Everyone is WELCOME! Just pull up a log and sit by the fire. Have some vittles or just sit back and enjoy!
Some of my favorite places to hike are Starved Rock State Park near Utica, IL; Wildlife Prairie Park near Peoria, IL; Turkey Run State Park in IN; and Matthiessen State Park near Utica, IL. See the Gallery for some photos of these places.
Starved Rock-LaSalle Canyon is one of the prettiest spots on the earth!
Wildlife Prairie Park-Besides a flood plain trail, there is a zoo in a natural setting containing native Illinois animals.
Turkey Run-A suspension bridge! Also trails varying from easy to quite hard.
Matthiessen-The rocks are very colorful.
A few camping tips. Some are serious and some are fun. More will be added later.
Do enjoy the natural sounds, the sunrise, the sunset, and the stars.
Don't leave the area littered. Leave the campsite in better condition that you found it.
Do use a long stick to roast hotdogs and marshmellows. Using just the fingers can result in major burns.
Don't use a stick of poison ivy to do the roasting.
The following covers scary things, real or imagined, that occur while camping. Hopefully, it will discredit some rumors and create new rumors. More will be added from time to time. If you have some tales of this nature, email them to me. If used, you will get credit or a link to your page. Also, please check out the gallery for some photos of a place that I like to camp. It is private property owned by friends - thank you Louis, Mary, Dani, and Joey.
Space aliens--Do they really suck your brains out through your nose? Fine by me if they do, as long as I get a trip to their spaceship.
That growling sound--Are you sure it's just a small animal? Could it be Bigfoot? Could one of your camping buddies be a werewolf? (check out that full moon) Could it be those beans and weenies that you had for supper talking back?
Vampires--Might be a good idea to wear that crucifix around your neck...may not have been an owl flying by.
I really like those lightening bugs (fireflies to some of you). Ever wonder if they are really pixies or fairies? My friend Hobbit assures me that they could only be fairies, as pixies aren't real.
As always, when camping alone, be sure to take a good Stephen King book with you to read. Let's use that imagination!
Recipes, recipes and more recipes. They have not all been tested by me, but I think they all sound yummy! If you have any recipes that you would like to see here, email them to me. If I use them, I will give you credit or a link to your page. If I actually try some of these and like them, they will earn the Bubba Seal of Approval!
Waxy's Bar-B-Que Ribs
Cut excess fat from 3 to 4 lbs lean pork spare ribs. Cut into serving size pieces (2 to 3 rib portions). Place in deep kettle and cover with cold water. Add 1 tablespoon salt. Bring to boil, then simmer for 45 minutes. Remove from heat immediately and drain in colander. Place ribs in a shallow baking pan (pieces laid side by side), trying not to overlap. Put 2 thin slices of onion on each piece. Cover with BBQ sauce (recipe follows). Cook in 350 degree farenheit oven, uncovered, for 1 hour. For BBQ sauce: 1 cup ketchup, 1 cup water, 1 tablespoon vinegar, 1tablespoon brown sugar, 1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce, pinch of red pepper. Mix all ingredients thoroughly. Spoon over ribs.--Thanks to my friend Waxy for this recipe! Bubba's note: I typed in this recipe right before I ate lunch. Big mistake, as it sounds so good. Waxy has since brought in a sample. Wow. I have made these since then, very easy to do and they even taste better the next day. Imagine making a batch and reheating them later, wrapped in tinfoil, in a campfire. The ribs have made Bubba's Seal of Approval.
Schonnie's Cheese and Molasses Beans
1/4 lb sliced smoked bacon, 1 chopped onion, 2 cloves minced garlic, 2-28 oz cans pork and beans, 1/4 to 1/2 cup packed brown sugar, 1/4 cup molasses, 2 tablespoons worcestershire sauce, and 1/2 lb cubed soft process cheese. Fry bacon (until crispy) in large skillet. Remove bacon and set aside. Pour off fat, except for 3-4 tablespoons. Fry onion and garlic until tender. Add pork and beans, brown sugar to taste, molasses, and steak sauce. Stir to mix. Simmer 30-35 minutes,. Crumble bacon. Stir in bacon and cheese to beans before serving.--Thanks to Schonnie for this recipe! Bubba's note: Thanks to Schonnie for making some and for Waxy for bringing in a sample...the beans made the Bubba Seal of Approval.
Schonnie's Zucchini Bread
3 eggs beaten, 1 cup oil, 2 teaspoon vanilla, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon baking powder, 2 cups sugar, 2 cups grated zucchini, 3 cups flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 2 teaspoons cinnamon. Grease and flour 2 loaf pans (8 1/2" x 4 1/2" x 2 1/2"). Beat eggs; add sugar and oil. Mix well. Add zucchini and vanilla. Beat well. Mix and sift flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder and cinnamon. Add to creamed mixture. Blend. Pour into 2 loaf pans. Bake for 1 hour at 325 degrees F. Turn out on baking rack.--Thanks to Schonnie for this recipe! Bubba's note: I have not tried this recipe using zucchini, but I have tried this recipe, substituting cucumber instead of zucchini. Unless you really like cucumber flavor, you must increase the cinnamon when using cucumber. The cucumber version made Bubba's Seal of Approval.
Bubba's Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
1 cup oleo or butter, 1 cup brown sugar,1 cup white sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 1 teaspoon maple flavoring, 1 teaspoon salt, 3 beaten eggs, 3 cups minute oat meal, 1 1/2 cups sifted flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 3/4 cup raisins. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Sift flour, salt, and baking soda. Cream butter (oleo) and sugars. Beat eggs. Mix eggs with butter/sugars. Add vanilla and maple flavoring. Beat in sifted ingredients. Mix in oatmeal. Mix in raisins. Drop by teaspoon unto an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes. Baking times may vary to oven and size of cookie. When done, put on rack to cool. As soon as they are cool, put them in an airtight container and into the refrigerator. This will result in a chewy cookie. Bubba's note: I tend to make cookies that result in a 3"to 3 1/2" cookie, thus my baking times are longer. The cookies have made Bubba's Seal of Approval.
Hobbit's Easy Trail Mix
1 can of your favorite salted mixed nuts, 1 box of raisins, 1 bag of shelled sunflower seeds, and 1 bag M&M's (plain and/or peanut). Mix up. Adjust ingredients to your taste.--Thanks to my friend Hobbit for this recipe! Bubba's note: for non-chocolate eaters (there are a few of us) you may leave out the M&M's and the recipe still sounds good. Hobbit suggested trying other dried fruits instead of/with the raisins. Thanks for the recipe Hobbit! I made some with a variety of dried fruits --cranberries, cherries, mixed berries (strawberries, cherries, and blueberries). I have also made it with the variety of dried fruits and added Reese's Pieces. Another version, I left out the fruit, added some dry roasted peanuts and cajun flavored fried peas. The trail mix was very good in each variety tried and made Bubba's Seal of Approval.
SweetiePie's Pancakes
1 cup whole wheat flour, 1/3 cup wheat germ (optional), 1 egg, 1 cup of milk (skim recommended), 1tablespoon oil (may be omitted) 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1tablespoon honey, little touch of vanilla extract. Mix batter and fry. Can be made ahead and kept on ice for camping. Thanks for the recipe SweetiePie! I have tried these (had mine with blackberry syrup) and they made Bubba's Seal of Approval.
Hobbit's Turkey Croquettes
Cooked turkey, raw egg, cracker crumbs, chopped celery, leftover stuffing, seasoning (Nature's Seasons recommended). Amount of ingredients dependent on what you have and like. Make patties. Coat the patties with more cracker crumbs, and fry. Upon discussion with Hobbit, meats other than turkey could be used and the possibility of a vegetarian croquette exists. Thanks for the recipe Hobbit! This is also going to be tried both made ahead of time and reheated...think camping...and sampled directly.
Bubba's Toasted Bagels
Bagels, bagel toppings. Place the bagel on a 2 pronged, metal hotdog fork. Hold over a campfire until toasted to your liking, being careful not to burn the bagel too much. If a less burned outside is what you want, slice the bagel first and toast one half at a time. After toasting, add your favorite topping. I tried this with an onion bagel and no topping and it was delicious. This has made Bubba's seal of approval.
Page last update May 11, 1999 ------
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Thanks to: Kersten and Wolfgang for page making tips and Webmaster Cheryl for tips and help in getting pictures on here. Without these people this page would not be possible, so blame them.
< Starved Rock-LaSalle Canyon (my
friend Ravi taking a break)
Starved Rock-LaSalle Canyon > 
< Starved Rock in bloom
Starved Rock-frozen waterfall > 
<Starved Rock-LaSalle Canyon in March
Starved Rock-LaSalle Canyon in March> 
<Starved Rock-LaSalle Canyon--another view
< Woody, the Hand Shaking Tree at
Wildlife Prairie Park (shaking hands with my friend Mike)
Wildlife Praire Park-bison > 
< Matthiessen State Park-a
waterfall
Turkey Run State Park-one of the trails > 
<Turkey Run-the suspension bridge
Turkey Run-view from the Camel's Back> 
< Wildflowers where I camp
Woodland trail where I camp-I made the trail
> 
View of pond where I camp
A sunrise where I camp > 
Please note that the page banner is a sunrise from where I camp, also
Special thanks to God for the wonderful outdoors!