Panama City Beach is the epitome of a beach town, complete with miles of beautiful white-sand beaches, high-rise hotels and condos overlooking the blue-green water gentled by the barrier islands.

This is the the estuarine environment where 90 percent of the oysters in Florida are found. If you like them, eat them from here to Destin.

You will also find t-shirt shops, putt-putt golf courses, and restaurants.  This is a fun town to visit for the day or a week.

Before we left Crystal River, we were given use of a pontoon by the Crystal Isle Resort. We explored Kings Bay, St. Michael’s Marsh and the Crystal River. Michael and I took turns driving the boat and we had an excellent afternoon.

This post is dedicated to all parents who are considering taking their kids camping.  Camping is a wonderful experience for children as they gain knowledge of the natural world, develop orienteering skills and develop self-confidence.  Camping in parks adds a safety factor that allows parents to relax and enjoy nature and their children.

One of the coolest things to do with a child is to have them prepare their own breakfast, lunch or dinner.  Of course, you are the best judge of whether your child should be playing with fire.

Once you know how to fold the aluminum into a packet that holds the food as it cooks to perfection, your kids will think you performed magic.

Instructions for Folding Foil Packets

Place food on a piece of heavy-duty foil.  Turn the aluminum foil up on either side of the food.  When the sides meet, fold down once or twice from top (like a sack lunch).  Take the top and bottom of each open end, and fold the foil over once or twice. To allow for expansion, do not wrap raw food too tightly.

This packet acts as a pressure cooker unless you vent it.  Do not vent packet while cooking because the steam will burn you.  If you must open packet, use tongs and potholders to do so.  To brown or to broil food as if you are using a frying pan, partially unfold the top seam to vent the packet.

Place the foil packet in a bed of coals and place some embers on top, carefully.  If you have vented the packet, do not place embers on top, but just surround the packet.  Diced vegetables and meat cook in 10 to 15 minutes, while whole potatoes cook in 40 to 50 minutes.  Each recipe below will feed 12 people.  All recipes may be reduced or doubled.

SHRIMP BBQ

4 Lb. large shrimp

1 C margarine

1 garlic clove, minced

1/2 t black pepper

1 t salt

1 C parsley, minced

Peel and clean shrimp. Cream margarine in a bowl. Add remaining ingredients to the margarine mixture and stir. Cut six nine-inch strips of heavy-duty aluminum foil; then cut each strip in half to make 12 pieces of foil. Divide shrimp equally onto each piece of foil. Top shrimp with a portion of the margarine mixture, Fold foil in packet around shrimp. Place shrimp packet in and cover with embers. Cook 5 minutes.

STUFFED FISH

12 medium catch-of-the-day

3 medium onions, chopped fine

1/4 Lb. margarine

1/2 t black pepper

1 t salt

Clean the fish thoroughly.  Salt and pepper the inside of fish. Fill each fish about 3/4 full with onion and put a pat of butter on the top of the onion. Wrap each fish separately in aluminum packet. Bury in hot embers. Bake 20 to 25 minutes.

HAMBURGER DINNER

12 potatoes cut into chunks

12 carrots, sliced into sticks

1 large onion, diced

3 Lb. Hamburger

1/2 t black pepper

1 t salt

Form 3/4-inch-high patty using 1/4 Lb. hamburger and place on a piece of aluminum foil. Add veggies to the side of the patty. Season with salt and pepper.Wrap in foil and place packet in the coals. Cook 10 to 20 minutes.

BEEF STEW

3 Lb. beef cut in 1-inch chunks

12 bacon slices

12 tomatoes, quartered

6 onions, sliced thinly

Place 1/4 lb. of beef, one slice of bacon cut into pieces, one sliced onion and one quartered tomato on foil. Form foil packet. Place in embers. Cook in 30 to 40 minutes.

APPLE DELIGHT

12 large apples, cored and chopped into large pieces (peel or not)

4 T sugar

3/4 C Biscuit Mix

3 T cinnamon (or to taste)

Raisins or other dried fruit

Place a chopped apple on foil. Combine one t sugar, some raisins and cinnamon to taste with one T biscuit mix. Stir into chopped apple. Wrap mixture in piece of greased aluminum foil, leaving a steam vent. Cook in the embers for approximately 30 to 45 minutes.

As you can see, the only thing that limits you is creativity.  If the kids want beans and weenies, they can cook it in foil.  Pigs in a blanket–no problem.  Even leftovers taste wonderful after being cooked in foil. Try it.