More Backyard Getaways: Go Camping!

If you love to camp but really can't find the time or money to go this year, why not bring the elements of a camping trip to the backyard! Pop up a tent, roll out your sleeping bags and build a campfire (if you can) and you're just one ghost story away from really camping!

We talked about backyard camping on our recent Better.tv appearanceand have been delighted at the response! Wooohoo! In case you missed the segment, here are some easy, peasy ideas you can use to create a faux-camping trip right in your backyard!

Hobo packs make cooking easy and are easy serve and easy clean-up, too! If you can't build a fire, you can do these on the grill or in the oven. Take two 12" squares of aluminum foil; one for the top of the pack and one for the bottom. Put your "fixins" onto the bottom square and put the top square on and fold the edges to seal and throw them on the fire or grill. Shrimp, chicken, hamburger patties, sausage--- you are almost unlimited with options for ingredients for your hobo packs.

If you need seating, ask your friends to bring a lawn chair or if you have enough room, ask everyone to set up a campsite and give a prize for the best!

Make sure to have a “summer survival” kit handy for backyard entertaining: include bug spray, sunscreen, wipes, cheap sunglasses and flip-flops so your guests can be comfortable.

You HAVE to have s'mores at a camping party. We exchanged Nutella for the traditional Hershey bars and added raspberries to create super s'mores that are so addictive, you'll be making them over the kitchen stove! Here's the recipe:

• Cookies or Graham Crackers (I love using Biscoff cookies-- the kind they serve you on Delta. You can find them at Costco and Kroger!)
• Nutella (most grocery stores have Nutella these days-- it's chocolate hazelnut spread. Look for it close to the peanut butter and jelly)
• Marshmallows--- only Jet Puffed will do. I like them very toasted but not burned, but to each his own.
• Fresh raspberries (strawberries are also very good but you have to slice them)

Spread Nutella on your cookie. Add raspberry. Toast your marshmallow. Assemble. YUM.