Good gear makes backyard camping comfortable. Don’t overspend before you know what your family enjoys—rent or borrow to start! Tent Tips Look for: Waterproofing: Base and seams must keep dew out Double seams: For durability Ventilation: Breeze + light = comfort Guy lines: Extra support [...]
Backyard camping is the perfect staycation. It’s a low-stress way to practice outdoor skills, get kids comfortable with sleeping outside, and build family memories without leaving home. Why Try Backyard Camping? No long drives or packing marathons Easy to test gear and new recipes Great [...]
When you’re cooking for a crowd or want to roast a whole bird, spit cooking is the way to go. What is Spit Cooking? Also called rotisserie cooking, this method uses a long stick or metal rod to hold meat above the fire while it's [...]
Brighton Camp, tucked high in Utah’s Wasatch Mountains, taught me more than how to pitch a tent or start a fire—it taught me to respect the land under my boots. The forest, the trails, and the starry skies left a lasting impression on me, not [...]
We've all roasted hot dogs and marshmallows over the fire. But if that's where your stick cooking ends, you're missing out on a world of outdoor culinary possibilities. What is Stick Cooking? Stick cooking is one of the simplest ways to prepare food outdoors. Simply [...]
A Dutch oven can last for generations—if you take care of it. Here's how to keep yours seasoned, rust-free, and always ready for your next outdoor or indoor meal. Cleaning Your Dutch Oven For outdoor use: Scrape out food with a spatula. If stuck-on, boil [...]
Creamy Homemade Avocado Dressing Ingredients 1 ripe avocado Juice of 1 lemon ½ cup olive oil (or see tip for a lighter option) ⅓ cup vinegar Salt and pepper, to taste If you love [...]
White Bean Crostini with Basil Ingredients 1 cup small white beans, precooked (cannellini or navy beans work great) ½ cup flavored tomato sauce 1 tbsp fresh basil, chopped 1 baguette, sliced into rounds Fresh basil leaves (for [...]
Goat Cheese Crostini with Tomato Ingredients 1 medium baguette, sliced into rounds 2 tbsp olive oil 4 oz goat cheese Chopped tomato (optional) Salt and pepper, as desired Few appetizers are as easy—or as [...]
Savory Stuffed Mushrooms Ingredients 8 to 10 large button mushrooms Salt ½ onion, very finely chopped 2 tbsp olive oil 1 clove garlic, diced ½ cup diced green pepper ½ cup diced red pepper [...]
Adventure is Dian’s middle name, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to glean ideas that will pay everyday dividends. Keep-up-to date on the latest of Dian’s creations, travels, outdoor adventures, and fun and creative ideas to do with your family.
