Christmas/Winter/Covid Fire Pit Ideas

[amusedtodeath1]

Hi all!

I've been umming and ahhing where to put this so feel free to move this thread.

Anyway, I went a bit crazy online thinking about all the things cancelled this winter and decided to get a portable fire pit for my tiny (and I mean tiny) back yard.

My thinking is it will get us outside, so plans for marshmallow toasting, mulled cider, etc. But that's as far as I've got, I was wondering what I can cook, heat, do around the fire pit for every day and for Christmas, etc.?

Can you do jacket potatoes in there? Sausage on a stick?! (I don't even know if that's a real thing, or just shown on TV! ) Hope you have lots of fun with it.

We love our version of s’mores. Toasted marshmallows between two milk chocolate hobnobs.

Www.thecampovencook.com.au

Ooh great ideas, thanks so much for the help. Jacket potatoes and s'mores on the list, off to read the link.

This is a brilliant idea. I had thought about getting a small portable fire pit but wondered if we would really use it. We just went glamping and the kids loved roasting marshmallows. I actually made some homemade ones (very easy and so much nicer) and planning to make some Christmassy ones - peppermint, Baileys etc. I also love jacket potatoes so this could be a fun winter activity!

Ooh home made marshmallows? (Makes mental note to Google). Sound delicious.

I've got some great ideas for spatchcock chicken, lamb joints, etc. I was thinking about Hot Chocolate too. Crumpets, toast and (thin) sausages on forks.

Mulled wine www.lahacienda.co.uk/recipe/mulled-wine/

Banana boats - www.freshoffthegrid.com/campfire-banana-boats/

We make these when we go camping with a box of brownie mix realfood.tesco.com/recipes/double-choc-orange-cup-brownies.html

Piccolino do you have a link to a good recipe? I love proper marshmallows but the recipes always look quite complicated. Thank you

@ConstantlyCooking, sorry I meant to come back to this thread! I actually just made some peppermint marshmallows yesterday. Can't wait to try them with some hot chocolate tonight!

My recipe is written down - so just for ease sake I've found one that is pretty the same as to the one I use. Homemade marshmallows are SO much better than the stale shop bought ones and you can just flavour them as you want. I'm so going to be making bailey's, mint choc and any other Christmas flavours I can think of!!

homecookingmemories.com/peppermint-marshmallows/

These are the ones I made yesterday:

Thank you @Piccalino3!
They look delicious. I will be experimenting! I think rosewater could be good :)

Does anyone have a good recipe for veggie friendly marshmallows? Egg whites are fine but not the gelatine. Thank you

Oooh live the idea of home made marshmallows.

As a scout leader I can confirm you can cook almost anything in a fire pit, but do be prepared for a bit of smoke which of course follows you round . Look for nice dry wood to keep smoke at bay.

Bread dampers work well:
Make basic bread dough,

Wrap round green stick.

Cook in fire.

Dip in jam / chocolate spread /!ketchup / sugar

If you google bread dampers you'll get plenty of ideas.

Also google 'backwards cooking' for more ideas.

@BumpkinSpiceBatty I really didn't want to use gelatine but from what I read the marshmallows won't be the same texture. I actually bought agar powder and vegegel but haven't tried either yet. I did find this recipe so it might be worth a go:

thehappyfoodie.co.uk/recipes/vegetarian-marshmallows

@Piccalino3 thanks so much! I will give them a go

Just a note of caution- check what wood you might use. Fire pits can by VERY smokey, and if your garden is tiny you risk stinking out not only your house but your neighbours too.

We bought one a few years ago after staying at a campsite with one but haven't used it much because we don't want to upset the neighbours with smoke too often (we bbq as well). Worth bearing in mind if you've got a small yard and presumably close neighbours. Definitely use well seasoned wood.

But yes, jacket potatoes done in foil in the ashes taste divine, and you can cook all sorts on a toasting fork, or in a sturdy frying pan.

We use our fire pit all year round, love it! S'mores a must every time. DD loves a banana slit lengthways filled with marshmallows and choc drops, wrapped in foil.

DCs also love making bread to cook on it.. Either flat bread cooked on a flat stone heated in the middle of the pit or bread twists twisted around a stick and held /turned above the flames.

DCs vegan friends stick starburst on the end of a stick and semi melt them in the fire instead of marshmallows