The job I was hoping would be a career stepping stone went (to put it nicely) belly up about a month ago. Splat! To mentally get through the end of this year, I doubled down on my Thanksgiving plans, filled with travel and friends and food and fun. ...Can you guess what happened next? Yup. … Continue reading The Goes Wrong Holiday
Food
S’moredom
Remember how the Smurfs insert the word "Smurf" into everything like, "That's smurf-tastic!" or "You're smurfing!"? Yeah, me neither. However, if you're starting to think Campfire Tales is getting a little "smurfed up" with the s'mores references, all I can say is, "I'm s'more-y." I made this Coca-Cola Cake because the accompanying photo looked delicious, … Continue reading S’moredom
S’more for You & Me
As a child, I would have eagerly pulled the arms off my Stretch Armstrong in exchange for a s'more. (OK, so maybe I pulled his arms off for no reason, and then let him ooze to death into the carpet under my bed -- what's it to you, Judge E. Pants?) As an adult, I … Continue reading S’more for You & Me
Survive-aversary Party!
Eleven years ago today I found myself undergoing emergency surgery. "Elective surgery," I might add, considering the surgeon gave me two choices: have the surgery and possibly die, OR don't have the surgery and possibly die. I chose: Surgery, and to Live. (More of that story here.) From that day on, I joyfully observed my, … Continue reading Survive-aversary Party!
Fall Guy
I woke up this morning to the sound of rain on the roof. "Uh-oh!" I thought. "Better hurry and post those leaf photos. I can't get TWO seasons behind!" Speaking of "Falling," I've traded in my wristband. I'm still a Fall Guy, but not in "that way." Not that my hikes are worry free, but … Continue reading Fall Guy
Camping Cuisine: Campetizers
Perhaps you prefer to keep camping cuisine simple: hot dogs and canned beans. (Plus fruit cocktail for dessert. Look, pals and gals, you chose "simple." Enjoy your syrup-drowned, hard chunks of fruit. Live with your choices.) Conversely, maybe you want to keep meals gourmet: you probably aren't camping. We are! Having gone over the basic … Continue reading Camping Cuisine: Campetizers
Camptivities: Camping Cuisine
As promised in a previous post, the only recipes on this blog will be ones that are possible to make while camping (traditional camping, not glamping). Sorry, peppermint ice cream. Sorry grasshopper bars. Sorry, all the pies and more pies and cakes and more cakes I've referenced here over the years. As delicious as you … Continue reading Camptivities: Camping Cuisine
Spain: Barcelona Checklist
Last night I was lucky enough to attend a trade show and dinner for free. The speaker kept lovingly referencing his home country of Spain, and then during dinner we were entertained by a Flamenco dancer and live music. I thought, "I wish I could blog about Barcelona again, but I already covered all that." … Continue reading Spain: Barcelona Checklist
I Lava Deviled Eggs
How all this started: Too much time having passed since I'd introduced Volcanic Storytelling, I thought, "What would be a fun re-entry that would build on the theme, and make my lofty ideas more palatable? I know! I'll start with the food angle!" Which led to this: Yes -- that was intentional. But then things … Continue reading I Lava Deviled Eggs
The Smell of Camping
I promise, I'm not one of those bacon fanatics. I like bacon -- but usually only bacon. Not "Something + bacon." That said, I absolutely love the double-smoked bacon from Mahogany Smoked Meats in Bishop, CA. My favorite dish to put it in is a Hungarian dish called, "Beans as in Somogy" from "The Cuisine … Continue reading The Smell of Camping
Campfire Tales 