How I made the decision to get into essential oils

Does the combo of being outdoorsy and using essential oils make me a hippie? Just a (rhetorical) question.  Really, I want to tell you why I joined Young Living.  To be honest, it’s because of two ladies- Stacie Hartzler & Bethany Slocum.  I had viewed several posts from them on Facebook, and since they were devout Christian ladies that I trusted and I valued their honest opinion (and still do), I was intrigued.  Over the years, I had observed how they loved their oils and how they were using them in everyday life.  As a side note, I also found out later that Young Living is a Christian based company.  It values the importance of faith in God and how that should influence everything you do- how you treat your body, love your spouse, raise your children, encourage one another, etc. I knew if I asked them a question, they would tell me an honest answer.

With their help, I ended up ordering my first set of oils (the Premium Starter Kit) all the way back in October 2014 to see if I liked them as much as they did.  I’ve got to admit, to me, it was pricey, but I was willing to take a ‘leap of faith’ and give it a try.  Although I did like the oils, I moved pretty slow.  It took me another 6 months before I ordered my next set of oils, but through the process, I did end up joining as a distributor in December of 2016 for the same reason why most people get started with a company like Young Living, Lipsense or even Mary Kay.  Not because I wanted to sell it for a little bit of income, but that I wanted to get the product cheaper for myself!  And you know me- I love a good deal. I’m a frugal shopper and I love to find good deals.  Dutch discount stores and yard sales are my bread and butter.

Lemon is one of my favorite EO’s!

I’ve used oils on many things, and many people.  And yes, I have started having few YL products available for purchase, but I don’t plan on being sales-y or pushy, which is why this is probably the first time you’ve heard me say much about me being involved in it at all.  What I do want to do is help you.  If you have any questions for me about my journey, or you’re interested in essential oils and living a healthier lifestyle, I’m here to give my honest opinion.  Or, maybe you want to jump right in and sign up as a distributor just to get stuff cheaper (no monthly purchase required).  Either way, let me know.  I’m here to help you just like Stacie and Bethany helped me.

Jessica Homan

Other Helpful Information & Links:

Young Living Blog which has all kinds of fun information & recipes

Young Living YouTube page to see lots of DIY videos and product information

Everyday Essentials Brochure

2018 Product Guide

Enroll in Young Living – please be sure to include my member number of 2181697 in the Sponsor ID and Enroller ID fields. Also, watch the video below to help with enrollment!

Cold Weather Camping

Conquer Cabin Fever and Old Man Winter

If you haven’t noticed, Justin and I love camping. Let me clarify- when I say camping, I don’t mean luxury RV glam-ping. I mean in the woods, roll out a tent, cook over a fire, authentic camping. We do have friends that own RV’s, and yes, they’re nice to have all your essentials packed and ready to go at a moment’s notice. A little kitchenette to prepare meals, a refrigerator/freezer for your food, heat, AC, and a TV allowing you to stay in touch with as much of the world as you’d like. But, to me, that’s not ‘roughing it.’ I would classify it as pulling a small mobile home to a campsite. No, we love camping so much, we usually schedule annual winter camping trips.

In Missouri, we never really know what the weather is going be like. We’ve been on winter trips from near-zero degrees to one New Year’s Day trip which turned out to be in the mid-60’s. I must say, though, winter is my least favorite season, mainly because I don’t like the cold weather. So, you’re probably beginning to think I’m a little crazy.  Rightly so- why book a camping trip in the winter?? I’m not even sure how we got started, but we keep doing it- partially out of tradition, but also to see if we can survive the night. That being said, I’d like to share with you a few of the things I’ve learned through the years to combine something I love with something I don’t. 

Autumn Wardrobe – Johnson’s Shut Ins

Many people in Missouri already know Johnson’s Shut Ins as a refreshing summer destination, but for the avid hiker or foliage lover, it’s a premier spot for fall travel as well.

Johnson’ Shut Ins During Summertime

With its free admission, my husband Justin and I typically make a point to go to the Shut Ins at least once a year, usually in the summer when swimming, snorkeling, and camping are our main objectives.  However, we occasionally make a trip in the fall to view the colorful landscape and enjoy the crisp air.  To be honest, I’m not a big fan of cold weather, but one perk of an approaching winter is that when the temperatures begin to drop, the insects follow suit.

There are a several hiking trails to choose from, including the Scour Trail which takes you for a closer view of the AmerenUE upper reservoir that shaped the gouge in the landscape after its failure in 2005.  As the young trees continue to grow, the scars down the hillside are beginning to fade, but the remnants of debris and large boulders can still very much be observed.  One of the largest boulders carried down by the force of the rushing water is right along the roadside entering the Shut Ins.  The stature of the boulder demands a better respect for the amazing power of water.

My first trip to the Shut Ins was in 2009, so I’m unable to compare the area from before and after the 1.3 billion gallons of water charged through the area, but Justin had visited before the reservoir breach.  The damaging water didn’t affect the Shut Ins area where visitors come to swim, but only what used to be the camp ground.  Since the breach, the campground has now been moved just up the road, but far away from any potential danger should such an accident ever occur again.  The Black River Visitor Center, located just past the entrance to the park, is open March through November and includes an exhibit about the breach and its destructive power.  Be sure to stop by and check it and the other exhibits out while you’re there.

Beautiful Autumn Colors

Once during a late springtime visit, dark clouds were beginning to form in the afternoon so we knew we needed to head over to the campground and set up our site before the rain set in.  We knew there was a chance of rain in the forecast, so we brought a 10 x 10 pop up canopy with us just in case.  Thank God we did! We set up and lowered the canopy just over our tent. Let’s be honest, tents are not waterproof.  As the sudden gusts of wind began to arrive with the storm cell, Justin did a great job securing the canopy down with straps, logs, and even the spare tire out of our vehicle.  We were fortunate enough to set up everything and be able to get a fire going before the rain began pouring down.  Cedar branches helped keep our fire going because it burns hot and fast which allowed us to cook ourselves a warm meal.  My heart ached for the two guys riding up on their bicycles to set up camp in the pouring rain just a few sites down from us.  We offered to share our fire so they could have a hot meal, but they politely declined.  All said and done, the soothing rainfall that evening gave me one of my best night’s sleep… 14 hours worth.

Camper Cabin at Johnson’s Shut Ins Campground

As fall temperatures fluctuate from frost to flip flops, you can rest assured the nearby campground accommodations can handle what you need, whatever the weather. Including six camper cabins, numerous RV, equestrian, basic and walk-in campsites, the campground is a great way to turn a day trip into a weekend retreat.

If you happen to break a sweat while hiking, you can always take a dip in the partially spring fed Black River that runs through the Shut Ins.  It’s refreshingly cold in the summer, and seems even colder in the winter, but I’m sure it’s due to the fact that there’s not much contrast between the water temperature and the air.  Taking a dip when it’s cold outside is not my preferred choice, but the cold water mixed with the cold air doesn’t seem to bother Justin one bit.

If you’d rather take a break from the trails or just want to add other free destinations to your itinerary, I would highly recommend Elephant Rock State Park.

Elephant Rock State Park

It is essentially a natural playground of large boulders and is only a short 14 miles drive from the Shut Ins.  Taum Sauk Mountain, the highest point in Missouri is another great one to add. If you don’t want to hike to the top, visit the Taum Sauk lookout tower which will give you a great panoramic view of the landscape.  Finally, Mina Sauk Falls is the tallest waterfall in Missouri and is an easy 3 mile loop hike from the parking lot. However, I would recommend going in the springtime or if there’s been a recent rain if you actually want to see the water-fall.  The first time we made the trek to Mina Sauk Falls was quite a disappointment. There hadn’t been any precipitation, the bugs were out in full force, and when we finally reached the waterfall, calling it a trickle would be quite the overstatement.

Regardless of what season it is, Johnson’s Shut Ins and the surrounding area is a great family destination to plan a trip or a vacation. Enjoy a leisurely stroll down the walkway at Johnson’s Shut Ins, a dip in the river, and stop by the Black River Visitor’s Center to find out more about the area. Did I mention it’s free?!?

Upper Walkway at Johnson’s Shut Ins

 

First in the Nation- Accessible Golf Course

Today, I was able to witness my brother play a round of golf… something he hasn’t been able to do since his accident left him in a wheelchair.  The memorable experience was possible thanks to the Ken Lanning Golf Center in Jefferson City, Missouri.

For those who may not know our family personally, my brother Chris was in a terrible car accident in February of 2006 that nearly took his life.  After being thrown from his vehicle, he lay severely injured in a dark and cold field until someone (we still don’t know who) called 911 and Chris was life-flighted to Columbia, MO.  After a long stint of hospital treatment, physical rehabilitation and recovery time, he’s confined to a wheelchair.  Now 35 years old, Chris was able to enjoy a round of golf for the first time in nearly 12 years.

What was left of Chris’ vehicle after his wreck in February 2006.

Before we move on, be sure to watch this video about the par 3 course:

Did you watch it?!? But wait! It gets even better: Not only is the course handicapped accessible, but just recently, thanks to a donation made by the Jefferson City Medical Group (JCMG), Ken Lanning Golf Center was able to purchase a SoloRider golf cart.  This single passenger golf cart allows someone with a disability to be able to drive the course (including on the greens), swivel and elevate the seat, and more easily play a round of golf.  Today, Chris was the first person to use the new SoloRider. 

I think the only two people more excited than our family, was Scott Hovis, the executive director at the Missouri Golf Association (MGA) and chairperson for the Missouri Junior Golf Foundation, and Karen Raithel, Director of Membership and Golf Handicap & Information Network (GHIN). They came out to talk with us, make sure we were well taken care of and answer any questions that we had.  After escorting us to the first hole and taking a few pictures and videos, they wished us a great game and returned to their MGA office in the clubhouse.

The course is easy to maneuver, and is in a quiet and beautiful setting just on the outskirts of Jefferson City.  It’s a wonderful option for people with (or without) disabilities.  One thing that we were warned about, and I’ll pass on the note, the greens putt quickly. So in the words of Happy Gilmore, just tap it in.

So where is this golf course? Let me be clear about something because I had to ask about the logistics myself.  Ken Lanning Golf Center is located on the property of Turkey Creek Golf Center.  The land for the Ken Lanning Golf Center was donated by Turkey Creek, and you do still check in at the club house at Turkey Creek to golf, but otherwise, they’re two separate entities. You can find information about Turkey Creek Golf Center on their Turkey Creek Facebook page.  Otherwise, check out the Ken Lanning Golf Center’s Facebook page or on their golf for all website.

One last note, thanks to the help of the Missouri Department of Conservation, Ken Lanning Golf Center also has a ADA accessible dock on one of their ponds, so don’t forget your fishing pole when you’re planning your trip!

Total Solar Eclipse

We were blessed to spend time with family and friends to watch the total solar eclipse happen on August 21st, 2017.  I wanted to include a video of the event for our family and friends that were unable to enjoy the beautiful site.  (Once the sun peaked out the back side after the eclipse, I added a filter to help see the crescent of the sun)

We watched the event unfold from small town Tipton, Missouri. A few things to note from my experience from the eclipse:

1. Sunlight is noticeably dimmer
2. Traffic began to quiet
3. Cicadas began calling
4. Sun narrowed to a sliver
5. Full eclipse
6. Dusk in the middle of the afternoon
7. 360 degree sunset
8. Dusk to dawn lights came on
9. Sun begins to re-appear
10. Roosters crow
11. Birds begin chirping
12. Things return to normal and life goes on as it should

It was quite a site to see. Maybe we’ll make a short trip to see the next closest one in 2024.

Biggest Spring in Missouri: Big Spring

And not just the biggest in Missouri, it ranks with some of the largest in the world.

Since the amount of discharge of a spring can vary with the amount of rainfall in the region, it’s hard to say that a spring can hold a certain numerical rank as top spring.

To give you an idea on the amount of water that comes from Big Spring (MO), it has enough discharge to fill up Busch Stadium in St. Louis in only 33 hours!

However, according to this article from the National Park Service (NPS), Big Spring, with an average discharge of 276-288 million (yes, million) gallons per day, competes with Silver Springs in Florida at ~550 million gallons per day, and the Snake River spring complex in Idaho at… let me explain:

There are a lot of springs within a relatively small area along the Snake River in Idaho. In fact, in 2005, several small parks in the area were combined to create Thousand Springs State Park which stretched over 15 miles.  According to the Master Plan of Thousand Springs State Park, one of those springs within the complex, Box Canyon Spring, on it’s own dumps ~259 million gallons per day into the Snake River as well as Big Spring with ~120 million gallons.  As you can imagine, with so many springs in a small area, all along the Snake River, it’s much more difficult to measure the discharge of any one spring in particular.  Thus, I believe this is why NPS listed it as the Snake River spring complex.

Other honorable mentions include Mammoth Springs in Arkansas at an average daily

Mammoth Springs

output of 216 million gallons, Giant Springs in Montana at ~156 million gallons, and Big Spring in Idaho at ~120 million gallons.  Keep in mind, these rankings tend to be fluid with rainfall amounts.

Justin and I have enjoyed visiting both Mammoth Springs, which is just across the Arkansas state border from Thayer, MO, and Big Spring, a few miles south of Van Buren, MO.

The state park is lovely, with plenty of shade and frequented by wildlife.  We encountered birds, squirrels, a raccoon, and many deer that didn’t seem to be disturbed by our presence.  We’d get an occasional courtesy look, but then they’d go back to what they were doing.

We’ve even stayed at one of their cabins on our way back from a motorcycle trip to Tennessee in September of 2014.  Big Spring Lodge and Cabins have 14 cabins that can house 2-8 people with prices ranging from $65-$120 per night.  One cabin is open year round, but the rest are only available during the warmer months from mid-March through November 30th.  The on site lodge is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner daily.  I know they’ve had some damage from floodwaters in the past, and have been working on renovating portions of the area, so if you’re interested in booking a trip, be sure to call 573-323-4423 if you have any questions or to book your reservation.

On Location: Whitewater Kayaking in Missouri

Whitewater kayaking in Missouri?  Yep.  And it’s awesome.

Tucked in the southeast quadrant of the state, Millstream Gardens Conservation Area and Silver Mines Conservation Area are located on the St. Francis River.  This river is the only one in the state classified as “white water”, containing rapids from class 2 to class 4 when it has enough volume to float.  In the past, the water levels were listed (along with others) on this website, but from what I’ve been told, after a few budget cuts, St. Francis no longer makes the list.  Now after watching the forecast, we call the campsite host to see what the level is before we decide to make the nearly 4 hour trip.  Too little or too much volume is can become a very bad thing. With sections of the river with names such as Big Drop, Double Drop, Cat’s Paw, and Dam Breach, this stretch of float isn’t for a beginner, nor a cheap vessel.  We’ve seen people leave the river with less equipment (or a few more scrapes and bruises) than they started with.  Unfortunately, I’ve also heard that the river has claimed a few lives as well.  Be sure you’re prepared- have the right equipment and experience- and it’s a good idea to follow an experienced floater on the St. Francis the first few times.

After a long day on the water by making several runs through the rapids, set up camp at the Silver Mines campground or grab a bite to eat in nearby Fredericktown (10 mi) or Ironton (18 mi).

There’s also the annual Missouri whitewater championship held every spring, with 2017 being the 50th anniversary.  Here’s the website to check out more information about the championship or check out this video put together from 2015.  Even if you only enjoy kayaking as a spectator sport, this is a great opportunity to spend a weekend!

Outdoor Activity: Disc Golf

We enjoy cheap entertainment when we spend time outdoors.  Disc golf is one of those activities.

Disc (Frisbee) golf courses are found all over the country including our beautiful state of Missouri.  Locally, courses can be found in Columbia, Jefferson City, California, Eldon, Versailles, Camdenton, Sedalia, Linn, and a couple in between. Unlike regular golf, there’s no fee to play, and the only equipment you’d need is a few discs.

Justin driving on hole 7 in Procter Lake Park in California, MO

We found the majority of our discs on Craigslist, but you can also purchase an array of discs at your local sporting goods store.  Start with a driver and a putter, but know there are all kinds of discs that you can purchase, so do your research or ask an employee to help you pick out the right disc for you.

Most individual discs range from $8-$16 depending on the style and brand you get, but you can also pick up a starter pack (which includes a driver, midrange and putter) for less than $20. This Innova set from Academy is a good option.  Wal-Mart also has a starter pack, but the quality isn’t as nice, and your throws will probably suffer for it.  It’s better to get a good (used) disc for the same price of a new (poor quality) disc, so, again, check Craigslist for a set from someone who is upgrading.

The rules are similar to golf where each hole has a par, and you try to get your disc into the basket in as few shots as possible.  The person with the lowest score at the end of the course wins.  Occasionally, if we’re playing in a group, we like to mix things up and play 2-man scramble. It adds a bit more competition, evens the playing field, and you have a partner to rely on if you have a blow-up throw.

Troy driving on hole 3 at Proctor Lake Park in California, MO

If you’re a beginner, start on an easier, more open course and work your way up to more challenging courses. One of our favorite places to play is in California at Proctor Lake Park.  Not only is it close, it’s open enough to be relaxing, but has just enough obstacles to make it a challenge.  However, you’ll find that the par on the course is higher than it should be.  As a beginner, play by what’s listed on the signs (almost all par 4’s), but as you begin to get more comfortable with the course, your throwing style, and the game itself, play all the holes as a par 3.  You can also swing over to Binder Park in Jefferson City and play a few rounds there.  Hopefully, we’ll see you out there soon!

The date is way off, but check out this hole in one by our friend Wade on hole 5:

On Location: Chadwick Motorcycle & ATV Use Area

One of the best dirt bike and ATV trail areas in the state of Missouri is located just outside of Chadwick in the southwest part of the state.  From wide log roads, to black diamond trails and technical hill climbs, this place has everything from the expert to the leisure rider.  Before you can begin to ride the trails, you will need to purchase a riding pass.

Daily passes for ATVs and motorcycles are $7, or if you’re fairly local, you can purchase a season pass for $45.   If you’d like to take the opportunity to ride a mountain bike down the trails, they even sell daily mountain bike passes for $3, or season passes for $20.   All can be purchased online at http://www.MarkTwainPermits.com, or you can stop by any of the following locations:

• Kay’s Country Store, Chadwick, MO
• Casey’s General Store, Sparta, MO (there are two, the one more West sells them)
• Branson West Powersports, Reed Springs, MO
• Centerville Quick Stop, Centerville, MO
• Forest Service offices in Salem, Ava, and Rolla, MO

The terrain remains fairly consistent throughout almost any weather condition making it the perfect destination for any rider who doesn’t want to plan their trip around the forecast.  The only things you need to watch out for are downed tree limbs and mud puddles after a storm.

Off Highway H, there are two entrances to the Chadwick riding area called Camp Ridge and Cobb Ridge.  The Camp Ridge entrance is a day use parking area only, which is for riders who will arrive and leave the same day.  Contrary to the Camp Ridge name, there is no camping allowed in the area.  If you’re staying overnight, however, you’ll want to head to Cobb Ridge entrance about a mile away.  However, this second entrance isn’t quite as easy to find as its predecessor.  From Highway H, you’ll first need to turn West on Lookout Road.  From there, you’ll see the Cobb Ridge sign where the campground is located on the left side of the road.  I know what you’re thinking, “they should switch the names to make it less confusing.”  Yes, yes they should.  I think that every time I come here.

With tall pine and oak trees towering overhead, Cobb Ridge is one of the best shaded campgrounds that I’ve ever been to.  It’s well maintained, with large driveways at each of the camp sites and sweeping corners to make it easy for transporting large RV’s and toy haulers.  It features a total of approximately 40 basic and electric sites.  Unlike a few other state campgrounds that I’ve stayed in, these sites are anti-claustrophobic- there’s plenty of room to spread out between you and your neighbor.  With the sites cut into the woods, you have plenty of shade making it the perfect campground setting.  The cost to stay is $10 per night for a basic site, $15 for electric, and $45 for the group camping areas.  You’ll want to take note that there are no water hookups at the individual sites, but there are several pressurized drinking water spouts throughout the area which, as a bonus, stay on all winter long.  There’s also the KC pavilion nestled back into the woods that’s available for larger groups or if you want to take a lunch break without heading back out to the campground.

A couple of things I must warn you about when it comes to the bathrooms.  First, they have both flush and vault toilets, and some of those are equipped with stainless steel toilet bowls.  Even in the dead of summer, they feel like you’re sitting bare-bummed on a block of ice.  It can be quite a shock even if you’re expecting it.  Second, the bathrooms do not have any electrical outlets.  Not usually a big issue for most people, but it did become a problem for me when we were camping in the group camping area once with no electric hookups…

It was mid-October and the temperatures were around freezing.  After my nice, warm shower  (which I didn’t really want to get out of), I realized there were no outlets to blow dry my wet hair.  With no other option, I hiked it back to our campsite with freezing hair.  Thankfully, a member of our group brought a small generator to heat his box trailer he was sleeping in, so I was able to plug in and dry my hair.  Sickness avoided.

If you’re not a frequent visitor to the riding area, or don’t have a trail map, it’s easy to get lost in the nearly 12 square miles that host the winding trails at Chadwick.  It’s also a good idea to ride in groups of 3 or more.  If one person breaks down or crashes and gets hurt, the second can stay while the third goes for tools or help.  Once when riding up a technical hill climb, Justin seized up his piston in his dirt bike and had to have it towed back.  Fortunately for him, it was on one of the closer trails near Camp Ridge day use area.  Learning from this experience, if you happen to be traveling with a big group and planning to stay for a few days, take a spare bike or ATV in case something major does happen.

If you plan on taking up a challenging trail, bringing some tools for any field mechanic work will help extend your riding experience.  Aaron Shannon, a friend of ours and a co-worker of Justin’s, says “I always make sure to bring some tools and spare parts when I come down.  A front and rear tube, an extra break or clutch lever, and spare nuts and bolts.”  He continues, “When we ride, we try and hit several of the black diamond trails and when that happens, it’s easy to get ‘Chadwick-ed’ out here.  I’ve had to change flat tires, straighten my rear break rotor, and even re-bleed my brakes.”

If you’re looking for an added challenge, especially in the fall when it gets dark sooner, try going for a night ride on the trails.  Even with a full moon, you’ll need bright headlights to make your way around, so be sure to plan accordingly.

Finally, if riding isn’t your thing, but you’d still like to stay at this peaceful campground, hiking or backpacking is allowed in the riding area, just be sure to watch out for approaching bikes or ATVs.  You could also try your hand at fishing in Lake Taneycomo just 20 miles south of Cobb Ridge.  Take a float on Swan Creek roughly 9 miles away, or head over to Branson at 30 miles, and Springfield 40 miles away.  Just get out and enjoy God’s great creation!

Easy Homemade Applesauce

Now for a more domesticated post.  This is a recipe that I think is absolutely delicious, and how great is it that it is so easy!  The description of the recipe is below, but sometimes, I find it easier to watch (or listen) to how something is made.  Enjoy!

For the readers, this recipe only needs 3 ingredients: apples (of course), cinnamon, and frozen apple juice concentrate.

• Step 1: Peel and cut up the apples.  To make it easier, I use one of those wedge cutters and trim off the bruises.
• Step 2: Put apples, concentrate, and a few dashes of cinnamon into a pan and simmer until apples are soft.
• Step 3: Mash the apples until you reach the constancy that you prefer.

I enjoy this applesauce hot or cold.  Take it with you camping, on a picnic, or enjoy it as a side to a delicious meal.  It might also sound odd, but you can even put a warm scoop in a bowl of ice cream- it’s like a crustless apple cobbler. Enjoy!

Expert Campfire Food

As the last of a 3 part series, now we turn to expert food when camping. I constitute ‘expert’ campfire food as:

1. More Prep work, AND 
2. More equipment to cook the food

If you read my other 2 parts to the series, Easy Campfire Food and Intermediate Campfire Food, you’ll notice that the criteria has changed a bit.  Easy means no prep AND very little equipment.  Intermediate requires a little bit of prep work OR a little more equipment.  Finally, expert is more prep AND more equipment, but trust me, the food is worth it.

1. Fajitas– Another one of my favorites.  This one looks so complicated, but it’s so easy!  I stated doing chicken fajitas- cubing up chicken breast, putting in a Ziplock, cleaning and slicing mushrooms and different colored peppers and putting those in a separate Ziplock.  Put the chicken in the pan and cook fully.  Then, dump in the rest of the ingredients and cook until peppers are soft.  However, now I choose to do shrimp… and if I’m feeling lazy, or need to quickly pack for a spontaneous trip, I buy a fajita mix instead of cutting up my own peppers.  As a side note, be sure you buy shrimp with no shell or tails. That’s a lesson you don’t want to lean the hard way.
2. Spaghetti/Alfredo– What I’ve done in the past is to go ahead and brown the meat at home and stick in a container.  Boil water over the fire and cook noodles until soft. Meanwhile, stick a can of sauce in the coals to heat up (don’t forget to vent the can).  Then once the sauce is warm/hot, pour over the meat and mix up.  If your meat is frozen, you may need to put some of the mixture back into the can to warm it back up.  We often take a camp kettle with us which makes it easy to pour out the water without losing any of the noodles.
3. Chili/soup– This is a homemade meal that you can cook ahead of time and heat up in a pot, or take the ingredients to dump and simmer.  As easy as this can be, I included it on the expert list because of the amount of ingredients that are typically required, as well a few pieces of equipment to heat and eat it with. Still, equally as easy and delicious.
4. Dutch oven cobbler– This is a nice addition for those whose sole dessert menu item is a s’more.  You can choose your favorite pie filling, put in the bottom of the dutch oven, dump a dry cake mix on top, maybe a little butter cut up on top, and let it cook on a bed (and a blanket) of coals.  Google will help you determine how many coals you’ll need. 🙂  Don’t just keep checking it because you’ll lose your heat!
5. Shrimp boil– This is different than the boiled shrimp that I featured in the last post.  I’m talking a southern cajun shrimp boil (Shout out to our friend Naseef Azan for introducing us)!  Potatoes, sausage, corn on the cob, mushrooms, shrimp (or your favorite crustacean), and Old Bay seasoning or Zatarains crab boil seasoning packets. You’ll need a large pot and to make it easy at the campsite, you’ll want to go ahead and clean the potatoes, cut up the link sausage into pieces, cut corn cobs in half, and clean the mushrooms. This prep work will allow you to dump in each item into the boiling water as you cook.  You can easily find recipes online, but in a nutshell: bring water to a boil and add seasoning and potatoes. Cook 5-10 min. Add sausage and cook for another 5-7 minutes. Add corn and cook 5-10 minutes.  Finally, add shrimp and cook 4-5 minutes, or until all items are fully cooked. You’ll feel like you’re on Burbon Street. Maybe while you’re there, you can pick me up a beignet!
6. Fried or “baked” fish– We’ve been blessed to have the freshest catfish from time to

   

   Can’t get more fresh than this!

   time, and we’ve cooked it two different ways.  One is frying it up, which is always delicious. Take breading, fill an old water bottle with oil, and a pot or a pan with some depth to it.  The second way, is “baked”.  Bring heavy duty aluminum foil, a little butter and seasoning.  Making a foil packet, place on coals and cook until hot and flaky.  However, it is a good idea to have a meal back up plan because you can’t always count on fish (they do call it fishing for a reason- not catching). 😉

Of course this list is shorter than the previous two lists, because we don’t enjoy taking our whole kitchen with us when we’re out.  However, I do hope you’re willing to try out a few of these recipes- especially if you’ve only been relying solely on hot dogs and chips every time you go camping. Don’t get me wrong. I enjoy a good dog, but not every meal, every time.  Here’s to expanding your camping menu!

Have more ideas?  Or have you tried any of these recipes? Comment below! 

Intermediate Campfire Food

If you haven’t read my first post yet, my husband Justin and I go camping quite often, and over the years, we’ve tried a variety of meals while roughing it.  The complexities of the kind of food that we choose to take with us depends on the amount of equipment that we take, our willingness on how much prep work we want to do, and the environmental temperature.  I have 3 groupings: easy, intermediate, and expert campfire food.

That being said, what I constitute as ‘intermediate’ campfire food fits two criteria:

1. Little prep work, OR
2. Some equipment to cook the food

If you read my Easy Campfire Food post, you’ll notice that the criteria has changed a bit.  Easy means no prep and very little equipment.  Intermediate food requires a little bit of prep work or a little more equipment.  Again, if you’ve already read my Easy Campfire Food post, this one will have a bit more detailed since there’s more involved in the meal prep.

Let’s get started:

1. Shells & Cheese– We chose to do Shells & Cheese instead of Mac & Cheese so we don’t have to pack milk and butter.  It just comes with the cheese packet (or at least what is labeled as cheese) that you squeeze in after your noodles are done cooking.  We have a campfire kettle that we cook this in.  With the drain spout, it’s handy to drain off the excess water and add the “cheese” packet right into the same pot…. and enjoy.
2. Breakfast burritos– Something a little extra to up a regular breakfast. Pack some tortilla shells and add in your favorite breakfast staples: cooked eggs, sausage, salsa, cheese, etc.
3. Hobo dinner– There’s several recipes that you can choose from, and all prep work can be done at home.  Put your ingredients into a foil packet, and when you get a bed of coals, simply throw your packet on the coals and let the coals do the cooking for you.  The nice thing about hobo dinners, is that there’s no clean up.  *crumples foil into a ball & hits a fade-away basket*
4. Walking tacos– This is one of my new favorites because of the ease of it.  Yes, there is prep work that needs to be done (I try and do as much as I can before hand so I don’t have to at the campsite).  Cutting up lettuce, browning meat, getting together cheese, salsa, Doritos, etc.  However, at the campsite, just warm up the meat, add whatever toppings you want into your personal bag of Doritos, grab a fork and you’re set.
5. Baked potato– You can pack as little or as many toppings that you want for this. Pierce the potato with a fork, wrap a couple of times with heavy aluminum foil, place in the coals, and cook until the potato gives way when gripped (with a hot pad of course!).  Our usual toppings include butter, cheese and bacon bits.
6. Corn on the cob– You can cook two ways: husk on placed in the coals, or boiled in water.  Either are good, but I actually prefer the boiling method because I don’t have to babysit it and I know exactly when it is done.  A foil pan of boiling water over the fire, butter and seasoning, and those pokey things that go in the end. Bon appétit!
7. Boiled shrimp– Super easy and good food. Boil water, dump in shrimp, and enjoy. You can pack a bottle of cocktail sauce if you’d like, or, for convenience, grab a few packets from Long John Silvers.
8. Hamburgers– Even though hamburgers are a regular staple when it comes to camping, I chose to include it on this intermediate list because you will need additional equipment to cook.  Plus, hamburgers taste better with all the trimmings.
9. Bacon & Eggs– This one might seem like a beginner food, but it made the intermediate list because of the equipment needed at the campsite.  Cook the bacon in a skillet first. Drain off most of the grease, and then cook the eggs to preference. I tried the Pinterest cook-on-skewers idea. It doesn’t work. Some parts were uncooked, others were burnt. It’s hard to control flare ups when you’re cooking food that drips grease over a fire.  Use a skillet. Trust me. 
10. Biscuits and gravy– Also, don’t try and cook biscuits over a fire/coals unless you’re the type of person who uses the 7 rating on your toaster.  I’m not saying it can’t be done, but you’d need a dutch oven, you’d have to monitor the temperature both
    underneath and on top of the oven, you have to monitor how long they need to cook in reference to what temperature you have the coals at… it’s just easier to buy pre-made biscuits from the store.  You can heat them up a bit over the fire if it would make you feel a bit more like Betty Crocker.  Cook sausage, drain off some fat, and add milk or water & gravy packet. Delicious and filling.  It can also feed a small army.
11. Quesadillas– A couple of tortillas, cheese, and your protein of choice makes for an easy meal.
12. Personal pizzas– Grab some flat (or pita) bread, sauce, cheese and protein topper (our go to, of course, is pepperoni).  Sometimes we don’t even cook the pizza (think of a Lunchable)  especially if it is a particularly hot day.
13. Mashed potatoes– Don’t forget to scrub the potatoes before you leave the house. Nobody likes a dish that tastes like dirt.  Peel the potatoes, boil, mash and add butter and milk. Just like being at grandma’s house.
14. Homemade applesauce– Peel, cube, and put into a pot with a can of frozen apple juice concentrate, and a dash of cinnamon.  Mash when the apples are soft. Makes my mouth water just thinking about it.
15. Omelet in a bag– Crack several eggs into a Ziplock bag with your favorite trimmings (bacon pieces, cheese, scallions, cubed ham, etc).  Dip the Ziplock into boiling water to cook.
16. Stuffing– Pour out packet into a pot and cook until ready and fluff with a fork. At least it looks fancy.
17. Chicken salad– This is a favorite if I know it’s going to be hot outside.  I make my own recipe (replacing mayo with light ranch) before hand, so we can simply pop the container out of the cooler and start eating.
18. French toast– Bread, eggs, and a little cinnamon. Don’t forget to pack syrup!
19. Hard boiled eggs– Cook at home, plop in the cooler, and it’s ready as a quick snack.
20. Marinated Chicken– This always used to be our main dish in our camping menu until we started to venture out into other recipes.  Place a few chicken breasts or tenders in a Ziplock bag with EVOO and seasoning before you leave the house. Then, when you’re ready to cook, place them in a skillet and toss the bag in the trash.
21. Grilled cheese– Bread, butter, cheese, and maybe some Tomato soup?

Comment below to include additional ideas for this list. Also, check out Easy Campfire Food and Expert Campfire Food for other great ideas!