blabberrat...
The metohd you descripe, as I stated above, is very old indeed.
And given time...very effective!
You might like to try this idea (for fun)
Cut a green stick say 2 feet long...find another piece that forms a Y.
Place the Y section in the ground...and lay the long piece through the Y so that it is near the fire..(not over it) Do this on the down wind side of the fire so the heat will drift in the direction of your "spit".
Make this:
2 cups A.P. flour
1/3 cup shortning
1 t. salt
1/4 to 1/2 t. baking powder
hot water
Mix the the flour, shortning, salt and baking powder in a bowl..cutting the shortning in to the flour really well....Add hot water a little at a time until you have a stiff dough..Knead it a few times...let is rest for say 10 minutes.
(At this time you could bake the whole thing in a dutch oven)
Next pull off a piece of dough and roll between you palms making a long rope (12 inches) of dough..maybe a little larger than a pencil...take the long green stick...warm it over the fire for a minute or two...wrap the rope of dough around the stick...(kinda like a corkscrew) Place the stick with the dough in to the Y...let the bread bake...you may have to rotate it a time or two so as to cook evenly and not burn. You may force the long stick into the ground, opposite the dough or just lay a rock against it...so it will be secured in place
When done...simply slide the bread off the sitck and enjoy..with your campfire beans..stew...what ever. Or dip in cane syrup for dessert!
This is called Camp bread...Bannock...Cowboy bread....also in Texas I think
Pan de Campo..it goes by many names and there are many recipes..It's a fun thing for kids..scouts...and old folks too!
Note: Don't let the flames of the fire touch the bread...Let the fire burn down so you have a good bed of coals...let the heat cook the bread. "Flame-Kissed" is not a good thing...
Have fun and..
Enjoy