Falling into Autumn

You may have noticed I’ve been on something of a hiatus since our camping season ended.  September was spent preparing me for the start of kindergarten.  The five year old, you understand has taken to school like a duck to water – the adjustment has been mostly on my part.  Here in Seattle kindergarteners attend a full day 9:30-3:30.  It leaves a paltry amount of time after school for hanging out.  Still, it makes me remember why spending time together when we can is so important. 

Muffin or Cupcake?

I know. I’ve been awful. Is it really the middle of September already?

Although our planned camping trips for the year are over, I seem to still have camping on the brain. Like today – I was packing lunch for my new kindergartener and I thought – these muffins would be delicious on a hike (and there is nothing like chocolate to motivate my little slowpokes).

The five year old was a little dubious of the green flecks of zucchini but was brought over when I split the muffin open and pointed out the hunks of chocolate in the middle. Of course if you have a ‘will not eat green stuff even if it’s dipped in chocolate’ kind of kid you could peel the zukes first. I replaced 1/2 cup of white with whole wheat pastry flour and added a couple of tablespoons of wheat germ too - ‘cause that’s just the kind of sneaky mom i am.

Thanks Epicurious for this surprisingly easy recipe!

Chocolate Chip Zucchini Cupcakes

Building stuff at Deception Pass

After a rainy start from Seattle the day turned out marvelously.
Deception Pass is beautiful and offers lots for the kiddos, a
freshwater lake to swim in, driftwood forts and stone cairns to build
and explore on the ocean beach which is only steps away from the lake.

Make ahead camping food

 

We embark on our final big trip today and I'm trying something new – a no cook camping trip (except coffee and marshmallows of course).  I was thinking of making a bunch of stuff ahead like salads and snacks. So far I’ve only gotten a few things made like the roast peppers and the raspberry oat bars.  The bars don’t look like much but yum they taste fab – kinda breakfasty – i suspect they’ll get gobbled up with coffee in the morning.

If i actually get to it my make ahead menu would look something like:

Dinners : (1) chef salad with rustic bread; (2) tortellini, pesto, cherry tomatoes, and mozzarella salad

Lunch: (1) croissants with roast vegetables (2) anything left in the cooler or peanut butter and jam 

Breakfast: (2) cereal with berries

Snacks: apples, raspberry oat bars, chips, carrots

Bay View - birds and beachcombing

After a lovely morning of investigating the tidal flats and Padilla
Bay Interpretive Center the boys are either napping or playing soccer.
I am thoroughly enjoying a quiet moment with new field guide, The
Beachcomber's Guide to Seashore Life in the Pacific Northwest.

A Few Links: Family Friendly Camping Food

Lots of great and easy ideas for campfire cooking from Kids cooking Activities.com 

Camping Meals for Kids from Trails.com

• Fun camping recipes from About.com

 

Technorati Tags: camping,food,kids

Anyone been to Bay View State Park or Padilla Bay?

We leave for our next trip this week.  This time we off to Bay View State Park and I'm a little nervous about this one.  Friends are coming and I picked the site, but i really don’t know much about it.  I only chose it because it was close and our first choice, Deception Pass, was fully booked.

One friend mentioned that it’s not supposed to be that great – my rep is on the line!  Bay View is on Padilla Bay, which looks like a naturalists dream, but how will it be with preschoolers? 

I suppose i should be worrying more about the forecast thundershowers…