"Character is the one thing we make in this world and take with us into the next."
- - Ezra Taft Benson
June 7, 2013
Tips to Make Life a Bit Easier in the Great Outdoors
by Dian Thomas

Some of my fondest memories when I was growing up were the times I spent with my family outdoors. The skills that I learned to be self-reliant have been some of the most valuable skills I have used in life.

Here are just a few of the creative ideas that I have loved to use over the years.

Egg Carton Fire Starter: If you want a sure way to start a fire, make some egg carton fire starters and keep them in your camp kit. When you go to start a fire you will not need any paper or kindling.


Egg carton fire starter

To make a fire starter, remove the lid from an empty cardboard egg carton. Set the bottom of the egg carton into the lid. Then place lint from your dryer in the egg carton cups until each cup is full. (You may collect the lint from several dryings in a container before your make the fire starter. Cotton balls will also work.)

Next, put old candles or cubes of wax in a large can and place the can in a pan of water. Heat the water and melt the candles or wax. By putting the can in the water you have created a double boiler, which allows the wax to melt at a lower temperature. (Wax has a low combustion point and can break into flames if it is heated to a too high temperature.)

When the wax is melted, pour it over the lint in the cups and let it cool and harden.

To make a fire, just break off an egg carton cup, put it under the wood, and light.

Keeping pans clean when cooking over campfire: If you are cooking in a pan over a campfire, the bottom of the pan will get black from the flames.

In order to prevent that, rub liquid soap on the outside bottom of the pan before cooking. The soap will put a coat between and pan and the black scorching from the flame, and the black washes right off the pan.

Boiling water in a paper cup: It is possible to boil water in a non-waxed paper cup without the cup igniting into flames.

Pour water or milk into the cup. Cut a small round of aluminum foil and place it around the bottom lip of the cup. Set foil and cup on the hot coals. The foil protects the small lip on the bottom from burning. If flames rise against the top of the cup where liquid does not reach, the cup can burn.

The liquid in the cup keeps the paper below it combustion point and it will heat without the cup burning.

You can hard-cook eggs in a paper cup. It is also possible to heat a carton of milk if the carton is non-waxed. Open the milk carton top before heating.

Paper plate holder: Paper plates are often flimsy. The best way to give them support is to purchase a Frisbee that is the same size as the paper plate. Put several layers of plates in the Frisbee and peel them off when you are finished with the meal. You'll then be set for the next meal.

Dian’s Outdoor Special: If you would like to add these fun and easy ideas to your list of exciting things to try this summer or during an emergency, check out the special for Roughing it Easy, Recipes for Roughing it Easy with a DVD on how to cook in a Dutch oven for just 29.99 (regularly $49.97). It is filled with practical and down-to-earth suggestions for wonderful outdoor adventures. Go to www.dianthomas.com.

Want to travel with Dian?  Join one of her trips to China this fall, where you will enjoy a cultural feast and fun adventure.  Email Dian at Contact@DianThomas.com or call 801-277-4332 for more information.


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About Dian Thomas

Dian Thomas was blessed with the good fortune to be born near and raised in the remote, breathtaking Manti-La Sal National Forest in southeastern Utah, where her father was the forest ranger. She took the skills she learned in the outdoors and turned them into a New York Times best-selling book, Roughing It Easy. Her appearance on the NBC's "Tonight" show with Johnny Carson boosted her into the national media scene, where she became a regular on NBC's "Today" show for eight years and then ABC's "Home Show" for six years. After more than 25 years of media exposure and 19 books, she now shares her practical insights and wisdom with audiences who want to savor life.

A former Relief Society president, Dian is currently serving as a visiting teacher. Visit her website at www.DianThomas.com

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