Archive for July, 2009
Beef Stew, Camping Style
Camping is an activity that’s best enjoyed as a communal experience. It’s especially satisfying to sit around the campfire with your family, telling stories and preparing an evening repast. Quality camp cuisine is made through the creative use of simple ingredients. You can use the following recipe to cook a mouth-watering beef stew that’s comparable to the one mother used to make in a real oven.
Ingredients:
1 pound beef stew meat
1 white onion
1 large potato
2 carrots
2 stalks celery
1 15-ounce can beef broth
1 bay leaf
garlic (several cloves)
salt and pepper
flour
water
oil
Directions:
1. Heat a large pot of water over a Brunton stove. Slather the meat with flour, salt and pepper before dropping it into the oiled pot. Shift meat around until it’s browned. Add onion (sliced), broth and bay leaf.
2. Cover the pot and turn heat down to low. Simmer for an hour and a half, stirring occasionally. Meat should be slightly covered with water, so replenish as necessary.
3. Peel potato and cut into cubes. Slice carrots and celery, then dump all vegetables into pot and cover for 30 more minutes. Mix flour with cold water to create thin paste. Add this gravy into the stew, stirring occasionally.
The HandiRack is Really Handy!
Did you ever go to the hardware store and need to tote home some lumber that was too big for your car? Or, have you ever needed to add a rack to a rental car to carry your skis, surfboard, kayak or canoe? The Malone HandiRack may be your answer. It is an easy to install inflatable rack that straps to the top of your car in minutes. It can carry surfboards, skis, kayaks, canoes and virtually any large flat object up to 180 lbs. The HandiRack is about half the cost of metal roof racks, is easy to store and fits most vehicles.
Just strap the Malone HandiRack to the top of your car, inflate it with the pump that comes with it, strap it through the doors and you have an instant roof rack for most cars!
A Lifeline at Sea
No airplane pilot in his or her right mind would take off without a radio to allow communication – not even for a short, uneventful flight. Likewise, it’s a boat owner’s responsibility to maintain contact with land. Oceans and lakes are rife with peril, and sometimes the dangers lurk below the surface. Jagged rocks can split a boat’s hull, and large white caps can toss smaller vessels miles off course.
Marine radios make it possible to establish contact with other boats, people on land and the Coast Guard. They are indispensable in emergencies and fun to play around with on a placid lake when the fish aren’t biting. On-board radios are an essential addition to any marine vessel, and boat owners cannot afford to overlook their value.
Stearns Puddle Jumper Life Vests
Stearns Puddle Jumper
The Puddle Jumper life vests were introduced by Stearns Inc. in 2008 and have been a huge hit ever since. The Puddle Jumper improves on the old “floatie” concept - but these won’t slip off like floaties when worn properly. It is made of fabric covered flotation foam. It looks like two “floaties” with a connection piece in the front for added flotation and support, and a strap fastener in the back. The innovative design gives more stability and mobility in the water than a traditional life vest.
The Stearns Puddle Jumpers have been super popular this year as well. They come in Orange (Turtle/Fish), Green (Frog), Red (Lady Bug) and Blue and Pink Camo designs. They are USCG approved Type V with Type III performance. and fit children 30 to 50 lbs. The Stearns Puddle Jumpers will put a smile on your child’s face and help them gain more confidence while in the water.