Cabin Potluck

Bringing together great people & great recipes at the cabin potluck.

Bringing together great people & great recipes at the cabin potluck.

By Julie Kuczynski

About an hour outside of Washington, D.C., by way of Interstate 66, a family cabin named Camp Davis sits just a few miles short of Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. “Back roads leave the highway behind, turning and twisting up Blue Mountain, over the Shenandoah River, and through the woods,” says Kristy Kurrus. Her maternal grandfather built Camp Davis in the 1970s, about the time her parents became high school sweethearts. Kristy’s grandparents left the cabin to their five grandchildren, but only Kristy and her sister Kathy had interest in sustaining “the cabin dream.” The quaint retreat is situated on 20-plus acres of a mostly wooded mountainside and sleeps 11 when needed. On the property, Kristy’s industrious grandfather created hiking trails and planted grape vines and an apple and plum tree orchard. “We hope to add a few other ingredients like berry bushes, more fruit trees and possibly a pumpkin patch,” Kristy says. “The property is shared with wildlife, including bear, deer, squirrel, fox and many species of beautiful birds.” Kristy adds, “Camp Davis has been making memories for years, but it sat vacant for a decade after our grandfather lost his battle with lung cancer. In the past couple of years we’ve been busy cleaning out all the cobwebs. Though there’s been a ton of work involved, it’s been wonderful getting reacquainted with a place so close to my heart and scattered with warm childhood memories of picking berries in the summer, canning apple butter in the fall and selecting the perfect tree at Christmas. I’ve always been fond of the cabin, but it wasn’t until we started putting our blood, sweat and tears into it that I officially fell head over boot heels for Camp Davis, Blue Mountain and the surrounding area.”

Time for a party

To celebrate the renovation and reopening of the cabin, Kristy and her family put together a potluck picnic. “What better way to kick off summer than with a lovely picnic?” she says. “The first and most important step in planning a potluck, as with any gathering, is to pick a date and put it on the calendar. Nearly everyone has busy schedules of sorts, so be sure to mark a day in advance when most guests are available,” advises Kristy. “In my experience, most guests enjoy contributing in some way. Don’t be shy about asking them to bring a dish, drinks or even chairs,” says Kristy. “If you suspect that guests will bring contributions, whether it be plates or presents, designate a station for each element. Appetizer, dessert, drink and gift tables are always a great idea for gatherings. “I once read it’s easiest to plan events around a single theme from which related ideas can be developed. Over the years, I’ve definitely found this to be so true. Be it a cultural cuisine, color scheme or a simple shape, a theme can inspire oodles of entertaining ideas. Themes can also inspire guests to get involved, conjure up fun and contribute to the camaraderie,” Kristy says.

Memories that last

Kristy absolutely adores bringing folks together no matter the reason or season. “There will never be too many excuses for coming together in celebration of life itself. Encouraging everyone to get involved makes the event more enjoyable for all.” Most of her family’s celebrations are centered on food. “Years ago my grandparents would invite the family to cook and can apple butter at the cabin using the orchard’s harvest,” she says, “I made my annual apple butter batch with the cabin’s apples for the first time this year. Bringing the two traditional elements together was literally a dream come true for me.” Kristy and her family now have many years of cabin fun to come, and more memories to be made. “We love sharing the amazing Blue Mountain experience and hosting gatherings there year-round,” she says.