The cookware makes all the difference!
posted by AlumCreek @ 9:27am, Tuesday 9 August 2011.
Just because you're out camping, it doesn't mean that you
have to eat crappy food! In fact, it's possible to eat just as well, or even
better than you do at home. It just takes some patience, some know-how, and the
proper cookware for the job. If you're one of those folks who loves everything
about camping except the food part, then pull up a chair, grab a snack and read
on.
One of the best kept secrets about making food is all about the cookware. If you have ever prepared anything at home then you probably know the difference between high quality cookware and the cheap stuff. The same thing applies to outdoor cooking as well. If you're cooking over a campfire then the best cookware is usually made out of cast iron. The fire you cook over should have plenty of hot coals in it and minimal flame (unless you're going to be using the tripod mentioned below), so be sure to get the fire going about an hour before you plan to cook on it. Let's have a closer look at how to create a decent camp cooking kit.
CAMP GRILL
This is pretty much a necessity. You can cook directly on the surface for making steaks, hamburgers, chicken and the like. This unit also provides a surface to put your cooking skillets, pots, as well as anything you cook in aluminum foil. Think of this as your outdoor grill. You can't make those yummy steaks without a nice grill to cook them on! Click here to see one.
CAST IRON SKILLET
Another necessity, the cast iron skillet will heat much more evenly over an open fire than any other kind of skillet. These things are great for fish, blackened chicken, and all sorts of other delicious skillet foods. They stand up to the most intense fires without suffering any kind of wear. They can be somewhat difficult to clean though. Don't use anything abrasive like steel wool or wire brushes. Clean them while they are still warm and use some kosher salt to get the stubborn stuff off. Click here for a look at these.
CAST IRON PIE IRON
This item comes in two styles, square and round. The square style is used to make delicious hot sandwiches. Make your sandwich of choice, spread some butter on the top and bottom of the sandwich, place it into the pie iron then cook it over the fire. You may have to experiment a little to perfect cooking with this but the learning curve isn't bad. The round style is used to make sandwich pockets similar to Hot Pockets. This are great for making pizza pockets and dessert pies (mmm, apple and cherry!). You should get at lease one of each style of pie iron. Click here see the square style and here the round style.
CAMPFIRE TRIPOD
This item is often over-looked but it's terrific! Hang a dutch oven from it and you have one of the best ways to cook up recipes that have a lot of raw ingredients in them. Soups, stews, chowders, and chili are just some of the great things you can make with this. You can also put a grill directly on the dutch oven which may eliminate your need to purchase the grill mentioned above. Click here to see a campfire tripod.
Cookware really is one the most important investments to making better camping food. Once you have used some of the items listed here, you will likely sell or 'donate' your old cookware to somebody else...maybe even your enemies! Now you can enjoy all the aspects of being in the great outdoors, including the cooking! Happy camping!
Got GPS?
posted by AlumCreek @ 3:29pm, Tuesday 26 July 2011.
Having a GPS these days is just super handy. If you don't
already have one or aren't sure how it can really benefit you, then here is
some information that might help you decide if you should get one. GPS was developed by the US department of
defense as early as 1973. It became fully operational in 1994. GPS devices
calculate position based on the precise timing of signals sent and received by
satellites in orbit. The early GPS units were quite primitive compared to
todays and provided very limited function and a relatively large range of
error.
Today's GPS units are very sophisticated and much easier to use than the earlier models. They are also much more accurate and provide myriads of additional useful information. If you are getting ready to go on a trip, then all you need to do is enter the address or location you are planning to visit and the GPS will calculate the route. You can also set a variety of options in your trip planning. If you happen to be driving through a beautiful landscape then you might prefer to set the route to 'scenic'. You won't get there as fast but you will find lots of interesting and beautiful things along the way. You can also set the GPS to avoid things like toll roads, highways, and hazardous areas. Almost all GPS units today feature turn by turn directions with audible voice instruction.
A GPS's other features though are well worth learning about. If you find yourself running low on fuel (we've all been there!) then you can easily find the nearest gas station and continue on your route. This feature is also great for finding food along the way or other points of interest that you might otherwise be unaware of. Some units also have weather and traffic alerts. The traffic alert is simply awesome. It can prevent you from being stuck in a jam due to accident, road construction or some other type of obstruction. The value of this kind of real time information cannot be overstated. Some units even go beyond this and provide speed warnings, maintenance alerts, or even have MP3 capabilities.
Once you have arrived at your destination, the GPS's uses are far from over. Often times you won't know much about the area surrounding you, so all of the gas, food, and points of interest information the GPS provides is still extremely useful. Many GPS units even provide telephone numbers so you can call ahead to find out more about a place you are considering. It really can turn a relatively dull and uninspiring trip into a fun filled and memorable experience for everyone.
If you think a GPS is out of your budget then you will be delighted to know that the cost of GPS ownership is very minimal these days. The units themselves can be picked up for around $100 to start and still come with many of the options mentioned above. Try to find a unit that offers lifetime traffic and map updates, included in the purchase price. The ease of use, low cost, and myriads of information at your fingertips make owning a GPS today a sheer pleasure and once you have made the decision to get one, you'll probably wonder how you ever lived without it.
Click here for GPS reviews and more information.
Beat The Camper's Blues
posted by AlumCreek @ 9:20am, Monday 18 July 2011.
Camping is a lot of fun. It feels so good to be outdoors
closer to nature. But if you have brought the family along and you don't have
your days filled with activity, then sooner or later somebody is going to say
it. It always happens and it goes something like this.... “Mommy, Daddy, I'm
bored” or “There's nothing to do”. It's like somebody just dropped a bomb on
your camping adventure and it can ruin the mood or possibly even the whole
trip. Fortunately this doesn't have to happen to you. First, tell them to leave
their Game-boy, Playstation PSP, or whatever else they have on the market today
at home. This is especially important if you have more than one child as they
often will end up fighting over the blasted thing. Second, bring along one or
more of these fun-for-everyone games on your trip.
Cornhole
This game is actually a load of fun as strange as the name sounds. The game has 2 sloped boards each with a hole in it that are placed 30 feet apart. Each player has 4 bean bags (alternatively filled with corn, hence the name) which they toss to the opposing board. The object of the game is to be the first team to reach 21. If you manage to make a toss into the hole, it's worth 3 points. Put one on the board and it'll net you one point per bag. Players alternate tosses and after all tosses are made, you add up the points. Only one team can gain points for the round. The points are added up for both teams and the difference between them is awarded to the team that scored the most for the round. You're practically guaranteed to have fun with Cornhole and you can find the official rules here.
Horseshoes
Almost everyone has played Horseshoes or at least seen it. The set-up is similar to Cornhole as far as teams go. You'll need 4 'horseshoes' and 2 metal stakes set up 40 feet apart. The game-play works best if you have a sand-pit to plant each stake into. You can play without the pit but be prepared to see your horseshoes bouncing and rolling away from the stake, which can be quite annoying or even dangerous. Many campgrounds don't allow horseshoes to be played on-site for safety reasons so if you plan to play, be sure to check the campground rules first. If you aren't allowed to play Horseshoes, consider Cornhole or ladder Ball instead. Click here for more information about how to play Horseshoes.
Ladder Ball
Also known as Ladder Golf, Hillbilly Golf or Lasso Golf, among many others. This game is played by placing 2 'ladders' 15 to 40 feet apart. The ladders have three bars on them which players from each team will attempt to successfully toss and hang 3 bolos from. A bolo basically looks like a small section of rope with a rubber ball on each end. Scoring is determined by how many bolos stay on the ladder. The top rung is worth 3 points, the middle rung is worth 2 and the bottom rung is worth 1 point. As silly as this game may appear, it's actually quite challenging and lots of fun. Click here to learn more about this game.
If you have a large campsite you might also bring Bocce Ball or Croquet. These games are great fun but they hog up a lot of space to set them up properly. Also remember to bring some inside games such as Monopoly, Clue, or whatever is appropriate for your families age levels, as well as a deck of regular playing cards just in case it's one of those rainy days. If you don't have a good rainy day strategy then you're going to hear one of those annoying groans much sooner than later. Have fun!
