Tag: North Holland

cedar strip canoe

Camp Cooking

The Cedar Journal December 1, 2020

This year we added some really cool equipment to our camping inventory. The Jetboil MiniMo that I wrote about on my last blog was one of only a few additions that has enhanced our camping experience. We also added a Yeti cooler, a GoalZero solar system, a solar interior USB lighting system and our beloved CADAC cooking system.

The Hubby using our CADAC camping cooking system this summer. Seen here baking croissant rolls on the pizza stone.

We purchased this small cooking system this Spring to add as our primary cooking system when we use our VW Caddy for camping.

Picture of the CADAC manual illustrating all the pieces.

It seemed like we could prepare about anything on it as it comes with a grill, stove, and flat surface plate for making things like pancakes. We also purchased the small pizza stone to expand our options.

Brand new pizza stone for the CADAC cooking system. I made a carry bag for safely transporting and protecting the pizza stone.

From reviewing my pictures for this blog, it would seem we only used the pizza stone on our camping trips. That is not entirely true, although we were always trying new ideas for our pizza stone, we used all the features available at some point this summer but I guess taking pictures of our pizza stone experiments was more exciting.

Cinnamon roll experiment. We found that maybe some parchment baking paper would protect the stone from the goo of cinnamon roll leaking onto the stone.

We used this grill many times this summer when we were stuck to our house routines. This made it a very special extra to our lock down experience. Since we don’t have a large area for an American size BBQ grill we still were able to enjoy the grill experience with the CADAC without the size of a large grill. The clean up was fast and easy also with the special drip pan that comes with this system.

On one of our canoe/camping trips we made flatbread. What a nice treat while camping!

After a summer of use it was easy to store for the winter in CADAC carry bag and only takes up a small amount of room in one of our storage closets, where it will wait for our next season of camping.

The CADAC grilled a nice chicken breast this summer on this camping trip to Limburg.

What we like about the CADAC cooking system:

Easy to clean.
Compact system with a handy carry bag making it easy to keep everything together and to transport.
Small size making it perfect for two people.
Price was reasonable to other camping grills of the same size.

What we don’t like about the CADAC cooking system:

That the system doesn’t have something to place the hot accessories on after use. If we used the grill and wanted to switch to the stove option the grill would be very hot. Putting it on the grass burns the grass and I am sure is not the best for the grill over a long period of time.
The propane tank and the stove combo is not practical for canoe trips. Perfect for camping at a campground but not for taking on a canoe trip.
All the options available can cause planning issues, making it hard to decide what option you want to use on a trip. (Maybe that is not a CADAC issue but our issue. LOL).
Lack of a wind screen makes it challenging in some locations to maintain a constant even flame.

Wind can be a challenge with any outdoor cooking system. Here I tried to limit the wind with a small windscreen (and my body).

We recommend the CADAC cooking system for car camping, tent camping, and backyard grilling. As this system comes in several sizes it also makes it easy to determine a good size for your camping needs.

Flowers

The Cedar Journal November 19, 2020

I wrote last week that it was difficult to believe that it was November with flowers still blooming. A week later and I still feel the same as last week as I captured these images this morning.

cedar strip canoe

November ?

The Cedar Journal November 12, 2020

It is hard for me to understand that we are now firmly in November. Just look at these pictures and maybe you can understand why I find it hard.

I apologize to all my Minnesota friends who are sitting in snow covered areas.

Wordless Wednesday

The Cedar Journal October 28, 2020

Flowers for Friends

The Cedar Journal October 26, 2020

I read one of my fellow blogger friends blog this morning and my heart goes out to her. She lives in Southern Minnesota in a rural community and they have lost yet another community leader to COVID 19. This flower is for her.

The news, from where I read it here in The Netherlands, looks looks bleak in the United States. Not that the virus has disappeared here, our numbers hover at over 10,000 cases per day, but the heartbreak I have heard and seen coming out of the USA is almost too hard to think about most days. Unemployment, families being evicted from homes, food insecurity are all very depressing. I pour myself into other things. I try not to think about the upcoming election.

Making signs for the garden where I volunteer.

There are still good people doing good in the world and we all have to make sure we keep that focus.

There is a section in The Washington Post that highlights personal stories of survival the current crisis. Featured over the weekend was a fellow Minnesotan, a fearless woman who has almost single handed tackled a huge inner city problem of poverty. What she has accomplished in Minneapolis without the funds from the government or the United Way is close to miraculous. Mary Jo Copeland is one of those community heroes who selflessly tackles helping others to get through the difficult days. Years ago she founded Sharing & Caring Hands in Minneapolis. Determined, she started to help all in need even when she knew the task seemed impossible. I am sure it has been heartbreaking work and yet she doesn’t let the virus stop her from continuing her work, her passion. A true community leader, a lady who is determined to change her world one step at a time no matter how many people tell her it is not possible. Everyone could use a friend when they are in need of assistance and Mary Jo has been a friend to many in my home state of Minnesota over the years.

These late fall flowers are for Mary Jo and her endless determination against all the odds and obstacles.

White dinner plate dahlia still blooming here in North Holland

Life inches slowly along.

Today, I got an unexpected video phone call from Frankfurt, Germany. My youngest son is on his way through Europe for his job. He proudly told me that he helped an older German lady. He carried her bag up the four flights of stairs at the airport. My heart warmed that he showed kindness to someone and that he was willing to share it with his mother. I was sad that I was not able to greet him on this side of the ocean as he passed through. Sacrifice is hard.

I heard also this last week my oldest son, he was able to find employment, he had been unemployed since April. I have always been happy that he has his part time government employment to fill gaps but full time employment was welcome news. His wife, my daughter-in-law, is still working crazy long hours at the St Louis Hospital with limited staff to fill in their gaps caused by the crisis.

The friends who I have made over these last few years of blogging and volunteering have continued to be a source of strength. From wonderful food creations, to comments on my blog, to navigating the new world of zoom together through several time zones, I thank each of you for your kindness, help, comments and for continued friendship.

Cheesecake a friend recently made and texted this photo to me. I was to determine if it was American quality without tasting. Hummm…yup! You owe me a slice!

Flowers to all my friends and family. Stay safe, stay healthy.

VOTE AMERICA!