Exploding bread at the tangi - aue!

From: Margret

Sent: 20/08/2005 12:20 p.m.

Tangi over Fauntleroy The long-distant flyers came in:  Darryn Fenton from London, Adam Patuwairua from Australia and Roger Fenton from Los Angeles and they joined those of us from the two motu.  Rosalie Elkington travelled from the South Island and Marlin Elkington flew from Blenheim.  Missy (Rosalie) had every reason to be proud of her son who was a fine spokesman speaking on behalf of the whanau when the various karanga had taken place.  Indeed, the kaumatua who shared the role with him were highly complimentary as to Marlin's whaikorero and demeanour. To make a tangi work, there are a huge number of people to be grateful for their kindness, understanding and fortitude in the face of disasters.  To whom do I refer?  Well, the kitchen staff.  The spic and span caring and gleaming was in the hands of the Litchwark family whilst others were at the cemetery.  Eddie and his wife Sandra were stoic people and I recognise their support along with their nieces and their own son, Tamati.. Part of the tangi's memory will be enhanced by those who were privy to the breadmaking disaster; the cause of many sessions of shambolic laughter.  The first night that I was entrusted with the recipe, given by Dad's cousin, whom I call Baba, alias Noreen Kirkwood, nee Pirikahu, alias Mereaina.  I said to Sandra and Eddie,  'It's ok, Baba has said for me to make it'.  I re-checked, yes I was right.  And so I made up the mixture and it was so large that the jar of yeast for 10 kg flour needed 6 people kneading the ever-growing mixture.   Uncle Martin Toa took one monstrous tray full of mixture to his shop and truly made a crust of six inches top and bottom and still about 6 inches edible in the middle.  The top and bottom, cut off, made wonderful replacement asphalt strips or tyre retreads as he burnt the bread good and proper.  Next came, breadmaking disaster for the second night when Baba told me to make 5kg flour mix.  Scientifically, I worked it out arithmetically a guess and added a few more yeast sprinkles and set the mixture into the 7 foot high warming cabinet - designed for KFC chicken - and I went for a shower.  I had PERSUADED Sandra and Eddie to go home as I thought I could handle anything and that no one would know that I was in charge of making the rewana bread again.  I was hailed from the shower, clothed, and approached the kitchen to see a battle area. Richard and Malcolm were scraping up dough from the floor and from the inside the cabinet.  It had rather cascaded everywhere.  Except for the clicking of those whanau members who were taking PXT photos galore; few ventured to continue laughing because Richard and Aunty Gemma Toa were going hard out and didin't see the funny side because of the pressure.  The chain-gang working on the mini-mattress-sized dough pushing forward like larva was being worked on by floured hands who cracked up laughing safely when I saw the funny side of the 'secret' breadmaking I had started.  The two massive trays contained the worked on dough to prove and then placed in the oven to cook.  Uncle Martin Toa stayed until 2.30 am with Aynsley and myself after Malcolm finally caved in to tiredness at 12.15 am and after the scalp massage given to her by Aynsley, Val went to bed after 12.30 am.  The first loaf was put in the oven about 11.25 pm and the oven speed checked by Uncle Martin.  The second huge dish of shaped loaves, entirely left to my hands, under supervision by Uncle Martin, cooked until brought out at 2.35 am.  Uncle Martin drew a slice from the first hour-cooled bread and it looked fabulous.  What a relief.!  The second lot when brought out looked more fabulousier - instant sensation.  Awesome bread, golden, not even looking like Rewana paoraoa bread.  I went into the wharemoe and woke up Richard to come into the kitchen and film us stoic bakers with our revealed bread. The compliments abounded the next day and many eyes of disbelief about the humourous disaster turning into the best bread of sourdough-style.  Me,  I have a reputation of The Greatest Messiest Explodingest Breadkmaker in the history of the Hungariri marae and the Fenton Whanui - pictured!