• 13 oz. can chicken breast with packing liquid
• 1.5 Tbs. butter
• 1.5 Tbs. olive oil
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 2 Tbs. apple butter
• 1 tsp. chipotle rub*
• 8 oz. shredded quesadilla cheese
• 4 slices white american cheese
• 4 burrito-size white soft tortilla shells
• yet another Tbs. butter

• "I don't like dark chocolate," you might say. Well, as it happens, powdered cocoa by definition doesn't have cocoa butter in it; that means all powdered cocoa is "dark" cocoa. This variety just tastes a little better in this recipe.

• shake-n-pour pancake mix
• eggs
• french toast
• baggie omelets
• sausages
• egg-in-potato (bake potatoes in foil; open, slit a cross, push guts up; spoon out a hole; add egg; re-wrap in foil, cook a few more minutes.)
• cinnamon-sugar biscuits
• cold cereal

• Spectacular ham and sweet potatoes (1c chopped ham, 1c chopped yam, 1c chopped apple, 1/4c brown sugar, crushed pineapple to taste; wrap in foil, cook over coals 30 min turning occasionally.
• hot dogs (chili dogs)
• ham steaks
• quesadillas
• chili
• Frito Pie-in-the-Bag (individual serving Frito bags, slit open down the side. Add chili & cheese, eat out of bag)
• Lloyd's BBQ baby-back ribs
• Corn on the cob
• Ham and sweet potatoes (1c chopped ham, 1c chopped yam, 1c chopped apple; wrap in foil, cook over coals 30 min turning occasionally. Fancy? Add crushed pineapple and brown sugar)

• Lemon Meringue Pie (croissant dough -- 2 triangles forming a square for each side, lemon pie filling & mini marshmallows inside)
• Pudgy Pies (marshmallows plus a couple mini candybars -- Reeses, Snickers, Rolos, Bfinger)
• Pocket Pizzas (use croissant dough)
• biscuits
• Peanut Butter Fudge (PB + marshmallow creme or sliced marshmallows)
• Sunny Peach (half canned peach + marshmallow, sprinkle with sugar)

• s'mores
• banana boats
• quick fruit pies (refrig biscuits, wrapped around fruit pie filling, fried in oil, rolled in powdered sugar)

• hot chocolate
• hot cider
• cold cider
• powdered mixes (white tea!)
• canned soda

• reservation papers
• travel guides and maps

• Ground cloth
• Tent(s)
• Air mattresses or, heaven forbid, sleeping pads, for everyone
• Portable chairs and stools
• Sleeping bag (rated to 20 to 50F will suffice)
• Pillows
• Hammock

• Heater
• Power strip
• Extension cords
• Lights

• Stove
• Stove fuel
• Firewood, kindling
• Matches/lighter, starter
• Cooking pots and pans
• Fire grates, if not provided
• Extra water (to keep at your site)
• Utensil set (including spoons, knives, forks, plus cooking utensils, such as serving spoons, knives, spatulas)
• Can opener
• Mess kits for everyone (plates, cups, bowls)
• Cooler and ice
• Dish detergent
• Dish towels
• Sponge/scraper
• Plastic basin (for washing dishes)
• Paper towels
• Tablecloth
• Trash bags
• Foil
• Ziploc bags
• Hot pads
• Citronella candle

• Snacks
• Fruit
• Peanut butter and bread (very quick and handy if your kids like it)
• Butter/cooking oil
• Condiments (salt, pepper, multi-spice, and mustard/catsup when applicable)
• Beverages (juice boxes, milk)
• Coffee, tea, or hot chocolate
• Milk, sugar (if needed)
• Desserts
• Makings for s'mores (marshmallows, graham crackers, and chocolate)

• Rope
• Clothes pins
• Duct tape
• Multi-tool/utility knife
• Small handheld broom (for sweeping out the tent)

• Lantern
• Headlamps for all
• Flashlights

• Bath towels and washcloths
• Soap
• Hand sanitizer
• Shampoo
• Toothbrushes/toothpaste
• Deodorant
• Razor
• Toilet paper and trowel
• Sunscreen
• Lip balm
• Baby wipes

• Bandages
• Benadryl
• Poison ivy treatment such as CORTAID® Treatment Kit
• Antibiotic ointment/wipes
• Burn ointment
• Thermometer
• Bug repellent
• Aspirin
• Tweezers (good for removing splinters and ticks)
• Moleskin

• Trail-running shoes or hiking boots (broken in and waterproofed)
• Sandals/flip-flops (for public showers)
• Wool socks
• Synthetic long-underwear bottoms and tops
• Synthetic shorts or convertible pants
• Underwear
• Synthetic/wicking t-shirt
• Rain/wind jacket and pants
• Wool or fleece sweater or jacket (vest, if warmer)
• Pajamas
• Bathing suits
• Sunglasses
• Wool or fleece hat*
• Wool/fleece gloves or mittens*

• Swim towels
• Water shoes (if needed)
• Daypacks
• Water bottles
• Camera and film
• Video camera
• Reading material for all
• Binoculars
• Nature books

• Outdoor toys (Frisbee, kites, soccer ball, football, Wiffle Ball, etc.)
• Whistle
• Toys, board games, or deck of cards
• Water toys or floats
• Child's potty

• Diapers
• Wipes
• Changing pad
• Port-a-Crib
• Bug netting for crib and stroller
• Baby blankets
• Portable high chair or sassy seat (the latter is esp. good for picnic tables)
• Bibs
• Formula
• Bottles
• Baby spoon
• Baby bowl
• Baby food
• Stroller or baby jogger
• Child carrier (backpack style, or front carrier)

1. When a Human leads a Hand, he can play a single card or a set of any given number. For example, he can play a 1, or two 1’s, or three 1’s, or four 1’s, but not a 1 and a 2. (Basic strategy is that he should play his very lowest number; and if he has a set of his very lowest number, he should play all of them).
2. After he has led, it is the next Human’s turn to play. Every card played must be higher than the number previously played and must be played in equivalent sets. For example, if the leader played a 1, the next card played can only be a 2 or above. But if the leader played a set of three 1’s, the next cards played can only be a matching set of three cards that are 2’s or above. There are three powerful Wild Cards in the game; they can be played at any time, they do not have to be played in sets to match the lead, and they immediately “win” that Hand. Winning a Hand will be explained in a moment.
3. A Human is not required to play a card; he may Pass. Once he Passes, however, he is not allowed to play a card for the remainder of that Hand. A Human can Pass even if he has cards which could be played; the reasons why he would do this will become evident through a minimal amount of experience.
4. A Hand is finished when all Humans have verbally Passed. This means that play does not stop when gets back to the Human who started the Hand, but continues around and around.
5. When the Hand is finished, the Human who played the last card “wins” that Hand. That Human then plays the first card(s) of the next Hand.
6. Some Humans will play all their cards before others. This is quite important, because the first Human to play all of their cards will become the King of the next Round. Play continues, however, and the next Human to play their last card will become Queen; the next will become the First Noble, and so on, until the last person who plays a card becomes the Big Scum. Therefore, each Human’s goal is to play all of their cards as quickly as possible.
7. After the last card is played, each Human physically moves to the new seat he has earned. The cards are gathered and redealt to begin the next Round.
8. The purpose of the game is purely Social Order, so no points are kept. Any number of Rounds can be played, and the ultimate goal is to be King after the last Round is played — to go home King Forever, long live the King.

1. The King gives his two lowest number cards to the Big Scum.
2. The Queen gives her one lowest number card to the Little Scum.
3. The Little Scum gives his one highest single number card to the Queen (that is, he does not have to break up a set). For the purpose of this trading, he considers any Rook he might have as equal to his highest number. For example, if he has a Rook, a 14, two 13’s, and a 12, he gives the 12 to the Queen – his highest single number, because the Rook counts as a 14.
4. The Big Scum must give up two cards to the King. The first card he gives is his highest number card that is not in a set of three or more; the second is his highest remaining single number card. For purposes of this trading, any Rook is considered equal to his highest number. For example, if he has a Rook, a 14, two 13’s, and a 12, he must first give up his Rook (considered a 14), and then his highest remaining single number, which is now a 14. But say he has a Rook, two 14’s, two 13’s, and a 12; he will give up a 13 (because the Rook counts as a 14 and creates a set of three), and then his highest remaining single number, which is now the other 13. He would have the same result if he started with two Rooks and one 14, because that still makes a set of three.

1. Everybody chooses a small hand signal to represent themselves, like thumbs up, touching one finger to their nose, or rubbing their chin - any small movement that the group can say "belongs" to that person.
2. Everybody sits in a circle with one person being designated "it". One person (who left the room when "it" was chosen) comes and stands in the center of the circle and has to figure out who is "it".
3. While the person in the middle isn't looking, "it" will secretly catch someone else's eye and do that person's signal. That person has to secretly do their signal back, and when this happens, that person is now "it". So as the game is played, the person who is "it" is constantly changing as people transfer being "it" to others. If the person in the middle suspects someone, he/she just asks, "are you it?" and if yes, then that person becomes the person in the middle, a new "it" is secretly chosen and a new round begins.

INGREDIENTS

• 2/3 cup real butter
  
• 1/3 cup butter-flavored Crisco
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1/4 cup honey, heated
  
• 2 eggs
• 3 TABLEspoons vanilla extract (Madagascar, if available)
  
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 teaspoons hot water
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups Ghirardelli 60% cacao bittersweet chocolate chips (see below)
  
• 1 cup milk chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Place butter in a microwave-safe bowl. If the brown sugar is clumping at all, place it in another bowl. Microwave both at 30% power. Watch closely; you want the butter to melt completely, but not go a second longer. Crisco should be room temperature.
3. Use an electric mixer to cream together the butter, Crisco and water, white sugar, and brown sugar until smooth.
4. Heat honey until thin; add and mix well.
5. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Mix thoroughly, meaning high speed for a long time. This should be smoooooth.
6. Change mixer to low speed and add the vanilla; mix thoroughly. Combine baking soda and hot water together (baking soda doesn't dissolve, so mix well), then add to batter along with salt. Mix thoroughly.
7. Manually stir in flour, then chocolate chips. Drop by large spoonfuls onto ungreased pans.
8. Bake for about 14 minutes in the preheated oven, or until edges are golden brown. Don't overbake.
   

NOTES

1. Butter vs. Crisco: I have always been a really big proponent of using the highest-quality natural ingredients available. No margarine or synthetic vanillin here. But through zoodles of tests, I've come to realize that in the case of these cookies, you need a little Crisco to keep them soft over time. Except that they are nasty with regular Crisco: you must use the butter-flavored Crisco. If you just can't bring yourself to believe it, or if all of the cookies are to be consumed straight out of the oven, just make it with one full cup of butter and no Crisco.
2. Chocolate chips: I recommend the specified chocolate for a couple reasons. The Ghirardelli melts in the cookie (unlike Hershey's) and has a wonderful, almost fruity overtone (which is perfect if you use orange blossom honey in the recipe, and even better than perfect when combined with the subtle undertones of Madagascar vanilla); in fact, it is even liked by people who swear they don't like dark chocolate. I find the brand of milk chocolate chips are less critical; but they do provide a nice balance to the intensity of the dark chocolate. 3 cups is fine, but heavy-duty chocolate lovers can push the recipe to 4 cups of chips with no problem.

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