My boys love the good ol’ outdoors and camping is always at the top of their summer wish list. A couple of years ago we purchased a small trailer and have a number of weekend camping trips planned throughout the summer. Since our little camping adventures will be taking up a big part of my free time during the summer, I thought that it might be fun to make a series out of it – sharing some of our favorite camping tips, tricks and recipes.
We are not “hardcore” campers – I still enjoy having a bathroom {not outhouse!} available and hook-ups are definitely an added bonus. But we love our campfires, enjoying the beauty of nature, roasting s’mores, and just spending time together as a family. So whether you camp in a tent, trailer, or just head out to your own backyard, I hope you will all be able to find something to inspire you!
Today, I am going to be starting with my new favorite camping item – the pie iron! Basically this is like a panini maker for the campfire and the options are pretty much endless. These pie iron recipes taste amazing and are super easy to whip up! If you have a larger family you, might want to grab a couple! 🙂
We did a little “backyard” camping at my parents’ place during the Canada Day long weekend and tested out our pie iron for a couple of dinners – spaghetti sandwiches and ham and pineapple pizza pockets…
Spaghetti Sandwiches
Okay, this might be one of those recipes that you either love or hate but they were a big hit with the kiddos and I thought that they were pretty darn good too! They are easy to prepare beforehand so there is minimal prep to do at the campsite. Perfect for that first night camping if you are late setting up!
Spaghetti Sandwiches
Okay, this might be one of those recipes that you either love or hate but they were a big hit with the kiddos and I thought that they were pretty darn good too! They are easy to prepare beforehand so there is minimal prep to do at the campsite. Perfect for that first night camping if you are late setting up!
Ingredients
- spaghetti {about 1/2 cup per sandwich}
- spaghetti sauce of your choice
- bread
- 3/4 cup butter
- 2 tsp garlic powder or crushed garlic
- 2 tsp Italian seasoning
- cooking spray
Preparation
- Prior to camping, cook the spaghetti and drain. Add your spaghetti sauce and let it sit for 5-10 minutes. Add a little more sauce so the spaghetti is all well covered. The spaghetti will dry out a bit on the fire so you want more sauce on it than you would normally have when eating spaghetti. Place in a plastic container or large Ziploc bag.
- Prior to camping, mix softened butter, garlic and the Italian seasoning together and mix well. Once the butter has hardened you can wrap it up in wax paper to take.
- At the campsite, prepare the fire. Spray both sides of the pie iron with cooking spray. Butter one slice of bread with the garlic butter and place the butter side down on the pie iron. Add approximately 1/2 cup of spaghetti and top with another slice of garlic buttered bread {butter side facing the top of the pie iron}
- Place the pie iron in the coals for approximately 6-8 minutes rotating it every 1-2 minutes. {You could also place it over a grill}
Campfire Ham and Pineapple Pizza Pockets
We made ham and pineapple pizzas but pick any pizza toppings that you would like. {And if you think the ham looks kind of funny, it’s actually “veggie” ham as my hubby is a vegetarian!}
Preparation
- Prepare the fire.
- Butter bread. Place butter side down onto the pie iron. Add pizza sauce, and toppings. Place a little extra squirt of pizza sauce over the top. Top with another slice of buttered bread {butter side facing up}
- Place the pie iron in the coals for approximately 6-8 minutes, rotating frequently to ensure even cooking.
Yummy!!!!
So do you have a pie iron? What’s your favorite recipe? These could easily be used for breakfast ideas to tasty desserts – we can’t wait to try it out some more! I hope you join us on our camping adventures this summer!
This post is part of my summer long Camping 101 Series. You can check out my Pinterest board for the other posts in this series and make sure you follow along so you don’t miss out on the rest of the fun!
Happy Camping!
Happy Camping!
where did you get that red lantern?! I am looking for one!!!
I got it at Canadian Tire Anne. 🙂
Wal Mart sells them but you can find one at any hardware store for more money. They work great: the fuel lasts a long time, they are easy to light and operate, and are totally windproof — thus their name, “Hurricane Lamp.” Get your kerosene and have at it! I use mine mostly for emergency lighting during blackouts. The glass globes are a little too fragile for camping, in my opinion.
We are taking off for a long camping trip tonight, so this was perfect timing. I am always looking for new recipes to try out. Going to give the spaghetti sandwich a try, as I know my kiddos would most likely eat it! Thank you, have a great 4th!
Great post! Now I want to try these recipes eheh =)
Found you on Inspire Me Please Weekend Blog Hop =)
Have a great Friday!
-Sofia @ http://www.SomethingOnEverything.com
We love campfire pizza’s!! That is our go to camping recipe. I am excited to try the spaghetti recipe the next time we go camping!!!
We have made campfire fruit pies, smores and beef and cheddars in our pie irons. The options are endless!!
I LOVE my pie irons! What fun. Your recipes look wonderful!
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Not only are you creating wonderful food for your family the memories you will make will be priceless.
I love to camp!
Becky
What fun sandwich ideas! I love this. I would LOVE for you to share this over at my link party, Ginger Jamboree! I also have a great giveaway going on that you should enter!
I love these! We have several favorite but these are completely new to us; thanks! My 2 boys and husband will love these too!
We love our pie irons! And just introduced some friends to them. 🙂
thanks for sharing your recipes!
Kelly
Where do you get pie irons?!
Walmart sells them.
Love this! We’re going camping next week and I’ve been on the look out for some food ideas!
These look so yummy! I will have to try this on our next camping trip!
The best one is called a mountain berry pie! Butter your bread (butter side to the pan) and add blueberry pie filling. Yummy! Been making these since I was a baby. You can change the fruit up too. Do apple pie filling with cinnamon and sugar, etc etc! Blueberry is the best though!
My family always made Apple pies when we went camping. A can of biscuits and a can of Apple pie filling is all you need and it always turns out so good. We also made pepperoni and cheese sandwiches in them. Yum!
That sounds SO good! We’ll have to try that!
A great breakfast is to make some French toast for your breads,,,,then the filling can be any kind of fruit you like, strawberries are our favorite, then you cook over the fire as usual, and when you take it out, top with whipped cream…stuffed French toast at camp…yummy…..We also use ours for any kinds of sandwiches you can think of, and of course, the camp pizzas….
That sounds awesome! Will definitely have to try that!
We love our pie irons!!! We do the spaghetti sandwhich but we add a slice of kraft cheese so its cheesy spaghetti. One we do for breakfast that’s a big hit is pancakes and sausage. we fill one side of the iron with pancake mix then we lay the already cook sausage links in the pancake mix, pour a little more on top of the sausage and it makes a thick fluffy pancake with sausage on the inside! Yum. This was a great post got me all excited for camping!
Ohhhh – great ideas! I will have to try that pancake and sausages!! Happy camping!
We made PB and J very good and sliced granny smiths with Dijon mustard and cheddar also very good. I bet provolone or mozzarella would be yummy added to the pizza sandwiches, yummy
Sounds yummy! It’s always fun trying out new combos!
I’ve made French Toast stuffed with mascarpone cheese, sugared fresh strawberries and bananas. Also French toast with peanut butter and jam. Reuben sandwiches are great in a pie iron.
Yum! Those all sound fabulous!
I use flour tortilas instead of bread!
Oh yum! Like little quesadillas! Do you trim the tortillas to fit the pie iron then?
Are you still using these? I bet you have lots more recipes now! 😉
I love that spaghetti/bread idea. So appropriate for camping and yet an elevated way of eating out in the woods. Thanks for inspiring us at the Weekend Blog Hop at My Flagstaff Home. –Jennifer
Your recipes make me want to go out and buy a pie iron now just to try them out and to enjoy some time outdoors with family. Thanks for sharing with us at #HomeMattersParty
Wishing you a great 4th of July Celebration and thanks so much for sharing with us at Full Plate Thursday! The links will be open early tomorrow, see you then.
Miz Helen
If there is no pork in it, it is not ham. lol
lol! Life of a vegetarian! 😉