apple juice

Back for the second year in a row, I was able to join up with some work friends for a one-night camp-out in a not-too-close, and not-too-far-away campsite.

We went to Krueger Campground near Wabasha. It’s a fun area of the state that doesn’t look like what you might think of when you think of Minnesota. The campsite was tucked into a river bluff overlooking a large valley. Feeling very thankful for the extra day off this week, we had the whole place to ourselves.

The weekends during school get so packed with events and activities, I need to remember to reserve some nights for quick get-aways.

We continued the program set down last year of whipping up some true camping gourmet meals. Starting with some chips and cowboy caviar, we moved on to a fruit course (pineapple) before some impossible-sliders with secret burger sauce. Then a seafood course of salmon and potatoes, before a noodle and pork-belly dish.

I was stuffed to the brim, but the dessert was an elevated s’mores with stroopwaffles standing in for graham crackers. Delish.

After a hearty breakfast of chilaquiles, I didn’t want to head back to civilization. However, the beauty of the one-night get-away is that it’s a quick pack and drive back home. Before long, I set my direction north, hit play on a podcast and followed the river back home.