Family Camping | Lake Palestine Resort

Easy Camping Desserts for the Whole Family

May 26, 2018 by lakepale_kLz9Xky

There’s no reason to give up delicious desserts when you’re camping. You can feed a crowd with little more than a few ingredients and a nice, hot fire. We found some you might like to try the next time you’re camping with us.

Image Source: Mother Nature Network

Blueberry Cobbler – You can use a disposable aluminum pan or make this in your Dutch Oven. Either way it is absolutely delicious. You’ll need some tasty blueberries, sugar, flour, and canned biscuits. That’s it! Once you add them all together you have a real crowd-pleaser.

Camp Tiramisu – Oh, this is so, so good. You can make some of it ahead and bring it to camp in plastic bags. You’ll need instant espresso powder, a smidge of Kahlua, instant white chocolate pudding mix, powdered milk, a dozen or so ladyfingers, and a dark chocolate bar.

Skillet Cookies – You can use your trusty cast iron pan for this and make one big cookie for the whole group. You’ll be mixing butter, brown sugar, white sugar, eggs, vanilla, flour, quick oats, salt, soda, and chocolate chips.

These are some camping desserts to get you started. You can find many more at 11 “To Die For” Camping Recipes. We hope your camping is as sweet as your desserts.

Some Helpful Items to Bring for the Kids

May 12, 2018 by lakepale_kLz9Xky

If you have children in your home you have probably customized your environment for everyone from the infants to the teens. You may have step stools, booster chairs, and other items to help them be a part of the family gatherings. There are a few things you can bring along on your camping trip to make things easier for all of you as well. Some are useful and some are fun.

These Washi Tape Walking Sticks are a big hit with the kids. They can help make them and each can customize their own. Get them involved in making them and they will love using them as you take a hike with the family. The walking sticks are as useful as they are cute because they can assist those little legs on the trip.

They’ll love this Crank Lantern and you won’t have to be concerned about batteries or having an electrical outlet. The kids will enjoy helping to keep it cranked up to illuminate your way in the dark.

This Hanging Closet Organizer will help you keep the kids clothes up off the floor. Each child can have their own shelf and can also use it to hold the treasures they collect along the way. It’s easy to store and very light weight.

We’ve seen a lot of portable cots for kids lately and parents seem to like them quite a bit. The kids think they are cool and most are made to collapse and pack away in a few simple motions. They can hold up to 100 lbs. and will keep the little ones up off the floor.

You can see some more ideas for making your camping trip a big success for you and the whole family at 14 Must-Haves for Camping with Kids. Sometimes one or two specialty items can make the most difference in convenience for all.

Camping Friends You Haven’t Met Yet

April 28, 2018 by lakepale_kLz9Xky

Campers are, by nature, friendly people. They are more likely than the general public to wave as you pass by their campsite, say hello to you in the store, and offer help when they see you struggle with something.

We love seeing those of our campers who met each other here in the campground and have now been friends for years. Over time they have begun to look forward to each other’s arrival and it’s fun to watch them laugh and hug when they see each other again. Soon they are catching up over a meal or a campfire and updating each other on who got engaged, married, had a baby, graduated, or unfortunately, fell ill.

Many of them don’t stay in touch when they go back to their “real lives” or only on Facebook or Instagram. When they see each other in the summer, though, you’d think they were best friends and had known each other forever. We love when that happens. And when they call to make their reservation and check to be sure the others have made theirs, we just have to smile. Camping families are not fair weather families. They are extended families that really matter to each other. They laugh together, cry together, and are sad when they have to part but time disappears when they are together.

We just consider ourselves lucky to be able to experience it and a lot of those families feel like family members to us, too. We can’t wait to see you all and hear what’s been going on in your life since you were here last.

Amish Onion Patties for the Win

April 21, 2018 by lakepale_kLz9Xky

If you’ve ever tried to make your own onion rings you know it can be time consuming and messy. Most recipes call for dredging the onion rings in seasoned flour, an egg mixture, and then in bread crumbs. By the time you finish this process your fingers and the counter can be quite a mess.

These Amish Onion Patties will taste like your beloved onion rings and are easy enough to make right at the campsite. You’ll be mixing up some flour, sugar, cornmeal, baking powder, salt, milk, and a whole lot of chopped onions. You can drop these by spoonful into some hot oil and let them cook until nice and brown. You’ll have a new dinner favorite that is crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside without much work at all.

Image Source: Group Recipes

It can be challenging to know what to cook when you are camping. You may start to miss some of your favorites from home. With just a little ingenuity you can create something just as appealing that is easy to make when camping. These fill the bill when you’re hungry for onion rings and need to make enough for a group of people.

We look forward to seeing you around the campground this year so make your reservation soon. We’re looking forward to your visit.

The Basics of a Good Granola You Can Make Yourself

April 14, 2018 by lakepale_kLz9Xky

Kids play hard when they’re camping and that means they get hungry, a lot! You can provide a healthy snack for them that won’t ruin their dinner by offering them some of your homemade granola.

Photo Source: Epicurious

The best granola comes from the list you keep in your head of what foods your family likes best. There really is no limit to the variety of granola you can make at home with just a little experimentation. Cook up a batch or two before your trip and bring it along with you. The kids will enjoy the snack and they may not even know it’s good for them.

The basic recipe for granola is 6 parts dry ingredients to 1 part wet ingredients. You toss it all together until well coated and spread on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Spread the granola out well so it will cook evenly and then bake at 300 degrees for 30 minutes.

You’ll need to begin with oats as the base of your dry ingredients but the rest can be whatever you choose. Some ideas for adding flavor and personality to your granola are nuts, seeds, and other grains that you like. You can add coconut flakes, chocolate chips, or dried fruit. For a nice ratio of ingredients you can combine 1 part oats, 1 part nuts, 1 part seeds, and 1 part anything else you love.

Combine your wet ingredients separately and add them to the dry. This can be coconut oil, olive oil, grapeseed or canola oil. Sweeten it to taste with your favorite sugar or syrup. Then season it with vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, or any spices you choose. Be sure to add a little salt to balance things.

Spread it on a cookie sheet and bake. Let it cool on the counter and put it in sealed bags for your camping trip. It’s really that easy to make and take for your next camping adventure. You can read the details for making your own granola at Granola is Better and Easier to Make Without a Recipe.

Handy Tips For Grill-Roasting Chicken While Camping

January 31, 2018 by Strait Web Solutions

When it comes to any camping adventure, chicken is always a winning option for a protein that can become the star of the show. Whether you want to roast chicken legs or a whole chicken, there are plenty of incredible recipes that you can use to wow all of the campers in your party. These are some helpful tips that you can keep in mind that will allow you to make delicious, flawless chicken every time.

Marinades

There are a number of marinades that you can either make yourself or you can buy in bottles that travel easily. Flavors like applewood, hickory, and mesquite make for a lovely way to enhance the finished product to blend perfectly with a campfire meal.

Parboiling

Whenever possible, parboil some of the chicken pieces before you leave for your camping trip until they reach a temperature of 175 degrees. You can then package and chill the meat so that everything is cold to travel and ready to go when you hit the campsite. Parboiling is a nice way to have foolproof chicken that will grill even faster for you when it is ready to cook.

Kabobs

Using the skewer method to make kabobs is a wonderful way to please a number of tastes while also making your life easier as a cook. You can have a number of flavors and vegetables mixes with your chicken pieces to create a bit of variety and this is a fun way to grab a skewer to eat without needing utensils. In addition to the taste and convenience, using metal skewers for your kabobs will also help you to cook the food a bit faster over the flame.

Mind Your Sauces

You need to keep in mind that any barbecue sauce that contains sugar will burn over the grill rather quickly. Remember not to brush the chicken with any sweetened sauces until they are at least halfway done.

Whether you have yourself and one other person to feed or there is a whole group that you are cooking for while camping, chicken is an excellent option that is also extremely versatile. These helpful tips are a great way to make sure that each chicken dish you make is a memorable one on your camping adventure.

Simple Tips For Removing A Splinter

January 9, 2018 by Strait Web Solutions

While spending a few days at a campground is always a lot of fun, minor accidents and injuries are not uncommon. One of the most frequent comes in the form of troublesome splinters. They seem to affect younger people in particular, especially since they’re seldom used to the outdoors these days! In the event that you or a loved one end up with a splinter during your trip, here are some basic tips for an easy removal:

1 – Handle Carefully

First of all, make sure you don’t squeeze the area surrounding the splinter. That’s the first instinct for many, but it can actually cause the wood to fracture into even smaller pieces. Practice extreme caution to avoid further complications.

2 – Clean It First

You should clean the affected area before removal. This is your best chance at avoiding an infection. Wash gently around the splinter with warm soap and water, and dry it with a light cloth as delicately as possible.

3 – Removal

Now, you’re finally ready to get that little problem out of there! It’s not as simple as merely pulling it out however; you should actually apply a small paste made of baking soda and water first. Just be sure you don’t push down, and apply only from the opposite direction that the splinter went in!

Perhaps contrary to your first instinct to remove it immediately, the best step is to place a band-aid over the paste and wait at least a day if possible. When the band-aid is taken off, the splinter will come right along with it. Otherwise, sterile tweezers are your best bet. You shouldn’t attempt prying the splinter out unless you have a good look at it through a magnifying glass however.

Once it’s all clear, be sure to apply some antibiotic cream and cover it with yet another band-aid to help keep the wound clean. All should be well after another day or so. With that, you should be a complete expert at splinter removal!

Flashlight Games to Play With the Kids

October 21, 2017 by lakepale_kLz9Xky

Do you remember playing flashlight games once it was dark when you were a kid? Some people had lots of friends in the neighborhood and others had siblings to race around with in the backyard. It really didn’t matter how many wanted to play, running around in the dark was fun! It was even better when someone brought out a flashlight. Your kids will enjoy these games as much as you did so here’s a short reminder of things to do outside once it’s dark and you are armed with a flashlight or two.

The most prevalent flashlight game that children enjoy playing is flashlight tag. Due to it being dark outside this will actually be a combination of both tag and hide and go seek. Fundamentally the person becomes “it” when they are hit with light from the flashlight. It’s fun for all ages but watch out for the little ones because they can be hard to see in the dark. Better to assign an older child or adult to each of the smaller players.

Another fun game which can be played inside and out through the help of a flashlight is charades. Using this game you make the flashlight shine towards a wall. Players then use their hands to mimic animals or or their whole body to act out a skit. It can be played with teams or just the whole group of you yelling out what you think is happening with the shadows. Make some popcorn and enjoy the creativity your kids will express.

Finally, you could have a scavenger hunt allowing the players only the use of their flashlights to find the items on their list. Be sure to keep a list of the items you’ve hidden so you can remember which have been found and which are yet undiscovered.

Kids really enjoy games that may be played at night. Take advantage of the simplicity of a flashlight game. The kids with remember times like those forever.

Make Your Own First Aid Kit

September 30, 2017 by lakepale_kLz9Xky

We always hope your camping trip will be accident free but sometimes little things happen. In case you or your family are faced with a splinter, sprain, or allergy, you might like to have an emergency kit on hand.

For the Outside – Have items to assist with bumps, bruises, sunburn, scrapes, cuts, and swelling. We recommend bandages, gauze pads, ace wraps, ice packs, eye wash, anti-bacterial cream, aloe, sunscreen, tweezers, and a magnifying glass.

For the Inside – Tummy trouble, allergies, and sprains can ruin your trip if they are not treated quickly. Bring along antacids, anti-diarrhea products, Benadryl, Cold Medicine, Cough Drops, pain and fever reducer.

Prescriptions – Make sure you have plenty of everyone’s prescriptions to cover your absence; including your pets. Bringing extra is a good idea because you never know when you might decide to extend your stay or get waylaid on the way home. Having plenty on hand will assure that no one runs out of their needed medications.

This emergency kit will assist you in fixing the problem and getting back to having fun fast. We look forward to seeing you enjoy your vacation with us.

Good Old Card Games of the Past

September 23, 2017 by lakepale_kLz9Xky

We know the kids love their electronics and the DVD players are always in operation but there is something to be said for teaching them the games of our youth. Kids are often quite taken with the simple challenge of a deck of cards, especially when it’s Mom, Dad, or their grandparents who are teaching them.

Go Fish!
Do you remember yelling Go Fish! when you didn’t have the card someone was asking for? It was a lot of fun for you and will be fun for today’s kid, too. All you need is a standard deck of cards. Choose who will be the dealer and then deal 7 cards to each person. Put the remaining cards into the “fish pond” and begin a fun game that can last for hours.

Crazy Eights
Two people play this game and each starts out with 7 cards. The rest of the cards go face down in a pile with the top card facing up. In case you’ve forgotten how the game plays out, you can read the rules of play here > Today’s Parent Crazy Eights

Rummy
This one will entertain the older kids and the competition could get thick. Two to four people can play at a time and the object is to get rid of your cards by grouping them into “melds”. You can read the rules here > Today’s Parent Rummy

Cribbage
This one is for two players and is a nice way to help them with their math without them even knowing what you’re up to. You’ll never hear the end of it if you get “skunked” by your grandchild and they will have bragging rights until you manage to regain your lead in a new match. You can refresh your memory of the rules of the game here > Teaching Kids the Gentleman’s Game of Cribbage

Sure, they can help you figure out your new cell phone and show you how to record to your DVR but there are still plenty of skills you can teach them. Go back, way back to the games you loved as a kid. It’s a wonderful way to spend an afternoon at the campground.