Tastefully Tuesday – 5 Grilling Ideas for Dinner

The weather is warming up and you know what that means – it’s time to fire up the grill! There are so many benefits to grilling, that it is hard to list them all. However here are some of the more important ones along with some grilling ideas for dinner.

Healthy, Affordable, Convenient Cooking for Every Family

One of the benefits of grilling that my family enjoys is that it’s convenient. We like to stock up on food when it is on sale – especially meats, now that we have an extra freezer. In the morning we pull out whatever we plan to have for dinner and put it on a shelf in the fridge. Late in the afternoon we’ll throw on some marinade and by early evening it’s ready for the grill.

Another benefit of grilling is that it keeps the utility bills down. We aren’t using the stove, which runs off electricity. And because the stove isn’t heating up the kitchen, the air conditioner doesn’t kick on as often. The supplies that it takes for grilling (either charcoal or filling the propane tank with gas) are much more economical than indoor cooking.

Don’t forget the health benefits of grilling! Here are three of the more important ones:

1. Excess fats drip off meat leaving less fat inside the meals you prepare
2. Vegetables that are grilled retain more vitamins and nutrients
3. The high heat seals in moisture which requires you to use fewer condiments

Everybody wants to live healthier, but taking that first step can seem pretty daunting. And I don’t know anybody who wants to spend their summer evenings slaving over a host stove in a sweltering kitchen. Sometimes it’s hotter in the kitchen than it is outside!

5 Easy Recipes

While not everything is healthy just because it was cooked on the grill, there are things you can do to help keep calorie content low and nutritional content high. For example, limit toppings like high-calorie sauces, butter, and sour cream, or use lean meats and other ingredients that are healthy from the start. Here are some fabulous grilling ideas for dinner that your family is sure to enjoy!

• Barbecue Chicken – In your blender mix together 6 Roma tomatoes, 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper, 1 clove of garlic (peeled), 2 tablespoons of yellow mustard, 1/4 cup of light brown sugar, 1/4 cup of pure, local honey, and 1 tablespoon of olive oil until it is as near to liquid as possible.
  
  Place 2 pounds of chicken in a large dish and pour the sauce over it, marinating for at least an hour prior to grilling. Save a little sauce and heat it in a pan to drizzle over the chicken when it’s done, just before serving.
  
  Pair with: devilled eggs, salad, and strawberry shortcake for dessert.
  
  
• Grilled Pizza – This is so easy! Use your blender to mix up 1/2 cup of sun-dried tomatoes (oil-packed) with a little oil from the jar (just a few tablespoons). This is your sauce! Spread evenly over pita bread. (You’ll have enough sauce to make several!)
  
  Add some scallions and some low-sodium turkey. Top with low-fat ricotta cheese and grill until the cheese is melted.
  
  Pair with: veggie kebabs and then fruit salad for dessert.
  
  
• Garlic Ribs – Mix together 2 tablespoons of oil, 2 minced garlic cloves, 1/4 cup of white wine vinegar, and 3 tablespoons of fresh thyme leaves (chopped). Use this to marinate your ribs for an hour or so before cooking, and then grill until the meat is cooked through.
  
  Pairs with: macaroni & cheese, baby carrots, and grilled cantaloupe slices for dessert.
  
  
• Portobello Burgers – Vegetarian? No problem! Whisk up 1/4 cup each of olive oil and balsamic vinegar of choice. Add in a couple of minced garlic cloves. Put this in a gallon-sized Ziploc freezer bag and add 8 Portobello mushrooms. Let this sit for about half an hour, but you’re also safe doing this the night before to save time.
  
  Grill for about 3 minutes per side and put on a hamburger bun. Top with fresh veggies like green pepper rings and onion slices. And don’t hold the mustard!
  
  Pairs with: corn on the cob, potato salad, and homemade fruit sorbet for dessert.
  
  
• Orange Shrimp – Cancel that order of Chinese takeout! This marinade will cover about 24 large shrimp (peeled and deveined, tails left on) which makes about 8 servings if you’re dong appetizers.
  
  In a mixing bowl combine shrimp with 2 teaspoons of grated orange zest (lime is a great alternative for this recipe), 1 minced garlic clove, 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil, 1 tablespoon of freshly chopped thyme. Let sit for about half an hour, and then add three shrimp per skewer. Grill about 4 minutes per side, or until the shrimp are opaque throughout.
  
  Pairs with: fried rice, asparagus, and of course fortune cookies for dessert!

Cooking Gourmet on the Go!

Whether you are using the above grilling ideas for dinner or want to enjoy freshly-grilled brats for breakfast while camping, Weber’s Go-Anywhere charcoal grill lets you take the fun of grilling anywhere that you go. Use it for tailgate parties, camping, or on your back porch.

Click the picture above to visit Amazon where you can get this shipped to your house within the next couple of days! If you are a member of Amazon Prime, then as always you can enjoy free shipping. Right now they are also offering a discounted price, so don’t wait – order your Weber Go-Anywhere charcoal grill now!

Geocaching Friday - Why Lock & Lock Make the Best Geocache Boxes

If you are a geocacher then you are no stranger to the term Lock & Lock. They make great geocache boxes because they offer exceptional durability for a low price!

Originally used for food storage, these containers are meant to keep your kitchen pantry or refrigerator tidier. However I was using them for non-food purposes long before I knew about geocaching! I used these plastic containers to hold craft supplies. My older son uses them to organize his model train accessories. And my younger son uses one to hold the loot he finds when metal detecting.

Once my family discovered geocaching, it was not long until we began pondering, what if we created our own geocache location? What kind of container would we use? Would the location have some kind of special meaning? Would we use a theme and create several? Did we want to use riddles? Or would we be completely random?

As I posted a couple of weeks ago, there are plenty of options for creating safe, eco-friendly geocache containers. Sadly not all things that you can recycle make great containers, though! The plastic may have BPA or break down if left exposed to the sunlight. Metal can rust. And never use glass, which could break and create sharp edges.

Why Use a Lock & Lock Container

Sure you could use other types of plastic containers, but it is doubtful that they have a 4-sided locking mechanism to help keep the contents dry and the critters from getting inside. Here are some other reasons why Lock & Lock containers make the best geocache boxes.

• 100% silicone gasket helps keep it both air and watertight
• BPA free
• Holds up to both humid and frigid temperatures
• Plastic resists stains
• Easy to camouflage as you can see from the above picture!

You can find Lock & Lock containers at places like Target or Wal-Mart. Personally I prefer ordering mine from Amazon. If you belong to Amazon Prime as many people do (including my family) after purchasing a Kindle Fire, then you can enjoy free 2-day shipping!

Click this link above and order some Lock & Lock containers to make your own geocache boxes now!

Tastefully Tuesday - 5 Great Recipes for Two from Your Food Processor

Over the past year or so I've posted everything from eating cheaper on a family vacation to how to use appliances besides the dreaded stovetop to prepare meals. Today's post leans more towards the latter! Because our teenage sons are picky, my husband often fixes great recipes for two that we can enjoy while leaving the boys to fend for themselves.

Appliances versus Your Kitchen Stove

The days are hot enough without the oven or crock pot raising the temperature inside our tiny kitchen! That's why my favorites are the recipes that you prepare right in the appliance, like the blender or juicer. However we have found that the food processor is a great alternative to using the stove, especially in the summer.

Of course you can try making these in the blender, but in my experience the result is either too clunky or too soupy. And I'm sorry but I just don't want my hummus to take on the same consistency as my good morning berry-berry smoothie. That would completely ruin spreading hummus on crackers, tortilla chips, or celery sticks!

5 Food Processor Recipes

While my skills with the stove are sorely lacking, I am a food processing whiz. Here are my top 5 recipes that I enjoy with my food processor. If you're looking for great recipes for two, then keep reading!

1. CHICKEN SALAD - The next time you grill boneless chicken for dinner, add in a couple of extra pieces and store them in the fridge until the next day. When you're fixing lunch, toss the chicken (I cut mine into large chunks), half a cup of fat free mayo (or ranch dressing), 2 celery stalks (broken into large chunks) and a handful of walnuts. Serve in a wrap.

2. SALSA - Canned salsa from the store always leaves a metallic taste in my mouth. I much prefer fresh salsa! It just tastes so much healthier. Add half a dozen Roma tomatoes (cut into large chunks), 3 green onions, 1/4 cup of fresh cilantro leaves, 1 jalapeno (seeded), 1/2 cup of yellow corn (preferably cut straight from the ear - this is especially yummy if it's leftover from grilling dinner the night before), 1 tablespoon of lime zest, half a clove of garlic, a few turns from your pepper grinder, and 1 tablespoon of sea salt. Process away and you'll be eating tortilla chips with healthier salsa in no time!

3. HUMMUS - Add 4 red bell peppers (seeded and cut into chunks), 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, 2 garlic cloves (peeled and quartered), and 2 cups crumbled feta cheese to your food processor and blend away to make a great-tasting, garden-fresh hummus. Serve with pita bread or your favorite veggies.

4. PULLED PORK - Nothing says summertime like a pulled pork sandwich. Any time we have leftovers after grilling pork chops, I cut the meat into large chunks and throw into my food processor. Assuming I have 2 large pork chops, I add 1/4 cup of ketchup, a healthy (but not obese) squirt of yellow mustard, a couple of pinches of brown sugar, a few turns from my pepper grinder, a pinch of sea salt, the leaves from one sprig of fresh cilantro, and a tiny splash of vinegar (as in no more than half a cap full). After mixing I transfer to freezer-safe containers and the next time my husband and I want pulled pork sandwiches, we just re-heat this creation in the microwave.

5. ICE CREAM - Summer is coming and there is no time to waste. As soon as fruit comes into season, begin freezing it in half-pound portions using freezer bags, freezer jars, or however you prefer. When you want ice cream pop a half-pound container of fruit into the food processor with half a cup of sugar (or a sugar-alternative like Stevia or Spelda) and churn until the fruit is roughly chopped. Slowly add in 2/3 of a cup of heavy cream (with the processor running the entire time) and once it's incorporated, you have ice cream! You can eat it right then, or safely store it in your freezer for about a week.

Once I turned 40 I developed oral allergies to some fairly common ingredients, namely cocoa and cinnamon. Even trace amounts in foods that did not contain those ingredients, but were prepared in a facility that uses those ingredients in other products would set off a reaction. (An example is snack cakes. Just because I buy vanilla does not mean they were not using the machines to make chocolate ones earlier that same day.) Another big one is raw onion or garlic (we substitute onion and garlic powder where necessary, even in the above recipes) so I tend to avoid those, too!

The Best Food Processor for Your Buck

When selecting a food processor, make sure you get one that can provide a variety of functions for the money you are spending. Nothing is more irritating to me than buying a kitchen appliance only to find out that it will not work for the recipe I am creating. That's why I would like to invite you to:

Visit Amazon's Buyer's Guide - Cuisinart Food Processor
You can learn all about your new food processor here, and have it shipped to your house within a day or so. As always, if you subscribe to Amazon Prime you will not only enjoy a deep discount but also free standard shipping as well.

Geocaching - Get Your Swag On!

Geocaching is a game similar to a virtual scavenger hunt that uses GPS coordinates. You find the cache site, sign the log book, and if you're lucky, trade out a bit of swag. When I go geocaching, it's all about the swag. The general guideline regarding swag is, "Trade even, trade up, or don't trade at all."

So far my favorite bit of swag found has been this guy here:

What Trackables Are and Why Geocachers Love Them

However I recently snagged my first trackable coin swag! I have to say, that was a real thrill. Trackables are items people register online. When you find it, you log in and record it. When you drop it somewhere else, you record that, too.

The above trackable coin is the first one that I found. I have found another one since, but that first one is my favorite. These are the gold nuggets of swag, and the people who invest in them enjoy tracking where these bits of swag adventure as much as we geocachers enjoy finding them.

Swag Doesn't Have to Cost a Fortune

But swag doesn't have to be expensive, or even anything big. Swag can be something as trivial as a cheap plastic party favor. As my oldest son's BFF remarked after finding his first bit of swag, "All this work for a plastic stink bug."

Sometimes that is exactly how it feels. But then you look at that plastic stink bug and remember the satisfaction of finding the container, and being able to mark one more location as "FOUND" at the Geocaching website. Here are some things that make excellent swag.

• loose change, even pennies and nickels
• plastic army, cowboy, indian, or any other men
• dice and game tokens from old board games, like Monopoly
• plastic party favors like you'd see at a child's birthday party
• anything made with plastic pony-style beads

The Best Swag for Your Buck


Plastic party favors make great swag because they are weatherproof. Unlike baseball cards, they won't fall apart due to rain or snow that leaks into the container. And unlike the coveted trackables, they are fairly inexpensive.

I personally like the cheap plastic swag because it never fails to put a smile on my face. It takes me right back to the birthday parties of my childhood, and reminds me that even if it is only because I followed the coordinates to the site container, I am still a winner at something.

Click on the picture above now to order swag for your own geocache bag. As always, if you are member of Amazon Prime you will enjoy an additional bonus discount along with free shipping. And if you have other ideas for swag, I'd love to hear about it in the comments section!

Tastefully Tuesday - Slow Cooker Recipe Twists

A lot of people associate slow cooker recipes with wintertime because the dishes fall into the "comfort foods" category that are hot, piping, and a perfect way to combat the cold. However you can enjoy your slow cooker year-round regardless of the weather.

Here are a few of my favorite crock pot recipes. As you can see they are just as delicious on a hot, summer day as they are during the frigid, cold temperatures during the winter.

EASY PEASY CHICKEN & DUMPLINGS
These aren't your grandmother's chicken and dumplings, but they will offer the same level of comfort that you felt eating at her kitchen table.

Ingredients:

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
• 2 cans (10.75 ounce) of condensed cream of chicken soup
• 2 celery stalks, sliced thin
• 1 bag of fresh, shredded carrots
• 2 packages (10 ounce) of refrigerator biscuits, torn into pieces

Directions:

1. Place the chicken, soup, and veggies into the slow cooker and add enough water to cover.
2. Cook on high for about 5 or 6 hours.
3. About 30 minutes before serving, add the torn biscuit pieces and continue cooking until the bread is no longer raw and doughy in the center.

SLOW COOKED PULL-APART PORK BBQ
Serve this mouthwatering delicacy from the south on a potato roll, on your favorite multi-grain cracker, or pair with sour cream, cheese, and scallions for a great twist on traditional nacho toppings.

Ingredients:

• 1 boneless pork roast (about 3 pounds)
• 1 bottle (18 ounce) of your favorite BBQ sauce
• 1 dash each of garlic powder, onion powder, and pepper

Directions:

• Place all ingredients in slow cooker and cook on low for about 7 hours, give or take half an hour.
• Remove from slow cooker and shred.
• Return to slow cooker and continue cooking for 1 hour, adding extra BBQ sauce if necessary.
• Serve as desired.

SWEET & SOUR HAM SLICES
If you are in the mood for Chinese food, instead try this healthier option made in the convenience of your slow cooker. Eat as a stand-alone entrée or serve over white or brown rice with chunks of steamed carrots, green peppers, chunks of onion, and pineapple.

Ingredients:

• Slices from an entire cured, bone-in picnic ham
• 1 1/2 cups of brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons of hot chili sauce
• 1 teaspoon of soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon of butter
• 2 tablespoons of green onion tops
• 1 can of crushed pineapple with juice
• 3 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1/3 cup of white vinegar
• 1/3 cup of ketchup

Directions:

1. Spread 1 cup of brown sugar on the bottom of the slow cooker crock.
2. Place ham slices in crock.
3. Rub remaining ingredients minus pineapple onto ham.
4. Dump can of pineapple into crock over ham.
5. Cook for about 8 hours.
6. Serve over white or brown rice.

The Best Slow Cooker for Your Favorite Recipes



The Hamilton Beach Set 'n Forget 6-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker is the perfect choice for all your slow cooker recipes. The programmable LED screen makes it easy to let dinner cook in the background while you go about your daily activities - or even head off to work for the day. And the six-quart, dishwasher safe crock and lid not only mean that you will have enough dinner for your entire family but also that clean-up will be a breeze afterwards.

Click the image above to see how to get your own Hamilton Beach Set 'n Forget 6-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker from Amazon now! Prime members will also enjoy an 18% discount as well as free shipping.

10 Safe Geocaching Tips – a GPS Treasure Hunt for the Whole Family

Geocaching is a GPS treasure hunt that is a lot of fun. Aside from the gas money there are few costs associated with the hobby. And if you find a lot in a general area, such as along a bike trail or large public park, then it only costs the energy you use to bicycle or walk there.

Staying Safe while Geocaching

Because the hobby does take place outdoors there is always the element of risk. Inspired by an article on another geocaching website, here are ten tips based on the geocaching experiences that either happened to me or happened to some of my geocaching buddies.

10. Be wildlife aware. If you read the logs for a geocache site and other people talk about seeing snakes, raccoons, bears, and other wildlife, then there is a chance that you might see them also. Use common sense and stay away from wild animals, no matter how friendly they seem.

9. Obey the police. Sadly the police sometimes ask you to leave an area when you are looking for a geocache container. This could be because someone placed it on private property, or because they have just not heard of it before. Regardless of why they are asking you to leave, just do it.

8. Have spare batteries. Nothing stinks worse than having your battery-operated GPS die in the middle of locating a container. Or having your flashlight batteries die when you geocached so long that you are bumbling and stumbling along in the dusky twilight (if not total darkness) trying to find your car.

7. Carry essential supplies. Along with a flashlight, GPS, and cellphone you may want to take gloves, a Swiss army knife, and a walking stick. The more geocaching experience you get, the bigger your list of essential supplies will grow.

6. Bring first aid stuff. My husband is a firefighter, so we have a first aid kit in each vehicle as well as one in the house. At the very least you should have wet wipes, bandages, and some bug spray. Check the second below this list to learn about the ideal geocaching first aid kit.

5. Have a way to communicate. Don’t go geocaching alone. Make sure you and your partner both have a phone in case you are separated. You can take walkie-talkies as a backup. Sometimes one electronic communication device will work in an area where another has failed.

4. Use sunscreen year round. The winter sun does just as much damage to your skin, lips, eyes, and scalp as the summer sun does, especially if it glares off a snow covered landscape. Long sleeves and a jacket are not a bad idea, either because you never know where geocaching will lead you.

3. Check for ticks. So far this year, I am the only person in the family who has found a tick on themselves, and I never would have if it were not for geocaching. While I do not relish the thought of having a tick, it was the first time I have had one in years and a sign that I am more active than in summers past.

2. Stay hydrated. Some geocache containers require you to get out of your car and walk a few feet. Others require you to rappel down rocks, dive into caves, or kayak upstream for half a mile. Keep a bottle of water with you regardless of the season or weather.

1. Know when enough is enough. I hate marking an online log with a DNF (Did Not Find) status. I want to find every container at ever geocache site that I visit! But sometimes no matter how hard we look the container is just not there. If it does not seem like a safe situation, then it is time to back off and move on.

The Best First Aid Kit for Geocaching

Because my husband is a firefighter, our first aid kits keep us prepared for just about anything. The closet that I have been able to find is the American Red Cross Disaster & Emergency Kit by First Aid Only for sale on Amazon.

About the size of a 3-ring binder, it has plastic pages that hold all the products. It is super organized and everything is individually wrapped so even if you open a plastic page to take one item out, everything else is still sterile. It literally has whatever you need for almost any geocaching emergency, including getting lost in the woods.

You can go geocaching without a lot of things, but a first aid kit shouldn’t be one of the things you lack when taking the family on a GPS treasure hunt. Click the picture of the first aid kit above to learn how to invest in a American Red Cross Disaster & Emergency Kit by First Aid Only for your family now!

5 Healthy Alternatives to the Traditional Panini Sandwich

In Italy, panino is the Italian word for a sandwich made from bread other than sliced bread (such as ciabatta, rosetta, and baguette).  First they cut the bread horizontally, and then filled it with deli ingredients such as delicious Italian meats and cheeses or perhaps some other foods. And finally the panino is pressed by a warming grill and served warm.

A toasted sandwich made from sliced bread is not called panino by Italians. They call it toast, and they usually fill the sandwich with ham and a few slices of cheese before heating it in some type of a sandwich press. According to Wikipedia, one popular version of panino in Central Italy is filled with porchetta, slices of pork roasted with garlic, salt, rosemary, and sage.

In the United Kingdom as well as across North America, people have adopted the term panini to mean any type of pressed, toasted sandwich. Kitchen appliance manufacturers hopped on the bandwagon and began creating gadgets called everything from panini presses to toasted sandwich makers.

The Panini Maker Alternative

For years I have pondered investing in a panini maker for my kitchen. Because I tend to burn things on the stove, it seemed like the perfect solution to making everything from grilled cheese sandwiches to Italian-inspired panini creations.

Despite the fact that the price of panini and toasted sandwich makers has come way down in recent years, I wanted an appliance that would do more than just toast sandwiches. Then it hit me – I could just make use of my George Foreman grill! Here is why it works:

• NO STICK SURFACE – Even if I cooked hamburgers or chicken in my Foreman grill the night before, I can still enjoy a breakfast panini.
• HEATS EVENLY – This means no more worrying about the middle of the bread toasting faster or slower than the outside edges around the crust.
• LARGE COOKING SPACE – The 144 square inches means I am not limited to cooking one sandwich at a time.

This appliance is so easy to use, that even my teenage sons are able to cook on it without the risks that come with cooking on top of the stove.

Healthier Panini Wrap Recipes

The only problem with using my Foreman grill as a panini sandwich press was that it started to pile extra onto my daily carb intake. I found that I can use low-calorie, whole grain tortilla bread for sandwiches and get the same great taste without the guilt or the high carbs. Here are my favorite recipes:

1. GYRO WRAP – Heat some pre-formed meatballs and slice them up. Spread onto tortilla with baby spinach leaves, feta cheese, and some cucumber slices.
   
   
2. TURKEY REUBEN – Place some low-fat Swiss cheese, a few slices of roasted turkey breast on your wrap and then top with a heaping of sauerkraut and a drizzle of Thousand Island dressing.
   
   
3. SANTA FE CHICKEN – Dice chicken into small chunks and place in the tortilla with taco seasoning, slices of red onion, fresh cilantro, shredded cheddar cheese, and a few jalapeno slices.
   
   
4. PHILLY CHEESE – Slice beef into very thin strips and place on the wrap with provolone cheese, green peppers, sliced onions, and mushrooms.
   
   
5. OMELET WRAP – Scramble up an egg and place on the center of your wrap. Then add anything you would want in an omelet – bacon, sausage, spinach, mushroom, onion, tomato, or whatever else you like!

After adding all of your ingredients to the wrap, roll it up so that nothing comes out of the bottom end. Place in the pre-heated grill and press lightly for two or three minutes. Do not press too hard or you will find yourself cleaning up a horrible mess – take it from me!

My George Foreman Grill of Choice

There are a lot of Foreman grills out there for purchase. I like this one from Amazon, and more than eighty 5-star reviews agree with me. As they state: This grill has made cooking a snap for our family. It’s a super versatile appliance. It is a nice way to cook your meals. And especially this one – I use it every day! 

Click the icon above to get your own George Foreman Nonstick Family-Size Grill from Amazon. If you are a Prime member, you can also enjoy both a generous discount and free shipping. And if you already have this grill I’d love to hear what you think in the comments section!

Geocaching for Kids - Everything You Need for a Fun Family Adventure

While geocaching is something that is enjoyed by people of all ages, geocaching for kids is perhaps the most beneficial. In addition to all the other benefits the hobby provides, it allows families a way to spend time together and work towards a common goal - finding a geocache container!

When people ask my sons, "What is geocaching?" They often reply, "Using billions of dollars of military hardware to find Tupperware® hidden in the woods." And technically, that is pretty much an exact description.

Geocaching is using GPS coordinates to find the latitude and longitude of a hidden container. The container could be in an urban or rural location. It could be out in the open, like at a public park, or hidden several thousand feet above sea level on the Appalachian Trail. We even saw on the map where a container is hidden in the middle of the Potomac River for kayak enthusiasts.

Preparing a Geocaching for Kids Adventure

Geocaching with young kids in tow might sound intimidating but really it is no more stressful than any other family outing. Here are some tips to help get you started:

• CLOTHING - Dress how you would for any other outdoor family event, like a hike over rocky terrain or a walk through an area with weeds or high grasses. In other words, dress comfortably according to the weather and wear socks with sneakers as opposed to sandals or flip-flops.
• SNACKS - Bringing snacks with you will save you the time and cost of stopping off at a convenience store or the drive-thru window of a fast food restaurant. Goldfish crackers, fresh fruit, and bottled water all make great geocaching snacks.
• CACHE BAG - Even though my kids are teenagers, we cannot leave the house without our "cache bag". It has a small notebook for keeping track of which sites we visit, a couple of mechanical pencils and pens for signing logs in the geocache containers, and some loot. Currently our loot is baseball cards, army men, and some small party favors. 

Whatever other preparations you make will depend on the unique needs of your family. They might include medication (like an epi pen for those allergic to bees or other outside things), bug spray, wet wipes (even if your kids aren't in diapers, these things have a million uses).

The Best GPS to Use When Geocaching for Kids

If I had to buy a GPS right now, I would purchase the Magellan eXplorist GC Waterproof Geocaching GPS from Amazon. The display is about the same size as a cell phone, and its paperless connection to the Geocaching website makes it a great eco-friendly tool as well. Some of the other features of this little gadget include:

• Connect to Geocaching.com
• Free 30-day premium membership to the site (regular membership is still free, though!)
• Pre-loaded with plenty of popular geocache sites
• Easy navigation with colorful menus and graphics
• Transreflective screen for easy reading on super sunny days
• Storage for up to 10,000 geocaches
• Waterproof to IPX-7 standards to protect against drops and spills
• 3-meter accuracy when finding the geocache site
• 2 AA batteries provide 18 hours of life for a whole day of geocaching
• USB connects right to your laptop or desktop computer

Whether you are just starting out geocaching or have been doing this for years, you are entitled to have fun while staying safe. The Magellan eXplorist GC Waterproof Geocaching GPS allows you to do both. It even connects to waypoint locations that you set up -- such as where you parked the car or the location of that public rest room that you passed ten minutes ago. (Because we all know that kids don't have to go until after the bathroom is out of sight!)

Click the icon above to head straight over to the Amazon site where you will enjoy a generous discount. And if you are a member of Amazon Prime, then you will also enjoy free shipping as well! Don't wait until you are stuck relying on a cellphone that struggles to find a signal or a has a low battery life. Order your Magellan eXplorist GC Waterproof Geocaching GPS today!