As the summer heats up, the opportunities to create memories in the backyard with your family are here. Summer is the time to have a barbeque or a campfire where you and your family can sit around and create new and wonderful memories.
It is easy to create right in your backyard with a metal wagon or wheelbarrow. Just fill the metal wagon or wheel barrel with dirt to within an inch or two from the top. Then cover the dirt with heavy duty foil and put a pile of briquettes on the top or if you live in an area where you can build a fire, you can do that on top of the wagon or wheel barrow. If you are using charcoal, be sure to give them 45 minutes to heat up.
Here are a few photos of the fun things that you can do.
Cooking on a spit, a grill and on the coals
A few bricks and a wire rack turn you wagon into a grill
Wagon turned into a cooler for drinks and fruit
Try any of the following, and you will be on you way to an evening that will build memories that will last a life time.
The ideas that I am going to share with you are things that everyone can get involved in preparing. Just get the supplies and then you are ready to show how to make them for dinner. This is a great way for you to get out of so much work in the kitchen and help each one have a more memorable experience because they are involved in the process of creating great food to eat.
Here is the menu:
Meat loaf in an onion
Tossed green salad with dressing (prepare with garden vegetables and lite dressing like Newman lite Sesame Ginger dressing.)
Banana Boats
Slice of bread or roll
Meat Loaf in an onion: You will need an onion for each person about the size of a soft ball. Cut the root end off the onion and peel off the outside layer of the onion Then cut in half. Now season the hamburger (about ¼ pound per person) with salt and pepper and any thing else that you like to put into the meat. Pop out the center part of the onion and then fill the cavity with the hamburger mix. Put the two halves of the onion back together and then place the onion of a piece of heavy duty foil. When the foil comes together at the top it should be about 6 to 8 inches so that you can put together and fold down to seal the package. The foil should also be about an inch longer on each side to roll in so that the whole package can be sealed and set on the coal to cook. Allow about 15 minute per side to cook. I call this a cannon ball. The best way to tell if it is done is to open one and check the meat inside to see if it is cooked. Everyone can make there own and will enjoy this delicious main course.
Banana Boat: You will need a banana for each person and about 2 to 3 T. each of milk, chocolate chips, and miniature marshmallows. Take a knife and place it at the top of the curved part of the banana. Cut an opening down the center and open up the banana as if it were a canoe. Now place the milk chocolate chips and miniature marshmallows down the center. Wrap it in a piece of heavy duty foil and place on the hot coals for about 5 minutes or until the chocolate and marshmallows melt down the center. If you leave it too long the banana will become runny.
Enjoy your cannon ball meat loaf in and onion, your fresh garden salad and a piece of whole wheat bread or roll. After your main meal, show everyone how to make their banana boat.
If you are in an area where you can build a fire after dinner, do and sit around the fire and talk.
Dian has taken her ideas and shared them throughout the years in her many books. This month she is offering a 35- year Johnny Carson Anniversary special. Get 6 of her best books — a $95.00 value — for only $35. 00. They’re great for gifts or just a wonderful library for you. These books contain the ideas that Dian has used on the NBC “Today Show”, Good Morning America and the ABC “Home Show” over the years. Check out this wonderful special at www.dianthomas.com. You can also preorder her new book on weight loss there.
