Outdoor Cooking!

We had an outdoor cooking night earlier this week, making a small fire in the fire pit at my parent's house. My husband started with the kindling and tender, then added in the larger logs. While we just helped this time, I wouldn't mind my older sons trying their hand at starting fires more in the future with supervision at first. They need to learn it somehow, right? If you're looking for outdoor cooking ideas, read our experiences below and check out my Pinterest Board on Outdoor Cooking.

I needed a few pictures for an article, so we were trying a variety of cooking methods using a fire, such as stick cooking, pudgy pies, and tin foil cooking. I had a few "ideas" of things that sounded good and then let people experiment on their own. There are lots of good options out there! Outdoor cooking can taste great!

Nurturing Acorns: Fall Fruits

What an invitation to explore! Mums, apples, sunflowers, gourds, pumpkins, hickory nuts, acorns, and more!

Cast Iron Cooking

Last night, my husband and I went with the youngest two kids to a Dutch Oven Gathering with Elkhart County Parks at Bonneyville Mill County Park. This is an annual gathering. There are two options for participants. You can either cook/demonstrate or pay $3 and "observe". But we didn't just observe! Courtney, the interpretive naturalist, spent about 45 minutes or so going over cast iron basics. It sounds like he is a bit of an afficionado. He has been a part of the International Dutch Oven Society in the past. His mother also knows of his love for cast iron cooking and picked up any piece she found at garage sales, plus bought him new sets other places. His wife finally had to say enough is enough, though I'm sure a piece sneaks in here or there.

 

Finding Nature in a Candy Factory

We recently stopped at Albanese Candy Factory and Outlet Store on our way back home from Fair Oaks Farm. I (who me?) was talking to a lady at the farm who mentioned a candy factory, so I thought we should check it out. It is located a short drive off of I-65 near Merrillville, Indiana. There is loads of other shopping in the area (too much for me!). They only source their food products from the US and Canada, which is good to hear in many regards.

Campfire Cake

Last night, my son's cub scout group had their Blue and Gold banquet. Each boy was supposed to bring in a cake. We'd found several ideas online and used some of the ideas for his inspiration. He made a campfire with chocolate filled wafers as the logs, chocolate candy rocks to ring the fire, and fruit leather cut in triangles for the flames. He put some upside down ice cream cones and extra chocolate filled wafers as trees without any leaves on them.

Not only did he enjoy making his cake and spending time with me, but he also enjoyed getting the "most outdoorsy" award for his cake and earning his Wolf!

Do you ever make nature inspired food? We made camping scenes instead of traditional gingerbread houses at Christmas time.