"Don't Judge Me" Camp Stew and Biscuits

If you are a camp (or more specifically) a Dutch Oven "purist", you may not be able to cook this recipe! At least not in good conscience! BUT.......If you can get past all of that and want some FABULOUS camp cooking, you have to try stew and biscuits - The EASY way!

We learned this years ago. Like maybe 35 years ago, camping with all of our friends and all of our kids and all of their kids!. "Really Easy" for us was not even easy enough. The one semi complicated thing about this recipe is the use of a Dutch Oven and an actual campfire with coals which requires some skill but not much.

Dutch Oven cookery requires campfire coals (or charcoal in a pinch). The idea is that whatever is in the Dutch Oven gets cooked from beneath and from above by placing the oven over coals on it's iron feet and then placing coals in the lipped lid for the baking part. The skill that comes into play is that until you become proficient at this method, getting the top and bottom heat just right takes some practice.



For this recipe, you will want cans of Dinty Moore Beef Stew (remember, we're not judging here!) and some cans of "pop" or "Wompum" biscuits (remember, we're not judging here!) get as much as your crowd or your oven will hold!

Are you ready?

Empty the cans of stew into the Dutch Oven to about half way full
Cook over the fire until the stew is bubbling
Place biscuits one layer deep over the entire pot of stew
Place Dutch Oven over some hot coals but away from the main fire
Place hot coals on the lid of the Dutch Oven
Carefully lift the lid occasionally to check on the progress of the biscuits

When they are done....Serve 'em up!

You won't judge me after you've eaten a plate full!

You will seldom enjoy such a delicious and hearty camp meal!

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See You at the Campfire!

Working in the BIG Office!

When I use the term; "The BIG Office", obviously, it's painting with broad strokes regarding the fact that the word office relates to something close to work. The "Big" part relates perfectly though as here I am, sitting in the biggest office you could possibly find!

Camper Life (by necessity) changes your perspective on all kinds of things. Work being one of them. Since a good portion of my "Work" (I use that term very loosely as well) consists of tapping away on a computer, work can occur in very interesting environments......or.......offices! My designated offices have included a lawn chair under the camper awning, a lounge chair and table by the pool (see below), a spot next to the campfire.... You get the idea.

The RV or Camper Lifestyle was one we stumbled into unintentionally about 5 years ago. Now that we've acclimated to it, I'll have a really hard time going back to a permanent foundation!

We are surrounded by a number of "full time" or "lifetime campers". The one thing they all seem to have in common is the ability to scale life back in the "stuff" category and scale up the enjoyment of simple things in life.

My office selection of the day is just one of those little perks of the RV life. The best part is that it's not necessary to waste my camping time taking care of work related things. I'm dragging all my work related things right into the camp setting. And to be honest.....it's the most relaxed and casual work environment I've ever experienced!

Feel free to follow along with our Cabin and Camp Life by subscribing to our various camp and cabin updates to the right of this article!

See you at the............ Office! (at least today!)

Cabin Memories

I was pleased to see and hear about a family who had chosen to stay at The Cabins this week. By their second day, they were busy texting their fishing pictures to Craig and he was busy sending them to me.

These are the stories I love the most. There's a lot of reasons to be in the cabin business but you are looking at the #1 reason right here! Something in me can't resist creating an atmosphere for families and kids to have the time of their life. I would wager that these will be lifetime memories for one and all!

Our new friends got to experience both Cross Timbers Cabins and Rainbow Haven Resort while visiting our sleepy little town (But our very active Lake from the looks of it)

When You get ready for your own Cabin and Lake "Escape" give us  call.

We can "Hook You Up"
at 417-561-4179

Please feel free to subscribe to our news and updates at the right of this page. You can stay In the Know about everything that's happening at all of our locations!

See You at the Dock......or the deck...or Lake....or firepit!

You get here and we'll find you where ever you decide to create your best memories!

Orange Peel Campfire Cinnamon Rolls

Amazing and Simple is the best way to describe campfire orange peel cinnamon rolls. (the name is more complicated than the process) If there is such a thing as being as complicated as rocket science, this would be the exact opposite of that. In fact the actual campfire may be the most complicated ingredient.

All you need is a pop open tube of ready made cinnamon rolls, an equal number of oranges, some foil and of course a campfire.

Cut the oranges in half and remove the orange fruit from the peel. (it's perfectly okay to leave some of the pulp inside the peel)

Place a cinnamon roll inside an orange peel half and place the other half back on top.

Wrap the whole thing in foil and place them in the coals of your campfire.

Depending on how hot the fire is, you will have to check them occasionally until the rolls have baked inside the peels.

When they are baked, remove the top peel and squeeze some icing onto the roll and enjoy them. The orange will add a nice flavor to the roll making this treat a special campfire experience.


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The Camp "Family Room"

RV life has some really distinct advantages. Besides the obvious "sitting outside with a view of the woods while working on business from the computer", there is the more important element of family that develops with the other camp residents. In our camp, we have anywhere from six to twelve work campers at any time of the year. Plus, there are other seasonal campers that come and stay for a month or two or maybe all year. This group becomes our camp family and cannot stand it if there isn't something going on where they can all get together. Thankfully, (in my opinion) that often includes food! Anything from the campfire fish fry, to the campfire hot dog roast, to the campfire biscuits and gravy or the campfire Dutch Oven blueberry cobbler......... Are you noticing a trend here yet?

The campfire pit is the natural gathering place for our camp family. While food is a staple attracting force. Music does the trick too. In fact, there isn't much that happens around camp that doesn't work out best up around the campfire. Whether it's Pat, whittling on his walking sticks, Don playing his mandolin, or me just sitting there starring at the fire and drinking coffee, the campfire is our family room!

If you can't come to camp, then I invite you to join us by following our adventures on line through this blog, through our facebook page and through our email news and updates.

Our facebook page is Acorn Acres Campground

Sign up to our email updates using the forms to the right of this article and let us know if you are enjoying our journey!

See You Around the Campfire!

Free Stuff (And How You Can Get It!)

Who doesn't LOVE to get FREE STUFF?

(crickets chirping)

Right! Everyone loves to get something for free or win something. We know that and so we are constantly trying to give something away. At the writing of this article, we currently have 2 different free pontoon boat day rentals to give away. We ALWAYS have a Free Night at a Cabin at Cross Timbers drawing going on. And we are getting ready to offer 4 opportunities to win a Free Night in a treehouse cabin.

Obviously, this is where our Free Stuff Give-Away's stand at this moment. If you read this 12 months from now it will likely be different. The important thing is to GET ON THE LIST! That way you will always know exactly what we are giving away and what to watch for. So..... How do you get on the list? All you have to do is be subscribed to our e-mail news and updates. (you will find the sign up forms to the right side of this article.)

What you will get.

You will get periodic email updates with stories from the camps and cabins. You will receive notifications of specials and offers that ONLY go out to our subscribers. You will Automatically be eligible for the FREE STUFF we are giving away. AND........ If you don't want to receive the updates any more, all you have to do is click an "unsubscribe" link in any of the messages and you will never see another one.

Subscribe now to one or more of them.

An Unexpected Adventure

2012 brought us the Hobbit movie entitled "The Unexpected Journey". I was sitting here thinking about our personal "Unexpected Journey" which began in 2011. Our journey began with the unexpected opportunity to purchase a small resort property in the sleepy little historic resort village of Rockaway Beach MO. It started in February, but by October, the journey had become an adventure. We moved our tiny little 23 foot travel trailer onto the site to begin renovations to the cabins. From the first day we began to experience the camp and cabin life. Our intention was to move back to our primary home by that fall. By fall..........we had fallen in love with the cabin and camping lifestyle.

Our camper was small, but served our needs perfectly. Our meals were a combination of outdoor campfire cooking, to BBQ grills, to smokers and camper kitchen (as in the fish fry to the left!) A Camper/RV lifestyle was being born and by October, we were HOOKED!

Fast forward from the original four cabins to a fifth one in October, to another resort with 8 more cabins by August, 2012, to another A frame cabin in 2012, Then an ENTIRE campground and RV Park (with 6 more cabins by the way) in 2014, to treehouse cabins in 2014, 2015 and 2016, to a Lake resort with marina in 2016....... Well, I'd say the camp and cabin life has settled in for good.

We hadn't lived in anything other than cabins or campers from early 2011 till late 2015. By that time, we simply surrendered to it and bought a 5th wheel camper as a semi permanent (or permanent permanent) form of lodging. The RV Living lifestyle has become our staple form of residence and you know what?    I'm okay with that.

As I sit here working on this article, I'm sitting outside under the awning in a light, late-summer rain. campers are coming and going along the road leading into camp. Even though we know it's still summer for another couple of weeks, we can smell fall in the air during the evenings. In our camp there is an "Eternal Flame" at the community fire pit near the pool and playground that I have no doubt is surviving this shallow attempt of rain.

Life can be complicated when dealing with so many cabins, camps, resorts and other related business. But there is a simple refuge only a step or two away from the camper front door!

Please check out our different camp and cabin connections by subscribing to the various locations that are displayed on the right side of this article. Join us in our "Unexpected Adventure"!

Campfire Chili

This is a pretty good recipe for simmering over a campfire.

CAMPFIRE CHILI RECIPE

INGREDIENTS
2 lbs lean ground beef
1/8 cup of cooking oil or shortening to cover bottom of cooking pot
1 onion diced
1 red pepper diced
1 large jalapeno pepper diced
1/2 a bulb of garlic gloves minced
1 can diced tomatoes
1 15 oz. can tomato sauce
1 can black beans, drained, and rinse if you like
1 beef bouillon cube 1 cup water
1 package “Chili Seasoning”
1/8 cup of chives
1 tsp salt or to taste
1/2 tsp ground pepper

DIRECTIONS
Place beef bouillon cube in 1 cup of water to dissolve and set aside. Sauté diced onion, red pepper and jalapeno pepper in pot over campfire until onions are tender. Add the minced garlic just before adding the hamburger to the pot. Stir and brown the hamburger. Add salt and pepper to the ground beef. Add the can of diced tomatoes, can of tomato sauce, and can of black beans. Add chili seasoning packet, chives, and the 1 cup of beef broth stirring contents thoroughly. Stir and bring to a boil. Move to cooler area of grate to reduce heat, simmer until peppers are tender about 20 to 30 minutes.
You can add additional beans such as red, chili or kidney beans. I’ve added celery to the sauté, and poured in salsa or added a small can of corn. You can make your own chili seasoning using chili powder and cumin to taste. If too thick add a splash of beer.
Ladle into bowls and serve with cornbread, crusty bread or crackers. Dress up with sour cream, shredded cheese or diced raw onions. This chili can be served over cooked spaghetti noodles if bulking up on carbs.

Try it when you get to Cross Timbers Cabins or Acorn Acres Campground!

The Daily Fog!

Lake Taneycomo "Natural" Air Conditioning

Even though we are nearing the middle of September, today started out at 75 degrees and was over 90 by eleven am. Here in Rockaway Beach, we have this wonderfully unique phenomenon that occurs all year long. In the summer, the water is always colder than the outside temperature creating some "natural" air conditioning for the valley. However, in the winter, the water is always warmer than the outside temperature, making the valley slightly warmer than the rest of the surrounding areas.

What causes this phenomenon? It began with the completion of the Table Rock Dam about 12 miles upstream from Rockaway Beach in the 1950's. Once complete, the dam began producing hydro-electrical power by drawing it's power supplying current from the depths of Table Rock Lake. This deep water maintains about a 54 degree temperature all year long. The water temperature moderates some as it continues downstream trough Taneycomo and then into Bull Shoals Lake. (Actually, all of the lakes are reservoirs on the White River) So, in the Summer, the 54 degree water cools the valley and in the Winter, the 54 degree water actually helps warm the valley.

The constant temperature is perfect for fishing. Especially for the dominant trout population in the lake. Brown and Rainbow Trout are the "staple" fish for Lake Taneycomo. However large numbers of Crappie, Bass and other sport fish are abundant as well.

If you would like to experience some of Lake Taneycomo fishing, boating or sight-seeing, give us a call. We have 2 resorts and a marina with everything you need for a great vacation experience.

Call 417-561-4179 or visit our websites at:

www.crosstimberscabins.com or www.rainbowhavenresort.com

If you would like to receive regular updates, info and special offers at any one of our four vacation locations, simply fill out the corresponding subscriber form to the right.

See You at the Dock........where the cool water flows!

What Does the Resort Lifestyle Look Like?

Craig and I headed out onto the lake today looking for Bald Eagles. There are quite a few of them around and it's hard not to see a few if you are out there for at least a couple hours. We only saw Blue Herons, but they are fun too. (my video skills are terrible, but we got an interesting video in spite of that) I asked Craig what he likes best, and true to form, he gravitated right to our guests and how much all of them mean to him.

Sit back and enjoy some time on the lake with us. When you get to needing your OWN Lake time, give Craig a call. I GUARANTEE he will take good care of you! (the number is 417-561-4179)

There are convenient subscriber forms to the right of this page where you will be able to keep up with all our adventures and antics. Sign up to one or more and we will see you at the Dock, the Deck, the Trees, or.........you know what, you can never tell where we will pop up next!

Building A Campfire Bench For Two

This is just a teaser for a great project. I've built these for all of our cabins, resorts and campground. I've decided to do a video on how to build them at home. All I need is some time to go do it!

Campfire Cones

We discovered Campfire Cones several years ago while cruising the internet for some campfire recipes. Not being that creative when it comes to food, these things fascinated me. Not only was it simple, but they looked delicious.

The picture alone will tell you there is not much to these things. Mainly, any kind of ingredient that either melts in the heat or goes good with something that melts in the heat. All you need is some waffle cones, something tasty to put in them and enough foil to wrap them in!. Oh, did I mention a campfire! Technically you can make them in your oven, on the stove top (kinda) or in a barbecue grill. My recommendation is in a campfire!

Simply pick your favorite ingredients and drop them in the cone. Wrap in foil and toss in the fire. (near the fire) depending on your pyromania tendencies! Once they've had a chance to get hot and melted, pull them from the fire, peel them back and dive right in.

My favorite ingredients are mini marshmallows, peanuts, chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, or graham cracker chunks (if you're going for that "s'mores taste). There's no right way to do them. My wife uses fruit which to me is just wrong, but to each their own.

Enjoy them the next time you are building a backyard campfire or are staying at one of the cabins!

If you are looking for a GREAT Cabin, Camp or Resort Get-Away, We have lots to choose from

www.crosstimberscabins.com                         Cross Timbers facebook page
www.rainbowhavenresort.com                        Rainbow Haven facebook page
www.bransontreehouseadventures.com          Treehouse facebook page
www.bestbransonrvpark.com                          Acorn Acres RV Park campground facebook page