Coleman Kitchen

Well, since it's officially spring........I guess it's time to start thinking about camping this year.

I was looking at our camping gear, specifically our Coleman camp kitchen.

We've had it for over 15 years now. I wasn't sure when we bought it (kinda on the pricey side at the time).

But, it's really held up over the years......I guess the old adage,  you get what you pay for is true.

Now, another piece of our camper furniture, an old pop up table (looks like a suitcase when you fold it up) is starting to wear out.

 I keep expecting it to just sort of fold up when ever I sit down on one of the seats. So, I guess we need to start looking at replacement tables for camping.

All Fired Up!!! Buffalo Flank Steak

A new found cousin of mine submitted the yummy tasting recipe -Buffalo Flank Steak- to a local publication in Oklahoma.

The publication comes out every year, and features several kinds of recipes. I really like the sound of the Buffalo Flank Steak (am gonna add it to my easy camp meals recipe list).

Here's my cousin Bev's recipe..........

Ingredients:

• Buffalo Flank Steak- 1 1/2 lb.
• 1/3 Canola oil
• 2 Tsp. minced fresh thyme,
• 1/4 cup minced parsley
• 2 Tsp. minced fresh rosemary
• 1/4 cup minced shallots or green onions
• fresh ground pepper to taste

In a large bowl combine all ingredients. Place flank steak in bowl and cover. Refrigerate for at least 6 hours or up to 24 hours. Be sure to turn steak once or twice.

Light your charcoal grill or preheat your gas grill to high.

Meanwhile, in a large heavy skillet:
Melt 1/4 cup butter over medium heat, add 1/2 inch slices of 2 onions…stir occasionally till golden brown.

Add 1/2 cup cider vinegar, stirring to scrape up brown bits on bottom of pan.

Stir in 1 cup brown sugar and cook stirring frequently till thick, about 8-10 minutes.

Stir in 2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries and remove from heat.

Season with pepper to taste.

This can be done ahead of time if you are camping, take it with you and reheat on the grill in a cast iron skillet or a foil wrap.

Remove steak from marinade. Discard marinade.

Place steak on grill and cook for 2 minutes on each side for medium rare ( Bison can get too tough if cooked longer).

Transfer steak to a carving board, tent with aluminum foil and let rest for 4 minutes.(No drooling….and no sampling, be patient, it will be worth the wait!!!!)

The steak will continue to cook in the foil tent…..

Reheat onion mixture over low heat. Cut steak into thin slices against the grain and top with onion sauce.

Serves 4

Craft ideas for kids.......

As a mom, I've done my stint as Brownee Leader, Cub scout leader, and teacher's aid.

I've also done child care in my home for several years while my kids were little.

Anyone that spends any amount of time with kids, will learn to create a list of crafts. You want to be sure to keep your list of crafts simple and easy (don't want to be paying a lot of cash out for these crafts). 

Over the years we have made, wooden rally cars(for Cub Scouts), braided bracelets, bird houses, clay puppets, gingerbread houses, cut out and painted wooden hearts, made key shaped key holders out of wood, foam picture frames, rock necklace's, pine cone decorations for trees, pine cone bird feeders, soda bottle bird feeders, etc..... some of these I still have. Some of course have disappeared over the years. 

Turkey treat holder

I would also keep a small tote of craft supplies in our camping gear. Most craft ideas for kids can also be craft ideas for camp.... The beautiful thing about camping, you are surrounded by so many items to use in your crafts.  Rocks, pine and fir cones, twigs, small flowers, sand, pine needles.....just to mention a few.

 Don't forget to introduce your kids to a camera and the art that they can create from that. It can be so easy to forget about crafts and just plop the kids in front of a computer or t.v. 

But spending some time with your kids, creating different craft projects can be so much fun, and educational for the kids.