Dirt, Wine & Gratitude

I long for summer.  Let me be her...knee deep in crops.

It was 68 degrees in southwestern WY today, an absolute marvel of weather and season.  I spent the early morning getting life's business out of way so I could get out in the garden and prep for this year's crop of herbs, tomatoes and flowers.  Yippee!

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A Time for Pansies...

(Hearts Ease)

aka:  Viola, Pansy

Spring is here, but it hasn't sprung for all of us.  

Where I live, we're smack in the middle of the ridiculous season.  Relatively warm during the day when the sun shines bright but still cold at night.  For gardeners, this is sweet torment especially now that the days are longer.  It's time to plant something darnit! Seeds are nice but after a long winter I want/need/require instant gratification.  All I ask is for a little COLOR! 

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The Lion House: Coconut Cream Pie

It was a beautiful day in Wyoming and I felt human again.  So human in fact, I made a pie.  We love cream pies, we are mad for cream pies.  Not everyone in the family likes to make them though.  I think my sister JoAnn and myself are the only designated cream pie makers.  Truth be told, custard is time consuming, pie crust from scratch is too but when the two come together...Oh man! Oh man!

We have a particular favorite cream pie recipe, an oldie but a goody from Lion House Recipes.  It was published in 1980 and my cookbook looks every bit of 32 years old. 


The Lion House resides in Salt Lake City and is a restored, historical home of Brigham Young.  The ground floor of the home has been turned into a kitchen where the most fabulous comfort food imaginable is served.  


When The Lion House Cookbook was finally published we drove from California to Utah to buy one, just for the cream pie recipe.  Possibly a slight exaggeration...but next ski trip to Utah, that book was mine.


And I'm going to share it with you...because it's so good...custard is pure happiness and, it's my birthday soon.



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Camp Wander is Under A Rest (Ha, get it?)

I'm so sorry, but I need to take the weekend off from my beloved blog, Camp Wander. With a combination of post op knee surgery and a bit of a flu bug...I need some extra rest I'm afraid.

I just might have to share my experience with essential oils and healing sometime next week.  I've been doctoring myself with several and have been so impressed.  I love essential oils!

Thanks so much for checking in, I'll be good to go very soon...I promise!

XOXO!

Rebecca

Girl Power!

  Let's have ourselves a conversation about Girl Power.  Oh Heck Yeah!


Recognize the iconic graphic above?
I though you might.

I want to feel like this little girl looks, everyday.

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French Toast: Camp Wander Style!

Earlier in the week, I shared Pancakes, Camp Wander Style.  If you missed it, take a minute to click on the link and learn about our secret ingredient to a fluffy stack of blueberry pancakes.  

For today we're going to finish the skillet breakfast sweets series with French Toast!  

Just in Time for the Weekend!  

The heart of a sweet breakfast, now where's the bacon?!

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Why I Love Wyoming.

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Overnite Oats in a Jar - Commuter Breakfast

Overnite Oats in a Jar

Admittedly, I may have an "anything oatmeal" obsession.  I love the stuff.  I saw this new (new for me) oatmeal idea on Pinterest yesterday and marched right into the kitchen to make it mine.  First things first you know...must put it to the test.


Then, I hopped online, searched OOIAJ and found many variations.  Seriously, I'm so 3G, so twenty nine seconds ago.  It seems everyone was in the know about this stuff but me...and maybe you?   Those "know it all" 4G folk have been eating this no-cook oatmeal option for years and bragging about it.

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Springtime Chores: The To-Do or...Not List

TGSAH!

(thank George summer's almost here!)

*My Spring To Do List*

*sigh*

• Organize the Spring Clean chore list.  (me and Martha go round & round on this one)*
• Buy birdseed and start feeding the buggers.  (they're mating and hungry)*
• Hunt high and low for the first pansies of the year to go on sale.  (I NEED COLOR)*
• Check and recheck for dry soil.  (in the West, our gardens dry out during winter)*

*Disclaimer:  I cannot commit to this list, nor the order thereof.  I reserve the right to complete freedom.

(I'm camp wander, remember?)

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Blueberry Pancakes: Camp Wander Style

Meet one of the most important tools in our kitchen...

The Cast Iron Skillet

This beauty is one of 3 skillets that we never put away.  If they're not on top of the range, they're in the oven, at the ready.  When Rustic and me were married, he brought an old cast iron skillet to the union.  He believes he bought it in the 70's for camping/hiking the Wind Rivers, Tetons and the Gros Ventre here in WY.  He was an East Coaster, hell bent on finding adventure out west.  I do believe he and his "vintage" cast iron skillet have found plenty.  Btw, we're still using that skillet.

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One-Pan Chocolate Chunk Skillet Cookie & the Easy Bake Oven for Grown Ups

You may have seen my post earlier today about the attributes of one of my favorite things:  my Mighty Smart Oven.  A small oven that packs a big punch!  I thought you might like to see it in action rather than just a few pretty pictures.  It bakes beautifully and I'm going to prove it!


This recipe is ridiculously quick, easy and good!  So good, I ate the whole photo shoot at approximately 11:30am, with ice cream and, I am not so proud of that.



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My Mighty Smart Oven

The Breville Smart Oven

Not too long ago, Rustic and me decided to remodel the kitchen...an exciting and exasperating project as many of you know.  We definitely had a budget.  Sadly, there would be no shiny, restaurant quality Wolf or Viking appliances and, other sacrifices would have to be made but the kitchen turned out very nice and I'm grateful for it.

On the flipside, we were fortunate enough to be able to rip out old cabinets and put in custom built cabinets with granite counter tops.  We would keep our refrigerator for the time being ie: until it dies.  The range would stay too.  But oh how I wanted another oven!  There just wasn't room for another oven without bumping out an exterior wall and that option was definitely not in the budget.  


But as life often happens, a better option was just around the corner.  Soon a mighty smart oven would come into my life, it would surprise me, impress me AND... 

...become the 2nd oven that I couldn't fit in the budget!  

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Women Save Face by Shaving *UPDATE*

Jessica Simpson

This topic needs an open discussion because apparently, I'm a late bloomer when it comes to facial shaving.  However, I have shaved my face a time or 52 for over a year and I have to say, I like it. 



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Snack Attack! Chocolate Chunk Skillet Cookie

One-Pan Chocolate Chunk Skillet Cookie 

Courtesy of Tasty Kitchen

1 stick butter

1/2  cup granulated sugar

1/2  cup brown sugar

1  teaspoon vanilla 

1  whole egg

1 1/2  cup flour

1/2  teaspoon baking soda

1/4  teaspoon salt

1  cup semi-sweet chocolate chips or chunks

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Melt butter in an 8 inch cast iron skillet set over medium-low heat.  Stir in sugars and vanilla and remove from heat.  Let rest until pan is warm, but no longer very hot, about 5 minutes.

Crack an egg onto the butter and sugar mixture, and use a fork to whisk it into the mixture.  Place flour, salt and baking soda on top and very carefully stir into the mixture until smooth and mixed well.  Stir in the chocolate and place in oven for 15 - 25 minutes or until starting to turn golden on top and around the edges but still soft in center.  Cast iron will hold heat and continue to cook cookie a bit after removing from heat.  

Serve with yummy vanilla ice cream!

XOXO!

Rebecca ... spontaneous baker, snacker

  

I'll Have an Irish Coffee with that Knee Surgery, Thx!

Happy St. Paddy's Day!

I do hope you remembered to wear something GREEN today...a pinch or two is fine but anymore than that gets so boring ;)  As for myself?  I don't have to wear green because my eyes are green.  For the last 134 years, I've been able to sail through St. Patrick's Day quite effortlessly, thanks Mom and Dad and all you people that had anything to do with my DNA.

Now for the good stuff...

I thought we should celebrate the occasion with a lovely wee take on an Irish coffee drink.

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The Blind Dog Grill: Bleu Cheese Dressing

In Park City, Utah, resides one of those restaurants that you'll want to settle in and hang out for awhile.  A beautiful, friendly, hip kinda place with great food and service.

Their food is East Coast style in the middle of a land locked state.  

The Blind Dog serves a salad called the BDBBLT that I crave, that I love, that I would light a candle, worship and burst into song for...

...if I wasn't afraid of getting kicked out on my firm yet perky, big ol backside and miss out on finishing my salad!  

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Kickin BBQ Sauce

Who wouldn't want this kind of gift?  Kickin BBQ sauce!

The weather is undoubtedly Spring like in Wyoming today!  The days are longer and it's oh so hard to come in the house to fix dinner.  By this time of year, I'm all for anything grilled, BBQ'd or smoked...outside.  

Fortunately for me, my oldest son is an official BBQ Pit Master, on the competition circuit year round.   So trust me when I say that I may have an "in" when it comes to all things BBQ.  He's responsible for The Big Green Egg on our back deck...without him, I never would have known the pleasure of smoking, grilling, baking and roasting on that big, goofy looking ceramic cooker.  But we'll save that story for later, when my brown backyard is green again.

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Cilantro Pesto & Mario Batali's Favorite Pasta

This recipe is one of the easy ones and so very yummy!

I love pesto, but only when it's made from scratch.  Bottled pesto, in my humble opinion is a travesty and not worthy of good pasta, and I have an opinion re: good pasta too.  

I have an opinion on a lot of things, it's what I do and who I am.   

Pesto made with cilantro is really good!  I like it better than a basil base, which is the traditional choice.  And lets face it, basil ain't cheap and not always available, cilantro saves the day in those regards!  And for those of you wary of a strong cilantro flavor, don't you worry my pretties...the cilantro is actually more mild in taste than basil.

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Running with Baked Oatmeal

As we ponder the attributes of baked oatmeal and, the portability of this divine and hearty dish you my friends are about to be freed from the breakfast table.  You can now soar out the front door fully equipped with not only your purse, backpack, briefcase, messenger bag, wallet, extra pants, phone, coffee, recycling, dinosaur diorama and various pets...you can now safely take your oatmeal too!

Freedom.

Coffee Shop Baked Oatmeal


1  stick butter  -  melted
1 C.  brown sugar
2 eggs  -  beaten
1/2  t. salt
1 t.  vanilla
2 t.  baking powder
2 C.  warm milk
3 C.  rolled oats
1 C.  dried cranberries


Bake in a greased 9 x 12 casserole @ 375 for 30 minutes.



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Mike & Me

You know the line of the song...

"He's a little bit country, I'm a little bit rock and roll"...

Sleek & Ghetto

We are the personification of Donny and Marie's 70's hit!  


Isn't it great though?  I love a quirky man, well a little quirkiness.  And hey, we both like green apparently.


More examples of our Yin and Yang:


  1.  I use lotion, he will not.  Come on, we live in WY where any moisture in our skin gets    sucked dry.  The man will not use lotion!


  2.  I bought a snow blower, he continues to use a shovel.


  3.  I bought a nice and light Dyson vacuum, he uses the 86 pound Hoover he had when he was a bachelor.


  4.  I ditched readers for one contact in one eye (bliss!), he refuses to even THINK about wearing contacts.

  Oh! I should take a picture of our cars, but I better not :)

My point is, that despite how we are somehow, we found each other.  Even though the man has enough eccentricities to light up New Jersey, he's perfect...for me.  He's my own personal lesson in acceptance, patience and fortitude!  Ha.  He's my own personal example of living a true life, a simple life uncluttered by stuff.

I appreciate his examples, I do but, I still like my stuff :)

 ...and I like him too, ghetto mug and all... 

It's time to go make the man some pancakes...


XOXO!


Rebecca...keeper of the faith.

Jackson Hole Hoodie Winner!

 I Heart Giveaways!

Rustic Mike Showing Off, I mean Snowshoeing at the Base of the Tetons last Weekend

Me and Rustic Mike just returned from a long weekend in Jackson Hole, WY and GTNP.  We love it there and we love to share it whenever we can!

Since I couldn't fit all of you in my luggage, I thought the least I could do is bring back a souvenir, share the love of the place a little.

And the stunning souvenir (that I'm tempted to keep) goes to:

STEPHANIE!

Are you sure you want this Stephanie?  Maybe I could keep it for you, no problemo,  because maybe next year would be a better time for you?  Perhaps red isn't your best color, so I would totally understand if you didn't want the stupid sweatshirt afterall...

I'm

KIDDING!

Sheesh, you people can't take a joke :)

I won't wear it, I swear.

Ok, that was fun!

XOXO!

Rebecca...of Wanderlust, and all the laundry it involves to Wander...

Homemade Pop Tarts!

Purty, aren't they?

I saw this brilliant idea on Bake Me More and immediately thought:  "Oh this is a great way to use those leftover pie crust scraps!"  When I go to the trouble of making pie crust from scratch, it near kills me to throw any extra away.


My dear Mom always rolled out her leftover pie crust dough, sprinkled cinnamon and sugar, cut in strips then baked them for 10 minutes.  They are yummy too!  But pop tarts is a new twist and I can see my little ones loving these!


Honey & Jam has a nice tutorial if you would like to link over.  She used boxed pie crust which is another great idea and time saver for all of us busy people but, I make pie a lot (Mikes Rustic Apple Pie) so I do homemade all the way :)

Roll out the dough.

Add a filling.  Jam, brown sugar and cinnamon with a little chopped apple, Nutella.  

Get a little crazy and experiment and be sure to let me know!

Fold over the dough and use a fork to pinch side closed.

Brush with a little egg white for a nice sheen.

Bake at 350 for 10 - 12 minutes!

There you go!  A quick little pastry that's a whole lot better for you than the store bought kind.  Have fun and let me know what yummy combinations you came up with!

Have an excellent Monday!

XOXO!

Rebecca

The Red Plate Revisited *Winner Announced!*

Winner, Winner!

 Congratulations DANI!

I have been sent so many sweet stories by families who have enjoyed The Red Plate tradition in their homes.  It's been another validation of how important family traditions are for all of us, as children and parents.

If you're a new Mom, Grandma or even a Newlywed, bringing The Red Plate tradition into your home will brighten and strengthen your family spirit and create memories that will be passed down for generations to come!  It's fun and so important to celebrate family events, successes and milestones.   

Bring The Red Plate into your home and start celebrating your family!

So, congratulations Dani on more sweet memories to come as you add the tradition of 

The Red Plate to your crazy, wonderful bunch!

XOXO!

Rebecca... the mushy, sentimental one.

The Mountains are Calling! *Jackson Hole Hoodie Giveaway*

We're outside of GTNP, and dang happy to be here!

 I have absolutely no idea whose these people are.

Lucky, lucky me... R* and I are on the edge of Grand Teton National Park.

The Tetons

It's always an adventure getting away with Rustic Man.  He proves to be pretty entertaining when he sets his mind to it.  For instance, tonight I asked him what he would like me to call him when referring to him on my blog. "Rustic", he said.  So Rustic it will be!  Never dull I tell ya.

In illustration;  shortly after we arrived at our condo, Rustic Man swaggered over to the fireplace to make sure the flue was open as we planned to have a romantic evening by the fire.  Ha!  RM pronounced the flue was CLOSED and being rustic and a MAN, he OPENED the flue.  Can you guess where this is going?  

My manly man stacked the firewood expertly, lit 2 Backyard Outlaw fire starters and away she went!  He stood back and admired the blazing fire and felt happy for his efforts, let the evening begin.  Uh, every smoke alarm in the place went off, the flue was open and he had CLOSED it.  I smell like I've been sitting around the campfire for 2 days but thank the good Lord, the Fire Dept. never showed up.  And tomorrow's another day...

And...

And...

I want to celebrate the road trip, the adventure of getting away, the magic of wandering and, not burning down this condo, by giving away a souvenir from me to you!

The classic souvenir:  A Jackson Hole hoodie, size XL

All you have to do is be awesome and... just 2 other things: "Like" Camp Wander on Facebook!  There's a handy "Like" button at the bottom of this post. 

AND, now this step is very important, send an email to schifflower@gmail.com and tell me why you want this hoodie :)

Entries need to be in by 8pm, Sunday March 11th!

The adventures of R and R continue!  Stay tuned for more rolicking mishaps, pictures and whatever else we stumble into :)

XOXO!  


R & R of GNTP

Amish 6 Week Bran Muffins

Dang good with morning coffee or afternoon coffee or car coffee or ...  ok so I like caffeine.

You had to know this was coming after yesterday's blog episode, because a plate is not a proper plate until it's filled with something to eat, right?  I know!  


I found this recipe many moons ago when my kids were in school and I was a frazzled Mom.  I loved anything that I only had to make every 6 weeks.  Sadly, the batter never lasted that long because 5 kids love fresh bran muffins before school.  


I also had cuter recipe cards back then.

These old recipe cards come in handy...saves me a lot of typing.

Note:  No idea what the green smudge is and please don't analyze my handwriting style.  Cursive and print have always been mixed together and will remain so until my hands dry up completely and fall off.

Take em camping.

Ok, basically you dump everything into a big bowl but there are a couple to steps to follow.  

First of all, combine the first 4 ingredients as well as the Raisin Bran.  Stir together and then, combine all the liquid ingredients and eggs in a separate bowl and whisk together.  Next, add to dry ingredients and stir with spoon to combine.  See sorry, sad photos below. 

(man it's tough making batter look colorful)

These are the liquid ingredients.  Just whisk them all together and pour into dry mix.

Now your muffins are ready to go into a preheated oven at 375 for 20 minutes!  And very soon your kitchen will smell wonderful and you will be enjoying a warm, moist bran muffin if you get to them first!

XOXO!

Rebecca and her bran.