"Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels"

Young Bison at Elk Island National Park

My smallest got big way too quick!

The secret to happy campfire guests is have enough food to eat whilst they patiently watch the fire be built!

So long story, short....................... I had planned to cook waffles using my campfire waffle iron.  I loaded up the first waffle and placed it carefully over the flames.  I went to turn the waffle iron and one side fell off and landed in the middle of the fire.  As I watched the batter catch fire and burn I stood holding half a waffle iron and proceeded to utter a few swears under my breath!  A new plan of campfire cooking action was needed.  I also totally forgot to pack my cast iron frying pan so I cooked the bacon in a disposable foil tray.  The leftover fat was bubbling over the fire, so I simply scooped the batter into the bacon fat.
Oh my!
Bacon Fat Fried Waffles are quite the thing of deep fried dreams.

Below you will find my go to waffle batter recipe.  Cook them as you will, but please consider an inch of bacon fat in the bottom of a hot pan the perfect place you could brown your waffles!

A bush bush pie is basically a toasted sandwich cooked in a cast iron pan over a camp fire.  I was introduced to them this summer in Unity, Saskatchewan, whilst visiting family there.

As soon as we got back I hunted out my own bush pie maker (Available at Princess Auto, in case you need to get one!)

It was only right that we make it our own tradition so we decided that baked beans and sausages were the perfect center for our Bush Pies- we just had to add a dash of British in there!

Most often that not it's the simple things in life that give the most pleasure- gin, ice cream, chocolate.  Sorry I mean simple things with the kids, the gin and ice cream are a whole different post. 

This weekend we packed up the supplies and headed off to Elk Island.  Here a few details from the Parks Canada Web Site;
Located less than an hour away from Edmonton, Elk Island National Park of Canada protects the wilderness of the aspen parkland, one of the most endangered habitats in Canada. This beautiful oasis is home to herds of free roaming plains bison, wood bison, moose, deer, and elk. Also boasting over 250 species of birds, the park is a bird watcher's paradise. Be it for wildlife viewing, hiking, cross-country skiing, picnicking or overnight camping, there is something for everyone at Elk Island National Park.
(Click here for link)



The scenery is fab and the place is quiet- until we rocked up!  We set fire to some wood and cooked our lunch.