Check out Abby Zeets, the "charmingly impish, pigtailed noodle of light"

The local papers review of Abby's opening debut!

http://wcfcourier.com/lifestyles/review-wcp-s-timeless-annie-impressive-treat-for-holiday-audiences/article_2ae79c72-24eb-11e1-a75b-0019bb2963f4.html

Karlovacko!!!

We have Karlovacko!!! Plenty of it... we bought it off a Russian fishing boat on it's way to... uh, nevermind... but, we do have plenty of Karlovacko!!

Close Call!

Goat just caught the fact that I left coffee off the meal plan list......good catch Goat. Sorry for all you coffee lovers. If there's anything else I've left off the list please let me know. Goat is going to bring a big coffee pot and coffee supplies so we don't have to panic and have everyone bring coffee or something else I forgot. Love to you all. My apologies again. :)

Pasta Salad

I will also sign up for a cold pasta salad (loaded with veggies for all the vegans or vegetarians amidst us). Count Neal and little Anni in that group.

Funkes and Zefrans

Hi everyone. Headcount is 6 Funkes and 3 Zefrans. I don't think John and Johnny can make it due to team try-outs that weekend. Anni count on us bringing all the fruit, serving bowls, and cups for juice. I also think we could all bring our own buns for whatever meats we eat that first night, like JoJo brought up. Last time we had lots of chips and snacks that we had to throw out, so if we go easy on the amount we bring---maybe just the chips Brian signed up for. The humidity gets to them before we can. See everyone next week end!

Questions on lodge

Can we store anything overnight in the lodge refrig? On the rules it sounds like we have to vacate and give the key by 10:30 each night? Can we re-enter for bad weather? Are we camping around it? Is tit called the day lodge?

I'm ready to pitch my computer and ........

.....just pick up the ole phone and make a call. I typed out a comment THREE times and could never get it to post- so I'm giving Prica head count and supply list here as a post :)
Prica head count is six ( Geo, Fran, Robin, Brian , Georgia and Sarah).
Supplies: 7/26oz jars of pasta sauce
10 lbs of meat for gnoochi
Italian bread (how many loaves ?)
butter, garlic and parmesean cheese
Salad for Sat lunch
charcoal (how much?)
Crew hands: 2-3 for prep crew Sat breakfast
2-3 for clean-up Sat supper
I will also bring Zeets photo album!!
See everyone soon, Love Fran

Meal Plan for Campout

I'm not going to claim any originality here, but it's a work in progress. We don't have a lot of confirmations on whose coming other than the original head count so I'm working with that.

Friday:

Dinner Outside

Charcoal - Fran

Hotdogs for your family

Hamburgers for your family

Buns

Ketchup - Steve

Mustard - Steve

Relish - Rose

Pickles - Rose

Black Bean Salsa - Joann

Tortilla Chips - Joann

Potato Chips - Brian

Chips of Choice - Al

Watermelon - Vince

Knife - Rose

S'mores - Steve

Marshmallows - Steve

Graham Crackers - Steve

Chocolate Bars - Steve

Roasting Sticks - Vince

Plates - Brian

Napkins - Brian

Cups - Nancy

Water Jug - Brian

Kool-Aid Jug - Al

Saturday -

Breakfast

Hashbrown/Egg Casserole Bake in the Crockpot - Prep Friday Night Crew

4 dozen eggs - Joann

4 bags hashbrowns - Vince

4 pkg. cooked sausage - Annie Michelle

2 yellow onions - Annie Michelle

4 green peppers - Annie Michelle

4 bags shredded cheddar cheese - Rose

salt - Vince

pepper - Vince

4 cups milk - Annie Michelle

crock pot liners - Annie Michelle

crock pots - Annie Michelle

manual food processor - Annie Michelle

Plain Eggs & Sausage on the Stove - Saturday Morning Prep Crew - Prica

3? Dozen Eggs - Steve

3? Dozen Sausage - Rose

Skillet - Vince

Skillet - Vince

Fresh Fruit - Nancy

Fresh Fruit - Neal

Fresh Fruit - Melissa

Serving Bowls - Nancy

Orange Juice - Joe

Apple Juice - Brian

Juice of Choice

Milk - 2 gallons - Steve

Loaf of Bread - White - Emily

Loaf of Bread - Wheat x2 - Steve

Butter - Al

Toaster

Plates - Emily

Napkins - Emily

Forks - Emily

Knives - Emily

Clean Up Crew - Joanne, Annie Michelle

Lunch

Deli Sandwiches - Set Up Crew

Ham - Joe Z.

Turkey - Vince

Roast Beef - Al

Colby/Jack Cheese - Joe Z.

Swiss Cheese - Al

American Cheese

Buns (left overs from Friday?)

Bread - Deli style - Rose

Mayo - Rose

Mustard - Rose

Miracle Whip - Rose

Butter (From Breakfast)

Pickles - Rose

Salad of Choice - Joann (spinach & strawberry)

Salad of Choice - Fran

Salad of Choice - Nancy (Pasta & Veggie Salad)

Salad of Choice - Joe (Crunchy Coleslaw)

Clean Up Crew -

Dinner

Gnocchis - We will be doing dinner in two shifts to make it possible with the kitchen at hand. There will be a sign up for early dinner and late dinner. We will also have two helper crews and a decent sized clean up crew.

Ingredients: 5: 5-lbs bag of potatoes - Sam 3: 5-lbs bag of flour - Sam 7 eggs - Vince 7: 26oz. jar spaghetti sauce - Fran 10 lbs tender steak (for sauce) - Fran Italian Bread - Fran Butter - Fran Garlic - Fran Parmesan Cheese - Fran Veggies & Dip - Rose Equipment: 2 Very Large Pots for cooking the potatoes & gnocchi's - Vince 1 Large Pot for the sauce - Crock Pot - Annie Michelle 2 Potato Ricer's - Brian 2 large, sharp knives to cut the dough (and steak) - Vince Pans to cook the steak - same from breakfast 4 cookie sheets for "staging" the uncooked gnocchi's - Vince & 2 slotted spoons for cooking the gnocchi's Vince 2-4 serving spoons - Vince 2-4 large serving bowls to hold the finished product Cheese Grater - Vince Popcorn & Popper - Al Plates - Chinet perferrably - Joe Forks - Joe Napkins - Joe Spoons - Joe Wine & Beer - John, Steve, Vince, Everybody :D Cups - Melissa 1st shift Helper Crew (4 People) - Neal 2nd shift Helper crew (4 People) Clean Up Crew (6 People) Pricas &&& Sunday - No Set Up Crew, Everybody Clean Up Final Day Breakfast Bagels & Cereal Bagels Plain - Joe Bagels of Choice - Vince Bagels of Choice Cream Cheese - Vince Cream Cheese - Al Cereal of Choice - Joann (granola) Cereal of Choice - Al Cereal of Choice Milk - Al Juice Yogurt - Joann

It's Official, We're on for August 12-14, 2011

Steve found a great "group campsite" at Lake Keomah, just outside Oskaloosa, near Des Moines. As you can see from the panoramic shot, the area has plenty of space for everyone's tents and includes 6-7 hook up behind the lodge for RVs. There are also a dozen or so picnic tables. With the reservation of the group campsite, individual families will not need to make reservations. It will cost each family $11 a night to camp whether they choose to use tents or RVs. Here's the kitchen in the lodge. We not only have the benefit of the lodge being part of the group campsite, we have access to it from Friday afternoon to Sunday afternoon around 3pm. The kitchen is a tad smaller, but I'm sure we'll make do. The lodge also has bathrooms and showers! Yay!!!!

Here's the seating situation within the lodge. It has about a 50 person capacity, with our family ranging from 55-65 during a campout we've got the picnic benches for overflow. Plus, it's a whole lot better than cramming into a hotel's breakfast nook. :)

Once we have a decent head count I will be creating a menu plan and adding a sign up for food & supplies along with food prep and clean up. One meal has already been determined: VINKO's Gnocchis!!! Steve has generously volunteered to head up dinner on Saturday and make the famous dish. He'll need about 5 helpers and I'll get that on the list a little later.

One last note, should your family choose the hotel route, there is extremely limited space in Oskaloosa due to some races that weekend. You'll pay a premium or need to go to the next town about 25 miles down the road. Make your reservations now if you do plan to stay in a hotel.

I think that about covers it. Please post any questions and I'll do my best to answer them.