Hobo Dinner

Going Camping???  Having dinner out at the fire & tired of the same old same old??
This is a fabulous, self creation, dinner that is perfect for the night you set up camp!  Once you get there, un-pile out of the truck & stretch your legs, get the kids to help get wood around to make up your fire.  Get it going good, then start unpacking the truck, getting your table ready & sorting out the food you brought.  Before you start working on the tent & bedding, have everyone break to "make your own" hobo dinner!  Once made up, seal well in the tin foil & place in the coals of the fire.  Once that is done, finish setting up the tent, bedding & pull out the chairs around the campfire...before you know it, camp is completely set up & dinner is done too!

Serves 1 (so that each individual can make up their own)

1/4lb ground beef                                      1 tomato diced
1 potato, sliced                                          canned corn
1 carrot, sliced                                           sliced mushrooms
2 Tbs chopped onion

How much you need totally depends on how many are camping with you.  If you slice up the carrots, potato & onion before you leave for the trip, make sure you cover them in water, draining once you get to camp.
Give each person a large piece of tin foil & have them place all the goodies they want to eat in the center of the tin foil, placing the buger patty in first.
Sprinkle with salt & pepper (cayanne if you like!)
Fold foil over & seal well.
Place in medium coals 45-60 minutes or until potato is tender (time will be determined by how thick you slice the potatoes)
Remember to warn the kids that it will be EXTREMELY hot & for everyone to WATCH OUT for the STEAM when you first open the packets!  Steam burns are really unpleasant!!!

That also brings up the topic of first aid kits...ALWAYS double check your first aid kit BEFORE you start packing for you trip, making sure to go out & get whatever has been used up!  Always take along snake bite kits, benedryl, burn cream & ponchos!!!  Yup...all but one have been learned by experience here...thankfully, the snakes have stayed away & I pray they always do!!

Pasta Primavera

I found this recipe shortly after Len & I got married.  At first I thought "hmm, this looks interesting" and tossed it into the box.  It wasn't long before I was digging for that recipe because we were running out of money & I had to come up with some wild concoction for supper that would fill him up, but that I should have on hand!  It instantly became a favortite that has continued to bail me out over all these years. 

Serves 4 (which in our house means triple since everyone loves spaghetti any way they can get it!)

1 can (10 3/4oz) condensed cream of chicken soup
1/2 c water
3 Tbs grated Parmesan cheese
1 Tbs lemon juice
1/2 tsp basil leaves, crushed (dried is best)
1/8 tsp EACH garlic powder & pepper
1 bag (16oz) frozen california blend (broccoli, cauliflower, carrots)
4 c hot cooked spaghetti

In a lg pan, bring water to boil & cook spaghetti according to pkg.
While the water is coming to a boil & you are cooking the spaghetti, in a lg skillet, mix soup, water, cheese, lemon juice, basil, garlic powder, pepper & veggies.  Over med heat, bring to a boil.  Cover & cook over low heat for 5 min or until veggies are tender, stirring occasionally.
Toss with spaghetti
We like to top each serving with a little more freshly grated Parmesan cheese but that is up to you.