Camper's Easy Chili

DUTCH OVEN CAMPER’S EASY CHILI
1 lb Ground beef
1 med Onion, chopped
1/2 teaspoon Garlic powder
1 tablespoon Chili powder (or to taste)
2 1/2 teaspoon Ground cumin
1 can Crushed tomatoes with added Puree (28 oz)
1 can Chili beans (kidney)
1 can Tomato paste (6 oz)

1. In a large 4 qt Dutch oven or large saucepan, cook beef and onion over medium-high heat, stirring often to break up meat, until lightly browned, 5 to 10 minutes. Drain off any excess fat.

2. Stir in all remaining ingredients. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat to medium low and simmer, uncovered for 10-15 minutes.

3. Optional:  Those in a few red hot chilies to your liking.

Summer Camping Trip Barbeque:

The glorious summer camping trip barbeque is the quintessential warm weather gathering celebrating food, friends and family. And yet such a tried-and-true formula for good times has fallen into a slump of overcooked burgers and dried out hotdogs grilled by dad or your favorite uncle, who slave away with beer in hand over the open coals. Having become more chore than relaxing afternoon, the following tips will liven up your barbeque without overly challenging the hosts or overwhelming the guests.
Bring on the Chicken!
Admittedly, there is nothing wrong with the traditional burger and dog, but these days people are becoming more and more health conscious and even if consuming red meat isn’t the primary concern, the high fat content of burgers and dubious ingredients of hot dogs may well caution your guests against over indulging. Why not try something different?  The bold, strong flavors of the Southwest are easy to replicate and you won’t need to put your uncle out of a grilling job. Marinated and grilled chicken breasts or thighs alongside a variety of toppings such as grilled peppers, chopped onion and tomatoes, sour cream, cheddar cheese, guacamole and shredded lettuce make an easy to pull together build-your-own fajita bar. Sure, this requires a bit more effort compared to combating the grease flare-ups from your flammable burgers, but it is different, delicious and will have your guests raving.
Freeze the Fruit
Sure, canned beverages are easy – easy to purchase, to chill and to serve. But, they’re really high on the boring scale. Making a revival to home parties everywhere is the nostalgic beverage of choice, punch! With a plethora of recipes available for punches of all kinds, from those made with alcohol to ones with ice cream in them and every kind in between, the best and most refreshing punches are those made with a variety of citrus juices and not so heavy on the syrupy sodas. Easy enough to make alcoholic, vodka goes with many kinds of punches, so does rum. And the one for the kiddies can be kept totally separate. Punch up your punch with frozen fruit instead of ice cubes! Use a melon ballet to carve balls out of the melon and freeze them on a cookie sheet. Frozen grapes also work really well. Not only with the frozen fruit act the same as ice, but your guests will rave about your ingenuity and they also make a great healthy snack for the kids!
Nothing Wrong with Potluck
Potluck contributions to a gathering have been getting a bad reputation, but this is more due to lack of communication rather than any sort of lack of culinary skill. Ask your guests to each bring a salad to contribute to your barbeque, but don’t be afraid to lay down some guidelines such as the required amount. There’s nothing worse than somebody showing up with a giant bowl of tuna salad compared to the tiny cereal bowl full of a different pasta salad. Tell everybody you need a certain amount of each, enough for everybody to have a spoonful or two. In addition, ask your guests to bring specific kinds of salad, such as leafy greens, vegetarian pasta salads or meaty pasta salads. This way you’re sure to have a variety of dishes available with amounts to feed everybody.
Entertain the Kids
Summer gatherings are all about socializing and catching up with people not seen in a while. Bored children can be a huge hindrance to adults who want to chat, so the easiest way to handle this is to be sure that the kids have something to do. Entertainment for the kids does not need to be fancy or expensive. Things like toss rings purchased from the dollar store can be a wonderful distraction, or borrowing a variety of water guns from guests can lead to a friendly game of soak ‘em. Water balloons are another great, inexpensive distraction, especially if they have to fill and tie the balloons themselves. Have some of the older kids be responsible for setting up games for the smaller ones. There’s no reason why mom and dad should have to play babysitter if there is a responsible teenager around who can shepherd the kids into fun activities.
Themed Parties
If you’re feeling especially adventurous you can plan your barbeque around a theme. Some unique theme ideas suited for outdoor entertaining are:
Surf & Turf – grill shrimp skewers alongside beef kabobs, and have all your salads and side dishes revolve around either the land or the sea.
Sticks
– plan a fun menu where every item is served on a stick. From grilled kabobs to a variety of meat and vegetable skewers, even your desserts can be served on a stick with a pot of melted chocolate for dipping.
Hors d’Oeuvres
– instead of a heavy meal, plan a variety of lighter dishes and enlist the help of your guests. Rather than heavy pasta salads consider the plethora of finger foods that can be made without much fuss. From simple cubed fruit to cheese and crackers, it doesn’t need to be complicated. Have several guests just bring dips with bread, chips or fruit for dippers.
Beer Pairing
– everybody knows about wine and cheese pairings, but beer and food pairing parties can also be a lot of fun. Ask your guests to each investigate a kind of food that would match well with a particular beer, and then to provide either the food or the beer for everybody to try.
No matter how entrenched you are with your regular summer barbeque routine, there’s no reason why you can’t change things up a bit to make the party more enjoyable for both you and your guests. Just a little bit of creativity and the willingness to try something new will open up many possibilities to create a memorable camping summer party.

Swap meet: Tips on Bargaining

Some swap meets are year round,  others are seasonal. Most seasonal swap meets start opening up sometime in April with some exceptions. It’s best to call and find out the time and days of their swap meet.

Swap meets are fertile grounds for treasure hunting, whether you are looking for a one-of-a-kind antique, or simply a good bargain on household items, vintage clothing or even motor vehicle accessories. Unlike the sterile environment of fluorescent lit shops, swap meets offer a chance for buyers to haggle and vendors to earn some extra cash. These tips will come in handy for those looking for a good bargain.

Do your research

Make sure you do your research before venturing out into a swap meet. Some swap meets are antiques-focused, whereas others are more general in nature. It pays to have an idea of how much the asking price of a particular item should be, such as first edition books or vintage French couture. Only after obtaining a general idea of the accepted market price should you begin to negotiate for a purchase.

Start low

It can be hard to gauge what an initial offer should be. An easy rule of thumb is to let the seller name the starting price before countering, even if the item in question has been tagged with a price. Remember that at swap meets, all prices are fluid and are open to bargaining. With an idea of the maximum you are willing to pay, counteroffer with a low bid, approximately a third of your ceiling price, then bargain your way up from there.

Act unmoved

Refuse to be impressed. Be interested, but not overly so. Never show how much you want a product;  act unmoved. Silence is a good tool when bargaining because it can encourage the vendor to waver on their offer and perhaps lower their price. However don’t go so far as to insult their merchandise as the items on sale at swap meets are often personal purchases.

Find a fault

Remember that the onus on selling should be on the vendor, so allow him or her to persuade you into looking or buying. Find a flaw in items you want to buy and discuss the points you don’t like, such as a cracked veneer on a musical box, or a broken zip on a dress. If you manage to find imperfections, you may be able to bargain down the price further.

Be prepared to walk away

The art of bargaining is about knowing when to pick your battles. Sometimes, the asking price may just be too low for the seller. If you are unable to come to terms, be prepared to walk away. You may or may not find a similar item for a lower price at another vendor; however knowing how much you are willing to part with for a particular item is important when it comes to bargaining.

Bulk buy

Buying more from a particular stall affords you more bargaining power. You can leverage this to ask for a steeper discount. Bargain for a lower overall price if you are purchasing in bulk, or ask politely if you can have some extra items thrown in for free.

BARBEQUE?

Real open-flame, drip-through grilling.

Easy recipes that are easy to prepare, grill, One or two pans, pots, or Dutch Oven.
We also take into account the Ingredients, that you can generally find. As we travel from place to place, We run into a lot of recipes from different parts of the country. Some recipes are great, others not so great. It is mainly left up to each ones personal taste. I will be adding other recipes to the blog often as we travel. BBQ recipes and the old time favorite the Dutch Oven.

Barbecued Beef Short Ribs
4 lb Beef short ribs with bone
1 tb Cooking oil
2 1/2 c Water, divided
6 oz Can tomato paste
1 c Ketchup
1 Clove garlic, minced
3/4 c Packed brown sugar
1/2 c Chopped onion
1/2c Vinegar
2 tb Prepared mustard
SALT OR PEPPER TO YOUR LIKING.

Prepare your outdoor grill or Dutch Oven.

Barbecue for 6-8 minutes on each side or the way you like them, and make sure to baste the short ribs with sauce to enhance the flavor and to prevent from drying.

In a Dutch oven, brown ribs in oil.
Add 2 cups water; bring to a boil.
Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 1 1/2 hours. Drain.
Combine the tomato paste, ketchup, garlic, brown sugar, onion, vinegar, mustard,salt and remaining water; mix well. Pour over ribs; bring to a boil.
Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 1 hour or until meat is tender.
Serve over noodles if desired.

SIDE DISH
Gotta have a side dish with that BBQ. Here's a easy recipe that you can prepare the day before.
24 Hour Potato Salad
1 medium head cabbage ... shredded fine
6 small potatoes .. boiled and thinly sliced
6 boiled eggs .. thinly sliced
1 onion .. sliced real fine .. in rings (or chopped small)
1 Bell pepper .. sliced thin in rings (or chopped real fine)
Mayonnaise (this takes a LOT of mayonnaise)
Salt and Pepper
Place layer of shredded cabbage in round salad bowl, then a layer of potatoes, layer of sliced eggs, layer of onion and Bell pepper rings.
REPEAT LAYERS. BETWEEN EACH LAYER, ADD A THIN LAYER OF MAYONNAISE, SALT AND PEPPER TO TASTE.
Cover and Refrigerate 24-hours.

CAMPING BEST DEALS

Online Camping & Outdoor store and web portal. Here you can find superstore selection of Camping equipment for less.

Swap meet : Setting up Your Stall

Swap meets are a great way of clearing out clutter and selling off any old, unnecessary items to get a little cash back. The old adage “one man’s trash is another’s treasure” is never more true than in the busy, informal area of a swap meet. Vendors can be up-and-coming designers wanting to gain exposure and bypass the middle market, or families hawking unused toys and old clothes. Whichever the case, selling successfully at swap meets depends on setting up your stall right.

Go early:

Give yourself sufficient time before the swap meet officially starts. If a swap meet starts at 8:00 am, you should be at the grounds at least an hour before to pick a good location, set up a stall or table, set out merchandise and allocate an area for payment and wrapping.

Pick a Good Location:

Familiarize yourself with the layout of the swap meet before you choose a stall. Try to pick a place with high foot traffic, where more people pass by during the day. A good spot is near, but not too close to, the toilets or the main entrance. This will ensure a steady flow of people, which may translate to higher sales at your stall. 

Display Your Strengths:

It pays to have one main display area for your best pieces. This can be rare and precious antiques, or unique couture items – either way, give these the main focus and display them to their best advantage. A plain white or black cloth set out on the table helps to reduce distractions and will highlight the color and quality of your items.

Be Organized:

Part of the joy of swap meets is sorting through a table load of items, just to come up with the perfect piece. However, to help your customers along, you should organize your merchandise according to area, color, price or size. Kitchenware should sit on a separate table; clothes or shoes should be set out according to sizing.

Price:

Be realistic on pricing your items.  A lot of people think their items are at a great price, But in reality they are way over priced. 

Not Selling:

If your items are not selling or you have only sold a few items and you don’t want to pack everything back to the RV.  Ask a few of the full time vendors  if  they would buy you out.  Make a set price on all your items, like $20, $30, etc.  Vendors are looking for a bargain that they can make a profit on.  If you plan on working the swap meets for a extra buck or two, try again next week.  I have seen times when I would only make $5 or $10 one week, and the next week sell everything I have.  So don’t get discourage on your one or two trips to the swap meet.

Your RV Cluttered?

Your RV getting a little bit cluttered?  You need more space?

Why not check out a few swap meets or flea markets around your area, or
the area that you might be traveling to. I found out that some small swap meets
are just as good as the big ones.  It's best to check one out ahead
of time, some are a waste of time and money.
If you own a pickup you got it made, if not you might have some problems
getting the items to a swap meet, depending of course on how big
the items are.

Some swap meets also will let you camp over night, in the
space you rent, no hookups, unless you make arrangements for electric, this
would be a extra charge most likely.  One swap meet I went to was the I-44
swap meet in Springfield, mo, At the time I had a class C motor home pulling
a trailer, I would go in late Friday afternoon, get a space and setup
the items I wanted to sell Sat. and Sun. I would get a good night rest,
get up early all set to sell. Some flea markets will let you set up early,
(day before) before the meet.

It would be a good idea to call the swap meet beforehand to check out the cost, space available, electric (if needed),
over night camping and and also to see if you can come in early.
Also inform them what kind of vehicle you have, You might have to pay
for a extra space if you are too long. If you have been to a swap meet or
flea market, you have a good idea what to expect. To me it is a lot of
fun and make some extra money to boot.

The first thing to do is get all the items together you want to sell.
You have to have a good selection of items, To make it worthwhile.
You need some items to catch people attention, so they will look
at your items you have for sale.

The second thing is, how are you going to display the items.
If this is only a one time deal, you might just want to get a tarp.
Spread it out on your space and put the items on the tarp.

If you think you might want to do this full time or on occasion.
You might think about getting one or more fold down tables, or
What I use is table legs and a half sheet of plywood 2' X 6'.
A few long table covers.

The third thing is a good and comfortable chair.

The fourth thing is a cooler for drinks. A thermo for coffee. A
snack or couple sandwiches for lunch.  If you have your camper with
you, you got it made.

The fifth thing is a good canopy for full timers or a large umbrella
for one or more times to have a little shade. If you use a canopy or
a pop up canopy don't forget to have 4 good weights of some type to
put on the legs to hold the canopy down in case of windy conditions.
I don't think you want to chase down your canopy, and some swap meets require this.

If you plan on doing this full time you might want to invest in some
equipment. Some swap meets you can find dealers selling swap meet supplies,
or you can go online and check out a few suppliers. On your search page
just type in (swap meet supply).

The last thing is, where do you want to sell, What city, Which swap meet, ETC. 
If you camp at  a rv park, you can ask them if there is
any swap meets or flea markets in their area.