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How To Make the BEST Hobo Dinners

July 26, 2016 by Vanessa Leave a Comment

When visiting my boyfriend’s family in Upstate New York the first time, I heard them say we were going to make “hobos” over an open fire. Hobo dinners in Girl Scouts meant that you stuffed meat, potatoes, and canned veggies in a foil pouch and cooked it camp side, which were just okay. So, I wasn’t all too excited to for this family’s hobo dinners. But that all changed when I tasted the delicious, ooey-gooey sandwich that came from a scalding hot pie iron that night. How do you make the BEST hobo dinner? You have a family competition and sample everyone’s sandwich!

Someone in his family declared it a major competition and the prize was a certificate. We were a competitive bunch and I really wanted to win to prove myself as the outsider. While our take on the reuben sandwich didn’t win first place, it received rave reviews. The key was to use homemade sauerkraut, deli cut corned beef, sliced Swiss cheese, and Russian dressing on light rye sandwich bread.

The winner of the hobo cook-off  in the Sandwich Dinner Category was a copycat version of McDonald’s Bic Mac. It’s layered seasoned ground beef (cooked), cheese, shredded lettuce, thin sliced pickle, and special sauce. DON’T FORGET THE PICKLE! Everyone agrees that the pickle makes the hobo dinner taste just like, or better than, the McDonald’s sandwich.

If my memory serves me correctly, an after-dinner treat made with blueberries, coconut, and white chocolate won best bite in the Dessert Hobo Category.

The flavor combinations are potentially endless and that’s what so fun about eating them around a fire with family and friends. Add the backdrop of tall trees, chill music, and a cold craft beer  then the night is just about perfect. (I also wrote a post on Upstate New York breweries, if you’re interested some seriously well-made beer.) There are a few necessary tips that you must follow to ensure a well-fired sandwich.

pie-irons
You can purchase a pie iron, or double version of one, at any big box outdoors store for around twenty dollars. This photo was taken at Cabella’s.

Tip #1: Close the latch on the pie iron while it’s still empty. Place it on hot coals or logs for at least 5-10 minutes to warm up. Stainless steal pie irons don’t cook your sandwich the right way and often burn the contents. Use cast iron every time!

Tip #2: Remove the pre-heated pie iron from the fire and rest it on a block of wood or another safe, flat surface. Open it and spray it with cooking spray thoroughly.

Tip #3: Line each side of the pie iron with sandwich bread and begin topping it with your choice of meats and cheeses. You must use cheese! Think of it like a grilled cheese on steroids.

hobo-dinner
If it can go on a pizza, it tastes great as a “hobo.”

hobo-dinner2

Tip #4: Once your toppings (and possibly squeezed mayo, mustard, dressing) are loaded, close and fasten the pie iron. Place it back on the coals.

Tip #5: Turn your pie iron every 3-4 minutes. You might even need to open it and check for doneness, as every fire is different in temperature.

Final Tip #6: Try not to overcook your hobo dinner (like the one below) because you get caught up in talking and boozing. 😉 See an example below. Ha! But, seriously…it was oh so yummy. You’ll never eat just one because someone else always has a flavor combination you want to try.

hobo-dinner4

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Filed Under: Sandwiches, Taste Tagged With: camp cooking, camping, fire pit, grilled cheese, grilling, hobo, hobo dinners, open fire, outdoor cooking, pie irons, pizza, sandwich

Berry Beach Blast

July 25, 2016 by Vanessa Leave a Comment

Raise your hand if you wish you were on a sandy beach right now.

Me too!

Sometimes we can’t always escape to the beach to watch the crash of the waves and swarming seagulls overhead. There are bills to pay, children to feed, and a to-do list to accomplish on the weekends. But, I’ve got the next best thing just for you: Berry Beach Blast cocktail.

Okay, you’re right. It’s not just like sitting on the beach, but humor me for a second. Once you take a couple sips of this all natural cocktail made with coconut and lime juices and ripe strawberries, you may just mentally escape during happy hour.

Oh, and coconut water has numerous healthy benefits. According to lifehacks.org, it is rich in nutrients and reduces your blood pressure. You can buy it at any grocery store but you’ll probably find it in the organic section. If you’re not sure which brand to buy, check out this ranking list of the Top 7 Coconut Water Brands by the Thrillest.

This summer cocktail takes ten minutes to make and delivers real tropical flavor. Be sure to comment below and tell me what you think of it or tag OneDelightfulLife on Instagram. 

I can hear those ocean waves crashing now. 🙂

Cue the Jimmy Buffet.
Cue the Jimmy Buffet.

onedelightfullife.com

Berry Beach Blast

One sip and you'll swear you can hear the waves at the beach.

10 minPrep Time

10 minTotal Time

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Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 oz. vodka
  • 1 c. coconut juice
  • juice 1/2 lime
  • 1 sliced strawberry
  • 1 sliced lime
  • 1 T. red cocktail rim sugar

Instructions

  1. Rim a glass with lime juice.
  2. Rotate glass in red cocktail rim sugar until the rim is coated well.
  3. Add ice cubed ice to the glass.
  4. In a separate large glass mix vodka, coconut juice, and sliced fruit. Stir.
  5. Transfer mixed cocktail into ice glass.
  6. Garnish with a strawberry. (optional)
7.8.1.2
39
https://onedelightfullife.com/berry-beach-blast/
onedelightfullife.com

Nutrition

Calories

19 cal

Carbs

5 g
Click Here For Full Nutrition, Exchanges, and My Plate Info
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I love that red gingham antique metal tray in the photo. I bought it at The Vintage Rhinestone, a super cute store stocked to full of household treasures.

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Filed Under: Cocktails, Drinks, Taste Tagged With: alcoholic drink, beach drink, berry, cocktail, coconut juice, coconut water, drink, happy hour, lime, lime juice, strawberries, strawberry, sugar, summer drink, vodka

Sunset Gold

July 25, 2016 by Vanessa Leave a Comment

Is anyone ready for a TGIF cocktail for happy hour? Me too! Why does it feel like the clock is moving in s-l-o-w motion today? If you’re going to sit on the deck or just in your good ol’ easy chair after work today, this gorgeous drink is perfect for chillaxin’.

When I created this recipe, I tried making a cocktail similar to an Orange Julius. Do you remember heading straight for the Orange Julius stand at the mall in the 1980s?

Oh, wait, that might just be me. When you approached the counter to place your order, you had to yell it over the blaring sound of the blenders behind the counter. Why, oh why, is Orange Julius gone? No worries, my Sunset Gold cocktail reminds you of those sweet flavors but has the tang of fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice.

sunset-gold

If you don’t have vanilla rum, use regular rum or orange-flavored liquor instead.

Kick off your work shoes, mix up this beauty in five minutes, and prepare to relax. Enjoy!

onedelightfullife.com

1 glass

Sunset Gold

Like an Orange Julius, this copycat sweet cocktail has hints of grapefruit. A great cocktail to serve at brunch.

5 minPrep Time

5 minTotal Time

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Ingredients

  • 3 oz. vanilla rum
  • 1 c. orange juice
  • 1/2 c. grapefruit juice
  • cubed ice

Instructions

  1. Fill a small cocktail glass with cubed ice.
  2. Mix all ingredients in a separate larger glass and stir them.
  3. Transfter mixture into cocktail glass.
  4. Garnish with a grapefruit or orange slice.

Notes

You could rim the glass with sugar.

7.8.1.2
38
https://onedelightfullife.com/sunset-gold/
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Nutrition

Calories

125 cal

Carbs

30 g
Click Here For Full Nutrition, Exchanges, and My Plate Info
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Filed Under: Cocktails, Drinks Tagged With: alcoholic drink, citrus, cocktail, drink, gold, grapefruit, grapefruit juice, orange, orange juice, rum, sugar, sunset, vanilla rum

Just Like Paradise

July 25, 2016 by Vanessa Leave a Comment

When was the last time you reached a state of complete happiness?

Sometimes we need to remind ourselves how to take a relaxing break. You deserve it.

This drink is Just Like Paradise in a glass. The ingredients, Camarena tequila, fresh squeezed grapefruit and lime juices, and lemon-lime sparkling water, alert your tastebuds. The tartness of the grapefruit is balanced by the sweetness of the sparkling water.

It’s your turn to take a break. Cheers!

Feel free to let me know what you think of this cocktail in the comments section below.

just-like-paradise

onedelightfullife.com

1 glass

Just Like Paradise

One sip and you'll be daydreaming about a beach scene. Cheers!

5 minPrep Time

5 minTotal Time

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Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 oz silver tequila
  • 1/2 c. grapefruit juice
  • 1/2 c. lemon-lime sparkling water
  • juice of 1/2 lime
  • kosher salt
  • cubed ice

Instructions

  1. Rim a cocktail glass with a lime slice.
  2. Then rotate the glass in kosher salt on a small plate to rim it.
  3. Fill glass with ice cubes.
  4. In a separate larger glass, combine all ingredients except salt.
  5. Stir well.
  6. Pour into ice-filled cocktail glass and garnish with grapefruit slice.

Notes

Use a short cocktail glass for this drink recipe.

7.8.1.2
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https://onedelightfullife.com/just-like-paradise/
onedelightfullife.com

Nutrition

Calories

15 cal

Carbs

4 g
Click Here For Full Nutrition, Exchanges, and My Plate Info
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Filed Under: Cocktails, Drinks, Taste Tagged With: Camarena, cocktail, drink, grapefruit, grapefruit juice, happy hour, kosher salt, lemon, lemon-lime soda, lime, paradise, tequila

What Nobody Tells a First-Year Teacher But Should

July 23, 2016 by Vanessa Leave a Comment

After over a decade working with school children in different roles, including seven years as a high school teacher, there are tips for incoming new teachers that college professors and building administrators NEVER tell you. What Nobody Tells a First-Year Teacher But Should is real-life advice they should have told you for success in your first year of teaching. After talking to fellow educators and some serious reflection, I’ve compiled this list of topics.

Note: This list was generated from my experience as a teacher and may not reflect every teacher’s experience. If you have veteran teacher advice to add, type it in the comments section below.

back-to-school

  1. Understand the deductions on your first paycheck and who the labor union rep is in your building. You may not be inclined to join the union, but knowing who in the building goes to bat for teacher and student rights is paramount. They help teachers negotiate for better salaries, supplemental pay, benefits, and calendar days and understand contract language.
  2. The administration wants you to sign up for anything and everything when you’re a new teacher, but you don’t have to do it to please them. You’re the new kid on the block, so don’t burn yourself out working after school as a ticket taker, basketball game scoreboard operator, or club sponsor yet. Several other teachers in your building are tired of these roles and are ready to give them up. Here’s the thing. You don’t have to sign up for anything if you don’t want to be considered a great teacher. Your job is to teach children well in your classroom, and if your after-school schedule doesn’t permit picking up supplementals, don’t feel obligated to do so.
  3. Teacher in-service days are bittersweet. Yes, you get to lunch with your cronies and have a break from school children. That’s great, right? However, most in-service days included helpful information presented to teachers in the first half of the day, and the second half of the day is spent watching the clock due to boredom. Districts typically use their in-service time to present technology in the classroom, standardized test requirements, and budget concerns. Some districts bring in motivational speakers who work for themselves, travel to schools, and inspire teachers. Bringing in paid speakers costs money, something many districts lack, so you can count on most in-service days spent grading standardized tests, meeting to discuss school policies and procedures, and listening to your district technology director present about computers.
  4. Not all principals are people-people. What?!? It’s true. Why are they working as administrators, then? Because they didn’t want to teach in the classroom anymore and couldn’t support themselves by simply coaching. This kind of administrator delegates by email from his or her desk. So, what should a new teacher do if they realize they work for that kind of principal? Seek the assistant principal or another veteran teacher/mentor teacher for advice. Often you can rely on other people in the building, including the secretary or janitor, to help you with your needs.
  5. The head janitor and their crew are invaluable to you and the students. They are the backbone of the building and know how to clean, run, and fix everything in the building. If you’re a coach or club sponsor, your students should thank them often. You tend to lean on the custodial staff to set up tables, clean the gym after your team’s game, open the bleachers for club picture day, set up risers in the auditorium, and so on. Thank you notes go a long way.
  6. The front office secretaries more or less run the school, and they’ll often let you know this during your first month on the job. Who will help you if you don’t know how to e-req textbooks? Who will help you find a substitute at the last minute when your kid is sick at home? Who’s going to balance your club or team’s spending budget? You got it! The secretaries. If they are brash to you during your first month on the job, it’s because the beginning of the year is a hectic time in the office. Happy secretaries are hard to find, so cheer them up daily by asking about them and taking an interest in their interests.
  7. You don’t have to have a perfectly decorated classroom or organized space by the first day of school. You will benefit much more by having a well-written syllabus and a policies form for parents to sign rather than color-coordinated cubbies and bulletin boards.
  8. When you find a great substitute teacher, keep requesting them. Some schools use an online sub-finder like Aesop, which allows you to rank their performance. Talk to other teachers in your building when you know you need a sub. Experienced teachers know which subs run a smooth classroom and are unafraid to discipline. Wouldn’t you rather have a sub who reads your sub notes aloud to the class than one who lets them sit around and play on their phones or talk? Request a well-respected sub for your first day off from work. Remember to leave well-written sub plans. Your building secretary often requests a copy of these notes. A substitute binder should be well labeled and sitting out in the open near or on your desk daily. The sub should find the bell schedule, lunch schedule, reminders, attendance roster, extra copies of the daily assignment(s), and an area to leave notes. They appreciate an organized teacher and will want to substitute for you again. Leaving a chocolate bar also makes them quite happy.
  9. You’ll be observed by your building admin often in the first couple of years of teaching, but then the frequency changes, or they don’t observe you at all. Depending on the administrator visiting your room during an announced or unannounced observation, they may stay five minutes or the entire hour. Some administrators eavesdrop by your door or cruise by the classroom and consider your observation. They never give evaluation feedback right away. When called in to go over your evaluation, ask questions. Reflect on their notes together and discuss opportunities for improvement. Don’t just sign the evaluation comments form and return it to your classroom. Ask questions. Challenge any comment you disagree with and discuss it openly with your administrator. Discuss your evaluation with a mentor teacher.
  10. Veteran teachers know how to double-dip and make the most money possible in their position. Ask them how to increase your paycheck. Suppose you have time after school to sign up for extra duty; determine which pays the most for the least time spent. You’ll still need time to grade papers at home at some point.
  11. Lean on other teachers if you have questions or are unfamiliar with the curriculum. They probably have lesson plans, advice, and curriculum maps to help guide you.
  12. If allowed to present during a teacher in-service, do it. You’ll quickly earn the respect of teachers in the building you never see, like the gym teachers or the art teacher. This is important so you show off your knowledge and confidence. Plus, it looks good on your resume.
  13. Ask for the classroom supplies you need at the beginning of your first year. Building administration is more generous when you’re new than later on when you ask for a new desk chair or filing cabinet.
  14. CYA. Cover Your A## by documenting every bad behavior incident, the reason for a particular assignment grade, discussion with a parent, and/or why a student-athlete or choir member didn’t make the team. You will be happy you did should a parent ask for a meeting with you and the principal, which rarely happens but can.
  15. You won’t always feel as exhausted as you do during the first couple weeks of school. Promise. You’re probably not used to standing and speaking all day. Your body isn’t used to these hours. It will get easier. Sleep in on Saturdays. Don’t forget to make up some “me” time for you.

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Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: advice, back to school, curriculum, education, educator, educator advice, lifestyle, new teacher, school, substitute teacher, teacher, teaching, teaching tips, work

5 Minute Lemon Pie

July 23, 2016 by Vanessa Leave a Comment

You wouldn’t believe me unless I showed you, so I’ve got the summer’s easiest dessert recipe ever. I’ve never created anything in the kitchen that was this simple. 5 Minute Lemon Pie is bright in flavor and the kind of dessert you can throw together in a hurry if you’re expecting company. And you only need three ingredients!

5-minute-lemon-pie2

Make sure you refrigerate the pie for at least an hour before serving so it can set up. Garnish with whipped cream, berries of your choice, and lemon slices. You could also try different flavor combinations instead of lemon such as key lime and berries.

The only thing sweeter about this pie is that it only takes 5 minutes to make.
The only thing sweeter about this pie is that it only takes 5 minutes to make.

onedelightfullife.com

8 slices

5 Minute Lemon Pie

The easiest, most delicious pie you'll ever make.

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Ingredients

  • 1 9-inch graham cracker pie crust
  • 2 14 oz. cans sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 c. lemon juice
  • 1 lemon (optional garnish)
  • 1/2 pint blackberries (optional garnish)
  • whipped cream (optional garnish)

Instructions

  1. Pour sweetened condensed milk and lemon juice into a large bowl and mix thoroughly.
  2. Pour mixture into a graham cracker pie crust.
  3. Refrigerate for at least an hour.
  4. Garnish with whipped cream, lemon, and blackberries.

Notes

Don't like lemon? Try key lime or another fruit juice to flavor your pie.

7.8.1.2
35
https://onedelightfullife.com/5-minute-lemon-pie/
onedelightfullife.com

Nutrition

Calories

28 cal

Carbs

7 g

Protein

1 g
Click Here For Full Nutrition, Exchanges, and My Plate Info
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Filed Under: Desserts, Taste Tagged With: blackberries, dessert, easy recipe, graham cracker, lemon, lemon juice, lemon pie, pie, sweetened condensed milk

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Hello! I'm Vanessa. Welcome to One Delightful Life, a blog created to add more delight to your life with delicious recipes, travel destinations, and lifestyle improvement ideas. Thanks for exploring my blog!

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