FML Outdoors.com

As I formulate my thoughts about Earth Day — I’m drawn to memories and the enjoyment of a campfire. Sitting by a campfire you may have experience many of these same sights, sounds and feelings:

• Feeling the heat against your legs and face
• Watching sparks dance against a night sky
• And listening to the fire crackle and hiss with burning embers

Not only is fire essential for the survival of many plants and animals, but for our own life as well. Below is a list of uses fire has given us.

Fire provides:

• Warmth
• Cooking
• Water purification
• Cauterizing wounds
• Removing Seeds from chaff
• Melting hardened substances
• Dry our clothes
• Communicate at a distance
• Food preservation
• Repel insects
• Seeing in the dark
• Keeping animals out of camp
• Security

Of course, the list goes on, but I want to bring to attention what truly happens when we experience a campfire.

Centuries ago — Neanderthal’s would huddled around a fire to keep warm and most likely shared stories of that days events. It brought light when it was needed and time for bonding.

Today, families enjoy campfires for many these same reasons. We gather around a campfire, share tales, sing songs and dine on hotdogs and laugh over burnt marshmallows. Many families have made campfires a tradition.

Campfires creates memorable moments everyone will cherish. Once the fire gets roaring and everyone settles in with their favorite beverage — listen to the stories and be sure to include your own. You can spice things up with a few creative ideas such as:

• Everyone writes one topic and throws it into a hat; the first person starts off by drawing one slip from the hat and begins a story using their topic. Once you get to a stopping point, pass the hat to the next person — again, draw one subject and continue the story and so on…

I clearly remember camping and sitting by the campfire as a kid and I’ll make sure my daughter has similar memories to share with her family someday.

From Fat Man’s Landing…sitting around a campfire…Celebrating Earth Day.

Recipe reprinted from Allthingshearandhome.com

The word S’more came from the fact that when your mouth is full of marshmallow, melted chocolate and graham cracker and it taste so good you can’t wait to have another, so you say — “Can I have S’more (some more)!”

Warm Toasted Marshmallow Malted Milk S’mores!

• 1 pouch (1 lb 1.5 oz) Betty Crocker sugar cookie mix
• 1 cup graham cracker crumbs
• 1/2 Cup Malted Milk Powder
• 1 cup butter or margarine, melted
• 3 cups milk chocolate chips (18 oz)
• 4 1/2 cups miniature marshmallows

1. Heat oven to 375°F. In large bowl, stir together cookie mix, crumbs and malted milk powder. Stir in melted butter until soft dough forms. Press into ungreased 13×9-inch pan.
2. Bake 18 to 20 minutes or until set. Immediately sprinkle chocolate chips over crust. Let stand 3 to 5 minutes or until chocolate begins to melt. Spread chocolate evenly over crust.
3. Set oven control to broil. Sprinkle marshmallows over melted chocolate. Broil with top 4 to 5 inches from heat 20 to 30 seconds or until marshmallows are toasted. (Watch closely; marshmallows will brown quickly.) Cool 10 minutes. For bars, cut into 6 rows by 4 rows. Serve warm. Store any remaining bars tightly covered.

Super easy my friends and really yummy!

“If you are a dreamer, come in.
If you are a dreamer, a wisher, a liar,
A hope-er, a pray-er, a magic bean buyer . . .
If you’re a pretender, come sit by my fire.
For we have some flax golden tales to spin.
Come in! Come in!”
~ Shel Silverstein

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