%21" property="cc:attributionName" rel="cc:attributionURL" xmlns:cc="http://creativecommons.org/ns#">Atomic Shrimp</a> is licensed under a <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/" rel="license">Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License</a>.<br />
Based on a work at <a href="http://www.ozzed.net" rel="dct:source" xmlns:dct="http://purl.org/dc/terms/">http://www.ozzed.net</a>.</p>
<p>You are free to remix, adapt and reuse this game - do what you like with it - for free or for profit, but please recognise and attribute the people who have already worked on this (see credits section above), and share what you create freely.</p>
<p>Download the full source and assets <a href="http://www.atomicshrimp.com/public/files/prang.zip">here</a></p>
<p> </p>If It Seems A Little Quiet Here...urn:md5:f71ee40db89b3884da22d5fb69274c0f2017-05-04T20:50:00+00:002018-09-25T20:00:13+00:00MikeVideo<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/AtomicShrimp" title="Visit Atomic Shrimp on YouTube"><img alt="" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/a/YT.png" style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;" /></a>If it seems a little quiet here lately, there's a reason for it...</p> <p>Most of my new content is happening on my YouTube channel now - If and when I get the chance, I will write up some of my projects here, but if you want to see the latest, freshest Atomic Shrimp projects and other articles, please head on over to my YouTube channel - and consider subscribing so you'll be the first to see new videos when I upload them.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/AtomicShrimp">Here's</a> a link to the channel. Alternatively, you can catch up on my latest video content in the playlists below:</p>
<h3>Nature</h3>
<p><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/videoseries?list=PLk5KvJPikK02jEjikHQvung4OD1HXTUEh" width="560"></iframe></p>
<h3>Projects & Craft</h3>
<p><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/videoseries?list=PLk5KvJPikK02ZjEVs7c1Gutkgs_uFK4Uf" width="560"></iframe></p>
<h3>Food</h3>
<p><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/videoseries?list=PLk5KvJPikK01f-axkJ7AMYfIYOfjcwUQ4" width="560"></iframe></p>
<h3>Wood</h3>
<p><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/videoseries?list=PLk5KvJPikK02hXSnujtCOoFEaeGWvBrE1" width="560"></iframe></p>
<h3>HDPE Plastic</h3>
<p><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/videoseries?list=PLk5KvJPikK01_KjuvjL6w8Giw-6sy5NPb" width="560"></iframe></p>
<h3>Other Stuff</h3>
<p><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/videoseries?list=PLk5KvJPikK022V1FwZ3gFM4zqgdtBexfY" width="560"></iframe></p>
<p> </p>Crafting With Coconut Shell - Making A Kalimbaurn:md5:30af1e32f96afd07202f1bc68f9b8bf72017-02-25T21:58:00+00:002017-02-25T21:58:00+00:00MikeCraftInstrumentProjectsWoodworking<p><img alt="" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/k/kalimbathumb.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;" />Coconut shell is quite an interesting material - underneath that bristly exterior, there is a lustrous dark shell that can be polished to quite a lovely finish.</p>
<p>In this article, I take a coconut shell and make it into a little musical instrument.<br style="clear:both;" />
</p> <p>I've done a bit of coconut shell crafting before - <a class="ref-post" href="https://atomicshrimp.com/post/2009/05/09/Out-Of-A-Nutshell-Coconut-Shell-Crafting-Experiments">here</a> - so I knew what I was hoping for when I set out to make this object.</p>
<h3>The Project</h3>
<p>The construction of my coconut shell kalimba is presented here in two video parts:</p>
<h4>Preparing The Shell</h4>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qR9o9s8ItwA" width="560"></iframe></p>
<p><img alt="" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/k/kalimba1.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;" />So at the end of that process, I had a polished and prepared piece of shell - a little more than half of the original coconut, and cut diagonally so as to make the most of the available material.</p>
<h4><br style="clear:both;" />
Making The Kalimba</h4>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pTmemuFrW9E" width="560"></iframe></p>
<h3>The End Result</h3>
<p>It's a lovely thing - and a delight to hold in the hand - the shell blends smoothly into the timber sounding board and it just feels beautifully smooth and polished.</p>
<p><img alt="" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/k/kalimba2.jpg" style="margin: 0 auto; display: table;" /></p>Cheap, Tasty, Nutritious, Foolproof, Scalable Recipes - #2 - Bacon And Tomato Hotpoturn:md5:a688ba093bc59465d773495c4c3dfd262017-02-15T23:37:00+00:002017-02-15T23:43:23+00:00MikeFoodFoodhackRecipes<p><img alt="" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/b/bacontomatohotpotthumb.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;" /></p>
<p>This is the second in a series of recipes that are designed to meet 5 specific criteria.</p>
<p>That is, they must be <strong>Cheap</strong>, <strong>Tasty</strong>, <strong>Nutritious</strong>, <strong>Foolproof </strong>and <strong>Scalable </strong>- ideal for anyone cooking on a budget, cooking with little experience, or cooking for one.</p> <h3>Ingredients</h3>
<ul>
<li>1 Can of tomato soup</li>
<li>1 Can of mixed beans or baked beans</li>
<li>About 5 medium potatoes</li>
<li>2 Large carrots</li>
<li>About half a sweet red pepper</li>
<li>6 to 10 rashers of smoked streaky bacon</li>
<li>About 6 medium-sized mushrooms</li>
</ul>
<h3><img alt="" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/b/bacontomatohotpot1.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;" /><br style="clear:both;" />
Method</h3>
<p><img alt="" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/b/bacontomatohotpot2.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;" />Preheat the oven to 180C (350F, Gas Mark 4)</p>
<p>Chop the onions and pepper finely, the carrots into half-centimetre slices, the potatoes into 2 or 3 cm cubes, the mushrooms into quarters - place all of these chopped items into a dish - along with the beans (drained if they are in brine, but not if they are in tomato sauce)</p>
<p><br style="clear:both;" />
<img alt="" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/b/bacontomatohotpot3.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;" />Pour the can of tomato soup over the chopped vegetables</p>
<p>Half-fill the can with water and swirl it around to pick up the remaining soup from the can - pour this water over the vegetables.</p>
<p>(The reason for using tomato soup in this recipe rather than passata or chopped tomatoes is that the soup contains herbs, spices and seasonings -so this dish doesn't need much else added)</p>
<p><br style="clear:both;" />
<img alt="" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/b/bacontomatohotpot5.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;" />Roll the bacon into tight rolls and place it, fat-side-up, on top of the mixed vegetables</p>
<p>Place the dish uncovered in the oven for an hour. Check by poking the potatoes with a sharp knife - it may need a further half hour to fully cook</p>
<h3><br style="clear:both;" />
The End Result</h3>
<p>The cooked dish is a hearty, chunky medley of warming vegetables suffused with a rich tomato sauce, deeply flavoured with the aroma of the smoky bacon. It can be served with green vegetables on the side, but really, it's also fine all on its own, or with a chunk of crusty bread.</p>
<p><img alt="" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/b/bacontomatohotpot6.jpg" style="margin: 0 auto; display: table;" /></p>
<h3><br style="clear:both;" />
Video</h3>
<p>Here's a video version of the recipe - in which the five objectives are also discussed:</p>
<p class="imagecentre"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JVQEiPjPTaE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>Red Hot Knife vs Steakurn:md5:d09c5f46330b8f34c45da8edb935ace12017-01-08T14:36:00+00:002017-01-08T14:38:41+00:00MikeExperimentsFoodOddVideo<p><img alt="" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/r/redhotknifethumb.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;" />I've been watching a number of 'Red Hot Knife vs Something' videos that have been trending lately - and it struck me that they all seem a bit... wasteful.</p>
<p>So here's the Atomic Shrimp take - Red Hot Knife vs Steak. </p>
<br style="clear:both;" /> <p>My idea was to take a nice piece of quality steak, season it, then cut it at the table with a red hit knife - each slice getting cooked and seared as it's cut - and it actually worked! - Here's a video detailing the whole process:</p>
<p><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TXf6L5gLU4U" width="560"></iframe></p>
<h3>What Was It Like?</h3>
<p>Well, in all honesty, although it was nice - and I do like my steak rare, it wasn't quite as nice as a whole steak, seared and cooked rare in a hot pan. The reason for this is that when a whole steak is cooked, even rare, it's left to rest for a few minutes after cooking - and this allows the juices to develop - that didn't happen in my hot knife version.</p>
<p>So it was insteresting, and I'm very glad I did it, but it wasn't very practical.</p>Decorating A Shirt For Christmasurn:md5:2af7574c76f8c397809a329b21ddd8792016-12-23T22:42:00+00:002017-01-08T14:39:49+00:00MikeChristmasCraftVideo<figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img alt="shirtthumb.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/s/shirtthumb.jpg" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>We had a 'Christmas Jumper Day' at work. Trouble is, the office that I work in is too hot for me at the best of times - there's no way I'm wearing an additional layer.</p>
<p>But it's for charity. I can't just sit it out - so my solution was to print my own Christmas-jumper-style shirt.<br style="clear:both;" />
</p> <figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img alt="shirt1.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/s/shirt1.jpg" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>I started with an old-ish shirt and one assumption.</p>
<p>My assumption was that, since decorator's emulsion paint doesn't wash out of clothes when it gets on them accidentally, it should be a cheap and easy substitute for fabric paint.</p>
<p>So the plan was to apply a design to the shirt using the paint, then let it dry - after which it should be indelible.</p>
<p><br style="clear:both;" />
</p>
<figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img alt="shirt2.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/s/shirt2.jpg" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>I wanted a selection of Christmas / winter - themed designs on the shirt - I could have cut my own stencils, but I decided to try stamping them.</p>
<p>I found a cheap set of 'princess' foam stamps on ebay that seemed to have the right selection of designs.</p>
<p><br style="clear:both;" />
</p>
<figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img alt="shirt3.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/s/shirt3.jpg" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>I placed a piece of card inside the shirt to prevent transfer of the paint through the fabric to the back of the shirt,</p>
<p>I brushed a thin layer of paint onto the stamps, then pressed them onto the shirt - it seemed to work just fine.</p>
<p>I used a metal straight edge to guide me - I was aiming to form a repeating pattern comprising several rows of different designs across the front of the shirt.</p>
<p><br style="clear:both;" />
</p>
<figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img alt="shirt4.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/s/shirt4.jpg" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Even though I brushed the paint onto the stamps quite sparingly, I did have a few problems where it spilled off the edge of the pattern.</p>
<p>This caused a sort of blobby outline outside of the pattern of the design pieces themselves - but actually, it ended up looking like accumulated snow, which almost makes sense for a winter design.</p>
<p><br style="clear:both;" />
</p>
<figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img alt="shirt5.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/s/shirt5.jpg" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>I stopped when I had four rows of printing on the shirt. I had originally considered decorating the back also, but I decided less was more.</p>
<h3><br style="clear:both;" />
<br style="clear:both;" />
The End Result</h3>
<p>I was quite pleased with the finished shirt - and it was well-received by all of my colleagues on Christmas Jumper Day</p>
<figure style="margin: 0 auto; display: table;"><img alt="shirt6.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/s/shirt6.jpg" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p> </p>
<h3>Emulsion Paint As Fabric Paint</h3>
<p>So it seems to work just fine - and the design on the shirt has survived a couple of trips through the washing machine, so I am declaring this a success. Emulsion paint is available in a fantastic range of colours and in cheap little tested pots - so I will be trying this with other colours and other designs sometime soon. </p>
<h3>Video</h3>
<p>Here's a video showing some more of the details of this project:</p>
<p> <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/K1swUIMa8i8" width="560"></iframe></p>Cheap, Tasty, Nutritious, Foolproof, Scalable Recipes - #1 - Tasty Tortillaurn:md5:561eb31538281cbd00d15090494991692016-11-14T20:49:00+00:002016-11-15T07:08:53+00:00MikeEasyFoodFrugalityPieRecipesVideo<figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img alt="easytortillathumb.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/e/easytortillathumb.jpg" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>This is the first in a series of recipes that are designed to meet 5 specific criteria.</p>
<p>That is, they must be <strong>Cheap</strong>, <strong>Tasty</strong>, <strong>Nutritious</strong>, <strong>Foolproof </strong>and <strong>Scalable </strong>- ideal for anyone cooking on a budget, cooking with little experience, or cooking for one.</p>
<p> </p> <h3><br style="clear:both;" />
Ingredients<br style="clear:both;" />
</h3>
<ul>
<li>1 small onion</li>
<li>1 large potato</li>
<li>1 courgette (zucchini)</li>
<li>3 eggs</li>
<li>a small red pepper (I used two very small peppers of different colours)</li>
<li>1 tomato</li>
<li>1 cup plain flour</li>
<li>Leftover sausages or something else extra for flavour (see below)</li>
<li>half a teaspoon of dried herbs</li>
<li>a pinch of salt</li>
<li>A little oil</li>
</ul>
<figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img alt="easytortilla1.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/e/easytortilla1.jpg" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p> </p>
<ul>
</ul>
<h3><br style="clear:both;" />
Method<br style="clear:both;" />
</h3>
<figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img alt="easytortilla2.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/e/easytortilla2.jpg" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Preheat your oven to 180C (that's equivalent to 350F or Gas Mark 4)</p>
<p>Chop the vegetables into sticks - about the thickness of a chopstick (maybe 5mm) and place them in a large bowl.</p>
<p>This is probably a good place to say that you are by no means constrained to using these specific vegetables - you can substitute spring onions for the white onion, sweet potato, butternut squash, asparagus, green beans, drained canned sweetcorn, frozen peas - pretty much any vegetable you can think of, really - just aim for approximately the same amount as here.</p>
<p><br style="clear:both;" />
</p>
<figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img alt="easytortilla3.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/e/easytortilla3.jpg" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Add the flour, eggs, herbs and salt to the bowl.</p>
<p>For a different flavour, you could use curry powder instead of herbs, or you could use smoked paprika or chilli flakes.</p>
<p><br style="clear:both;" />
</p>
<figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img alt="easytortilla5.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/e/easytortilla5.jpg" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Use a large spoon to mix everything together.</p>
<p>Keep turning it over and over until the flour coats the vegetable pieces - it will combine with some of the moisture that comes out of them, along with the egg, to form a sort of batter coating the pieces.</p>
<p><br style="clear:both;" />
</p>
<figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img alt="easytortilla6.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/e/easytortilla6.jpg" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Next, something for flavour - I added in a few leftover sausages, chopped into pieces, but here's where there really is a wealth of possibilities for adaptation.</p>
<p>You could add cubes of cheese and little pieces of ham, or anchovy fillets, or pieces of leftover chicken, some bits of bacon or meatballs - anything that's tasty and adds a protein boost is good.</p>
<p><br style="clear:both;" />
</p>
<figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img alt="easytortilla4.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/e/easytortilla4.jpg" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Use an ovenproof dish that's about the right size to contain your mixture to a depth of about an inch (2.5 cm).</p>
<p>Brush a little oil on the dish, tip in the mixture and flatten it down.</p>
<p>Place in the oven for 40 minutes, then test it by poking the ingredients near the middle of the dish with a sharp knife - if it's done, the potato should not feel crisp at all.</p>
<p>Cooking times are approximate, so if it's not completely done, return it to the oven for 10 minutes before testing again.</p>
<h3><br style="clear:both;" />
The End Result</h3>
<p>The result is a tasty pie that can be served in slices as a meal in itself, or as the main part of a meal, accompanied by salad, or baked beans.</p>
<figure style="margin: 0 auto; display: table;"><img alt="easytortilla7.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/e/easytortilla7.jpg" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<h3>Video Recipe</h3>
<p>Here's a video version of the recipe (with a few more ideas and a bit more discussion in it):</p>
<div class="imagecentre">
<p><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fGwmY28GScc" width="560"></iframe></p>
</div>
<h3>Objectives Met!</h3>
<p>Let's just recap on the 5 criteria we were aiming for:</p>
<p><strong>Cheap</strong> - this recipe easily makes 4 generous portions for just a couple of pounds</p>
<p><strong>Tasty</strong> - no doubt about it - it's packed with tasty, herb-seasoned veg, with an added tasty protein punch - and it can be varied to adapt for a wide range of different taste options.</p>
<p><strong>Nutritious</strong> - Eggs are a fantastic source of protein, vitamins and minerals - the vegetables contribute more nutrients as well as fibre - and depending on the other ingredients you choose, even more goodness can be crammed in (if you go for the anchovy option, for example, you get all the good fatty acids and fat-soluble vitamins that are available in oily fish).</p>
<p><strong>Foolproof</strong> - There's no complex mixing and you don't need scales or even a proper measuring cup - approximation works and you just throw it all in a bowl, stir, then bake. It;s really hard to go wrong with this.</p>
<p><strong>Scalable</strong> - you could divide this recipe by three (one egg, one shallot, a small potato, etc) and make a single-person serving, but the other way this recipe scales out is that it keeps well - it will last for several days in the fridge or it can be sliced and frozen in portions - it reheats easily in a microwave oven, or is just as tasty eaten cold.</p>Kentucky PIE-d Chickenurn:md5:d8c235cb7e171a845b86f0f728f381c42016-11-01T23:40:00+00:002016-11-08T19:46:54+00:00MikeFoodFoodhackOddPieRecipesVideo<figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img alt="kpcthumb.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/k/kpcthumb.jpg" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>This is a food experiment that's been on my To Do list for at least a couple of years now...</p>
<p>To take a takeaway bucket of chicken and make it into some sort of pie as the centrepiece of a more balanced family dinner<br style="clear:both;" />
</p> <figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img alt="kpc1.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/k/kpc1.jpg" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>I went to the KFC drivethrough and picked what seemed to be the maximum chicken-to-money ratio - a Bargain Bucket containing 14 pieces of chicken and 4 portions of fries</p>
<p>I also added a side of corncobs and another of gravy.<br />
<br style="clear:both;" />
</p>
<figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img alt="kpc2.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/k/kpc2.jpg" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Back at home, I took the chicken pieces and separated them into three heaps:</p>
<p>Meat<br />
Bones (set aside to make stock for more gravy)<br />
Skin and breaded coating<br style="clear:both;" />
</p>
<figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img alt="kpc4.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/k/kpc4.jpg" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>I stripped the corn kernels off the cobs and mixed them in with the chicken meat - then I put this in the fridge until later.<br />
<br style="clear:both;" />
</p>
<figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img alt="kpc3.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/k/kpc3.jpg" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>I covered the bones with water in the pan, added a small onion cut into quarters, and put the pan on a medium heat to boil, then simmer for 45 minutes or so.<br />
<br style="clear:both;" />
</p>
<figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img alt="kpc6.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/k/kpc6.jpg" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<h3>The Crust</h3>
<p>My original concept for the crust was to somehow reduce the breaded coating into a dough and roll it out to form a proper pie crust, but there wasn't really that much of it - and the mechanical properties of the fried coating made the whole idea take a different turn - I decided to just play along and see how it turned out...</p>
<p>I put the breaded coating and chicken skin into a food processor and ran it for a couple of minutes</p>
<p>It reduced the contents to fine crumbs. I put these in a large bowl.</p>
<p>Next, I took the 4 portions of fries and ran them through the food processor, reducing them to similarly fine crumbs.<br style="clear:both;" />
</p>
<p>It's interesting to note that both of these ingredients resisted processing to a finer texture - but they are both quite dry (in terms of actual water content, not oil) - perhaps adding a little liquid might have changed the process, but I didn't want to chance it.</p>
<p>I mixed the potato pieces into the fried crumbs. This would be a topping for the pie, rather than a solid crust.</p>
<figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img alt="kpc5.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/k/kpc5.jpg" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Back over at the hob, the chicken stock was done - I strained it to make about a litre of very fine-looking and tasty stock - some of this flavour and colour came from residual scraps of seasoned coating that were on the ends of bones etc.</p>
<p>Because the stock (and the other contents of the pie) were already quite highly seasoned, I just added some wholemeal flour to the stock to thicken it into gravy.</p>
<p>Wholemeal is good for doing this - as it doesn't form lumps so readily as ordinary white flour. It's important to boil and simmer the gravy for a little while after adding the flour though, or else there can be a mealy, uncooked-flour flavour.</p>
<p>(I also added in the pot of gravy I bought with the takeaway - just for added flavour and depth)<br style="clear:both;" />
</p>
<figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img alt="kpc7.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/k/kpc7.jpg" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<h3>Assembling The Pie</h3>
<p>I looked at the amount of crumb topping I had made and it became apparent I would need a larger dish - I spread the chicken pieces and sweetcorn out in it, then mixed in some of the gravy.</p>
<p>I spread the crumb topping over the chicken filling</p>
<p>I baked it in the oven for 45 minutes - really just to crisp up the top and warm through the contents - it was already fully-cooked in every part, so didn't need actual baking.</p>
<p><br style="clear:both;" />
</p>
<h3>The End Result</h3>
<p>Well, it was interesting, and very tasty - served with fresh vegetables, this makes a rather more balanced family meal than just a bucket o' chicken - but is no less satisfying.</p>
<p>Also, serving it like this did seem to extend the serving capacity a little. The original 14 piece bucket would have served maybe 6 people (if they didn't mind sharing the fries and fighting over the corn), or 4 very hungry people, I guess. The pie rendition of the exact same ingredients served about 8 very generous portions. </p>
<p>This wasn't exactly what I set out to make, but I'm calling it a success.</p>
<figure style="margin: 0 auto; display: table;"><img alt="kpc8.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/k/kpc8.jpg" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p> </p>
<h3>Video Pie</h3>
<p>Here's the full video version of this pie monstrosity:</p>
<div class="imagecentre"><p> <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OXS3g5JKkcA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></p></div>Old Into New Times Two - Making Over An Old Workbench And Upcycling The Old Benchtopsurn:md5:f064da7b7b54824316e518d242b969b92016-10-31T22:30:00+00:002016-11-01T07:39:54+00:00MikeCraftProjectsRecyclingVideoWoodworking<figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img alt="oldintonewthumb.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/o/oldintonewthumb.jpg" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The wooden tops of my trusty old folding workbench were starting to look really beaten and worn - time to make them over with some lovely new hardwood.</p>
<p>After I finished doing that, I also had a great idea for repurposing the old scarred and worn bench tops into something unique and new.</p> <div class="clearleft"> </div>
<figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img alt="oldintonew1.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/o/oldintonew1.jpg" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The old benchtops really were starting to look worse for wear - some parts were nearly more paint spills and holes than they were timber.</p>
<p>I zoomed off to the <a class="ref-post" href="https://atomicshrimp.com/post/2014/01/11/Southampton-Wood-Recycling">Southampton Wood Recycling Project</a> and picked up a couple of lovely slabs of heavy hardwood - at next to no cost.</p>
<div class="clearleft"> </div>
<figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img alt="oldintonew2.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/o/oldintonew2.jpg" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The wood just needed a little bit of cleaning up and smoothing - starting with the electric planer, the router to round over the outside edges and finally, a run over with the electric orbital sander to smooth everything off.</p>
<div class="clearleft"> </div>
<figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img alt="oldintonew3.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/o/oldintonew3.jpg" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Once the shaping and smoothing was complete, I did a quick trial run of the fit on the workbench, on top of the old wooden jaws.</p>
<p>The new top was going to be a little wider and broader, as well as considerably thicker, heavier and more substantial than the old one.</p>
<div class="clearleft"> </div>
<figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img alt="oldintonew4.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/o/oldintonew4.jpg" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Removing the old wooden jaws was a breexe - just a few screws, then the metal frame just lifted off.</p>
<p>(You can see in this picture that I actually already reversed one of the jaws already to try to eke out a bit longer life for this hardy tool.</p>
<div class="clearleft"> </div>
<figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img alt="oldintonew5.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/o/oldintonew5.jpg" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Reassembling with the new jaws was just as easy - the same process in reverse - placing the metal frame on top of the underside of the old jaws, then screwing it down</p>
<p>A quick lick of linseed oil to finish and protect the new timber, and it was done - a sturdy workbench that is better than it was when it was new.</p>
<p>I might drill some holes in it later for bench dogs, but I might not - I hardly use them after all.</p>
<div class="clearleft"> </div>
<h3>The End Result</h3>
<p>Nice. A trusty old bit of kit given a new lease of life as a really solid and good-looking workbench.</p>
<p>I guess I'll probably make a sad little noise the first time I accidentally drill or cut into it, but that's just part of the story - read on...</p>
<figure style="margin: 0 auto; display: table;"><img alt="oldintonew6.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/o/oldintonew6.jpg" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<div class="clearleft"> </div>
<h3>Now, About Those Benchtops...</h3>
<p>At the end of this, I was just a little reluctant and sentimental about throwing away the old wooden bench tops - they have so much story and character in them. So I set about a plan to make them into a memento worth keeping.</p>
<div class="clearleft"> </div>
<figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img alt="oldintonew7.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/o/oldintonew7.jpg" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>I cut a 30 degree wedge of scrap plywood and lined it up so that the central axis of the wedge intersected the centre of one of the dog holes - then clamped it down.</p>
<p>I used the straight sides of the wedge as a cutting guide, sawing a straight and perpendcular cut through the wood.</p>
<p>I repeated this 11 times until I had twelve sort-of-similar pieces.</p>
<div class="clearleft"> </div>
<figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img alt="oldintonew8.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/o/oldintonew8.jpg" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>A quick rub on a sheet of medium grit abrasive was all they needed to flatten the edges ready for fixing together.</p>
<div class="clearleft"> </div>
<figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img alt="oldintonew9.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/o/oldintonew9.jpg" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Gluing pieces of wood edge to edge isn't always easy - but it can be made easier by taping the back of the two pieces together whilst holding them flush as they will finally be joined.</p>
<p>Then the two pieces can be opened apart like a book, glue spread into the gap, then closed back up and secured around with more tape.</p>
<div class="clearleft"> </div>
<figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img alt="oldintonew10.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/o/oldintonew10.jpg" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>I left the glue overnight to fully dry and set. I then glued the pairs of pieces together into one large more-or-less circular piece.</p>
<div class="clearleft"> </div>
<figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img alt="oldintonew11.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/o/oldintonew11.jpg" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>I used a large holesaw to mark out a shallw circular cut surrounding the centre - then cut a recess inside this boundary using my router.</p>
<p>I could have just marked the circle with a pencil, but cutting a shallow slot like this makes it somehow easier to work freehand with the router - there is additional resistance to cutting once it crosses the line, and this can be felt, and makes it easy to back off and cut in a different direction.</p>
<div class="clearleft"> </div>
<figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img alt="oldintonew12.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/o/oldintonew12.jpg" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>A quartz clock mechanism fitted neatly inside the recess.</p>
<p>I fixed this into place by blobbing a large amount of hot melt glue alongside it on each edge.</p>
<p>(I could have affixed it with glue pads in between the mechanism and the wood, but this would have pulled the spindle back inside the clock face - and clearance was at an absolute premium here.</p>
<div class="clearleft"> </div>
<figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img alt="oldintonew13.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/o/oldintonew13.jpg" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>All that was left to do then was to fit the hands - they just push onto the spindle, but they do need a little bit of adjustment in the form of bending and tweaking so that they don't collide with each other - it's a good idea to wind the clock forward through a full 12 hour cycle to ensure that the hands clear each other, and the clock face, in all positions.</p>
<div class="clearleft"> </div>
<h3>The End Result</h3>
<p>I'm rather happy with this - it's not exactly pretty, but it has bags of charm - and every little hole, gouge, paint blob and clamp mark tells a story - some of them more obvious than others - for example, the green paint is from when I made the <a class="ref-post" href="https://atomicshrimp.com/post/2010/08/15/Building-A-Boat-Page-12-The-Triumph-Of-The-Snow-Pea">Snow Pea</a>. The darker red paint is from when I made my <a class="ref-post" href="https://atomicshrimp.com/post/2007/11/24/Spin-Art-Machine">Spin Art</a> machine. The deep slots (near the middle of the 6 and 7 segments) are from when I tried hollowing out a book using my router (I don't think I wrote that one up, as it was a disaster!)</p>
<figure style="margin: 0 auto; display: table;"><img alt="oldintonew14.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/o/.oldintonew14_m.jpg" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p> </p>
<h3>Video Stuff</h3>
<p>If you'd like to see more about the process of both of these halves of the project, there's a video for each of them - below:</p>
<div class="clearleft imagecentre"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2nSvqRdKM1Y" width="560"></iframe></div>
<div class="clearleft imagecentre"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UUgPBlN4E8M" width="560"></iframe></div>More Drink Can Tinwork - Star-Shaped Boxurn:md5:fe0d0eaa68542333bc5938d821fa67122016-10-22T04:18:00+00:002016-11-02T07:29:52+00:00MikeCraftMetalworkProjectsVideo<p><img alt="tinwork4thumb.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/d/tinwork4thumb.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;" title="tinwork4thumb.jpg, Nov 2010" />More tinwork fun with drink cans. This time for a star-shaped box with a convex profile - the design is still a bit half-baked, but I'm putting it up here in case anyone wants to experiment with it.</p>
<p>(Article updated October 2016 with video tutorial to make this item into a shabby-chic Christmas tree ornament)<br style="clear:both;" />
</p> <p class="clearleft">This is my prototype, which turned out quite well - it's interesting how the geometry of the internal corners on the star shape make the points pull back, lending a convex profile to the lid.</p>
<p><img alt="tinwork4_0.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/d/tinwork4_0.jpg" style="margin: 0 auto; display: block;" title="tinwork4_0.jpg, Nov 2010" /></p>
<p>It's a bit more time consuming and complex to draw out and assemble than any of the previous designs, partly because of the folding during assembly and partly just because it has such a lot of corners. It's not impossible though - the thin aluminium is quite flexible and forgiving.</p>
<p class="clearleft"><img alt="tinwork4_1.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/d/tinwork4_1.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;" title="tinwork4_1.jpg, Nov 2010" />Up to now, I've been scrubbing off the paint from the metal before making the boxes, or at least constructing them so that it's hidden on the inside.</p>
<p>But some cans have designs that are quite attractive - so let's see if we can exploit it in the finished design.</p>
<p class="clearleft"><img alt="tinwork4_2.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/d/tinwork4_2.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;" title="tinwork4_2.jpg, Nov 2010" />So I marked out the net of the box - same techniques as for the hexagonal one - hold the template over the sheet of metal and just press through the nodes, then take away the paper and join up the dots.</p>
<p>I used a 330ml can here and I managed to get both the base and lid onto the metal from a single can.</p>
<p><img alt="tinwork4_3.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/d/tinwork4_3.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;" title="tinwork4_3.jpg, Nov 2010" />I kept the embossed design quite simple.</p>
<p>I used a 330ml can here and I managed to get both the base and lid onto the metal from a single can.</p>
<p>Folding it up was pretty much the same as for the simpler designs (<a class="ref-post" href="https://atomicshrimp.com/post/2008/10/17/Drink-Can-Tinwork">here </a>and <a class="ref-post" href="https://atomicshrimp.com/post/2010/11/10/More-Drink-Can-Tinwork-Hexagonal-Snowflake-Box">here</a>) - the sides have to be kept pretty much straight until (and so that) the edge tabs can be folded over, then they can be pushed inwards to form the internal corners of the star afterward.</p>
<p class="clearleft"><img alt="tinwork4_4.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/d/tinwork4_4.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;" title="tinwork4_4.jpg, Nov 2010" />Here are the assembled boxes - the ink from the embossing/outlining process doesn't really suit the painted side of the metal, so I washed it off with soapy water.</p>
<p>The two halves of the box need a little tweaking and bending to adjust them to fit each other properly,</p>
<p class="clearleft"><img alt="tinwork4_5.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/d/tinwork4_5.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;" title="tinwork4_5.jpg, Nov 2010" />The painted design on the box obscured the embossing, so I rubbed the paint off the high spots with some abrasive paper - bringing out the embossed lines quite nicely.</p>
<p>So here's the finished box - I think a collection of these, made from different coloured cans, and strung on thin wire or gold thread, would not look out of place as Christmas tree ornaments - sure, it's fairly obvious that they're recycled, but that sort of thing seems to be quite fashionable at the moment.</p>
<h3 class="clearleft">Free Downloadable Templates</h3>
<p>A downloadable template for the star boxes is available if you want to try this for yourself - I've created two PDF templates: <a href="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/PDF/starbox330.pdf">this one</a> has base and lid patterns to fit metal taken from a 330ml can - and <a href="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/PDF/starbox440.pdf">this one</a> is for use with a tall 440ml can. - they ideally need to be printed on A4 paper.</p>
<p>See <a class="ref-post" href="https://atomicshrimp.com/post/2010/11/10/More-Drink-Can-Tinwork-Hexagonal-Snowflake-Box">here</a> for more details on how to use these templates - because this one is a bit more complex, they're laid out in two colours - the red lines need embossing from the front face of the metal.</p>
<p class="clearleft">Here's a video detailing the techniques and methods. This video documents the construction of a square box, but the procedure is the same for other shapes.</p>
<div class="imagecentre"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="383" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/B7vXNLpVafM" width="510"></iframe></div>
<h2 class="clearleft">Update (2014)</h2>
<p>This topic continues to be very popular, both here on Atomic Shrimp and on YouTube - and I have received a lot of feedback and questions about it - here's a quick video answering some of the most common questions about Drink Can Tinwork:</p>
<div class="imagecentre"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="383" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/RORcVe7xd50" width="510"></iframe></div>
<h2 class="clearleft">Update (2016)</h2>
<p>Here's a video tutorial for this specific pattern:</p>
<div class="imagecentre"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="287" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_E1lbSPUQ3s" width="510"></iframe></div>Trumpet Chanterellesurn:md5:fb160bcfced07296120d851e8bffc7d52016-10-22T04:12:00+00:002016-10-22T04:12:00+00:00MikeAutumnFoodForagingFungi<p><img alt="trumpetchanterellesthumb.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/t/trumpetchanterellesthumb.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;" title="trumpetchanterellesthumb.jpg, Jan 2015" />Out for a walk in the woods, to enjoy the autumn foliage, I very nearly overlooked an abundant crop of Trumpet Chanterelles.</p>
<p>(Article updated October 2016 to include video and recipe)</p> <h2><img alt="trumpetchanterelles1.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/t/trumpetchanterelles1.jpg" style="margin: 0 auto; display: block;" title="trumpetchanterelles1.jpg, Jan 2015" /></h2>
<h3>On Video</h3>
<p>This page was originally posted on 11th November 2014 - updated October 2016 to include the following video detailing these lovely mushrooms - and a recipe for cooking them:</p>
<p class="clearleft imagecentre"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="287" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JZDqLFllxh8" width="510"></iframe></p>
<h2 class="clearleft">What Are Trumpet Chanterelles?</h2>
<p>That turns out to be a less-than-straightforward question - there has been uncertainty whether to place this fungus in the genus Cantharellus (alongside the famous Golden Chanterelle), or in the genus Craterellus (with the less-well-known, but highly regarded Black Trumpet) - recent molecular genetic studies suggest the latter.</p>
<p>Furthermore, there may or may not be several closely related, but distinct species, or they may all be one somewhat-variable species - at the time of writing, the jury is still out on that one, but from the point of view of the forager, it doesn't really matter whether it's called Cantharellus infundibularis, Craterellus tubaeformis, or any combination thereof.</p>
<h3>Finding And Gathering Trumpet Chanterelles</h3>
<p class="clearleft"><img alt="trumpetchanterelles2.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/t/trumpetchanterelles2.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;" title="trumpetchanterelles2.jpg, Jan 2015" />The reason I say it doesn't really matter too much about the precise taxonomy of this fungus (or group of fungi) is that any remaining uncertainty does not impact edibility or ease of recognition.</p>
<p>The fungus has a dull brown cap - not initially easy to see amongst autumn leaves, but this is typically a gregarious organism - so finding a single specimen typically means many more will be found nearby.</p>
<p>The stalk is yellow (another common name for this mushroom is <i>Yellowfoot</i>), hollow inside and often contorted, flattened, ridged and sometimes branched - at the top of the stalk, the transition to the light greyish brown of the gills is quite abrupt.</p>
<p class="clearleft"><img alt="trumpetchanterelles3.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/t/trumpetchanterelles3.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;" title="trumpetchanterelles3.jpg, Jan 2015" />The cap is convex and simple when the fungus is small, but as it matures, it becomes wavy and irregularly funnel-shaped - a hole emerges in the centre, connecting with the hollow centre of the stem.</p>
<p>(It's a good idea to slice the mushrooms in half vertically when preparing them for the table, so that any insects or debris can be brushed out).</p>
<p class="clearleft"><img alt="trumpetchanterelles4.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/t/trumpetchanterelles4.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;" title="trumpetchanterelles4.jpg, Jan 2015" />Trumpet Chanterelles are found in deciduous or coniferous woodland, especially near the edges where sunlight can penetrate.</p>
<p>It is described by all my references as a mychorrhizal fungus (growing in symbiotic association with trees), but nearly all of the specimens I found on this trip were growing directly from mossy, decomposing fallen branches or cut tree stumps, so it looks like it may also be saprophytic.</p>
<p>This is an interesting, variable, yet very easily identified fungus - which makes it a promising candidate for my shortlist of mushroom heroes... if only it turns out to be good to eat (actually, there's no doubt about that, as I'm by no means the first to try it).</p>
<p class="clearleft"><img alt="trumpetchanterelles5.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/t/trumpetchanterelles5.jpg" style="margin: 0 auto; display: block;" title="trumpetchanterelles5.jpg, Jan 2015" /></p>
<h3 class="clearleft">A Closer Look</h3>
<p class="clearleft"><img alt="trumpetchanterelles6.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/t/trumpetchanterelles6.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;" title="trumpetchanterelles6.jpg, Jan 2015" />A closer view of the gills reveals them to be not separate structures from the flesh of the cap, but actually, gill-like wrinkles; this is a diagnostic feature of mushrooms in this group - as also is the fact that the gills branch and occasionally rejoin when traced from the stem outwards.</p>
<p>This particular species has gill ridges that cross the main radial patterning - that is, linking adjacent gill ridges - not very easy to photograph, but you can just about make out an example of them at the twelve o'clock position in this photo (amongst others less conspicuously in the same picture).</p>
<p>The gills are yellowish in very young specimens, turning greyish brown and darkening as the fruiting body matures.</p>
<h3 class="clearleft">In The Kitchen</h3>
<p>When prepared and sliced, the raw mushrooms have a faintly fruity aroma with very subtle hints of a resinous, spicy smell, but this is elusive.</p>
<p>My usual mode of preparation for tasting any new mushroom would be to gently fry it and serve on toast, but I'm getting tired of that tradition, so I decided to cook a few Trumpet Chanterelles and serve them with noodles.</p>
<p>I gently fried the sliced caps of the mushrooms in a little vegetable oil for three minutes while I simmered some ramen noodles (don't judge me!), then I added the drained noodles to the frying pan and tossed them so that they could deglaze and pick up the caramelised juices of the cooked mushrooms.</p>
<p>I only cooked a very small portion of the mushrooms I gathered, as this was a between-meal tasting (I will use the rest later).</p>
<p><img alt="trumpetchanterelles7.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/t/trumpetchanterelles7.jpg" style="margin: 0 auto; display: block;" title="trumpetchanterelles7.jpg, Jan 2015" /></p>
<h3 class="clearleft">The Verdict</h3>
<p>This is a delightful culinary mushroom - the texture is pleasant; firm and meaty, but not tough. The flavour is sweet, well-rounded and deeply wild-mushroomy - in short - a very well-performing wild fungus!</p>
<h3>Locally Abundant</h3>
<p>This fungus is often described in reference sources as 'locally abundant' - meaning that once you stumble across one specimen or a small group, you will probably be able to find many more close by - especially if you look for other examples of the same precise habitat nearby.</p>
<p>For example, I found the first of these growing on a decaying, mossy log at the edge of an area of mixed beech and conifer woodland - I found others on other moss-covered stumps, logs and banks, along a line parallel with the edge of the wood (the same approximate exposure to filtered light, weather conditions, distance from the water-filled drainage ditch, etc.)</p>
<p>I returned to the same area the following week and picked a whole basket full of these delicious mushrooms - the quantity was only limited by the time available - and our aniticpated capacity to cook and preserve them.</p>
<p><img alt="trumpetchanterelles8.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/t/trumpetchanterelles8.jpg" style="margin: 0 auto; display: block;" title="trumpetchanterelles8.jpg, Jan 2015" /></p>
<p class="clearleft">Fortunately, these mushrooms preserve well - they can be halved and dried on wire racks in a warm airy place, or just chopped and cooked down, then packed in their own juices into containers for freezing - these can later be thawed and added to soups, casseroles, risotto, or other savoury dishes.</p>The Stuffed-Est Crust Pizzaurn:md5:f8f9658ae39011759c133719497b72b22016-09-11T11:40:00+00:002016-11-02T07:31:00+00:00MikeBreadExperimentsFoodRecipes<figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img alt="stuffedestcrustthumb.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/s/stuffedestcrustthumb.jpg" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Stuffed crust pizza normally only has a ring of stuffing around the edge - I wanted to take that a bit further - so I made this - the Stuffed-All-The-Crust Pizza. The Stuffed-est of crusts.<br style="clear:both;" />
</p> <h3>The Idea</h3>
<p>It started, as many of my other (and larger) projects do - quite randomly and at the wrong end. I bought a 1 kilo jar of enormous hotdog sausages, without much idea of how I would use them - then I started thinking about making a stuffed crust pizza using all of them - but laid end to end, it would be far too big a pizza to go in the oven.</p>
<p>I decided to sandwich them between two thin pizza crusts, but somehow thread them through the whole of the crust, not just the rim. On removing them from the jar, I noticed they had a natural curve in them, from the way they were packed, so it was easy to arrange them into a decorative swirl - although they still protruded off the edge!</p>
<figure style="margin: 0 auto; display: table;"><img alt="stuffedestcrust1.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/s/stuffedestcrust1.jpg" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<h3>The Dough</h3>
<p>The dough was just a batch of my regular bread dough - you can find the recipe <a class="ref-post" href="https://atomicshrimp.com/post/2008/03/14/Bread">here</a> - except this time, I used half wholemeal flour and half white.</p>
<p>I kept the toppings fairly simple (the meat is inside the pizza) - so it was just finely chopped onion (because onions go with hot dogs) and red pepper, plus cheese. A lot of cheese.</p>
<h3>The Pizza</h3>
<p>Here's a short video detailing the construction of this monstrosity:</p>
<p class="imagecentre"> <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="287" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8WV78xVTCMc" width="510"></iframe></p>
<h3>The Result</h3>
<p>It was actually very tasty - the bits of sausage that were sticking out went crispy - the bits embedded in the base stayed plump and juicy - which was a nice contrast.</p>
<p>This was a tasty pizza. I'm thinking it could work well for picnics, as the toppings don't fall off.</p>
<h3>Even Stuffed-Er?</h3>
<p>Maybe this isn't the stuffed-est crust at all. Maybe we can go further (although, if we do, isn't that just calzone?)</p>Upcycled Foraging Knifeurn:md5:66ef1f05ee3c00019bbd2cfab411c58d2016-08-04T23:09:00+00:002016-11-01T07:39:07+00:00MikeCraftForagingMetalworkProjectsRecyclingVideoWoodworking<figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img alt="knifethumb.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/k/knifethumb.jpg" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>I wanted to make a one-off little knife to use when I go foraging for mushrooms. I made this one out of cheap junk.</p> <p class="clearleft"> </p>
<figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img alt="knife1.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/k/knife1.jpg" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>My foraging knife began life as a worn and broken decorator's knife that I picked up for 75p at a car boot sale - it had a thin and beautifully springy blade. I could see the potential.</p>
<p class="clearleft"> </p>
<figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img alt="knife2.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/k/knife2.jpg" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>I removed the old handle and ferrule and I ground the blade, rounding off the tip where it had been broken.</p>
<p class="clearleft"> </p>
<figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img alt="knife3.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/k/knife3.jpg" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>For the handle, I selected a piece of scrap hardwood that came from an imported pallet.</p>
<p>I don't know the exact species of wood. It smells like black pepper when cut - it's hard and fibrous, but sands to a very smooth finish.</p>
<p class="clearleft"> </p>
<figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img alt="knife4.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/k/knife4.jpg" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>I cut a rectangular section of the timber and drilled a hole in one end.</p>
<p>Then I glued the tang into the handle using epoxy thickened with some of the sawdust from the drilled hole.</p>
<p class="clearleft"> </p>
<figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img alt="knife5.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/k/knife5.jpg" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The glue cured and formed a very firm bond between blade and handle.</p>
<p>Using a coarse file, I shaped the wood to form a proper handle. I didn't really have any idea what shape I wanted at first - I just sort of 'found' it within the wood.</p>
<p>I ended up with something that's actually lovely to hold - tapered in the middle and with a curved back, it fits the hand very nicely.</p>
<p class="clearleft"> </p>
<figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img alt="knife6.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/k/knife6.jpg" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Using an 80 grit sanding flap wheel, I took off the file marks and did some initial smoothing.</p>
<p>There were still some imperfections, but I decided I actually like them. The blade isn't new or perfect, so it is in keeping that the handle looks a little lived-in.</p>
<p class="clearleft"> </p>
<figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img alt="knife7.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/k/knife7.jpg" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Once the handle had taken shape, I quickly realised the blade looked too rounded and dumpy - so I did some more grinding - mostly along the back side, to introduce a slight curve and bring the tip to a point.</p>
<p class="clearleft"> </p>
<figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img alt="knife8.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/k/knife8.jpg" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>I finished sanding the handle down to 400 grit - event though the wood is just scrap pallet timber, it finished quite flat and silky.</p>
<p class="clearleft"> </p>
<figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img alt="knife9.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/k/knife9.jpg" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>I rubbed on a little Linseed oil to finish the handle. It brought depth and shine to the wood grain.</p>
<p>It also did highlight some of the imperfections, but I am resolved to keep those.</p>
<p>I intended to put a layer of shellac varnish over the oil, but in the end, decided against it - I actually really like the soft sheen of the oiled wood handle. It will take on more colour and character as it ages, and as it is handled.</p>
<p class="clearleft"> </p>
<h3>The End Result</h3>
<p>This knife turned out much nicer than I hoped or expected. I'm really pleased to have taken what was essentially a workman's tool, fit for disposal, and given it a new life where it will be loved and cherished. It makes me feel good.</p>
<p class="clearleft"> </p>
<figure style="margin: 0 auto; display: table;"><img alt="knife10.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/k/knife10.jpg" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p class="clearleft"> </p>
<p>I've a mind to do some more things like this. In case you can't tell, I've been watching Trollskyy's channel on YouTube, and finding it quite inspiring.</p>
<p>I can't ever hope to be an expert knifemaker like him, but I do intend to explore a little more. I like the idea of upcycling an old file into a strong bushcraft knife - that might be coming soon here...</p>
<h3>Video</h3>
<p>Here's a video that goes into a little more detail of this upcycling project.</p>
<p class="imagecentre"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="287" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zfrEkyg246s" width="510"></iframe></p>Floating Wick Oil Lampurn:md5:4ea6f4f792f23506efca601f16ff48f02016-07-26T21:28:00+00:002016-07-26T21:30:31+00:00MikeCraftMetalworkVideo<figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img alt="oillampthumb.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/f/oillampthumb.jpg" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Here's a really quick and simple way to make a floating-wick oil lamp, using materials that can be easily found anywhere</p> <p class="clearleft">This floating wick oil lamp is made from a heatproof glass, a crown cap bottle cap and a little bit of absorbent kitchen paper.</p>
<p>It will burn for hours on a surprisingly small amount of oil. Here's how to make it:</p>
<p><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="287" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CpKa6YF9mlg" width="510"></iframe> </p>
<div class="wikinote notewarning">
<p class="note-title"><strong>Oil Lamp Safety</strong></p>
<p>This lamp can be made safer by adding a little water to the oil - when it burns down, the wick will soak up the water and this will extinguish the flame.</p>
<p>However, even with this added precaution, it is a good idea to <b>NEVER LEAVE A NAKED FLAME BURNING UNATTENDED</b></p>
<p> </p>
</div>Rosebay Willowherburn:md5:0b376e5b6d0b195200ae1c94f7009ec02016-07-26T20:18:00+00:002016-07-27T20:43:25+00:00MikeForagingHedgerowsSummerVideo<figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img alt="rosebaythumb.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/r/rosebaythumb.jpg" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Rosebay Willowherb is a common plant of roadsides and riverbanks which has edible roots, stems and flowers.</p> <h3 class="clearleft">What Is Rosebay Willowherb?</h3>
<p>Chamerion angustifolium - also known as 'fireweed' and 'bombweed' on account of its tendency to appear on disturbed or scorched ground - this is a common plant, often seen in great patches along roadsides, path edges, river banks and wood edges.</p>
<figure style="margin: 0 auto; display: table;"><img alt="rosebay1.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/r/rosebay1.jpg" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>It grows up to about two metres tall, producing a spike of pink flowers that open progressively over time - starting at the bottom end,</p>
<p>The leaves are long and slender and their arrangement on the stem is similar to that of some willow trees - which is where the plant get the 'willowherb' part of its name.</p>
<figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img alt="rosebay2.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/r/rosebay2.jpg" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The individual flowers have four petals surrounding a protruding and intricate arrangement of stamens and stigma.</p>
<p>The flowers are edible - I nibbled one and it was mildly sweet and slighty fruity to taste.</p>
<p>They can be infused in hot water to make tea, and are sometimes made into jelly by steeping in water, straining, then boiling the resulting decoction with sugar and pectin.</p>
<p>The plant produces thick creeping roots which can be cooked and eaten.</p>
<p class="clearleft"> </p>
<figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img alt="rosebay4.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/r/rosebay4.jpg" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>It's the stems that probably of most immediate interest to the casual forager. They contain a moist, slightly stringy pith that can be scraped out and eaten raw.</p>
<p>The pith is distinctly sweet and sticky. I have heard it described as tasting like melon, but I think that's probably a little generous - there's a faint cucumber-like taste - not at all unpleasant.</p>
<p>Each stem only produces a fairly small amount of the sweet pith, so it would be quite an undertaking to make a proper meal of this plant, but it's an interestng wayside nibble and even on a hot and sunny day, the juicy pith is quite refreshing.</p>
<p class="clearleft"> </p>
<figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img alt="rosebay3.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/r/rosebay3.jpg" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The flowers are followed by long, slender seed pods which eventually split open like bananas and release hundreds of tiny seeds embedded in clouds of wispy fluff - this can be gathered and used as tinder to assist in the lighting of fires.</p>
<p class="clearleft">I found and ate this plant whilst on a foraging walk along the Meon Valley Trail - along with a number of other interesting wild edibles - the video below details some of the things we found:</p>
<p class="clearleft"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="287" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AxqrZbOUO-o" width="510"></iframe> </p>Bilberries - And The Test Run Of The Berry Pickerurn:md5:8a198ac3b47e9ed3765c1c695965b0162016-07-15T21:02:00+00:002016-07-15T21:02:00+00:00MikeBerriesFoodForagingSummerVideo<p><img alt="bilberriesthumb.JPG" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/b/bilberriesthumb.JPG" style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;" title="bilberriesthumb.JPG, Jan 2015" />An outing to The Devil's Punchbowl at Hindhead, Surrey, for a picnic lunch and a spot of berry picking. Bilberries are found in abundance here, and this trip has become an annual fixture for us.</p>
<p>This article originally written on June 29 2012 - Revisited Summer 2016 - with video.</p> <h3 class="clearleft">Video</h3>
<p>(Added Summer 2016)</p>
<p><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="287" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hSgPu2fJGKE" width="510"></iframe></p>
<h2 class="clearleft">What Are Bilberries?</h2>
<p><i>Vaccinium myrtillus</i> - Bilberries, also known as Blaeberries, Whortleberries, Hurts or Whinberries are - in all but name - northern European blueberries. They're smaller than American highbush blueberries - with fruits up to about one centimetre in diameter, growing on wiry plants that range in size from ankle-high scrub to willowy, waist-high bushes.</p>
<p><img alt="bilberries3.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/b/bilberries3.jpg" style="margin: 0 auto; display: block;" title="bilberries3.jpg, Jan 2015" /></p>
<p>The fruits are quite acidic in taste, delicately aromatic and juicy - the pulp and juice of the fruit is a deep maroon-purple colour throughout, indelibly staining everything it touches.</p>
<h2>Picking Bilberries</h2>
<p><img alt="bilberries2.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/b/bilberries2.jpg" style="margin: 0 auto; display: block;" title="bilberries2.jpg, Jan 2015" /></p>
<p>The bilberry plant is Ericaceous - so it is only found on acid soils - on heaths, moors and woodland.</p>
<p>The berries are usually borne on fairly new growth, which is often concentrated mainly at the top of the plant, but because of their branching habit, may in some cases be distributed throughout the whole volume of the bush.</p>
<p>When ripe, the berries are easily picked by hand, although the low growth habit can make prolonged gathering quite tiring on the back.</p>
<p>Considerable variation in fruit proliferation and size may be found within different microclimates in the same general location - for example, a south-facing, sunny slope may bear smaller fruit in large numbers - plants growing in more shady locations may produce fewer, larger fruits - although there are probably genetic factors affecting this too</p>
<h3>Super Food</h3>
<p>Blueberries are frequently called a 'super food' - because of the nutrients they contain - this is also true - indeed, more so - of wild bilberries. The dark, staining colour of the juice is attributable to a group of chemicals called <i>anthocyanin pigments</i> - these are powerful antioxidants and are reputed to be beneficial to human health.</p>
<p>The berries also contain vitamins A and C.</p>
<h2>Testing The Berry Picker</h2>
<p>Over <a class="ref-post" href="https://atomicshrimp.com/post/2008/06/01/Berry-Picker">here</a>, I constructed a berry picker, consisting of a stiff wire comb attached to a cylinder - designed to speed the collection of bilberries. This outing afforded a chance to test it...</p>
<p><img alt="bilberries1.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/b/bilberries1.jpg" style="margin: 0 auto; display: block;" title="bilberries1.jpg, Jan 2015" /></p>
<p>The first thing to say is that the machine performed exactly as expected - the wire comb is scooped up through the top part of the bush and it does indeed collect the berries there, mostly intact. The spacing of the tines was set largely by educated guesswork - the wires are spaced on about 7mm centres, leaving about a 5mm gap between them - which turns out to be pretty much optimal - any closer and the bushed would be stripped of their leaves - any further and some of the berries would just slip through</p>
<p><img alt="bilberries6.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/b/bilberries6.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;" title="bilberries6.jpg, Jan 2015" />It's not by any means as neat and tidy as hand-picking, but it is easier, and in nearly all cases, I believe it's more efficient.</p>
<p>On bushes with only sparse fruits, it's probably about the same speed as picking by hand, but in those areas where the plants have many fruits, it really comes into its own and may be ten or more times faster than hand picking</p>
<p>We moved into a densely-fruited patch for about the last half hour of our two-hour session - and in this half hour, I was able to pick easily one and a half times as much fruit as in the previous hour and a half - the efficiency of hand-picking does not scale similarly, as it is already largely limited by the speed at which berries can be finger-picked and passed to the collecting container.</p>
<p class="clearleft"><img alt="bilberries4.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/b/bilberries4.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;" title="bilberries4.jpg, Jan 2015" />It's not perfect though - the machine does bruise the fruit a little and it collects indiscriminately - so the collection includes leaves, twigs and unripe berries - which need to be sifted out by hand afterwards, but even taking into account this extra time and effort, the fruit weight per unit time is considerably improved with the machine</p>
<h3 class="clearleft">Crunching The Numbers</h3>
<p>My wife (who is quite dextrous in picking bilberries) was able to collect 450g of clean fruit (the leftmost container in the above picture) in the two hours.</p>
<p>My haul, after cleaning and picking over (an extra hour's work), was 1100g of cleaned fruit (the middle and rightmost, large containers) - so picking by hand, about 225g per hour is achievable (possibly rising to 300g per hour in a good picking spot) - with the machine, 350g per hour is the baseline, potentially rising to 1kg per hour or more, in well-fruited areas.</p>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>If the berries are to be used for juice, wine, jelly or anything else where the pulp will be strained, minimal picking over would be necessary and there is no question that the machine would be vastly more efficient than picking by hand.</p>
<p>In other cases, it's still more efficient, but the main benefit is in maximising the amount of fruit that can be gathered <i>per visit</i> - if you have limited time at the berry patch, but spare time when you get back home, it's great, but for perfectly intact berries, to be eaten raw or used as garnish, hand-picking remains the better method.</p>
<h3>In The Kitchen</h3>
<p>Bilberries have a wide range of potential culinary uses - including the obvious ones like pies or jam, but they can also be used to make a sauce for roast meats, baked into cakes or muffins, or of course just eaten fresh with cream, custard or ice cream.</p>
<p>One of my favourite ways to use them is to make a sweet shortcrust pastry case and bake it blind, then put 150g of bilberries in a pan with the juice of one lemon and a couple of tablespoons of sugar, simmering very gently until the berries start to release their juice.</p>
<p>A heaped teaspoon of cornflour mixed into a little water is then briskly stirred in, thickening the juice and the whole lot is poured into the flan case and left to cool. After a few hours, the cornflour will have set the berry and juice filling into a wonderful, velvety jelly - slices of the bilberry tart can be served with creme fraiche or ice cream.</p>
<h2>Eating</h2>
<p><img alt="bilberries5.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/b/bilberries5.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;" title="bilberries5.jpg, Jan 2015" />There wasn't time for that today, though, so we just very gently warmed some berries with a little lemon juice and sugar, and served them over waffles with cream. Delicious.</p>
<h3 class="clearleft">Bilberries In Flower</h3>
<p><img alt="bilberries7.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/b/bilberries7.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;" title="bilberries7.jpg, May 2010" />In spring and early summer, it's worth looking out for bilberry plants in flower - this should be a fair indication of the amount of fruit they'll bear later on.</p>
<p>The flowers are little waxy bells, white or pinkish - not always easy to spot from a standing position.</p>
<p class="clearleft"> </p>Magnet Fishingurn:md5:cc7dc384fcb1fbbd122773e4ef0108902016-06-14T21:59:00+00:002016-06-15T22:14:48+00:00MikeOddPlasticProjects<figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img alt="magnetfishingthumb.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/m/magnetfishingthumb.jpg" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>A few years ago, I salvaged a collection of small but powerful rare earth magnets from old computer hard drives.</p>
<p>They've been sat there (well, actually stuck to a bit of shelving), waiting to be used for something. OK - let's go Magnet Fishing!</p> <p class="clearleft"> </p>
<h3>What Is Magnet Fishing</h3>
<p>Magnet fishing doesn't actually involve fish at all - it's essentially just treasure hunting for ferrous objects that people might have accidentally dropped, or deliberately thrown, into bodies of water.</p>
<p>There are a couple of very popular public fishing spots near me - I'm going to try them first. Maybe I'll find something nice, or maybe I'll just help to clean up the river by pulling out a bunch of rusty old junk - either way, it's good.</p>
<h3>Making My Magnet Fishing Rig</h3>
<p class="clearleft"> </p>
<figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img alt="magnetfishing1.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/m/magnetfishing1.jpg" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>I took three matching pairs of magnets from my collection. The magnets themselves were affixed to crescent-shaped metal base plates that already had mounting holes, but the holes were a little on the small side - I wanted to put a stronger M6 bolt through them, so I had to drill them out.</p>
<p>I made a quick and dirty jig to place them on while drilling them - it's just two bits of wood and a nail, but it works OK - the wood block stops the workpiece from spinning if the drill happens to jam in it, and the nail prevents ribbons of razor sharp swarf from whipping around and slicing my beautiful hands.</p>
<p class="clearleft"> </p>
<figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img alt="magnetfishing2.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/m/magnetfishing2.jpg" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>It worked just fine - and the nail was a very sensible idea. The metal drilled very nicely and my magnets were now ready to affix to something.</p>
<p class="clearleft"> </p>
<figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img alt="magnetfishing3.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/m/magnetfishing3.jpg" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>As a baseplate for my magnets, I decided to use a couple of the recycled HDPE plastic hexagons that I made when I was attempting to make a <a class="ref-post" href="https://atomicshrimp.com/post/2011/07/31/Making-A-Recycled-Plastic-Boat">recycled plastic boat</a>.</p>
<p>The plastic boat project was a failure, but I'm glad I kept these pieces - I knew they'd come in handy eventually.</p>
<p>I marked out the holes and drilled the pieces together.</p>
<p class="clearleft"> </p>
<figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img alt="magnetfishing4.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/m/magnetfishing4.jpg" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Then I bolted the magnet plates through both pieces of plastic and secured the other side with a washer and nylon locking nut.</p>
<p>This wasn't easy. The bolt, the nut, the washer, the screwdriver and the spanner all kept jumping across to stick to the magnet, but I got there in the end.</p>
<p class="clearleft"> </p>
<figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img alt="magnetfishing5.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/m/magnetfishing5.jpg" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Next, I needed some way to attach the whole thing to a rope, so I drilled a couple of bigger holes and fixed in a thick, double-ended curved bolt (part of a car exhaust mounting, I think) - I picked it up on the side of the road a long time ago and threw it in my odds box for some future use.</p>
<p>At this point, with all six magnets in place, the thing needs some careful handling - I daren't expose it to any flat metal surfaces - it would stick very hard indeed and would be difficult to remove.</p>
<p class="clearleft"> </p>
<figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img alt="magnetfishing6.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/m/magnetfishing6.jpg" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>And there we are - the magnet fishing accessory is complete.</p>
<p>In case you're wondering - the metal hoop is deliberately off-centre - this is so that if the magnet should get stuck to something too large or otherwise immovable, pulling on the rope should tend to detach the device at one side first, rather than all at once.</p>
<p>All that remains is to securely attach a length of strong rope, then go off and dangle it in the water to see what I can find - I'll update this page with my results soon...</p>
<h3 class="clearleft">What Might I find?</h3>
<p>Well, proper treasure is probably out of the question, unless it happens to be in a steel box, but there are probably some things worth finding such as tools and knives. I imagine I'll find a fish hook or two as well, so I shan't attempt anything without the gloves.</p>
<div class="wikinote notewarning">
<p class="note-title"><strong>Magnet Safety</strong></p>
<b>Rare Earth magnets such as these are very powerful and require careful handling - any of the following bad things could happen:</b>
<p>If you allow two magnets to attract each other in an uncontrolled fashion, they can easily pinch your flesh and cause bruising or blood blisters, or they may shatter into sharp pieces which can cause eye or skin injury.</p>
<p>If you were to swallow one (or worse, two) strong magnets, they can pinch together and perforate your gut, which can be fatal.</p>
<p>If you allow them anywhere near magnetic media such as the magnetic strip on a credit card (or magnetic computer disks or tapes) they will destroy the information on the media.</p>
<p>They will jump to, and aggressively stick to pretty nearly anything made of iron or steel, and can damage the surface of such items.</p>
</div>
<p class="clearleft"> </p>
<h3>Results...</h3>
<p class="clearleft"> </p>
<figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img alt="magnetfishing7.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/m/magnetfishing7.jpg" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>I attached a piece of strong nylon rope to the metal hoop - I decided to double the rope and attach it with two half hitches, so there was no chance of it coming undone.</p>
<p>Then I went off to the last non-tidal bit of the river Itchen, at Wood Mill, near Southampton.</p>
<p class="clearleft"> </p>
<figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img alt="magnetfishing8.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/m/magnetfishing8.jpg" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Grasping the rope securely, I dropped my magnet device into the water, then dragged it along.</p>
<p>I figured the best place to trawl for items should be near the edge. Maybe I got this wrong though - it could be that anyone who dropped anything there was able to retrieve it easily.</p>
<p>It wasn't very long though, before I caught something...</p>
<p class="clearleft"> </p>
<figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img alt="magnetfishing9.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/m/magnetfishing9.jpg" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The first catch was the pull-tab lid of a tin of Spam (presumably the contents of the tin were either bait, or a snack for someone fishing here).</p>
<p>So I carried on...</p>
<p class="clearleft"> </p>
<figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img alt="magnetfishing10.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/m/magnetfishing10.jpg" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Next, I got a metal top from a bottle of Newcastle Brown Ale and a random unrecognisable chunk of rusty metal.</p>
<p>Such treasures! I could hardly contain my excitement!</p>
<h3 class="clearleft">The Day's Haul</h3>
<p>The totality of the day's catch comprised: A rod rest, a hair grip, a piece of wire that might have been part of a fishing weight, a bottle top and a chunk of rust.</p>
<p>I did also gather numerous small flakes of rust - which I assume to have fallen off the metal piling that edges this section of river.</p>
<p>In all, a slightly disappointing collection of junk, all of which I threw away when I found a bin.</p>
<p class="clearleft"> </p>
<figure style="margin: 0 auto; display: table;"><img alt="magnetfishing11.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/m/magnetfishing11.jpg" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Maybe next time I'll find something a bit more interesting or useful.</p>Making A Koncovka (Slovak Wooden Flute)urn:md5:8e8c68a8237ec179cd4afa1c65dc269f2016-05-28T21:06:00+00:002016-06-12T14:33:52+00:00MikeCraftInstrumentVideoWoodworking<figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img alt="koncovkathumb.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/k/koncovkathumb.jpg" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>I fancy making a musical instrument. Trouble is, I'm no musician (well, I can play the harmonica and pan flute to a mediocre level).</p>
<p>So I was looking for something that requires a bit of intuition, rather than dexterity in the playing. The Koncovka seems to fit the bill exactly - read on to find out why...</p> <p class="clearleft"> </p>
<p>The Koncovka (pronounced kont-sov-ka) is a bit of an unusual wind instrument. It resembles a simple recorder or penny whistle, except there are no finger holes at all - different notes are achieved by overblowing - that is, the note produced changes depending on the pressure of the airstream being blown.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>That sounds ideal for me - I don't know that I'd ever have the patience and dexterity to master or even become moderately competent at the recorder, but the koncovka sounds like it's something that you almost play as an extension of your own body - I like the sound of this.</p>
<p class="clearleft"> </p>
<figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img alt="koncovka1.png" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/k/koncovka1.png" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>This instrument is traditionally made from a natural branch of Elder (Sambucus spp). Fortunately, Elder trees are abundant near me (I have already enjoyed their <a class="ref-post" href="https://atomicshrimp.com/post/2009/06/03/Elderflower-Fizz">flowers</a> in other articles).</p>
<p>So I cut a nice straight piece of Elder branch, about 30mm in diameter. I think I'm supposed to leave this to dry out for a couple of years, but that's too long a game for me, so I will be trying to work with green wood here...</p>
<p class="clearleft"> </p>
<figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img alt="koncovka2.png" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/k/koncovka2.png" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Elder is a curious timber - very hard and tough when dry, but when wet, very pliable and almost rubbery.</p>
<p>It also has the unusual feature of a core of soft pith running right down the centre - this, I hope, will make it easier to hollow out - the theory being that the lead point of my spade drill bit should follow the path of least resistance of the soft central pith, and this should keep the bore centred within the branch.</p>
<p>As I'm using a spade bit, I can't just mount the branch in a clamp and drill down into it - the waste material will choke the hole and jam the drill bit solid within the workpiece. A different, slightly unconventional approach is required:</p>
<p>I've actually mounted my drill upside down in a bracket. I will present the workpiece to the drill and push it downwards.</p>
<p class="clearleft"> </p>
<figure style="margin: 0 auto; display: table;"><img alt="koncovka3.png" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/k/koncovka3.png" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>This presents a few safety challenges - firstly, the fact that when the workpiece is not in place, there's a spinning drill sticking up in mid air waiting for me to poke myself with, or snag my clothing on, so I was extra careful. The other risk is that the drillbit could just burst out of the side of the branch and I may catch myself on it - to mitigate this, I made sure to hold the workpiece well away from the area where I knew the end of the drill bit to be.</p>
<p class="clearleft"> </p>
<figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img alt="koncovka4.png" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/k/koncovka4.png" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Anyway, it worked. It was hard work and the friction caused the green timber to emit copious steam at times, but I ended up with a nice, fairly clean 19mm hole all the way down the centre of the branch.</p>
<p>I considered mounting the piece between centres in my drill powered lathe, to remove the bark and turn it completely cylindrical, but the piece isn't straight enough for that - I would break through the wall somewhere. Anyway, this is a folk instrument we're making - it's supposed to have a sort of rustic, knobbly look to it.</p>
<p class="clearleft"> </p>
<figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img alt="koncovka5.png" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/k/koncovka5.png" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>So I just shaved the bark off with my pocket knife. This, and the hollow centre, should allow the timber to dry in a matter of days or weeks, rather than months or years.</p>
<p class="clearleft"> </p>
<figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img alt="koncovka6.png" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/k/koncovka6.png" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>A week later, my hollow branch had dried very significantly - it shrank in diameter by maybe 10 percent and felt a lot lighter and stiffer than it was originally.</p>
<p>I sanded the outside smooth and filled in a little crack that had opened up at one end (using epoxy mixed with wood dust saved from sanding), then I cut a voice hole near one end.</p>
<p class="clearleft"> </p>
<figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img alt="koncovka7.png" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/k/koncovka7.png" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Next, I made a small cylindrical fipple plug out of hazel wood and formed it to fit snugly inside the end of the bore.</p>
<p>I cut a shallow notch lengthwise in the plug.</p>
<p class="clearleft"> </p>
<figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img alt="koncovka8.png" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/k/koncovka8.png" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>I glued it in place - testing by blowing as I positioned it - for this reason, I used nontoxic PVA glue as I didn't fancy getting something like epoxy in my mouth.</p>
<p class="clearleft"> </p>
<figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img alt="koncovka9.png" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/k/koncovka9.png" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>When the glue was dry, I cut the plug flush with the end of the instrument, then sanded it smooth.</p>
<p class="clearleft"> </p>
<figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img alt="koncovka10.png" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/k/koncovka10.png" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The result is a narrow windway that directs a stream of air at the tapered lip of the voicing hole.</p>
<p class="clearleft"> </p>
<figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img alt="koncovka11.png" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/k/koncovka11.png" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Finally, I finished the outside of the instrument with a mixture of beeswax and linseed oil, then rubbed it vigorously with a soft cloth to polish it.</p>
<p class="clearleft"> </p>
<p>I'm really happy with the way this project turned out. It's traditional to decorate these instruments with intricate floral and vinous patterns, but I decided that I actually really like the mottled appearance of the natural wood.</p>
<figure style="margin: 0 auto; display: table;"><img alt="koncovka12.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/k/koncovka12.jpg" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<h3>Playing The Koncovka</h3>
<p>It's not all that difficult to get a good range of different notes out of this interesting instrument. I need some practice on it of course, but it's a lot of fun. </p>
<h3>Video</h3>
<p>Here's the video version of the whole process of makimg the thing:</p>
<p> </p>
<iframe width="510" height="287" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hJNgQm5F5j4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<p> </p>Sliced Tree Bowlurn:md5:b63d889a76d118a97193d09d6fde7af02016-04-17T15:42:00+00:002016-04-21T20:25:34+00:00MikeCraftHedgerowsProjectsWoodworking<figure class="clearleft" style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img alt="treeslicebowlthumb.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/s/treeslicebowlthumb.jpg" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>This is a project based on a woodworking technique that I discovered (or maybe invented!) completely by accident.</p>
<p>It's a wooden bowl made from slices of tree trunk - the clever part is that nature provides the curvature...</p>
<p> </p> <p class="clearleft"> </p>
<figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img alt="treeslicebowl2.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/s/treeslicebowl2.jpg" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>It started with some coppiced hazel sticks - near where I live, the local council had cut down a mixed hardwood hedgerow - including some hazel coppice yielding very straight sticks in a variety of diameters from about 5cm to 15cm.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I'm fairly sure these poles will either just be left to rot (which isn't necessarily a bad thing - it's good for wildlife), or they will be chipped and hauled off for disposal.</p>
<p>I grabbed a small selection of them for some small-scale woodworking projects.</p>
<p class="clearleft"> </p>
<figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img alt="treeslicebowl3.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/s/treeslicebowl3.jpg" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The wood is still 'green' (full of natural moisture) so can't be used for ordinary woodworking purposes, but it is possible to turn items on the lathe from green, and I intended to do this.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>In order to square off the base of one of the pieces I had already cut, I had to slice a very thin piece off the end.</p>
<p>The resulting piece was very lovely - translucent in its wet state and it was possible to see the rings and medullary rays through the wood when it was held up to the light.</p>
<p>Because it was a curiosity, I brought it indoors and set it flat on a table. The next day, a surprising change had taken place.</p>
<p class="clearleft"> </p>
<figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img alt="treeslicebowl4.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/s/treeslicebowl4.jpg" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The piece had acquired a curious cupped shape - concave on the upper side that had been exposed to the air, convex on the underside that had been flat against the table.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I expected this effect to even itself out (and the piece to return to a flat disc when fully dried on both sides), but it didn't.</p>
<p>The disc, once completely dry (which only took a week, as it was so thin) retained its cupped shape. Immediately, ideas started forming in my head.</p>
<p class="clearleft"> </p>
<figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img alt="treeslicebowl5.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/s/treeslicebowl5.jpg" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>I cut another 25 or so thin slices of green hazel log. To accentuate the cupping, I lightly sponged one side of each, and laid them, wet side down, on a sheet of plastic.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I left them there for a week - and sure enough, they all did the same thing as the original slice - they curled up at the edges, each forming a tiny bowl.</p>
<p class="clearleft"> </p>
<h3>Why Did The Wood Curl Up?</h3>
<p>Wood is composed of longitudinal fibres (that is, running up and down parallel with the axis of the trunk)</p>
<p>These shrink across their thickness (but not their length) when they dry out - and expand when they get wet - as a result, a piece of wood will swell up in directions perpendicular to the grain when it gets wet.</p>
<p>This wood was already wet with the natural moisture that exists in fresh green wood. Placing the pieces flat on the table means that the exposed upper side could dry out and shrink faster than the underside, where moisture was trapped and prevented from leaving.</p>
<p>So the top side of the discs shrank, pulling up the edges - it is quite surprising that this didn't result in the formation of cracks, but it didn't.</p>
<figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img alt="treeslicebowl6.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/s/treeslicebowl6.jpg" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Of course, a collection of tiny bowls is still not a lot of use like that, however, I had an idea, but first, they would need to be tidied up a little.</p>
<p> </p>
<p class="clearleft"> </p>
<figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img alt="treeslicebowl7.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/s/treeslicebowl7.jpg" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>I carefully sanded the concave side of each one using an 80 grit flap wheel sanding accessory, mounted in an electric drill. This is a coarser sanding grit than I would have liked, but the finest I could find as a flap wheel, so it would have to do. I just took it gently, and the finish still came out nice and smooth,</p>
<p> </p>
<p class="clearleft"> </p>
<figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img alt="treeslicebowl8.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/s/treeslicebowl8.jpg" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The convex side of the pieces was easier - I sanded this smooth against a drill-mounted sanding disc.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The gloves were a worthwhile precaution, by the way - I thought I wouldn't need them, but looking at the condition of the leather after I had finished sanding all of the wooden discs on both sides, I reckon I would have lost a fair bit of skin and a couple of fingernails if I had not worn the gloves.</p>
<p class="clearleft"> </p>
<figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img alt="treeslicebowl9.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/s/treeslicebowl9.jpg" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Now it was time to start assembling my plan. I used a hot melt glue gun to stick the discs together in an overlapping pattern.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The individual small curvature of each piece very quickly compounds to form a bowl-like assembly.</p>
<p>It all went together very nicely, although the end result is not exactly regular - there are a few gaps and wrong overlaps, but still the effect works.</p>
<p class="clearleft"> </p>
<figure style="margin: 0 auto; display: table;"><img alt="treeslicebowl10.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/s/treeslicebowl10.jpg" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>As a proof of concept, I am actually quite thrilled and excited by this - and I still have a number of the hazel logs left, so I have aple opportunity to try again - in fact, this is an incredibly economical method of making an object - it only consumed about 25cm of the hazel pole, but has made a bowl that is more than 30cm in diameter.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I think with a little more care in construction, it would make a good fruit bowl or serving basket for bread - despite being thin and light, it feels quite strong.</p>
<figure style="margin: 0 auto; display: table;"><img alt="treeslicebowl1.jpg" class="media" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/s/treeslicebowl1.jpg" />
<figcaption> </figcaption>
</figure>
<h3>Video</h3>
<p>Here's a video showing a little more detail of the methods of construction of this experimental bowl:</p>
<p><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="287" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8yWq38VwmrU" width="510"></iframe></p>Wood Blewitsurn:md5:a8cae6907ace7b47281185a24c0ddf212015-11-09T00:13:00+00:002015-11-10T18:45:16+00:00MikeAutumnFoodForagingFungi<figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img class="media" alt="blewittsthumb.jpg" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/b/blewittsthumb.jpg" /><figcaption> </figcaption></figure><p>Here's an interesting thing - Blewits are supposedly quite a common woodland mushroom - and I spend a fair bit of my foraging time in woodland - these should have been one of the first mushrooms I wrote about, but despite looking, I never managed to find them, until now.</p> <figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img class="media" alt="blewitts1.jpg" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/b/.blewitts1_m.jpg" /><figcaption> </figcaption></figure><p>Out for a Sunday afternoon walk, I spotted a patch of mushrooms pushing their way up through the leaf litter beneath some oak trees in a shady wood edge.</p><p>They had a bluish-lilac tinge to the caps - especially the younger specimens - could it be that I had finally found Wood Blewits?</p><h3>What Are Wood Blewits?</h3><p><em>Clitocybe nuda</em> (although most of my books refer to it by the deprecated name <em>Lepista nuda</em>) - this fungus grows in piles of decaying leaf litter. This rather neatly attractive mushroom has variable colour that can be pink, pale lilac or buff (or any combination of these).</p><p>The cap is up to about 15cm in diameter - becoming convex and wavy as it matures - the stem is stiff and fibrous, but breaks apart or crushes easily (I first suspected that my specimens had been infested by maggots, but this turned out to be the normal texture of the stalk). The top of the cap is slightly sticky when moist.</p><p>The base of the stalk is often asymmetrically bulbous and (because it grows in leaf litter) is easily uprooted, revealing the fluffy whitish mycelia.</p><p>Apart from the colour, the most distinctive attribute of this fungus is the smell. My books describe it as 'scented' or 'strongly perfumed'.</p><p>The smell was certainly conspicuous, but I found it really hard to pin down and describe - at times, it was just richly mushroomy, but on breaking the flesh, I thought I detected hints of mango - but when I went back for another sniff, I thought maybe it was more like lavender.</p><p>When I cut them up to cook them, the bowl of cut pieces had a smell a bit like fresh green apples, but always with a funky, mushroomy, forest-floor note to it.</p><p>Suffice to say that this mushroom is fragrant in a fruity-perfumed-mushroomy way that, once you experience it, you won't soon mistake for anything else.</p><figure style="margin: 0 auto; display: block;"><img class="media" alt="blewitts2.jpg" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/b/blewitts2.jpg" /><figcaption> </figcaption></figure><p><span style="line-height: 1.6; text-align: center;">I picked half a basketfull of these beautiful mushrooms.</span></p><p>Unless required for later identification, I always cut the base of the stalk off my mushrooms before placing them on their sides in the basket.</p><p>This means that if they tip over upside down, there's less chance of dirt falling into the gill structures, which would make them unpleasant to eat.</p><figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img class="media" alt="blewitts3.jpg" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/b/blewitts3.jpg" /><figcaption> </figcaption></figure><h3>Positive ID</h3><p>Blewits can possibly be mistaken for one or more species of <em>Cortinarius</em>, which are found in similar habitats, and have purplish colouration and generally similar appearance.</p><p>The <em>Cortinarius </em>species don't have the distinctive smell of Blewits, but if you've never experienced that, what do you do?</p><h3>Spore Print</h3><p>The definitive test is a spore print. Trim off the stalk of one of the mushrooms and place it gills-down on a sheet of paper or card, and cover it with a cup or bowl to isolate it from air currents which might blow the spores away.</p><p>Leave it like that for a couple of hours, then carefully lift away the bowl and examine the spore print. <em>Cortinarius </em>spores are rich, rusty brown in colour; Blewits have spores that are creamy-buff to pale pink in colour...</p><figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img class="media" alt="blewitts4.jpg" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/b/blewitts4.jpg" /><figcaption> </figcaption></figure><p>...So pale in fact that my first spore print on white paper wasn't visible at all. In order to determine that there even was a spore print being produced, I tried again, this time, slipping a piece of black card under half the mushroom.</p><p>And there is is - a pale creamy-buff spore print. Definitely not <em>Cortinarius </em>then. Off to the kitchen!</p><p class="clearleft">First though, let's just take another look at these mushrooms - they really are about as neat and pretty a fungus as you might ever hope to meet - especially the young specimens - perfectly round, very handsomely convex, with tidy and orderly gills, and a subtle, but pretty stylish sense of colour co-ordination.</p><figure style="margin: 0 auto; display: block;"><img class="media" alt="blewitts5.jpg" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/b/blewitts5.jpg" /><figcaption> </figcaption></figure><figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img class="media" alt="blewitts6.jpg" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/b/blewitts6.jpg" /><figcaption> </figcaption></figure><p>But on with the show!</p><h3>Cooking Blewits</h3><p>I wiped the tops of the mushrooms with a moistened paper towel to remove traces of dirt and leaves, then sliced them into pieces.</p><p>(This was the point at which the aroma was most notable and fruity).</p><p>I also chopped up a couple of shallots and fried them a little in a little butter, then turned up the heat and tipped in the mushroom pieces.</p><figure style="margin: 0 auto; display: block;"><img class="media" alt="blewitts7.jpg" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/b/blewitts7.jpg" /><figcaption> </figcaption></figure><p>They very quickly shrank down in size and released quite a lot of liquid. I kept going and cooked them hot until this was reduced down to a glossy coating and the mushrooms were soft and beginning to break apart.</p><div class="wikinote notewarning"><p class="note-title">Proper Cooking</p><p>At this point, it should be noted that this species of mushroom requires <strong>full and thorough cooking</strong> before it is eaten.</p><p>Blewits will make you ill if you eat them raw or undercooked.</p></div><p>I added a pinch of salt, a good couple of grinds of black pepper, a sprinkling of mixed dried herbs, then a dash of brandy (and flamed off the alcohol), then I added a little cream and simmered to reduce yet further.</p><p>I placed the creamy mushroom mixture into the bottom of ramekins, then added a layer of crushed cooked potato, a little butter and a few shreds of grated cheese and placed them under the grill to brown and crisp up the top.</p><figure style="float: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0;"><img class="media" alt="blewitts8.jpg" src="https://atomicshrimp.com/public/b/blewitts8.jpg" /><figcaption> </figcaption></figure><h3>The Tasting, And The Verdict</h3><p>Well... after all that, I have to say: this is not my favourite mushroom.</p><p>I found the texture a little bit too soft and slippery - almost slimy.</p><p>Also, the flavour was just... weird. I suppose I like my mushrooms to be either deeply and robustly savoury - like the <a class="ref-post" href="https://atomicshrimp.com/post/2014/09/15/Penny-Bun-Mushroom-AKA-Cep%2C-Porcini">Cep</a>, or subtle and mild as a foil for other flavours - like the <a class="ref-post" href="https://atomicshrimp.com/post/2009/08/28/Oyster-Mushrooms">Oyster Mushroom</a>.</p><p>Blewits, however, retain their distinctive perfumed flavour through cooking, and I just didn't really like it that much.</p><p>So I am glad to have satisfied my curiosity, and happy to have met this pretty little fungus in the real world, but I probably shan't pick it again - I'll focus my efforts elsewhere - both the new, and the other species that I already know and love.</p>