The way of bannock a Mtis woman's passion for traditional bread

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When it comes to bannock, Ginger Auger doesn't mess around.

"I make six different styles," she said from her home in Fort McMurray, Alta.

Auger is Mtis and has lived a life of bannock.

"Growing up in poverty with a single mother cooking was our therapy. She was inventive and showed me how to cook from scratch on a budget," she said to CBC on Facebook messenger.

Auger saysher mother always made sure they had a sack of flour, lard, sugar and salt.

"If we ran out of other foods, we could always count on fresh, warm, delicious bannock," she said.

All these years later,Augerstill loves it, and is absolutely dedicated to mastering her bannock recipes.

"I do everything with it," she said.

And she's not kidding.

"I was taught baked and pan fried. Once I realized bannock was so versatile I started to try other styles."

When she pan fries it she cuts in the centre of the bannock and places it in lard in a cast iron pan

When she bakes itshe is often making a loaf, biscuits or even pizza bannock.

Her deep fried version calls for a deep fryer with canola oil just a few minutes on each side.

Auger's bannock puffs also require a deep fryer and come out assmallTimbit-liketreats which she covers with cinnamon and sugar.

Her Navajo style needs a rolling pin and she says they can be pan or deep fried and that they'regood for tacos.

Her new favourite way is air frying her bannock. She says it turns out light and fluffy and is a healthier option because there's no oil.

"My sons and their dad love the many variations I make. Sometimes friends or family request a batch or come over to just enjoy it hot and fresh," she said.

Auger says her family deserves soft, moist, delicious bannock and hopes she can pass down her passion to them.

"It brought my mom and I togetherit wasn't just bannock, it was love."