Camping Outback with Jack

Camp Oven Cooking Ghost Stories & Bush Yarns

About This Book

Having spent the first forty years of his life in the Outback as a drover, contract musterer and grazier, the author has much experience to draw on for the contents of this book. In 1983 he and his family travelled around Australia, camping in the bush, cooking in the camp oven and living off the land where possible.

Campers will find the quick and easy camp oven recipes useful and tasty. The book also contains a few old remedies and handy hints. There are plenty of yarns for around the campfire at night. Many of these are humorous but some are more serious as they reflect things that have happened years ago in the bush.

Late at night, after your camp oven dinner, you can read some true ghost stories from this book.

Sample Recipe

Paroo Puftaloons (fried scones)

1 1/2 cups self raising flour
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup milk
dripping or oil to deep fry

Sift flour and salt into basin. Make a well in centre and add milk. Mix to a soft dough and turn onto a floured surface. Roll out to 1/2 inch thickness and cut into squares with a sharp knife. Deep fry in hot oil until they are golden brown on bottom then turn them over. When they start to float to the surface they are ready. Eat while hot, with butter and cocky's joy (golden syrup).

Sample Yarns

The Truth of It

A couple of drovers were talking. One said "Don't believe anything Bill tells you. He's such a liar his dog won't believe him. He doesn't come when Bill calls him."

Horses
A chap (we'll call him Bob) was charged with stealing horses. He was illiterate, as he had never been to school.

When he was found not guilty, Bob turned to his lawyer and said "Does that mean I have to give the horses back?"