Banana Oatmeal Blueberry Muffins (Recipe and Image courtesy: Rick Beach)
Prep Time: 15 Minutes
Cook Time: 15 Minutes
Servings: 14
Ingredients
1/2 Cup Uncooked Oatmeal
1/2 Cup Milk
1/4 Cup Butter Melted
1 Egg Whisked
1 Cup Bananas Mashed (about 2 regular sized bananas)
1/2 Cup Blueberries
3/4 tsp Nutmeg
1/2 Cup Sugar
2 1/2 tsp Baking Powder
1/2 tsp Baking Soda
1 Cup Flour unsifted
1/2 tsp Salt
1 tsp cinnamon
Instructions
1. In medium bowl combine the oats and milk and set aside to allow liquid to absorb.
2. In large bowl combine the remaining dry ingredients and whisk to combine. The Nutmeg, Sugar, Baking Powder, Baking Soda, Flour, Salt, and Cinnamon.
3. Stir the melted butter and whisked egg into the milk and oats. Stir in the Smashed Bananas, then the Blueberries.
4. Stir the wet ingredients into the dry. Stir until well moistened.
5. Line muffin pan with paper cupcake/muffin liners. Spray papers with spray oil such as Pam. Fill muffin cups 3/4 Full. Bake in preheated oven 425°F for 15 minutes and passes the toothpick test.
Actual competition cooking is on Saturday September 16, 2017
A group of us camper/Dutch Oven cooks have been attending this event for years. The rangers at this State Park make this the best we have ever competed in. Aside from the awesome prizes they solicit from supporting businesses, they just make this plain fun.
Be prepared to arrive early and to stay until after dark. The whole day can be taken up hiking early in the morning, then wandering around watching the cooks prepare the food that is judged and served to the public in the evening.
Many of us start arriving Thursday and Friday to also spend a few days camping. Sites are first come first served. Though the rangers have always made room for everyone even if it means “dry camping” off the edge of the pavement near the picnic area.
This time of year expect warm days and cool nights. The Milky-way will blanket you in the sky above. The coyote’s will sing you to sleep at night.
I just recently wrote about the latest phone scam. People calling saying they are the IRS. Trying to Phish your information or fleece you out of money. I have seen that one before. Most people won’t fall for it. But from what is out there to read, these scammers are raking in millions from some poor souls.
Then today 1/7/2017 the scammers came in the form of 10’ish year old boys selling candy bars right at the front doors of my local grocery store. (Smith’s on W. Charleston – Las Vegas, Nevada). Something quite common for the Girl Scouts and other organizations. I didn’t give things a second thought when it all happened.
This is nothing against the WFC Fund raiser company. I am sure they help many legitimate fund raisers raise well meaning proceeds. I have had kids in band and sports and know the drill. None of this will dampen my future donations to legit fund raisers using this product. I doubt they have any control over what hands their products land in. But they might want safe guards in place to save tarnishing their name? I know I am going to be much more cautious and skeptical going forward.
These boys were polite enough when they asked that I buy chocolate bars to raise money for their baseball team. One bar for $3, 2 for $5, or a real bargain donation of five for $8. In hindsight I remember thinking $3 for the dinky 1.3 oz bars??? I did the $5 deal and walked away with two. The whole point, at that moment in time, was all about donating. Not what I was getting in return. On the other hand I don’t want someone scamming the good natured side of me. I find that very irritating.
I had no intentions of eating the chocolate bars just because I don’t need to be eating candy. But the wife loves chocolate. So when I made it home and walked in the door I said “Honey I have a treat for you”. I noticed then the price on the chocolate bar was $1.00. We both got into a conversation over this. Thinking that is the donation price, not the fund raiser purchase price. We even did some on-line investigation because we were curious. We were thinking these could be purchased for 50 cents or less, if the donation price was suppose to be $1. Certainly something less than $1. At $3 resale, that seemed like a nice profit margin for a fund raiser. In my mind if this was all legit, it was still not an issue.
The money was not the point of all of this. If it were I would have simply walked by and not “donated” in the first place. I knew I was getting nothing of equal value in return in the form of the product. From time to time I open my heart to some of the homeless that need help. Much depends on how I am approached, where I am approached, and how I am asked. In that type of donation the only thing in return might be a smile or a thank you. I realize even some of those are simply scammers. It comes with big city living I suppose. But many have become immune and always walk by without making eye contact with someone the probably does need help. It’s hard to know.
The long story short of this candy bar scam is, we ended up calling the grocery store and spoke with the manager. At first just wanting to know if the kids fund raiser was legit. If they had some type of vetting process for people standing at the door collecting/selling for fund raisers. We kind of got the impression this fund raiser might be ripping people off unsuspecting people. I am all about price raises and cost of living increases…..the $3 bar didn’t seem too far fetched these days. So maybe we were wrong.
The store manager said these boys had no permission, they have been run off on several occasions, and that other customers are complaining and actually calling metro. So there is was. Nothing more than a scam in this case.
So the moral of this story is my soft heart is a little less soft. My wallet not so easily opened. My eyes opened a little wider now knowing this latest scam. At the very least I am going to be more observant. I have to assume there is an adult or group of adults behind this. That these young kids are being used in this scam while the adults are safely hidden, and out of the picture. If so, just think what these young kids are learning. My only pleasure is the karma that might be bestowed upon the people behind this.
I have been in third world countries where this type of thing is common place. I never thought the USA would become this way. Just more proof of the moral decay our country is experiencing in many ways.
My suggestion is before making a donation in front of a store do some fact checking first. Especially if things don’t seem right. No signs, no uniforms, no adults around. Don’t donate going in. While in the store ask an employee or manager about the fund raiser before you leave the store. Legit fund raisers get store approval. Do your donation on the way out. In hindsight these kids had no sign, no uniforms, and no adult supervision that was noticeable If it is legit, then by all means open your heart and wallet. This is the life blood of some legit organizations.
Unfortunately I am less likely to shop at stores that allow this to go on. If they choose to look away, not get serious about prevention and security, they will loose me as a customer. This usually morphs into getting approached at your vehicle in the parking lot. Those contacts becomes a more serious personal security issue for the unsuspecting and the distracted. I personally don’t shop where this goes on.
Combine flour and next 5 ingredients (through salt) in a large bowl, stirring with a whisk. Make a well in center of mixture.
Combine 1 cup water, vinegar, and vanilla. Whisk together. Just prior to combining the liquids to the dry whisk the beaten egg into the water vinegar/vanilla mixture. Whisk quickly then immediately progress to adding to the dry mixture.
Pour the mixed liquids into the well of the dry mixture. Stir well with a whisk until combined.
Stir in Chocolate Chips.
Add in the oil/melted butter mixture. Stir until combined.
Place 12 muffin-cup liners in muffin cups, and coat liners with cooking spray. Divide batter evenly among prepared muffin cups. Bake at 400° for 15 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes in pan on a wire rack.
Twice a year we have a local group out of Las Vegas that camps at one of Nevada’s Ghost Towns. Our spring event will take place May 12 through the 15th, 2016. The core group camps with anything from RV’s, Teardrops, to Tents. RV spots are limited to 11 and normally all get reserved. There are also a limited amount of rustic cabins for rent. There is endless dry camping where you can camp out of your car and set up a tent.
We also have an October trip scheduled for October 13-16, 2016.
If you want the experience and car camping is your thing. This would be a unique opportunity to attach to your Havasu Falls trip if you are coming in through Las Vegas. Or just join us and have a fun weekend.
This is paved roads the entire way. You can travel here with the family car or a rental with no fear of needing an off-road vehicle.
Gold Point, Nevada is about a 3 hour drive north out of Las Vegas. It is remote but offers a rewarding experience. The Saloon is opened for our group. There are also some prepared meals available for purchase, but head count must be given.
This is rustic camping for the most part. Pit toilets, but there is a shower. No tables. No tree’s. Don’t expect comforts and you won’t be disappointed. A shade/rain fly is recommended but not necessary. As is a folding table.
Hard Luck Mine Castle
There are no services or store. The nearest small town is about 40 miles away. Be sure to bring everything you need. Water is available.
The area is full of photogenic buildings, old iron, mining equipment, and machinery. A handful of people live in the town and are restoring buildings while maintaining the old dilapidated look.
The town sits at an altitude just above 5000 ft so during spring and fall expect chilly nights and pleasant days. Some years its rained and we spent the day in the saloon sitting around the wood stove with a roaring fire.
One of the Las Vegas Dutch Oven cooking groups does a Saturday Potluck. Cost of admission to the potluck meal is to bring a dish or food of some sort.
There are endless gravel roads going off into the mountains in all directions. One snakes over a hill to another Ghost Town called State Line…though 4 wheel drive may be required for that one.
Or head over to the Hard Luck Mine Castle. If you can get the owner to give you a tour (donations required) you will be amazed at what someone built in some very unforgiving terrain and on top of the old Hard Luck Mine shaft.
The Ghost Town of Rhyolite, Nevada is about a hour and a half drive one way from Gold Point (On paved roads). It is another photographers dream. Totally awesome at sunrise or sunset!
You are pretty much on your own as far as food. Though some meals can be arranged in advance. Sheriff Stone (one of the proprietors will do breakfast, lunch, and dinner if arranged for in advance)
This DIY DO table article, and all photos it contains are courtesy of Ted Meland – Apache Junction AZ
This DIY DO table article, and all photos it contains are courtesy of Ted Meland – Apache Junction AZ
Here is another DIY project to create a Dutch Oven cooking surface at countertop height. While this project was adapted to a round shaped charcoal grill, it could easily be adapted to a rectangular grill.
Here is what Ted has to say on this Project.
I was finding it more and more difficult getting up and down to do my DO cooking, with the pot on the ground. I looked at DO tables and they seem to run in the $125 range. I could do that, but thinking over the situation I realized I may had a different solution using some items I had on hand.
In my case I used an existing round Weber Kettle BBQ. I think you could adapt this to any make and shape of BBQ.
Next I visited a local metal fabricating shop and they agreed to make a 21″ round, 12 gauge sheet metal plate, with two handles.
I am able to place the plate right on the grates in the BBQ, add charcoal on the metal plate surface, and my DO. Voila! I am now working at a much more comfortable level. Total cost: $35 and change for the metal plate and fabrication.. And don’t forget the Weber top hangs on the kettle and could provide a little extra wind protection. Not much, but you shouldn’t be DO cooking in a tornado anyway.
