Camping Snacks by the Fire

Celebrate a Great RV Season with One More Fireside Happy Hour

Grateful for another excellent year of camping? Why not cap off the year with (at least) one more Happy Hour camping snack before winterizing the RV. Whether stateside, seaside, hillside or riverside, assemble a choice selection of beverages and camping snacks suitable for a fireside heart-to-heart. Build a fire, enjoy a beverage, a snack, and talk about next year’s camping plans.

A charcuterie board is simple to assemble. Make a trip to your deli of choice and select your favourites. I chose a variety of olives, a selection of cheeses from the local farmer’s market, dried sausages, and pate. Add your favourite store-bought crackers or make your own. Pepperidge Farms cheddar fish are a fun addition, but my guests love this recipe for crisp olive oil and rosemary crackers.

Choose from dark malted stouts and porters, mulled wine, rum or brandy hot toddies, and Irish Coffee. Any of these options work well for a cool evening by the fire while you recount the adventures of the past camping season.

Rosemary Olive Oil Crackers to serve eight

Tools and Equipment

• • • Cup and spoon measures
    • Wooden spoon for mixing dough
    • Mixing bowl
    • Pasta roller, or rolling pin
    • Parchment paper
    • French knife
    • Cutting board
    • Pastry brush
    • Oven
    • Baking sheet
    • Cooling rack
    • Plastic wrap

Ingredients

• • • 1/3 cup olive oil, plus a few tablespoons to brush tops of crackers before baking
    • 1/2 cup water
    • 1 ¾ cup all-purpose flour
    • 1/2 tsp salt, plus coarse salt for topping (I prefer Maldon Salt for topping)
    • 1 tsp baking powder
    • 1/2 tsp black pepper, coarse (or more if you like)
    • 1 tbsp fresh rosemary, finely chopped

Method

1. 1. 1. Preheat oven to 450°F.
      2. Peel the leaves off the rosemary sprig and chop finely.

1. 1. 3. Measure and mix dry ingredients including the pepper and rosemary.
      4. Make a well in the middle of the flour mixture.
      5. Add the oil and water.
      6. Mix with a wooden spoon and shape into a rough round of dough.

1. 1. 7. Turn the dough out and knead it into a smooth ball.
      8. Divide the dough into four even balls, cover with plastic wrap and let rest for ten minutes.

1. 1. 9. Use a pasta roller or place the dough between two sheets of parchment and use a rolling pin to make the dough as thin as possible.

1. 1. 10. Place the rolled-out cracker dough on a parchment covered baking sheet. Cut the crackers before baking or leave them whole for your guests to break apart.
      11. Brush the tops with olive oil and sprinkle with salt.
      12. Bake at 450°F for 8–10 minutes.
      13. Cool on a rack.
      14. 14. Celebrate a home-made cracker!

Drink a toast to another great year of RVing, savour a delicious camping snack by the fire, chat about what went well this season, what you missed, and what you will focus on next year. Make plans now, mark important dates on your 2026 calendar (like when to book your favourite camping spots) and make a list of gear you want to replace or upgrade before next season. Then sit back and enjoy each other’s company.

RVing life is good!