Bob's Crab Puffs

For our upcoming Halloween camping trip, our group decided to do an appetizer lunch on Saturday before trick-or-treating.  One of my contributions is this recipe.  I love that I can premake it and freeze it.  I'll heat them up in the oven in the camper and serve.  I've made it countless times and it's always a big hit.

Sidenote: I don't know the Bob that created this recipe.  This is a distinction to be made for those that know me IRL.

Ready to freeze

What you need:

• 1 package English Muffins
• 1 can (4.25 oz) crab meat, drained
• 1 small jar Kraft Old English Cheese Spread
• 1 stick butter, softened
• 2 T. mayonnaise
• 2 drops Tabasco Sauce

What to do:

Slice each English Muffin in half (or just separate, depends on which brand you buy).  Cut each half into quarters.  Mix remaining ingredients.  Spread mixture on the cut English Muffins.  Freeze.  Once thoroughly frozen, put in a large plastic bag until ready to serve.  Thaw, place in oven at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.  

Of course, you can skip the freezing step if you prefer to have them sooner.

Another sidenote: I've been questioned on the Old English Cheese Spread.  When I shopped at Kroger years ago, I'd find it in the non-refrigerated cheese section, by the Velveeta.  I now shop at Meijer and I find it in the refrigerated cheese section, near the Cracker Barrel cheese spreads.  To help you out, you can have a picture to help in visual recognition.

Campfire Cooking: Pie Irons

There was this one trip... early in our camping days... Husband wanted to use our new Pie Irons... He put them in the fire to burn off the cooties from manufacturing... and the aluminum pie irons melted.

We were unhappy campers that had to scramble for dinner.

Enter the cast iron pie irons.  Worth the added cost.  Don't make the mistake we made.

On our last trip to Harrison Lake, we had Sloppy Joe pie iron sandwiches.  Yum-yum.

Beyond the typical pie filling deserts, here are other ideas:

• Cherry cream cheese pies - 1 can Pillsbury crescent rolls, 4 Tbsp cream cheese, cherry pie filling, powdered sugar, and butter
• Reuben sandwich - pumpernickel bread, thousand island dressing, deli sliced corned beef, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut (this will be my 2nd year making my own sauerkraut, should I share my recipe for that?)
• Calzones - Pillsbury refrigerated pizza dough, tomato sauce, mozzerella cheese, your favorite pizza toppings
• Jalapeno poppers - bread, jalapeno peppers, cheddar or your favorite cheese - kinda like a grilled cheese but with jalapenos
• Cinnamon rolls - again from Pillsbury, or perhaps you like the store brand?
• Tacos - tortillas, your favorite taco toppings
• S'mores alternative - refrigerated crescent rolls, caramel, chocolate, marshmallows
• Hash browns - frozen shredded hash browns, sour cream, cheddar cheese, bacon bits, green onions
• Breakfast sandwich - bread, precooked sausage patties, scrambled eggs, cheddar cheese
• Chicken chimichangas - tortillas, shredded or cubed cooked chicken, chopped onion, chopped green pepper, enchilada sauce, cheddar cheese - you can make ahead of time and freeze, just be sure they're thawed
• Apple Raisin Danish - Pillsbury (hey, it's convenient?) Country Style Biscuits, brown sugar, cinnamon, thinly sliced apple, raisins
• Stuffed French Toast - cinnamon swirl bread, chopped walnuts, cream cheese, sliced bananas, maple syrup for serving
• Create something new with Chocolate Raspberry Sauce

Helpful idea:

• With enough butter and/or non-stick spray, we don't have too many problems with our food sticking, but you could always line your pie iron with aluminum foil to eliminate all clean-up.  Doesn't everyone want to eliminate clean-up?

What is your favorite pie iron recipe?

Vanilla Vodka

It's been a busy couple of weeks and I haven't posted.  We're getting ready for another camping trip and I

did the grocery shopping this morning.

From the title of this post you may guess that I bought vanilla vodka.  Why vanilla vodka?  It's a good mixer.

Years ago, on a camping trip to Muskegon, we were invited to go sailing with Husband's old co-worker.  While sailing, we were offered refreshments and we were introduced to vanilla vodka.

The vodka was mixed with Vernors, or ginger ale for those not close to Michigan.  It tastes like creme soda.  Keep the vodka in the freezer, keep the Vernors in the fridge, and it's a perfect end to a hot day.

Recipe:
1 shot of vanilla vodka
12 oz. of Vernors

On another camping trip, a cold Halloween trip in October, other friends introduced us to hot apple cider and vanilla vodka.  It's an extra little warm-up by the campfire.

Recipe:
1 shot of vanilla vodka
12 oz. of hot apple cider