Prepping for the Fireworks!

It's the dog days of summer in Ohio, but we have been busy today even in the heat. Why? It's the day before Independence Day- a day we spend mostly cooking and prepping for my husband's absolute-favorite holiday.

Our responsibility for the big day includes a pork loin and a strawberry poke cake.  Jacob's going to smoke the pork in the electric smoker, and, of course, I'm in charge of the cake.  Strawberry poke cake is a dessert that brings back a ton of memories for me!  I'll have the recipe up on the blog after the holiday.

My sister and I took the boys to a park this morning, I knocked out a bunch of homework during Reed's nap, and Jacob and I decided to clean out the fire pit and spend the afternoon at home cooking grouse over a campfire, soaking in the sun, getting the pork loin ready for tomorrow, riding bikes, and watching The Andy Griffith Show.  I am totally hooked on Andy Griffith right now.  What a great show!  You'd never guess I'm in my 20's, would ya?

 Now I realize many of you didn't get past the whole "cooking grouse over a campfire" detail.  This, lovelies, is my husband and two grouse.  He killed them in Canada on a hunting trip and brought them home to the freezer.  They are pretty neat animals, actually.  YouTube one sometime- it is well worth it.  They make the most interesting sounds!

So in preparation for this wild west trip, we decided to try cooking over a campfire.  We made corn on the cob and grouse, carrots, and onions on the campfire- like pioneers!

We had to cook it for a while and the smell was amazing!  We managed to call in Bo-Bo, our neighbors' little dog and Oliver's BFF.  He just dropped by to sniff around and beg shamelessly, even though his mom assured me that he had just eaten!  No wonder he and Oli get along so well!

While Jacob cooked and defended our dinner against Bo-Bo and Oliver's coordinated attacks, Reed and I played hard.  I think this pic wraps up just about everything that was going on.  Swim trunks, bicycle helmet, broken tractor, dirt on the belly.  The life!

Dinner was worth the wait!  Yummy grouse, buttery carrots, and corn on the cob!

Yum-O!  I just can't figure out where wild game gets the bad rep.  Clean eating, right there (unlike the cake I will be making tomorrow).  Happy Independence Day Eve, friends!  Stay safe and have fun!