From Camp Cookin' to Wine

Part 1

Tomorrow my boyfriend Percy and I are heading out to Kootenay lake to go camping!! I can't wait! Even on vacation I still love to cook and see tenting as no excuse to stick to hotdogs on sticks (even though they are soo good....drool, Homer Simpson-styles). We have a propane powered portable Coleman grill that we bring with us - it has a flat side and a grill side. With this you can do so much! I also bring along a pot to heat water for coffee (and dishes), using a coffee press, or French press - which, by the way, makes the best coffee! Beyond the barbequeing basics, such as burgers, steaks and other grilled meats, here is a list of things we've used the grill for in the past, that are well, tent-tantilizing!!

• skewer/kabobs - including meat, poultry, veggies.
• eggs and bacon, sausages
• toast
• fish - straight on the grill, or in a foil packet
• corn on the cob
• put a pot on the flat side of the grill, and make anything you can boil or cook in a pot
• garlic bread
• foil packages of potatoes, carrots, onions, etc
• asparagus - straight on the grill
• fried mushroom and onions
• quesadillas
• and my favourite, Pizza:

• buy pre-made pizza crusts, or use pitas
• buy pre-shredded cheese (unless you are super organized and brought a shredder, shred your own!)
• buy pizza sauce from a can or jar
• go to a deli and get shaved dried salami, ham, pepperoni, whatever you like
• any veggies you like
• set the grill as low as it can go
• assemble your pizza and place it on the grill
• tent some foil over top to help warm up the toppings quicker and to melt the cheese - you don't want to burn the bottom of your pizza
• Enjoy!

And I had to share this recipe I found on thecampingsource.com, it's so rad:

Heat a flat rock in the fire, fry 2 slices of bacon on the rock to grease up the rock, then dip a slice of bread in egg and lay it across the crispy bacon ( the bacon should bake onto that side). Brown both sides of the toast. Once toasty lay the bacon side back down on the hot rock, using your knife cut out a small hole in the middle of the toasted bread to form a well. Try not to slice through the bacon, in this well break an egg into it and fry the egg till you like it done, butter the top and add salt n pepper. Serve with warm maple syrup eat it right off the rock no messy plates to clean up. Enjoy adding your own variations.

Isn't that cool? There must be a Brownie badge for that one! I also like the idea of wrapping potatoes in foil and cooking them in the embers of your camp fire.

Please share your favourite camping recipes or ideas. I'll be back on July 8th - till then!

Part 2

Ah, the Okanagan. For any of you who have not had the fabulous opportunity to go visit wineries in the Okanagan, let me tell you - it is great! When we camp on Kootenay we always take one day to go and buy some wine. Everyone there is so incredibly friendly and at almost every turn off there is another winery: http://www.discoverwines.com/wine-map.php - just look at that map!

The Okanagan is nice and hot in the summer, with great swimming, nice people, tonnes of fresh (and cheap!) local fruits and veggies, and of course copious amounts of wine! (My friend Keelin tells me there's a great Perogie place in Kelowna called Cecil's - who doesn't like pedahe?? We also visited a fantastic Greek restaurant in Penticton once called Theo's).

I want to share with you our favourite wineries (so far at least):

• Hester Creek - Trebbiano -- a really special wine. Last year we went to the winery and they were sold out! I swear I almost started crying. However, we went to this really good Indian restaurant in Oliver and they had the Trebbiano on the menu. I asked if they had any bottles left, and they said yes, we have a few. I then asked if it would be possible, please, to buy a bottle from them to take home - they then proceeded to call the winery to see if that was ok and they said yes!! Thank you, thank you, that is kindness for you! (Sure made my year!) Visit their site to see their description: http://www.hestercreek.com/our_wines/wine.php?id=1004. Personally I think the finish exudes a touch of butterscotch, just enough to make you want to drink 6 bottles in a row!
• Dirty Laundry - Riesling -- this is one of the most beautiful wineries I have ever seen! Summerland is a great place to spend some time. This riesling is nice and crisp and perfect chilled on a hot day. Check it out for yourself: http://www.dirtylaundry.ca/wine/riesling.php
• Blasted Church - Pinot Gris -- you can get this one in Calgary!! Now, THAT is exciting! This unique winery is on the banks of gorgeous Skaha lake, and it makes me want to quit my dayjob, make and sell handycrafts for wine, and play tambourine in the sunset - seriously! http://www.blastedchurch.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2&Itemid=10 I know they sell this wine at Centre Street North liquor store, Altadore liquor store and I'm sure many others. It's about $27 dollars and worth every last cent - just make sure you get your own bottle!

Happy sipping, slamming, chugging, or whatever it is you do!