S'mores Dip (No Campfire Needed)

Ingredients

1. 3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
2. 8 large marshmallows; cut in half
3. Graham crackers for dipping

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 450ºF.
2. In a small cast iron skillet, put chocolate chips in an even layer.
3. Arrange the marshmallows on top of the chocolate.
4. Bake in the oven for 6-8 minutes, until marshmallows are lightly browned.
5. Remove from the oven and let stand for 5 minutes.
6. Serve with graham crackers for dipping.

Notes

1. Skillet will be hot!
2. You may use mini marshmallows as an alternative.

Tasty Ways to Change Up Your S'mores

Key Lime S'more

graham + key lime curd or pie filling + marshmallow

And while your at it, try this incredible S'more 

maker from Rome at your next campfire!!

Buy one or more at Amazon.

Camping Chic

Camping outdoors has been taken to an extraordinary new level - with blow-up 'bubble' tents. With incredible panoramic views of the surrounding countryside, the bizarre transparent structures are designed to get people as close to nature as possible.

Camping and Outdoor Games

Next week we will be camping with our married kids and grandkids. Here are some games I found to play while driving and camping...

The Car Next Door

Come up with stories about the people in the other cars on the road. Pick a car and glance at its passengers. Then have everyone take a turn telling something abou the life of the people in the "car next door."

Who Am I?

One person thinks of a person, place, or thing that everyone can recognize. The person thinking of the subject will give one clue at a time. For example: 1) I am bigger than a horse, 2) I live in water, 3) I was in a movie... (answer: Free Willy). After each clue, anyone can guess. The first person to guess the person, place, or thing is then "it" and gets to think up the next subject.

Animal Battle

Everyonone gets to create an animal by combining two real or imaginary creatures. For example: a snonkey (snake-monkey), an elephino (elephant-Rhinoceros), or a unifly (unicorn-butterfly). Then everyone takes turns defending why thier animal could win a battle against the other imagined animals. Include ruels against graphic descriptions to keep it light and fun.

Shave Mr. Balloon-face

Everyone needs to draw a face on a balloon that has been blown up. marker. Apply shaving cream to the balloon's cheeks and chin, and use a plastic knife or safety razor to shave with. Start the race, and the first person to shave Mr. Balloon-face without popping him is the winner. Make this even more risky (and fun) by shaving water balloons!

Tree Hugging

Split the group into pairs. Each pair chooses one person to be blindfolded, and one person to be the guide. The guide leads their partner in a roundabout way to a tree (maybe having them duck under imaginary fences, jump over imaginary streams, etc.). At the tree, the blindfolded partner inspects the tree (with blindfold still on(. You can hug the tree, trace its bark with your fingers, touch the ground and roots, and touch the branches and leaves – anything you want without looking. The guide then leads the blindfolded partner back (again in a roundabout way) to the starting point. Then the blindfolded partner takes off the blindfold and tries to find the correct tree.

Frisbee Golf

This game is best played in a large, open field. (Each person needs a Frisbee.) Choose around six or seven objects as targets for your golf "holes." Players will then take turns tossing their Frisbees toward the target. Keep track of how many throws it takes to hit the target. The player with the feewest throws at the end wins.

Memory Moment

Start off the game by telling one of the children three things that happened throughout the day. Then, have them try to guess which one was most exciting for you, and why. After he or shee has guessed, tell the child which event was ore exciting for you then the other two and why. Next, it's the child's turn to think up three events, and your turn to guess. The child will enjoy sharing, and you will learn at least three things he or shie did that day.

Smarter than... Who?

As the children to quiz you on things they learned that day. For example they might ask you what kind of fish they caught today. You answer, and they tell you if you are correct. Have them keep asking questions as long as they have questions, or until bedtime.

Constellation Creation

Start the game by pointing out one of the well-known constellations to the group, and then tell the mythological story behind it. Then, have everyone take turns making up new constellations and stories to go with them. For a tricky twist, have each constellation's story build off the last one told.

Thanks to Ashton Kelley

One Smart Grandma

When my grandkids were here a few weeks ago
they decorated the cement out front with
Sidewalk Paint. Now, I had never heard
of sidewalk paint before, just
good old sidewalk chalk...


I went to pick up more sidewalk paint to have
on hand for the next time they visit, but do
you know how much Crayola wants you to
pay for this stuff? It's ridiculous!


So, I went online and found this recipe to make
my own homemade sidewalk paint:

1 part corn starch
1 part cold water
food coloring

Put the cornstarch in a small plastic bowl, and
gradually stir in the cold water. Blend with a
whisk or a hand mixer. Divide the mixture
into individual plastic bowls. [If you use
containers with lids you can save
any leftovers for the next time.]


Add your food coloring [6 to 8 drops] and stir. If
the paint seems too dry, just add a little more
water until you get the consistency you want.
If you thin down the paint with a little more
water you can also use a spray bottle as well
as paintbrushes to create a masterpiece. As
you apply the paint it may seem dull but
it will brighten as the water evaporates.


Now go and paint the world and don't worry about
the environment because the paint will wash
off with water, is biodegradable, and
won't harm plumbing or plants.