Camping is only for some. My mother was at the top of the “not for me” list. We went camping once when I was a child. She nipped that in the bud, and we never camped again. Early in our marriage, Greg and I decided we would go camping. He knew what he was doing because he grew up camping. So we borrowed a tent from his dad and headed to the lake one Friday after work.
I was a country girl, but far from an outdoor girl! We got to the lake just as it was getting dark. He was setting the tent up while I held the lantern. Remember that bit about not being an outdoor girl? Bugs started flying toward the light, I screamed and danced around, and he may have said a few choice words.
He stayed with it, though, with very little help from me. As we crawled into the tent later that night and got situated in our sleeping bags, it started thundering within minutes. I made it clear that I would not be sleeping underneath trees during a storm, making Greg’s aggravation worse. So, after all the tent drama, we slept in the back of Greg’s SUV. It definitely wasn’t the best camping experience!
That was our only camping experience until a few years ago. We bought a used camper, and I fell in love with camping! Since then, we have upgraded to a new camper, and I have fully embraced camping, even commenting several times that I could be a full-time camper.
Due to a fire at my son and daughter-in-law’s house before Christmas, they are staying in our house, and we are enjoying the camper life. It’s a temporary arrangement while they build a house.
As we try to adjust to the minimalist lifestyle, I have noticed a few pros and cons of camper living. A few pros are that cleaning is easier and quicker, giving me more time to enjoy the little things. Well, so far, that’s all I have. The cons that I have noticed are that I miss my king-size bed, and baking can be a problem; I do not care for the gas oven! So, check back with me in a few months. Then, I’ll let you know if I’m ready to hit the road as a full-time camper.
Here is a fantastic gooey chocolate chip pie I did not bake in the camper. This recipe is similar to a pie I have loved my whole life that my Aunt Sara made. This recipe comes from a blog that I love for the beautiful pictures, as much as the delicious recipes, Half Baked Harvest.
Pies are so simple to make, and you can even bake pies on a pellet grill or a BGE, which I did this time. In addition, you can make a homemade pie crust, or, for convenience, a store-bought crust works just fine. Greg and I enjoyed this pie served warm with a dollop of ice cream!
Gooey Chocolate Chip Pie
Ingredients
- 1 unbaked pie crust
- 2/3 cup sweetened condensed milk divided
- 2 large eggs
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar packed
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter room temperature
- 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Butter a pie plate and press crust into plate. Drizzle 1/3 sweetened condensed milk onto bottom of crust and set aside.
- Using an electric mixer beat the eggs until foamy. Add salt, flour, brown sugar, sugar and vanilla and beat until combined. Add softened butter and beat to combine (it will not be smooth). Stir in chocolate chips.
- Spoon half of the chocolate chip mixture into the pie crust spread evenly. Drizzle with remaining sweetened condensed milk. Spoon the remaining chocolate chip mixture into the crust and spread evenly.
- Bake in preheated oven for 55 to 60 minutes or until golden brown and a knife inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow to cool for 20 minutes.
- Serve warm or at room temperature.
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