Cozy Campire Stew & Fall Fire Pit Inspo
“When a man moves away from nature his heart becomes hard. ” ~ Lakota
My idea of a “night out” is to be outside. Nature has a way of calming my soul. We’ve had a very busy Fall. A “night out” by a cozy firepit with a big bowl of vampire strew was just what the Dr. ordered!:)
Cozy, to me, means having a space that is pretty. Decorating our firepit, to make it feel like an extension of our home, is relaxing.
I started by framing the SunJoyLife Gazebo with cornstalks tied to the front posts. Then, I added two mums in galvanized buckets on either side of the steps. Next, I surrounded the cornstalks and mums with a collection of green and orange pumpkins, in varying shapes and sizes.
When pumpkin hunting, remember to look for pumpkins that are visually interesting. Adding texture to your decor, whether inside or outside, is always a great idea! One way to add texture is also to play with levels; I will often turn pumpkins on their side for this reason. I also like to look for beautiful long stems.
Next, grab a plaid blanket, in Fall colors, and some cute Fall pillows. This will soften up your outdoor chairs and make them soft, cozy and warm.
Don’t forget to add more flowers!! You can never have enough flowers in my opinion.
Next, turn old galvanized washtubs upside down for a quick side table. You can also use wooden crates and buckets!! This is a great spot to add more pumpkins, or to set a drink, or a snack!!
Now serve up something warm like Campfire Stew!!! This recipe was found in The Harvest Table Gooseberry Patch Cookbook. This recipe is sweet and smokey. Perfect for relaxing by the campfire.
Slow Cooker Campfire Stew
2 16-oz. cans stewed tomatoes
16-oz. can butter beans
16-oz. can creamed corn
1 T. Worcestershire sauce
3 potatoes, peeled and diced 1 onion, chopped
14-1/2 oz. container shredded BBW Beef
14-1/2 oz. container shredded BBQ Pork
1 T. lemon juice salt and pepper to taste
In a saucepan, cover potatoes and onion with water. Cook over medium-high heat for 10 to 15 minutes, until tender. Drain, reserving 1/4 cup cooking liquid. Add potatoes, onion and reserved liquid to a slow cooker along with undrained canned vegetables and remaining ingredients. Stir well; cover and cook on low setting for 4 hours. Makes 6 to 8 servings.
Fall isn’t the only time of the year that you can enjoy a cozy firepit. Check out my Christmas In July Firepit Ideas HERE!!
