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Whether you have a mega-bus RV, a trailer, camper, or tent, camping is a wonderful way to get away from it all and enjoy the outdoors as a family together. It really is a great exercise in family togetherness as you unplug most of life's distractions and focus on creating shelter and food, then enjoying the outdoors together. A few easy dinners recipes and you'll soon be gathered around a roaring fire enjoying each others' company.
I grew up camping with my family regularly. We pulled a camping trailer and loved the convenience to set up camp quickly and carry the basics with us. I still remember nights spent playing cards together and cooking over the grill. We learned to always be ready to leave early, because my father loved to leave the night or day before we planned. He would just get excited and want to go early. Pretty cute, huh?
Now that I have a family of my own I try to make it a memory for us as well. We live in Washington state and the state parks are wonderful. Our favorite, located on the north end of Whidbey Island is Deception Pass State Park. It is lovely with some waterfront spaces, and wonderful facilities. We love to go there. Again I like to prepare in advance the dinner for our first night.
I usually start a flank steak marinating before we leave and by the time we travel, arrive, setup camp and get the fire going, the steaks is marinated and the dinner is wonderful, tender, succulent, flavorful steak. If you have time before hand, it's great to parboil some small potatoes until they are almost done. Then at supper time, roll them in olive oil and salt and pepper and put them on skewers to grill up, deliciously, with crispy, grill marked skin. I usually plan a bagged salad to round out the meal and then go in for a grilled dessert.
Have you ever roasted bananas on the campfire? They're delicious. Wrap them in foil sprinkled with brown sugar and cinnamon. Heat until warmed through and serve with a spoon to be eaten straight from the foil.
For a great camping breakfast, consider packing some crescent rolls and jam. Wrap the rolls around a roasting stick, leaving an opening at the top (we'll fill that with jam later). Let each person toast their roll over the fire until golden brown outside and cooked through. Carefully take it off the stick or eat it off the stick if your brave. Fill the opening at the top with jam or jelly and eat while they're hot.
Campfire Grilled Flank Steak
We always plan this for the first night camping. It is marinating on the way and cooks in a flash once we get the fire going.
Serves 4
Ingredients
2 lb Flank steak
1/4 C Soy sauce
1/4 C Worcestershire sauce
1/4 C Water
2 Tb Rosemary - fresh, minced
Instructions
Combine all ingredients in a zip lock bag and marinate overnight or all day. Grill 4 to 5 minutes per side or until desired degree of doneness. Cover and rest 10 minutes, then slice in thin slices across the grain in the bias.
Grilled Rosemary Potatoes
The potatoes are parboiled to give them a head start, then rolled in olive oil, salt and rosemary and finished on the grill. The skins are crispu and delicious.
Serves 4
Ingredients
1 lb Red potatoes - small
2 Tb Olive oil
Sea salt
1 Tb Rosemary - fresh, minced
Instructions
In a large pot of boiling salted water cook the potatoes until just slightly under done. Drain, then drizzle with olive oil, salt and rosemary. Toss to coat. Thread on metal skewers is desired. Grill turning regularly, until crispy and done.
Block parties are a phenomenal way to celebrate summer with family and friends. With the rising cost of gas and travel many people are staying home for vacations ("staycations") and throwing a block party is a great way to get together and celebrate without traveling way. We have some easy dinner recipes to help create your feast and some ideas to make it happen.
1) Get everyone involved early. Notify people in advance of the event by putting save the date invitations in their mailboxes, then follow up in person so they know they are welcome.
2) Divvy up the tasks to make life easier. Have every family bring their own meat to grill, and assign most people to bring a dish to share. Those not bringing a dish can bring buns, condiments, desserts, ice and beverages. Get a headcount early so people know how much to bring.
3) Ask everyone to bring their own plates so there isn't a huge amount of waste at the end of the party and you can be green.
4) Put out sunscreen and bug spray to keep burns and pesky bugs at bay.
5) Assign someone to bring tables and folding chairs, but suggest to guests that they bring lawn chairs too.
6) Stock up on disposable cups.
7) Bring squirt guns, frisbees, balls, hula hoops and other games for the kids to all share.
8) Bring a CD player and some music to set the mood.
9) Have a watermelon eating contest and give out amazing prizes.
10) After dark you can project a movie against the side of someones house and all gather around to watch. Make popcorn to share.
11) Think about making homemade ice cream. Nothing puts people in a better mood faster. The young ones may have never seen it made and the older ones can share great memories of homemade ice cream from their youth.
12) Assign, or hire some teens to help out with the young ones. Make sure no one gets trampled and everyone has a good time.
Some easy dinner recipes to add to your party:
New Oreleans Flank Steak
This recipe multiplies easily to fit a crowd!
Serves 4
Ingredients
2 Tb Red wine vinegar
2 Tsp Light brown sugar
2 Tsp Creole or Cajun Seasoning
2 Tsp Terriyaki Sauce - reduced sodium
1 Tsp Oregano - dried
1/4 Tsp Salt
1/4 Tsp Cracked black pepper
1 1/4 lb Flank steak
Instructions
In a large zip top plastic bag, combine all the ingredients except the steak. Seal the bag to shake to combine the ingredients well. Add the flank steak, seal and shake bag again to coat steak well with marinade.
Refrigerate up to 3 days.
Preheat broiler, or grill, and grill the steak for 5 to 7 minutes per side for medium or cook to your desired doneness. Let the steak stand 10 minutes before slicing crosswise into 1/2 inch thick slices.
Honey Mustard Chicken
Simple but delicious. Kids will enjoy it a lot. Use broiler if grill is not available.
Serves 6
Ingredients
5 Tb Honey
5 Tb Dijon mustard
4 1/2 lb Chicken thighs and drumsticks
Instructions
Mix honey and mustard together in a small bowl. Put chicken in resealable plastic bag or plastic dish with lid, and pour or brush marinade over chicken. Make sure chicken is covered with marinade. Marinate in refrigerator for at least one hour, but not more than 24 hours. It's best to marinate overnight.
Grill the chicken on a preheated grill for about 8 to 9 minutes per side, baste chicken with marinade until chicken is cooked through and lightly browned. Serve chicken warm or cold.
Chipotle Mashed Potatoes
Chipotle chilies, lime, and cilantro transform everyday mashed potatoes into a mouth watering experience. Prep time is 2 minutes, and cook time is 8 minutes.
Serves 4
Ingredients
1 C Milk
2 3/4 C Mashed potatoes - frozen
1 Can Chipotles en adobo, minced
1/4 C Cilantro, chopped
1 Tb Lime juice - fresh
1/4 Tsp Salt
1/4 Tsp Black pepper, freshly ground
Instructions
In a medium saucepan, heat milk over medium heat. Add frozen potatoes; cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes or until throughly heated. Remove from heat; add chilies and the rest of the ingredients. Stir until well combined.
Easy Three Bean Salad
Great accompaniment to any meal. Will stay in the refrigerator for up to one week in a tight lidded container.
Serves 8
Ingredients
1 Can Kidney beans - 15 oz, rinsed and drained
1 Can Black beans - 15 oz, drained and rinsed
1 Can Chickpeas - 15 oz, drained and rinsed
1/2 C Parsley - fresh, chopped
1/4 C Olive oil
1/4 C Balsamic vinegar
Instructions
Combine all ingredients and toss. Cover and chill.