Campfire Banana Boats, Marshmallows, S'mores & Mud Pies

Friday 24 July 2015
I've been out in the woods again with my friend Mandy from Mud Pie Adventures. For the first of our summer events we headed to Aberdeen's Hazelhead Park for two days with 160 big and little kids to indulge in Banana Boats, S'mores, Campfire Coffee and Mud Pies.



The main event was of course the Campfire Banana Boats. For these, and as many of our other ingredients as we could, we opted for Fairtrade products. Filter coffee, bananas, tea, instant coffee, sugar, chocolate and charcoal all carried the Fairtrade mark. At the Monday afternoon session we had a very special visitor. FT Banana the mascot of Aberdeen's Fairtrade group. Please be assured that he was not roasted in his skin, split open and filled with chocolate, marshmallows, honey and cream. But lots of his friends were! 




We met up with our young explorers and their grown ups and dished out buckets for them to collect sticks for our campfire - child labour at its best. On the way to base camp we kept our eyes and ears open and spotted caterpillars in cocoons, heard baby kestrels and smelt elderflowers. Sticks were sorted into sizes, rules about fires were discussed to keep everyone safe and the campfire was lit with flint, steel and cotton wool.


Whilst waiting for the fire to get hot enough for cooking there was plenty to keep everyone occupied. Hammocks to swing in, chalk to draw on trees and stones, teddies and dinosaurs to play with, dens to build, mountains to climb, and mudpies to make. It was only after the event that we found out that our second day coincided with National Hammock Day on 22nd July.


CAMPFIRE BANANA BOATS

Fairtrade Bananas
Chocolate Buttons (the giant ones work particularly well)
Mini Marshmallows
Squirty Cream
Honey

This will work on a BBQ or campfire, you could even make them in the oven.
Get the fire nice and hot, we used charcoal as a base.
Let the flames die down a bit and snuggle the bananas into the coals.
Cook for 8-10 minutes until the skins go black. Turn over half way through cooking time.
Remove with tongs and slit each banana lengthwise through the peel, making sure not to cut all the way through to the other side. 
Stuff the bananas with chocolate buttons. Briefly close them together to melt the chocolate.
Add mini marshmallows, honey and squirty cream to taste.
Grab a spoon, scoop and enjoy!

Variations
For adults try adding a splash of Baileys or Rum!
Additional filling suggestions - peanut butter, nuts, caramel sauce, desiccated coconut, glace cherries, cinnamon, sprinkles, M&M's, brown sugar.


You can't have a campfire without marshmallows and it was time to get toasting. Foodie Loon had received an awesome marshmallow toasting tree for Father's Day and let us borrow it. Don't you just love when you a buy a pressie for someone that's really for yourself?! Rustic campfire coffee was brewed up in an enamel coffee pot and tasted so much better than the stuff from bigbucks coffee shops. 



Time to introduce S'mores. Two digestives, three giant chocolate buttons and one toasted marshmallow made an awesome sandwich which just like their name left everyone wanting some more! Over the two days we got through dozens of bananas, 28 bags of giant chocolate buttons, multiple packets of digestives and several kilogrammes of marshmallows. No wonder I get strange looks in the supermarket.




We're back in the woods next week for 4 more events for 2-12 year olds. This time at Countesswells where we'll be on a Blaeberry Bash cooking up jam, pancakes, marshmallows and mudpies. Book places and sign up for our mailing list at www.mudpieadventures.co.uk to be kept informed of future events.


For further campfire cooking inspiration take a look at the following recipes:
Chocolate Orange Camp-Fire Cake by Elizabeth's Kitchen Diary
Chilli Spam & Eggs by Fab Food 4 All


Link up your recipe of the week

12 comments

  1. We were there Wednesday morning and we loved it! Thanks again! The bananas Were so good and the location is great for playing around in the trees / mountains! A great way to spend a morning!

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    1. So glad to hear that you enjoyed it. Now you know where our secret wood it you can come at any time.

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  2. Looks like such a fun event, my kids would love it. Shame we are so far away! The barbecued bananas and s'mores look particularly delicious.

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    1. You'll just have to try making them in the back garden with your kids. They are very moreish!

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  3. FT Banana enjoyed his outing, Thea has inherited her mum's love of marshmallows and I am a sucker for real coffee, especially when it's Fairtrade. Thanks for a great afternoon. Hope to get together on a Fairtrade project sometime soon

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    1. I was a wee bit worried about FT's flammability next to the fire! Lovely to meet you and it would be great to get together on a Fairtrade project.

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  4. looks like a lot of fun, next time himself is having a bonfire, quite often as there are always things to burn on a farm, i may have a go with the bananas

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    1. As a farmers daughter I know only too well about the frequency of bonfires on a farm. Definitely sneak in a couple of bananas at the next one.

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  5. Oh wow I really want to try some smores - they look great. I love how much shopping you managed to get through, especially the choccy buttons

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    1. The s'mores are so good! They should really be made with Graham crackers which are slightly thinner. A full digestive on the bottom and half of one on the top is my personal preference.

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  6. Well having had our first S'mores with chocolate digestives tonight I have to say I'm a complete convert, why did it take me so long? I've got a lot of making up to do! Thanks for linking to my dish:-)

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    1. Ah yes chocolate digestives are the alternative to plain and choccie buttons. Definitely leave you wanting some more.

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