Wet Camping for Moose

It occurred to me today, that when I was younger and went camping with our scout group, my parents waited until the weekend was over to know how we made it through the rough weather. And that just isn't the case anymore. With today's technology kids have cell phones, Facebook, and the internet.

Moose went camping with his Boy Scout troop. They left yesterday evening to camp at a Civil War fort. By 10:15 p.m. straight line winds, tornadoes, thunder, lightning, and rain were headed their way. One of the boy's parents called me because she couldn't contact her son on his cell phone (Moose's troop has a strict policy of NO cell phones). So, I texted the leader told him about the weather heading his way. Well, they made it through perhaps a little wet but no major damage or destruction. Everyone was in bed by 11:15 p.m. as it continued to rain.

Back to the boy with the cell phone, he called home all night long, told his parents how bad it was for him. His tent was wet, sleeping bag was wet, he was sleeping under a pavilion on the cold hard floor, you get the picture. His parents are now on their way to camp with dry gear for him.

Going back to my childhood parents couldn't contact us at camp so if we were wet from rain we figured it out. There were a few occasions where leaders took wet sleeping bags to town to dry. But most times we were wet a clothes line was strung and we hoped our bags were dry by nightfall. And let me tell you every time a certain adult went camping it rained and flooded.

Here is my question, do you think kids should have a cell phone?

I know that is a tough question. You want your kids to have all of the resources they  need to protect themselves but at the same time...If they are constantly calling you they are missing out on a great learning experience with the other scouts.

I did suggest to the parents on the rescue that they take all of the wet sleeping bags to town to dry at the laundromat. I just received a text from "Mama" and they are on their way to town now with a few wet sleeping bags.

So, what do you think?

Fried Chicken

Here is the piggies favorite food, I make it every year for our Independence Day picnic.

Fried Chicken Strips/Nuggets

Ingredients

1 cup cracker crumbs

About 1 lb. boneless skinless chicken

LouAna Pure Coconut Oil 31.5 fl oz (or any other coconut oil)

1 ½ cups all-purpose flour

1 egg

½ cup milk

Ok, here's what you do…

1. Crush the crackers and set aside.

2. Prepare your chicken, cut away all the fat and icky stuff. Cut the chicken into strips or nuggets. (You can also use ¼ cup Italian dressing and 1 cup water to marinade the chicken overnight or for several hours).

3. Get three bowls/containers to use for breading/battering. Here is how you get them ready.

                Bowl 1

                1 cup all-purpose flour

                1/2 teaspoon salt

                1/2 teaspoon pepper

                Mix together

                Bowl 2

                1/4 cup all-purpose flour

                1 egg

                1/2 cup milk

                Whisk together so there are no lumps.

                Bowl 3

                1 cup cracker crumbs (Ritz, Saltines, etc. you pick)

                1/4 cup flour

                Mix together

4. Toss the chicken one piece at a time into each bowl until you have breaded/battered all of the chicken. Start with bowl one move to two, and finish with bowl three.

5. Heat the coconut oil on medium heat in a Dutch oven (to about 350 degrees, BTW I don’t’ check the temp but you can if you want). Use metal tongs to place each piece of chicken in the oil. (If you drop the chicken the oil splatters and ouch that hurts, been there done that!) Cook for about 5 minutes. (I save the oil and use it one more time.) Drain the chicken on a napkin (or paper towel) covered plate. 

Yummy, try this with homemade Ranch!

Theater

Today Lil Bit was in a play at our local theater. She was so fun to watch and several of her friends were in the play with her. After her participation in the program I suggest you get involved in community theater. It is great inexpensive quality entertainment for the family!

Homemade Ranch Dressing

I made this Ranch Dressing for a big event at church this week. Everyone loved it! I love it because you know exactly what you are getting. I would give a Piggie Rating but they don't like Ranch Dressing. I hope you enjoy this recipe. Let me know if you try it.

Ranch Salad Dressing

½ c. sour cream
½ c. mayonnaise
½ c. buttermilk (add 1-1/2 tsp. vinegar to milk to equal 1/2 c. if you can't find real buttermilk)
1 tablespoon lemon juice
½ tsp. garlic powder
1 tablespoon dried parsley, or 3 TB. chopped fresh
½ tsp. onion powder
¾ tsp. sea salt (or to taste)
½ tsp. black pepper
1-2 tsp. dried dill

Combine sour cream, mayonnaise, buttermilk, and lemon juice in a pint jar or mixing bowl. Shake or whisk to mix well.

Add the remaining ingredients and shake (or whisk) again until well combined. If using a bowl, transfer to a dressing container with lid.

Refrigerate one or more hours before using.

For a thicker dip: increase sour cream by 1/4 cup (or, conversely, add more milk, a little at a time if a thinner consistency is desired).

Shake well before each use.

Taco Sauce

Today I made taco sauce, we are going to have tacos for dinner. I will let you know how the piggies like the sauce.

Here is the recipe for my taco sauce.

Taco Sauce

15 oz. can tomato sauce

½ cup water

2 tablespoon vinegar

1 tablespoon lemon juice

½ teaspoon sugar

½ teaspoon chili powder

2 teaspoons cumin

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon onion powder

½ teaspoon cayenne pepper

Mix all of the ingredients in a canning jar and shake. Let it sit in the fridge over night to let the flavors meld.

The Piggies Rating:

Boomer: not present

Moose: "No thank you."

Rainbow: "Can I have ketchup?"

Lil Bit: "No thanks."


To be fair to the recipe the piggies don't normally eat taco sauce but I do. It was definitely not hot. But not bad either. I think if you increased the cayenne pepper to 1 teaspoon that would give it a little more kick.

Brownies

Brownies

1 stick of butter

1 - 12 oz. bag of chocolate chips

1 1/3 c. flour

1 ½ c. sugar

½ teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla

4 eggs

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Melt the butter and chocolate chips in a sauce pan on medium-high heat. While melting the butter and chocolate chips measure the dry ingredients into a bowl and stir. Add the vanilla and eggs to the dry ingredients then the melted butter and chocolate. Mix thoroughly. Bake in a greased 9x11 baking dish for 25 minutes.

The Piggies Rating:

Boomer: not present

Moose: “Delicious!”

Rainbow: “Good.”

Lil Bit: “Better than anything!”

Fried Squash and Fried Green Beans

Today I made "the piggies" fried squash and fried green beans. I have made them fried squash before but today was a first for the green beans.

Here is my recipe:

Fried Green Beans

Unbleached all-purpose flour

Egg

Milk

Fresh green beans

Coconut oil

Salt and pepper to taste

Put a jar of coconut oil in a dutchoven on the stove on medium-medium high heat (be sure the Dutch oven is deep). Heat the oil to about 350 degrees.

Wash then blanch the green beans (put them in water boil then drain) while the oil is heating.

Use three bowls. Put about a cup of all-purpose flour in the first bowl, beat 1 egg and about ½ cup of milk in the second bowl, and then put a cup of all-purpose flour, salt, and pepper in the third bowl.

Dip the green beans one at a time in the first bowl, then the second, and then roll it in the third bowl. After you have done this to every green bean.

Put about 12 of the coated green beans in the coconut oil in the Dutch oven fry them for 4-5 minutes or until the coating is crispy. Drain on a paper towel. Continue until you have fried all of them.

(You can make the squash the same way just cut it into thin slices first.)

The Piggies Rating:

Boomer: not present

Moose: “Yum! Can you make more?”

Rainbow: “Not bad.”

Lil Bit: “Yuck!”