Wind Screen, Tacky Lights and Fire Pit

We have learned a lot of things since we started camping but we still forget stuff every time we go. Some you do without and some you just go buy. I have a picture block in my kitchen window that reads "Together we can do anything" and it usually takes both of us to remember everything (TEAM). We have seen these wind screens being used quite often at the parks but until it was a blustery weekend we thought we would be OK without it. We have one now! It allows us to sit outside and read or just relax without getting wind whipped but it does block the fire pit on the other side of the screen so we purchased a fire pit and we can place it anywhere we want it. Don't forget your tacky lights! We take strolls just to see all of the different kinds, my favorites are the home made tacky lights. I'm thinkin about making me some with a tropical theme, maybe Christmas lights with flowers behind them. Wouldn't that be cute? I just bought some pink flamingos at the dollar store and now I just need a tropical table cloth!

Muffin Holder

I made some blueberry muffins for my lunch and they turned out lightly browned and very moist but how do you pack them for lunch?? I could place it in a baggie and peel the muffin out of it at lunch or you can purchase cupcake holders or just recycle you Reynold's Foil Baking Cup container. My muffin fit perfectly inside!                                    I like to use the foil liners because my muffins and cupcakes tend to stick to the cute paper liners and then it becomes a mess peeling the liner off.  I just had a marvelous idea, maybe use the cute liner on the outside of this container, tied with  ribbon and a bow as a gift or for a bake sale. PRECIOUS!

Cornbread Casserole

My husband hates being a "Taste Tester", he prefers someone else to test my new recipes but then what do I fix for dinner???? If your husband hates the word casserole use the word "dish", that was my first mistake, that is how he knew it would be a test. I am a corn fed country girl and I loved this recipe and I decided it was blog worthy!

Cornbread Casserole
1 lb of lean ground beef
1/2 onion (chopped)
1 jalapeno (seeded and minced)
15 oz green enchilada sauce
8 oz tomato sauce
1/2 teaspoon of garlic salt
1 Tablespoon of flour (thickener)
1/2 cup of shredded Colby Jack

8.5 oz corn muffin mix
1 1/2 cup of Colby Jack
1 jalapeno (seeded and minced)

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
Mix corn muffin mix according to the package instructions. Add 1 1/2 cup of cheese and 1 jalapeno and set aside.
Brown beef with onion and 1 jalapeno, drain. Add enchilada sauce, tomato sauce and garlic salt until well blended. Stir in 1/2 cup of cheese and 1 tablespoon of flour and stir until thickened. Spray a 13 x 9 pan with oil spray and pour beef into the pan. Drop 1/2 teaspoons of corn muffin mix on top of beef, spreading with the back of your spoon. Bake for 20 - 25 minutes...Enjoy!

I Live Life Outside

There is nothing like Living Outside! The sunrise, sunset, water and relaxation. Most Campers are very nice and considerate but you may come across some who aren't. This weekend was great and we had some great fellow campers, we sat back and watched kids in 68 degree water being pulled behind boats, we saw a squirrel eating someones pizza they left out on their picnic table and everyone riding bicycles.   One of the best items we have purchased for our trailer is the Steady Fast (steadyfast.com). It connects to the landing gear and steadies the trailer. You will never completely get rid of the shake but these work great. Our trailer came with a rack on the back, great for bicycles and you have to take your bikes camping, just make sure you have lots of reflectors for night time rides and even better flashing lights! We furnished our trailer with all the kitchen items you will need so we don't have to pack and unpack the items each time, like an electric skillet and a toaster oven (I have never used the oven inside). We sleep in the trailer but most of all of our time is spent outside, this also helps the trailer stay cooler because if you turn that oven on, your trailer is gonna get hot.

We always forget something but that's OK because the Marina usually has it and at an exuberant price (1 quart of milk $4.50), I forgot my toothbrush so I am going to buy extras and they will just stay in the trailer!

Happy Camping and don't forget your tacky lights and fire wood!  

Oatmeal Banana Muffins

When I find recipes I usually write down where I find them but on this one I didn't. These muffins are so moist and good I had to share it with you. I am changing it up slightly, the original recipe has you mix everything in a blender or food processor but my old blender was fighting me on this one and I think I want to taste small chunks of banana not pureed banana.                                                    
Oatmeal Banana Muffins        
3 egg whites                          3/4 cup of sugar                       
2 bananas                              1/2 tsp baking soda  
1 1/2 tsp baking powder               

2 1/2 cups of old fashioned oats   

1 cup Voskos (0 fat) honey, vanilla bean Greek yogurt   

Pre-heat your oven to 400 degrees. Chop the oats and pour into a bowl. Add the yogurt, egg whites, sugar, baking soda, baking powder and mix well. Mash you bananas with a potato masher and stir in. Line 12 muffin cups with foil cup cake liners. Fill each liner almost to the top, they won't rise like muffins. Bake for 20 minutes. 

These taste like banana nut bread so maybe next time I will add pecan pieces....yum.   

****I chopped the oats and then mixed everything together and sprinkled on a little cinnamon...they were scrumptious!   

Peasant Shirt

I saw a cute peasant shirt on Pinterest and decided to try it. It was white and it was a PINTROCITY (pinterest fail). On the black shirt I marked with a piece of chalk where I would cut the second one, 2 1/2 inches in from the sleeve and 2 1/2 inches down from the neck line and connect the dots. The Pinterest shirt had you cutting about 2 inches past the sleeve and the sleeve was the shoulder...weird. First I bought a man's extra large shirt $5.00, I wear a woman's large, cut the neckline off, sew facing on the front and a button hole on the very front. Flip the facing to the inside, stitch down and string the ribbon through it. Cut the bottom edge of the sleeves off and the bottom hem of the shirt. Run a large zig zag stitch, one stitch off, one stitch on, pulling the fabric as you go and you will get these cute ruffles.
Now if it would only warm up enough to wear it.

Be Patient....

I made this shirt about a month ago and I have been busting at the seams to blog about it, but it was my Easter shirt so I wanted to hold off until after Easter. You see little kids wearing these shirts all of the time but why not adults? I see God working through me every day and believe me, He is not finished with me yet. My  words this year are Kindness and Compassion and I have to work at them daily. Lead me not into temptation, I can find it all by myself!