The Hobo Steak and The Camping Experience

A couple weeks ago I wrote about my grandchildren coming out to our house to camp.  It is a yearly thing that they like to do just before school restarts in the fall.  Nothing turned out as planned last time.  Many things went wrong that week.  http://www.thecabincountess.com/2014/08/smores-in-microwave.html

We decided to try for a redo last weekend.  I am so glad we did.  It was fun.  The weather was hot, but it didn't pour down rain and the evening was very pleasant.  They came on Saturday afternoon.  We started a fire earlier so we would have a good bed of coals for our dinner.  Everyone has made this recipe at some point in their lives, but I will post it anyway.  We made Hobo Steaks.

Hobo Steaks

Aluminum Foil
Hamburger Patty
Potato sliced thin
Carrot sliced thin
Handful of green beans
Slice of onion (optional)
Pat of butter
Salt and Pepper

Tear off a piece of aluminum foil about 14 x 16.
In the center of the foil place the hamburger patty.
Then cover with the sliced onion, sliced potato, sliced carrot and green beans
Put a pat of butter and some salt and pepper over everything

Fold the foil and make a sealed packet.  Cook over hot coals until the vegetables and meat are done.
We had 7 packets and it took about 45 minutes.  You can put the packets directly on the coals or use a little tripod rack.  These Hobo Steaks can also be made in an oven.  You can add whatever vegetables you like.  I put some multi-colored peppers on mine and instead of butter a dollop of bacon grease (no eye rolls, please). 

Normally the kids would be a little picky over some of these ingredients, but they ate it all.  I think when kids can make their own and participate, they like it better.  I forgot we have growing kids now, and one little stinkin packet of food wasn't enough.  Out came the hot dogs.  Fortunately I had some gluten free hot dogs in the frig.  We ate a whole package before the night was over.  I think 10 year old Sam had 3 hot dogs.

As soon as Jack cooks his hot dog, Sarah is ready to roast a marshmallow.

Hot Dog is almost perfect.

It wasn't over yet.  Last time the kids had to make s'mores in the microwave.  This time the coals were perfect.  Again we had to accommodate a gluten free option.  I had purchased some GF chocolate chip cookies, so that is what we used instead of graham crackers.  I didn't try them because I'm not a fan of s'mores, but everyone else enjoyed this variation very much.  However, I ate my share of the chocolate bar.  

Jack enjoying his chocolate chip cookie s'more.

Even great grandpa participated in the experience.  He sat by the campfire and had a brandy and sweet with cherries.  He really wanted a brandy old fashioned but we are so lame in the alcohol department, this was all we could come up with.

Sam and Great Grandpa

Time to put the cover on the fire and go to bed.

Pretty soon it was time for bed.  That didn't go so well.  We slept in our own beds, but Sarah and the kids played musical beds for quite a while.  Melissa ended up on our couch.  Sam, Jack and Sarah all ended up in one double bed in the camper.  No one slept well, and they got up very early.  Oh well, that's all part of the memory.  They will probably remember the bad nights sleep more than all the other good things that happened that night.