Friday, August 30, 2013

Best Glamorous Camping and Outdoor Style Featured

When Grasshaven founder, Dawn Bitz sat down with Colorado's Best co-host Joana Canales, you know stylish and glamorous ideas would fly.  Picnic and camping inspirations were presented to get everyone in the family outdoors and camping together.  From camping and picnic food and recipes to outdoor fun and games, ideas abounded in the segment.  And with stylish camping, Rv'ing and picnic ware, you know everyone will want to get outdoors this Labor Day.  Click here to see the full segment

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Grasshaven Best on Colorado's Best

Always delighted when Grasshaven can bring stylish camping and outdoor comfort to a broader audience.  This morning on Colorado's Best Show on Denver's CW network, Dawn Bitz, founder of Grasshaven Outdoor did just that.  With Labor Day around the corner, Joana Canales and Dawn Bitz discussed innovative picnic products to help everyone get outdoors this weekend.  Featuring both functional and gorgeous picnic baskets like the  Vintage GH Picnic Basket ; the Seine Deluxe Tote and the Seine wine and cheese tote for two, the show gave visibility to some highly selected products for the discerning taste.  

And as always on the menu, the show featured some of the Grasshaven teams' favorite picnic recipes and ideas.  We thought we'd share some of those ideas here as well.

FOODIE IDEAS

Mason Jar Salad

What's the easiest way to transport salad to the picnic or campground?  A mason jar of course. Just layer your salad fixings then shake a few times just prior to serving

Layer 1 (bottom): Vinaigrette 
Layer 2: Salad veggies (carrots, sundried tomatoes, celery, etc)
Layer 3: Lettuce
Layer 4: Cheese, nuts and fruit
Layer 5: Croutons



Mason Jar Apple Pie (serves 2)

Nothing is more Americana than momma's apple pie and nothing brings more vintage nostalgia to apple pie than cooking and serving it in a Mason jar.  Just line a half pint jar with pie crust, fill with your favorite apple pie filling (or flavor of your choosing) and bake.  Bring that jar full of deliciousness and your picnic will be a success.


Picnic Skinny Dips

Nothing risque here, just bring some fun and healthy dips to the campsite transported in what else, Mason jars.  Use these utilitarian jars to easily bring hummus, bruschetta topping and cucumber and dill yogurt for a little interactive epicurean outdoor experience



Banana Pirates

Argh!  We let these little guys bring a bit of whimsy and smiles to the little ones faces at the picnic.  Cut them up and dip into a little chocolate mixed with cream and your pirate friends turn into Chocolate Fondue for two



GOOD IDEAS

Frozen Water Balloons

Fill'em up.  Freeze'em.  Let'em thaw and get ready for a soaking.  Water balloons can be used in so many ways.  Freezing then makes transporting them to the campsite or picnic easier.  They won't rupture as easily.  And if transported in the cooler, they serve double duty as they'll keep everything cold.  Just make sure to thaw them (and let them warm up a little in the sun) before the battle begins.





Straw Ties

Tie your straw to the drinks before departing for your picnic and you won't go searching for your straw when you arrive.  Finding fun paper straws also add some whimsy to your picnic or outdoor adventure  and makes your table look stylish too




Shoo Fly Drink Covers

Don't let pesky bugs, bug you at the picnic.  Invert a large cupcake liner.  Poke a straw through the center and your drink will stay bug free with this nifty little bonnet




Place Setting Perfection: 
Wrap up everything needed in a compact place setting.  Add some real plastic semi-reusable silverware; a napkin, straw, salt and pepper and your picnic will be the stylish talk of the town.










Saturday, August 17, 2013

Eat, Pray and Love the Outdoors this August



Each month and occasionally in-between, we publish our Grasshaven BLISS Newsletter.  This August, our newsletter centers on eating great meals in the outdoors.  Whether camping, RV'ing or just spending time in the outdoors, camping menus and recipes can be as gourmet as at home. Click here to see all the great information in our newsletter.

  

Saturday, August 10, 2013

Celebrating National S'Mores Day

Do you know what today is????

Well yes it is Antonio Banderas, Justin Theroux and Kylie Jenner's birthday.  

But more importantly, it's


With simplicity of three decadent ingredients, National S'Mores Day celebrates chocolate, caramel and graham crackers and all it's melted gooeyness that makes everyone call for "some more."

The official S'More recipe was first featured in the Girl Scouts Handbook in 1927 but many believe it originated much earlier.  This scrumptious dessert has been passed between generations of campers and has become the quintessential campside treat.  We wanted to share three favorite recipes in celebration of this great day!

Traditional S'Mores

Let this traditional recipe become the foundation of your camping experience.  The carmalization of the sugars in the marshmallow pair sweetly with the creamy chocolate.  Sandwiched between two crunchy graham crackers and this treat beckons outdoor fun.  Add caramel, salt, candied ginger or fruit to elevate this campsite treat.
Click here for the full recipe.




Salted Caramel Monkey S'Mores


Mmmm, this is a self contained treat that will delight everyone.  Sometimes called banana boats, we call them Monkey S'Mores.  Combine one banana, some caramel, chocolate, graham crackers and sea salt and the result is a gooey melt in your mouth campsite (or backyard) outdoor dessert.  Click here for the full recipe.




S'More Martini

Even the adults can get into the S'Mores mood with this S'Mores Martini.  Mix marshmallow flavored vodka, chocolate liqueur, and Irish cream for the drink and pair with some graham cracker and toasted marshmallow garnishes.  Click here for the full recipe.