Food Storage Recipe - Ham with Potato au Gratin (crock pot)

NEED:

Nonstick cooking spray

2 cups of cubed cooked ham (about 10-ounces)

2 packages (4.9-ounces) dry au gratin potato mix

1/4 cup roasted red sweet pepper, chopped and drained 3 cups water

1 can (10-3/4-ounces) condensed cheddar cheese soup

Take the nonstick cooking spray and lightly coat the inside of a 3-1/2 or 4-quart slow cooker.

Combine the cubed cooked ham, packages of dry au gratin potato mix and the roasted red sweet pepper in the prepared cooker.

In a medium sized bowl, gradually stir the water into the cheddar cheese soup then pour over the mixture in the slow cooker.

Cover and cook on LOW for 7 to 8 hours or on HIGH for 3-1/2 to 4 hours.

Aluminum Pan Grill

Here’s an easy and low cost way to grill while camping even if there is no grill available. Disposable aluminum lasagna pan or roasting pan Self-starting charcoal Directions: Take a large aluminum lasagna pan and line the bottom with charcoal. Light the charcoal then place a metal rack such as a cooling rack or small grilling rack on top of the pan. Once the charcoal is ready, add the meats and vegetables on the rack. Be sure to place the pan on concrete, sand or stones because the pan will get extremely hot.

Start A Campfire Using Chips!

Start a Campfire using Cheetos (or any other chips) Short on kindling? All variety of chips can be readily ignited and used to start a campfire - Fritos, Cheetos, Flavored Doritos and potato chips all work well. 

They work as well as birch bark for starting a fire in a hurry.

Chips work better than actual “firestarters” and are cheaper too.

I used Baked Cheetos last time we went camping and even the baked chips have enough oil and grease in them to easily start a fire.

So in case all the natural kindling happens to be wet, grab a bag of Fritos next time you go camping or hiking to use as a campfire starter.

Clean Water

There may be an occasion when you don’t have access to a ready supply of fresh water. This is when you need to be really creative. The obvious method of getting a supply of fresh drinkable water is to capture rain water to drink. Plastic sheeting is ideal for this job. The bigger the better, lay out the sheeting in such a manner that the rain water runs down into some form of receptacle. Trees are a good source of water if times are hard. By tying a plastic bag tightly around a branch with leaves overnight it should produce you a quantity of water by morning. It won’t be a lot, but it will keep you alive till you find an alternative source.

Tips for a Successful Deer Hunting Trip

Tips for a Successful Deer Hunting Trip

 Hunting is enjoyed by men and women across the country. Even though it is no longer necessary for survival as it was many years ago, people still enjoy the thrill of the hunt. Learning to do so safely and responsibly is a valuable lesson that every first-time hunter should learn. Along with learning to hunt responsibly, there are a few things that can make the trip more enjoyable and productive.

 Take the Right Weapons and Clothing

 Choose your rifle or bow depending on the season. Many areas where people go to deer hunt have a bow season first and then gun season. If you are a seasoned hunter, you will already have chosen a favorite weapon. However, if it is your first time, talk to friends that hunt, and get recommendations on the type you will need.

 Hunting season generally starts in northern parts of the country in the late fall and early winter. It is quite likely you will encounter snow, and temperatures could get quite frigid. Ensuring that you have supplies including warm clothing is a must. A hat will help keep your head and body warm. Pants, shirts, and jackets, as well as warm socks, will help you to be more comfortable in the cold. An example of a company that offers hunting socks is Techspun.

 Choosing the Area

 If you want to have a successful hunting trip, it is a necessity to know where to go to find the deer. When it is possible, checking on them a few weeks in advance of the start of the season can help. It is not unusual to see plenty of deer before hunting season and all of a sudden, they disappear. Many people like to say they know when the season starts. Once the season does start, it is likely they move due to the increase in people in their area.

 Tracking the deer is easier when there is fresh snow. If you are not experienced at doing so, you need to remember, the deeper the tracks, the heavier the deer. When the temperatures drop, particularly overnight, it is more difficult to figure out when tracks were made. With more experience, it becomes easier.

 Of course, you will need to take a backpack with the essentials. Being prepared is one of the best ways to ensure that you have a good trip. Even experienced hunters can learn new things that help to make their hunting experience better.