Hobo Desserts

Baked Apples in a Can (per can)

1 apple, sliced thin
1 tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp flour
1 tbsp butter or margarine
1/2 lemon to squeeze
2-3 tbsp golden raisins
1. First, slice up the apples real thin.
2. Mix brown sugar, flour, and butter.
3. In a larger can (16 oz), alternate layers of apple and the sugar mixture.
4. When finished, squeeze the juice of half a lemon on top.
5. Finish off with a sprinkle of golden raisins.
Bake 375F for 35 minutes or until apples are tender.

Hobo Packs

Wrap chunks of juicy fruit in foil with flavourings and toss the packs on to the grill. The ultimate result, warm and unbelievably easy dessert.

Each pack requires 1 12 inch square sheet of heavy duty aluminum foil. Place 1/4 tablespoon butter in middle of foil, and then add fruit. After adding fruit, bring two sides of foil up over fruit and fold to form a seam across the top. Fold the remaining two side to seal the packs. Grill the hobo packs over moderate heat in the barbeque, over a fire or in the owen until the fruit is sizzling, about 10 minutes.

1. Strawberry-Blueberry Hobo Packs (4 packs)

1/2 pound strawberries, havled or quartered

1/2 pound blueberries

1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1/4 cup sugar

3/4 teaspoon cornstartch

2. Nectarine-Gingersnap Hobo Packs (4 packs)

1 pound nectarines diced, unpeeled 

3 tablespoon sugar

1/3 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 cup crushed gingersnaps

3. Pineapple-Caramel Hobo Packs (4 packs)

12 ounces fresh pineapple, cut into 1/2 inch pieces

1/4 cuup light brown sugar

1 tablespoon rum (option rum  or brandy flavouring)

8 chewy caramel candies, cut into 1/4 inch pieces

4. Honey-Vanilla-Apricot Hobo Packs (4 packs)

1 pound apricots, cut into eights

1 1/2 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

1/4 cup honey

1/2 vanilla bean, seeds scraped (I couldn't find a vanilla bean so I used 1 teaspoon vanilla extract)

1/4 cup sugar

Options for serving:

Pour fruit on top of pound cake (to grill pound cake, butter sides and grill both sides until just toasted), or pour fruit on top of Hobo Bread.

Also works well with ice cream, yogurt, or whipped cream.

Hobo Bread

3 cups of dried fruit (raisins, currants, blueberries, cherries, cranberries, pineapple, mango...)

3 cups boiling water

3 teaspoons baking powder

Place dried fruit in bowl. Disolve baking soda in boiling water and pour over fruit. Let satnd overnight without stirring.

Next day, grease tin cans (I just spray inside with cooking spray). Number of tin cans depends on the size. For example, 10 soup cans or 6 pasta sauce cans.

In large bowl, stir together dried ingredients and set aside:

4 cups flour (can be whole wheat and/or white)

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

In another bowl, mix wet ingredients:

2 eggs,

1/4 cup oil

1/4 cup of liquid. Depending on choice of dried fruit, could be orange juice, fruit juice and/or water.

Stir in fruit mixture with its juices

Options: add 1 teaspoon orange peel or orange flavouring or vanilla extract

Option: add 1/2 to 1 cup of chopped nuts (example pecans)

Batter should be thick.

Preheat oven to 350. Fill greased cans about half full with mixture. Place cans on baking sheet and slide into over for 50 to 60 minutes for pasta-sized cans, shorter time for smaller cans. Check for doneness with toothpick that comes out clean. Remove from oven, place cans on their sides on cooling rack and let cool. When cool, run knife carefully around sides of bread and gently shake the bread out of the can.

Bread stores well on counter wrapped in cloth. Becomes wet and sticky in plastic. Freezes well.

Enjoy!!