Camping Time!

The weather is cooling off here in the Sunshine State…a break from highs in the 90s is a cool down…so it’s time to head out for a fall camping adventure. Our next outing is going to take us to Alexander Springs near the Ocala Forest. We’re looking forward to 72 degree crystal clear water to swim in and a few short hikes during our outing, along with resting in a hammock with a good book.

It’s been about 2 years since we last camped requiring us to set up a tent….as opposed to our eco-tent get-away earlier this year, so it was time to pull together and check out our camping gear ahead of the trip and prepare for our trip with packing. I must admit my husband did much of the gear checkout. Here’s a few things pulled together for our shelter:

• Pop-up Tent
• Inflatable Bed
• Air Pump
• Tarp
• Cushioned Floor Tiles
• Camping Chairs
• Mallet
• Lantern
• Tent Stakes

While most of this is pack and go, my husband did check the bed for any leaks. He was happy to report we should be well off the ground for all three nights. With the essentials for our shelter addressed, I moved on to planning the meals.

The last time we cooked out down in the Everglades, we brought rehydratable meals, mostly because we had power right in our tent. This time, I’m opting for cooking over an open flame during our stay as no power is available at our camp site. I’ve put together a few foil packet meals for our trip as well as some standard staples for our stay:

Breakfasts

• Bisquik Buttermilk Pancakes in Ready to Mix Bottle
• Breakfast Burritos
• Cinnamon Buns with Fruit

Lunches/Snacks

• Ham and Cheese Roll-Ups
• Nutri-Grain Bars
• Sesame Snaps
• S’mores Fixings

Dinner:

• Hot Dogs with Corn and Beans
• Shrimp Boil Foil Packets
• Burger and Vegetables Packet – Recipe Below!

We will be packing up two coolers to have plenty of ice for the weekend and to keep perishables fresh until we’re ready. The foil packet meals are in the freezer to help keep the coolers icy cold for as long as possible. The meals are coming together. I started with items to freeze, specifically the two foil packet meals. The Shrimp Boil is standard shrimp, kielbasa, potatoes, corn, butter, salt, pepper and Old Bay seasoning. Photo below:

For the burger and vegetables packet, first I prepared traditional hamburger patties with salt, pepper, Worcestershire sauce, egg, breadcrumbs, and ketchup. Then I placed two patties on heavy duty foil and surrounded and covered it with several vegetables, then topped it with butter, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and a little more Worcestershire sauce. To finish it up, I wrapped up the foil and put a second layer of foil around the packets, then placed them in a one-gallon sized freezer bag and placed them in the freezer. Ingredients are below:

Hamburger Patties (4):

• 1 lb. Lean Ground Beef
• 1 Egg
• 2 to 3 tablespoons Bread Crumbs
• Worcestershire Sauce to taste
• Ketchup to taste

Vegetables

• 8 Fingerling Potatoes
• 2-3 Chopped Carrots
• 1 Sliced Sweet Onion
• 1 Sliced Red Pepper

Toppings (to taste)

• Butter
• Worcestershire Sauce
• Garlic Powder
• Salt & Pepper

I’ll share how these turn out when I cook them this weekend. For now, we’re continuing to prepare…watch for updates after our trip on the springs, the campgrounds and more.

Have a great rest of the week!