Five things I don’t need while camping

In no particular order, here are the five things I don’t really need:

1. Cocktail shaker. 

Yes, I love my cocktails. But, if I have a ball jar with a lid, then I have a cocktail shaker. Really, what can’t you use the almighty Ball jar for?

My name is Leah, and I have a Ball jar addiction.

2. Grill top for the Camp Chef stove

I’ve found that this is unnecessary and bulky. Besides, I have my new bestie, the Coleman Oven, what more could I need? Other than a Ball jar.

3. Plastic cups, not the disposable kind, more like the picnic kind

No thanks, I like drinking out of glass.  Gee, how about a Ball jar?

What’s that? Did I hear “wah, wah, wah, they might break, wah, wah, wah.”  Wrap them up, Dopey.

I feel a tangent coming on about using disposable kitchenware, or disposable anything, but I’ll hold myself back. I just think disposables are wasteful and unnecessary. 

4.  Any form of radio, cd player, stereo

I don’t go camping to force everyone to listen my music.  Many other people do, and I judge you.  

This is one of those things that I should just accept while camping.  Someone will be playing loud music, chugging cheap beer and hoo-haaing all night long at some point during any camping trip.  If I’m really lucky some drunken fool will light off fireworks, “woooo-hoooo!!! aint that fun?!”  Um, no, it’s not, and I hope you blow off a finger.

The silver lining is that most people don't have the endurance to do this for more than one night. It takes training, commitment, and dedication to abuse your liver two consecutive nights in a row.  Most people simply don’t have the gumption.

Darn it, I don’t have a Ball jar reference to insert here!

5. Onion, garlic and black pepper (terrifying, isn’t it?)

Amelia has allergies, a LOT of allergies. They’re the hive-inducing, facial-swelling kind of allergies.

I enjoy a good challenge so I've adjusted, and I must admit, it’s been a great lesson in cooking. Learning how to season simply is wonderful. 

Dry mustard is my new friend.  I used to say, “black pepper is the unsung hero of the spice world”.   Understated, yet crucial to so many dishes. Well, dry mustard has now taken over the unsung hero role in our kitchen.

When Amelia lists off her allergies people's eyes glaze over, some freak out a bit. I just think, really?  Freak out about the real shit, like cancer and bird-eating squirrels.  Adaptation is part of evolution. Adapt, or go extinct.

No Ball jar reference here either. Dang!

-Leah