It’s summertime in Minnesota and you know what that means, vacation! PTO has been taken, dates are booked (at The Red Door Resort, obvi), and the kids are ecstatic. When you read the numerous iterations of the word vacation, you’ll see synonyms such as relax, leisure, escape, and respite. Nowhere does it say kids are the only ones who get to reap the benefits of time away at a picturesque, fun-filled resort. Heck, we could argue kids’ entire lives are relaxing, amiright? We want to make it easy on all of you hard-working parents. We want you to be prepared but not be so burned out by the time you cast your line into gorgeous Lake Mille Lacs, that you’re not awake enough to notice your bobber taking a swift dip. Because you deserve to enjoy this vacation too, and by golly, we’re going to help you do it.
Something that’s always a ton of work when getting ready to set sail with your loved ones is every kid’s favorite: the food! So, we threw together a shopping list for you that’s doable and delicious.
BREAKFAST
Cereal
Milk
Bread for toast
Butter
Peanut Butter
Jelly
Bagels
Cream cheese
Fruit
Yogurt
COFFEE!
LUNCH
Bread for sandwiches
Tortillas for wraps
Lunch meat
Cheese slices
Condiments like mayonnaise, mustard, sandwich oil, ketchup, etc.
Fixings like lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, pickles, etc.
Baby carrots and cut-up celery
Ranch dressing or hummus
Chips or crackers
Boxes of macaroni and cheese
Hot dogs
Hot dog buns
DINNER
Hamburger
Hamburger buns
Store-bought potato salad
Chicken
Beef
Vegetables like bell peppers, onions, cherry tomatoes, pineapple, etc. for chicken or beef kabobs
Taco seasoning, shredded cheese, sour cream for tacos
Bagged salads
Pre-made pasta salad (try this one! https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/86353/simple-pasta-salad/)
The phone number for the closest pizza joint
SNACKS
Fun drinks (juice boxes? Pop? Capri Sun?)
Nuts
Granola bars
Trail mix
Chips
Salsa
Guacamole
String cheese
Pretzels
Popsicles
Fruit leathers
Now, you might be wondering, wait, where’s the dessert? My kids will definitely want dessert. Don’t worry – dessert can be simple too!
DESSERT
Campfire S’mores Nachos
Ingredients:
Graham crackers (regular or cinnamon, or both!)
Mini marshmallows
Regular marshmallows
Chocolate chips
Foil pant
Foil
Instructions:
1. Break up graham crackers and spread them in the bottom of your foil pan.
2. Sprinkle mini marshmallows on top of the graham crackers.
3. Scatter chocolate chips on top of the graham crackers.
4. Repeat with another layer of the three ingredients.
5. Place more chocolate chips on top along with a few regular-size marshmallows.
6. Cover the pan with a piece of heavy-duty foil, making sure to wrap it tightly around the edges of the pan.
7. Place the pan on the grate of a grill or over a campfire.
8. As with regular s’mores, we find this recipe grills best over coals as opposed to over an open flame.
9. Cook until the marshmallows and chocolate melt. You can check this by lifting a corner of the foil.
10. Just make sure not to burn it.
11. Carefully remove the pan from the fire.
12. Take off the foil lid and eat just like you eat normal nachos. Grab a cracker, dip, and enjoy!
Recipe and Campfire S’mores Nachos imagery courtesy of @letscampsmore
