End of Vacation Campfire

Sunday night represented the last evening Joel and Carissa would spend with us - as they returned home to Oregon this morning. We had a fun-filled week with them; so we chose to spend their final evening kicking back around a campfire. Luckily, our bud Tim has a backyard fire pit which he was more than willing to lend us for the occasion. So, we set it up and lit some firewood and enjoyed a quiet evening around the fire pit making Michigan pies (and yes, Vicki, we completely have commandeered the hobo pie moniker!).

To make the perfect pie? Well, you gotta start with some hot coals. These will do!















Then, you take a pie iron and line it with either white bread (buttered to keep it from sticking) or with biscuit dough (an innovation that Joel and Carissa shared with us) that is kept from sticking by coating the pie iron with Pam. The picture below features biscuit dough.















Next, you put your favorite 'stuff' on the inside. I chose peach filling make from peaches off our tree in the back yard (above). Julie L. loves a good pizza pie (below.. on white bread). You can see from the fixings on the table there are all sorts of tasty options!











































Next you place the pie iron in amongst the hot coals; turning it from time to time to ensure your pie cooks evenly.















We found out that the best way to do the biscuit dough was to 'split it in half' (make it half as thin as it comes in the can). If you don't ... it expands too much when you cook it!















You gotta open the pie iron to take a look at progress from time to time. When the pie crust is toasty brown - it's time to get the pie out of the iron.......















... and into your belly!















We had a relaxing time just hanging around the camp fire.















It's been awhile since we have been able to celebrate Joel's birthday with him - so we decided to integrate a small birthday celebration at the end of the evening. Julie L. was so sweet. I asked her if she could clandestinely make a cake for Joel - at the last minute Sunday night. She and her boyfriend, Evan, were more than willing to help out and cooked up a scrumptious cake; even including a full compliment of candles. My thanks to Julie for her kind act of service to make this last night together a bit more special!















And, of course, many thanks to Joel and Carissa for choosing to spend their vacation time with us this year!