Earth's Bounty Family Reunion

A family reunion at a farm that allows you to pick your own fruit is a great idea. There are numerous websites where you can find the location of different "pick-your-own-fruit" farms. Everyone can have fun talking while they pick the fruit. After the fruit is picked, wash it and put together some Dutch oven treats for everyone to enjoy. Following are a few tips to make it more enjoyable.

Go and visit the farm

Ask a lot of questions. Make sure that the fruit will be ripe when you are planning the reunion. Ask how much the fruit costs. Make sure that they won't mind a large crowd. If there aren't places to sit, you may want to check with them to make sure that it is okay if you set up chairs in the shade (you don't want to forget some of the older members of the family who may not be able to stand for long periods of time). You will also want to talk to the owner and see if they would allow you to cook the food there. If this is not possible be sure to find a nearby camping area. If your family has a lot of younger kids you may want to see if the camp area has a playground or bring outdoor games and toys to keep them occupied while the treats are cooking.

Bring Items needed for Dutch Oven Treats

Following are a few recipes of Dutch oven desserts. If you have a favorite family recipe you can use that instead. Be sure that you have enough Dutch ovens and ingredients to feed everyone. It would be a good idea to ask family members to bring Dutch ovens if they have them, and a few of the needed ingredients. Don’t forget oven mitts, plates forks and a drink and cups.

Peach, Apricot, Pear or Apple Cake

Ingredients

Yellow Cake Mix
3 eggs
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1/3 cup water
Sliced and peeled peaches, apricots, pears or apples

Mix together cake mix, eggs, vegetable oil, and water in a bowl. Butter the sides of a 12 inch Dutch oven. Pour batter into Dutch oven arrange fruit on top. Cover oven and bake with 8 briquettes underneath the oven and 14 on top. Cook 60 minutes. Serve with ice cream.

Makes 10 servings

Any Berry Cake

Cake mix

2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
1 Cup butter
1 tsp. Vanilla extract
1 tsp. Butter
2 cups sugar
5 egg yolks (keep the egg whites)
1 cup buttermilk
1 cup coconut
½ tsp cream of tartar
2 cups berries (raspberry, strawberry, blueberry, blackberry etc.)

Directions

Prepare batter in a large mixing bowl. Mix egg whites and cream of tartar in a separate bowl until soft peaks form mix in ½ cup sugar and continue beating until stiff. Fold egg whites into batter. Grease the bottom and sides of the Dutch oven. Pour batter in. Pour berries in on top. Bake with 8 coals underneath and 14 coals on top of the Dutch oven for an hour. Serve with ice cream or cool whip.

Makes 12 servings.