Happy Camper Tips
Memorial day weekend is the official kick-off to the camping season for our family. This means we are back to offering up our HAPPY CAMPER coffee. Its return is a happy one!
Ah, camping season! Nothing better than sleeping under the stars, exploring nature, and disconnecting from the rest of the world. Unless of course camping isn’t your thing and you are dreading it miserably. We have a couple of tips to help make camping a more pleasurable experience.
Eat better than you would at home. We eat pretty darn good at home. I love to cook. It is my way of loving on those I care about. When we camp, we have simple meals that we have taken next level. Meals that everyone gets excited about because we only eat them camping. Its tradition.
An absolute MUST and fan favorite when we camp is grilled Catalina Chicken sandwiches with provolone cheese, avocado, lettuce, tomato, onion, and garlic aioli made with a splash of Catalina salad dressing. So good. It was an old recipe my mom had improved on by my younger sister Wendy. You could make this island-style by swapping out the Catalina dressing for Teriyaki sauce, add a grilled slice of pineapple. Instead of aioli use a mac nut honey mustard. Let us know in the comments if you want the recipe.
Good coffee. If No Coffee No Talkie rings true with you, make sure you have your favorite freshly roasted Monarch Coffee and an enjoyable way to brew it in the mornings. You can eat & sleep well all weekend and if you don’t have your caffeine fix, it won’t matter how beautiful the sunrise is - you won't’ be a happy camper.
I love to pack plenty of coffee to share with fellow campers. Coffee seems like one of those things I tend to forget. Or if I remember the coffee, I forget the gear to brew said coffee. There are some great hand grinders on the market that are compact, making it simple to grind just before use. As far as brewers; a french press is a popular choice or a collapsable rubber pour-over brewer that sets on top of your favorite camp mug will do the trick (just don’t forget a no.4 filter). I am really loving the Stanley Camp pour-over right now. I can easily brew right into a stainless steel camp mug.
Plan to cook over a campfire or grill. Have you ever noticed how when you eat outside, the talk story with your camping companions goes on into the wee hours of the night? What about how much better food tastes? Add good wine - how can you not have a good time? Be sure to plan meals that can be cooked over the grill or fire. It’s simple to do especially if your campsite has onsite grills or fire rings. Toss a protein and chopped veggies in some olive oil and seasoning, and wrap it all up in foil. Simply toss it on a grill or a grate over your fire pit until fully cooked. You can eat right out of the foil boat. We all know roasting hot dogs on a stick over the fire is the only way to eat a dog. Pack a brioche bun and some fun toppings if you don’t like eating it off the stick.
There are so many campfire grilling ideas on Pinterest. Find a few your family can get excited about. Be sure to be prepared if you plan on cooking over the campfire -your campgrounds may or may not have wood for purchase or may have restrictions on use.
Lastly, create a cozy nest. Susy (aka mom or graham) calls any space where you go to rest and relax a nest. We all know how valuable a good night's rest is for our ola maikai (well being). It is even more true when camping. So while this might be a little “extra” - I think it is top on my priority list when preparing for our camping adventure…even more of a priority than coffee.
We skip the sleeping bags here. They are just too restrictive and it's always too hot or too cold. I want it to be just right. By using my favorite duvet & soft sheets from home and a cushy sleeping pad (or as Joshua used to call them “a crouton”). I suggest picking up the best sleep pad that you can afford and you’ll be so happy you did.
I hope these tips help to make your next camping adventure more pleasurable. Let us know if you try any of these tips or have a few tips of your own to share. We’d love to see how you brew your morning coffee while camping. Really coffee by a campfire doesn’t get any better.
