The thing that got me started bringing food to hunting camp was bringing a couple pans of bars to the inaugural duck hunt after my Uncle bought his farm in North Dakota. The one that sticks in my mind was a pan of brownies with a mint frosting and a chocolate glaze on top, I haven’t posted the recipe here but it’s written somewhere in my random notebooks. When my dad and I were leaving, my Uncle told me that I was welcome back and time I wanted as long as I brought more treats. To this day I haven’t disappointed.
My recipes on this blog probably disproportionately skew towards the sweeter side compared to what my actual cooking and baking is in real life and a good part of that is because over the years I’ve done a lot of experimenting for hunting camp – bringing at least one new recipe every year. Top that with being disciplined enough to take pictures as I prep vs the quick weeknight meals I make day in and day out and you’ve got a recipe for more sweets.
This post highlights my favorites of those that I have posted over the years.
Favorite Cookie: Chewy Ginger Spice Cookies
I’m really proud of these cookies, I love the molasses and warm spices of a good molasses cookie or gingersnap but I wanted that along with a chewy cookie. So I got all science-y when I made this recipe considering things that would add chewiness. Beyond having my favorite flavors the process it took to make these is what makes them my favorite – and a favorite of many of the people I make them for!
Favorite Bar: Salted Nut Roll Bars
This recipe comes from my Auntie Moni. It’s crust uses a yellow cake mix, topped with marshmallows and a gooey caramelly sauce covers crunchy rice chex which is topped off with peanuts. The flavors of this bar just speak to me and have been one of my favorites since I can remember.
Favorite Pie: Fresh Strawberry Pie
I remember making this pie with Nana after going to my first pick-your-own strawberry farm with her while staying at our old family cabin. Fresh picked, in-season strawberries held together with a glaze made from more of those strawberries. It’s light and fresh and perfect. It’s also something that you have to enjoy during strawberry season, trust me it’s not the same with grocery store strawberries.
Strawberry pie by the lake – life doesn’t get much better.
Favorite Dessert: S’more Bites
These days my favorite desserts are bite sized, I just want a little bit of something sweet at the end of a meal. And it’s also the middle of summer in Minnesota so s’mores are never that far from my mind. These are a great way to recreate the best things about them without a campfire.
Favorite Ice-Cream: S’more Ice Cream Sandwiches
Picking this recipe is sort of cheating because it’s a few recipes in one. It has a graham cracker cookie, an amazing toasted marshmallow ice cream and all pulled together in a chocolate shell. It’s my favorite summer dessert gone cold!
Favorite Family Favorite: 7 Layer Bars
Every family, at least every family in the Midwest, has a recipe for bars like these. The recipe here comes from my husband’s family, however, the first time my cousin on my dad’s side of my family (who grew up in a different part of the state) had them his comment was, “these taste just like my favorite bars my mom makes.” A graham cracker crust with nuts, coconut, chocolate and butterscotch chips they are sweet but indulgent.
Favorite from the Garden: Rhubarb Cobbler
This dessert carries a fun memory of making a feast at an old fashioned drive-in movie place with Tory & AJ. I still remember unwrapping this from the towels keeping it warm and the slightly crackly crust with the tender cake and rhubarb. Mmmmmmm.
So many fun, sweet, memories pulling together this list of favs!
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