Eating well

Easy cooking in the outdoors: pie iron favorites

Last weekend marked the start of camping season.

A favorite summer activity, camping brings families, friends and strangers together under the stars around the campfire for fun and food. For the easiest, mess-free cooking simply pack the mountain pie irons and a dash of creativity.

Pie iron cooking allows everyone to build their own breakfast, lunch or dinner. All that's needed to be a pie iron chef is some butter or cooking spray, a crust, which can be two pieces of bread, tortillas, canned biscuits or pizza dough and your favorite fillings, savory or sweet, and a glowing campfire to cook them in.

From pizza to blueberry pie there is no end to the variety of mountain pies you and your family can create. Here are a few examples of my latest favorites.

Pie Iron Tacos

1 pound ground beef

1 package taco seasoning mix

12 (5-inch) corn tortillas

1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese

1/2 cup chopped onion

2 cups shredded iceberg lettuce

Chunky salsa

Sour cream

Directions: Brown ground beef in large skillet over medium-high heat, stirring to break up large chunks. Pour off fat and stir in taco seasoning and water, according to package directions (this step can be done ahead of time at home.)

When ready to cook, spray the inside of pie iron with cooking spray. Place a corn tortilla on one side of iron. Place a scoop of the beef mixture on top of the tortilla, sprinkle with cheese and chopped onion. Cover with another tortilla and close the pie iron.

Cook the taco over moderate coals of campfire till the tortillas are crisp and browned and the taco is hot in the center. Serve with lettuce, salsa and sour cream. Recipe makes 6 pies.

Chicken Barbecue

Mountain Pie

Cooked chicken breast, shredded

Sliced Canadian bacon

Monterey Jack cheese, shredded

Barbecue sauce

Butter, softened

Sliced Italian bread

Directions: Butter one side of two slices of bread and lay, butter-side-down, in each side of pie iron. On one side layer chicken, barbecue sauce, Canadian bacon and cheese. Close pie iron and place on coals, turning every few minutes. Check occasionally to prevent burning. Pie is done when browned and cheese is melted.

Mountain Pie Iron Stuffed French Toast

2 slices cinnamon swirl or white bread

1 egg

2 to 3 T. milk

Cream cheese, sliced

1/2 banana, sliced,

1 tsp. walnuts, chopped

Maple syrup

Butter

Directions: Heat pie maker in hot coals. Spray with cooking spray or melted butter. Mix egg and milk and dip a slice of bread into it. Place in pie iron and top with two slices of cream cheese, sliced banana and walnuts. Top with second slice of dipped bread. Place iron back into coals and cook until brown, checking frequently. Serve with butter and maple syrup.

S'more Peanut Butter

Hobo Pie

2 slices bread buttered on one side (or sprayed with cooking spray)

1 section chocolate candy bar

1 regular-sized marshmallow

1 T. peanut butter

Directions: Place one slice buttered bread into pie iron, buttered side down. Top with peanut butter, chocolate and marshmallow. Cover with second bread slice, butter side up. Close pie iron and cook in hot coals, turning frequently to prevent burning. Makes 1 pie.