Pie Irons

Some people call them Bush Pies, some call them Pie Irons. 

Some of you are looking at me like I'm a crazy person....which isn't entirely untrue!

 Pie Irons are basically sandwiches, or pies if you prefer, cooked over an open fire....when you're camping.  I made these while I was in Saskatchewan camping with Ty's family.  Y'all know I like a hearty breakfast and this is right up there on my favourite breakfast list....I think I'm turning into Ron Swanson, who also has an insatiable hunger for breakfast foods! 

Step 1). Butter the outside of your bread, like you would for grilled cheese, and place the buttered side down in the pie iron.

Step 2). Mush the middle of the bread down to make a 'divet'

Step 3).  Carefully crack an egg into the 'well'. 

It's quite shallow so I'm warning you now!

Step 4). Butter another piece of bread and push it into the other side of the pie iron.

Step 5). Add sliced ham or turkey and cheese to the non-egg side

Step 6). Add salt and pepper to taste (inset)

Step 7). CAREFULLY close the pie iron. HINT bring the ham and cheese side to the egg side, not the other way around...or else you'll be in trouble!

Step 8). Cook on an open fire.  NOTE: do not cook over flame.  Flaming fires are not cooking fires.  Essentially you want hot hot coals to cook on.  This is the most efficient method and will result in the most even cooking! You may have to pull the pie iron out and gently open it to see how it's doing.  Once you've decided it's done, take the pie iron out of the coals and let it sit. 

The egg will continue to cook without burning your toast!

Step 9). ENJOY!

This is a breakfast style Pie Iron.  You can also make pizza pie irons, with pizza sauce, salami and cheese or ham, cheese and salsa sandwiches!  You can also make dessert bush pies.  For these tasty treats, use cherry, blueberry or peach pie filling !  My family used to make dessert pie irons before going to bed when we camped.  They make a great night snack, since by the time you're ready for them the fire has died down and is ready for pie irons & s'mores!

FYI: you do need the pie iron cooker (for lack of a better word). Also, keep in mind that a cast iron version (opposed to the aluminium) will be VERY heavy and not ideal for kids....even I had a tough time grappling with the cast iron version!  Yanks, I've found these at Cabela's ,and these at Dick's Sporting Goods.  Canucks, I know you can get these at Canadian Tire and almost anywhere that sells camping goods!  I even found a Pie Iron Cookbook at Canadian Tire!  Where else!??!! 

I hope you'll give these a try the next time you're out camping-they are really fun and delicious.  Food is SO MUCH better when cooked outside!