INTRODUCTION

For as far back as I can remember, I have enjoyed tent-style camping and cooking outdoors over an open fire. There seems to be a magical aura about it that is unmistakably warm and comforting. The food tastes remarkably better than anything ever cooked on an electric or gas burner. Watching the mesmerizing glow of the fire as you cook will relax you far better than any medication will (my opinion). And the intoxicating aroma of the sizzling food, mingled with the fragrance of the drifting wood smoke simply can't be beat!

As my children were growing up, we went camping often. And we always did our cooking over a wood fire. Even when we had a travel trailer with a full-size stove, I still preferred cooking outdoors over a wood fire. The camping experience just seemed to be lacking something if we didn't. Let me tell you, there is just no substitute for a country breakfast of bacon, farm fresh eggs, and fried potatoes cooked over hickory wood in the good old outdoors!

About ten years ago, when my brood of kids were all still home, we had a major ice storm come through. We were without power for 10 plus days. With a total electric kitchen and 5 hungry kids, that presented a problem, so they initially thought. It was soon discovered that Mom could cook some pretty good meals in and on that old Buck stove we were heating our house with. They had so much fun coming up with ideas of what they wanted me to try to cook next in/on the wood stove, that they nearly forgot that the power being off was an inconvenience.  But I will warn you, if you try to cook bacon in quantity on a cookie sheet rested on top of the logs, MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T TIP!  That fire was a little more than we cared to deal with, but all ended deliciously well and it made for a great memory.

We have had a couple more ice storms since then, temporarily knocking the power out, and that old wood stove continually kept us well fed. Now the kids are all grown and moved out on there own. But I am still here, warming myself by that old Buck stove as I type.

A couple of years ago I purchased the cutest little 3-cup Dutch oven from Cabela's. I had intended to use it camping, but one day this winter I decided to see how it worked in the corner of my wood stove. I thought, with just me here, there is no point in wasting money on electricity if a fire is already going in the wood stove and there is just me to cook for. The first mini pot of stew turned out terrificly! And I have since cooked an array of delicious foods in it. For Christmas I received another mini Dutch oven. This one came from Lewis & Clark, as Cabela's no longer carries them. With the tiny little legs on them they stack perfectly, giving me the ability to cook full, two serving meals in just the corner of my wood stove, all while it is heating my house.

So during this extra cold, hard winter, I have seized the opportunity to unleash my cooking creativity to create tasty recipes cooked over/in a wood fire. It has been a most rewarding experience. The electric stove in the kitchen has forgotten what I look like, but I have been pleasantly surprised at the quality of the food baked inside that Buck stove. Gosh, have I ever been missing out!

As our weather patterns change and worsen, and the threat of war activity on our ground grows, it is now more important than ever to educate ourselves with alternative cooking methods. Not only daily, but especially in the midst of a crisis, a healthy, hearty meal is a must to provide the mind and body with the strength to deal with the tasks at hand. So now I will begin sharing with you the recipes I create in and on my wood stove this winter, and over a crackling outdoor fire this summer.  I will also include 'recipes' on how to build those fires and tips on the best cookware for wood fire cooking. Be sure and check back often for updates and new recipes. And if you have any suggestions, questions or comments, feel free to add them to the comments right here, or email me at:  tentfire@hotmail.com.
Now, let's get cooking!