the Art of Campfire

I was walking through the store and got a craving for dinner......

There is nothing like a campfire.  The look of it, the smell.  It creates a special ambiance!  But it takes a little work to make it right......

Using smaller sticks, I stacked them in the firepit, smallest pieces on the bottom, crisscrossing them to leave room for air because a good fire needs to breathe. Lighting that first match, and poking it into the bottom of the pile of sticks to catch one of the smaller pieces, and watching the flames begin to warm and lick at the bigger pieces of wood.  And the flames grow and build .... creating a bed of coals - which means its ready for the next step!

I slide a cold hot dog on a metal skewer, and hold it over the flames.  As the flames dance and tease the hot dog, it heats up.  You know its getting hotter by the sizzle of juices that ooze out of the , which of course is what makes the hot dog just a bit crunchy on the outside.  To me that's the best part!  As the skin browns even more, you know it's done.  You grab a hot dog bun and open it up, squeezing it around the hot dog and pull out the stick.  Squirt on a squiggle of mustard, and mmmm yes, the best dinner ever!


Now that dinner's done, its time for dessert.... s'mores!  Slide a marshmallow on the skewer and stick it in the fire, staying away from live flames, as they will catch a marshmallow on fire!  Instead, look for a hotspot of coals, and let it toast.  It will get warm, warmer, and if you have the perfect spot, your marshmallow will turn a golden brown.   When it is ready, grab a graham cracker and break it in half.   Add a half Hershey bar, then ease your marshmallow onto the pile, and top it with the other half of your graham cracker.  It all squishes together, and mmmmm that first bite is the best!
Sweet.  Warm.  Gooey.  Bliss!

It probably took an hour start to finish to make my dinner.  Grabbing a slice of pizza might have been easier, but this was worth the effort!!