I remember days gone by when locals did their own baking. Notably, Auntie Nana (who owned and lived in the house which is now called San Dune) had an oven and a grocery shop (Missa Crowe) for selling her goods.

Also Auntie Marta from Great Bay also had an oven and sold her goodies by the seaside on marketday. There's an old joke about my grandfather teaching my uncle to draw a mark at sea to find his fishpots. When my grandfather asked him where "bun crust pon de house" was, my uncle told him "'pon auntie Marta house top".

I seem to vaguely recall that Ma Till in Frenchman had one too.

Those ovens were stand alone and located in the yard. They were made of bricks, with an oval shaped top (also bricked). They were similar in appearance to some of the pizza ovens I've seen in the States. I doubt that there's any in existence today. Those were the good old days when you could take a short walk and get a hot bun or bread for breakfast. You could wash it down with a hot cup of freshly scalded milk (with a pinch of salt) from the neighbour's cows across the road. Aaah bwoy.

I can't forget Miss Nancy Bulla Cake. I don't know if she baked them in one of those home-made ovens you were referring to Greatbaybwoy, but they were among the best! Especially during pear time - and you get them fresh. I wish I could re-live those good old days!
I remember Miss Doris cake too - among the best! Also Matil's - among the best! Goddie Mike Christmas Pudding - among the best! Miss Imie Spence cornmeal pone - the best!
Those oldsters were very creative despite the fact that they never used any recipes from books - they just throw ingredients and it come out tasting so unique - you never tasted another cake or bun like that! Secret recipe I suppose like Kentucky! Wow!!!

There are a few of those old brick ovens still around in the community but they are not in use, as far as I know. It would be nice to have a photo posted.

You are right Reminisce the ole folks never used recipes, but a dash a dis and a dash a dat and bam, turned out the best cakes and puddings, etc. I would like to mention Miss Black Eye, Miss Puss for their cakes, gizzadas and ginger beer and Ma Vie for her freshly baked bammies, Miss Nancy for her corn pone. I don't want to forget Miss Neta either for her candies and great-a cakes.

Poor speller you remind me of Brer Nancy and the 'red thing' that he prepared at the Grand Market for Christmas.He found only this red thing left in the fields by the farmers,so he reaped it and brought it to the market.He then borrowed a pot,got a little dis and dat (spices) from the vendors,then he added water and sugar. So he boiled the sinting became red and tasty.He looked at his concoction and said, "but a how yuh so real,so real, so real".The ting was so irie that everyone came to buy a cup full from Brer Nancy,and that is how we came by the sorrel drink which we have at Christmas time.

Auntie Martha was an exceptionaally kind person and one of a kind baker her bun were so good, at christmas time people from all over used to order buns for chistmas and some will order a few weeks before christmas so they could mail them to Englnd for their relatives,she also bakes cakes ,gizzadas and make ginger beer,her oven is still standing ,i saw it the last time i were at Great Bay.Most of the bakers in Treasure Beach are related Ma Tilda, Auntie Nana ,Miss Nancy,Auntie Myrtle and Auntie Martha, must be in their genes.

Auntie Nana and Auntie Martha were sisters (correct me if I am wrong). Miss Nancy and Miss Myrtle were Auntie Martha's daughters. Ma Tilda was related to all of them. They were totally gifted peeps. Can imagine if they pooled and made a business together.

Both Gullyman and His have the relationships correct.
So far no one has commented on the freshly scalded cow's milk in the morning. Surely I couldn't be the only one who had that experience? (Or maybe I'm too ancient?). We got ours from Uncle Hullo Brown's cows. That was Maas Arthur's father in case I spelled his first name incorrectly).

Milking the cow, a lot of thing could happen ,you got to teach your cow not to release herself while you are milking ,you could loose that milk or you could really end up on the (blank)end of the stick,also you dont want to get hit with a swinging cow tail across the face,but yes i do enjoy fresh hot cow\s milk with bun, cake,pudding and .

My mother used to soak the dry corn, grated it and made turn cornmeal, then served it with freshly scalded cow's milk. Jack Mandora, that was good and filling. Turn cornmeal is now a luxury, yep and we used to feed that to the dogs too. Cornmeal was also considered the poor man's food.

I don't know about the baking of all the names mention cause I'm not that old BUT ma black eye could truly bake..

True great grand. You may remember aunty Maudy too. I believe they were also related.

Yep, Auntie Black Eye's cakes were sooooo delicious. Went well with coffee, hot milk, ripe bananas or pear. AND she was the greatest comedian in the area. She is surely missed. RIP Untie Black Eye.

Ole2....U r sooooo right that she surely was... a comedian!! As I read what u wrote her jokes came floading back to mind.I can just picture her sitting on the varander in her chair and making us laugh so hard that our bellies hurt.She is truely missed!

I just have to add that reading about our people who have gone before us really really brought tears to my eyes. And I don't enjoy going home now because most everyone has passed on, but we still have great memories. We truly have been blessed to be part of a community of great people who have helped to shape our lives. We were a VILLAGE.

Gbb, Ma Blackeye and Auntie Maude (ole Lady to Me) were not related. They were both my grandmothers and I remember Ma Blackeye getting up early and baking her cake in her dutch pot on the 3 rock stone with a piece of zinc use to cover the pot and the hot fire coal on top of the pot. I used to sleep at the house with her after dada Croswell died and she would get up early to bake. She never made a profit because she always gave away too much. But her baking was great. Especially the cake that was over sweet. Auntie Maude(Ole Lady) was known for her ginger beer.

Thanks for the reminder grandchild. I remember the connection now. And you're so right about auntie Blackeye's pone. If memory serves me right, we use to love eating the crust that surrounded the edge of the pone.

Since you mentioned those peices of zinc, you all remember how we used to roast sprat on those zinc sheets? Just needed a little salt an' lime. Oh well.....here I go again with another story. I must be getting old!!

Yep, roasting fish back in the day was the best thing to do. Oh, limes straight from the tree, salt and pepper and we were good to go. And now, people are craving for what we took for granted.