Five Things
Movie Review: The Way I See It
Every four years, a couple months before the presidential election a variety of strategically timed movies try their best to swing votes a certain way and influence the outcome of the election. Many of these movies don\’t last past election day and I\’ll be honest with you I am not a political movie person. In fact, I hate it and typically avoid political movies at all cost.
The Way I See It seems to be a little different. You see Pete Souza served as the official White House photographer for two presidents of opposite parties: Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama. The story is told through video footage and iconic still from Souza\’s archive. Of course this means you\’ll get plenty of voice overs throughout the movie. For the most part, the political message is held off until the end.
Travel Diaries: Whispering Pines Campground in Mancelona, Michigan
3060 Mancelona Road, Mancelona, Michigan 49659, United States
Recently, I found myself ready to hit the road for an adventure. With COVID in full swing, I don\’t feel as safe visiting hotels as I once did. Therefore I found myself glamping, at one of the nicest campgrounds I have ever been to. Whispering Pines Campground is located in Mancelona, Michigan which is between Traverse City and Petosky.
Whispering Pines Campground Sites Offer:
Each site is spacious (seriously, I have never seen sites this spacious before) and is surrounded by mature pine trees that not only provide shade but privacy as well. All sites have a grassy area and include a picnic table and fire ring.
Whispering Pines Campground Activities:
I was extremely impressed with everything the campground had to offer. With so many activities, including nature trails, there really is no reason to leave.
1. Camp Store. The camp store features grocery items, candy, beverages, RV supplies, ice, wood, and more.
Nearby Towns:
If you\’re looking for the perfect campground to get away, I highly recommend Whispering Pines Campground in Mancelona, Michigan. The employees are nice, you get a spacious private site, the bathrooms are sparkling clean, the trails are beautiful, there are plenty of activities and despite there being children the campground is actually very quiet.
How to Make Hobo Pies
Everyone has a different name for them: hobo pies, campfire pies, pie irons, mountain pies, or pudgy pies, but we can all agree they are delicious! From sweet to savory, when it comes to hobo pies the combinations are endless.
From my backyard to up north travels and car-camping adventures I have found myself spending more time around a campfire, which means I have spent more time making hobo pies than ever. Hobo pies are super simple to make and definitely a camping staple. Today I am going to share with you how to make hobo pies, as well as a ton of sweet and savory combinations as well as share pictures of some of the pies I have made this season. I would love to hear what your favorite hobo pie combination is, so feel free to leave a comment letting me know!
Hobo Pies
What you will need
A camping cooking iron
Sliced bread (cheap bread works the best
Non-stick spray or butter
Filling(s) of your choice
How to make a Hobo Pie
1. Spray both sides of the iron with a non-stick spray.
Pro Tip: You can also butter the bread to get more of a crisp grilled cheese texture on the bread
2. Lay a piece of bread on one side of the iron.
3. Spread on your favorite fillings.
4. Put another slice of bread on top.
5. Tightly close the iron.
6. Trim off excess bread if needed.
7. Toast over the fire.
8. Rotate the iron every minute or so, until everything is melted and the bread is golden brown. Typically takes about 3-4 minutes.
9. Enjoy!
Hobo Pie Filling Combinations to Try
Sweet Hobo Pie Filling Combinations
Any canned pie filling
Peanut butter and jelly
Honey and peanut butter
Nutella and banana
Nutella and strawberries
Apples and cinnamon sugar
Savory Hobo Pie Filling Combinations
Pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese, and toppings of your choice
Scrambled egg and cheese
Scrambled egg, tomato, and cheese
Ham and cheese
Cheese (for a delicious grilled cheese)
Butter, garlic, and salt
Tomato, basil and mozzarella
Restaurant Review: Short\’s Brewing Company
A couple weekends ago I went on a little glamping getaway. Of course, if you know me it involved plenty of exploring. The campsite I stayed at was near Bellair, so of course, I had to check out the sweet little town. Bellaire, Michigan is home to Short\’s Brewing Company and while I don\’t drink I know that breweries are typically home to the best pizza and pretzels around.
I tried out a Flutes of the Chi pizza which featured: chicken, pesto, artichokes, roasted garlic, herb-roasted tomatoes, parmesan reggiano, and a balsamic glaze. The pizza was absolutely delicious and tasted even better once it was cold.
I also tried out Loop de Loop. These soft pretzels are made with Local\’s Light and topped with pyramid sea salt. The soft pretzels come with a side of beer mustard, peanut butter and Soft Parade jam, and Huma cheese dip. Never would I think to dip my soft pretzel in peanut butter and jam, but it was actually my favorite dip.
If you\’re in or around Bellaire, Michigan I highly recommend stopping at Short\’s Brewing Company and at least getting the soft pretzels – dip them in the peanut butter and Soft Parade jam first.. you won\’t regret it.
Fashion meets Food 