Lake Powell Menu June 2019

If you have followed me for a while you know that 

we spend a lot of our time at Lake Powell, about 

a six hour drive from where we live.  

Our "Mingo" was new last year from Sam's Club, 

and we just love her for lounging and visiting after 

water sports, or any time of day.  The best is when 

someone brings us a treat from the back of the 

houseboat while we are lounging.

A couple of years ago I decided to post some of our 

menu items for Lake Powell, which would work 

for any summer activity where you have a full 

kitchen - mind you, this isn't camping or backpacking!

No, this is take it to the max entertaining on the lake, but 

many menu items can be done easily.

This year, Annette, down in the right hand corner 

of the collage, decided to do Cuba Day - starting 

with a Cuban playlist all day long, Cuban lunch, 

and dinner.  She even provided dresses for the 

ladies and hats for the men.  You could look up 

Cuban food online.  It was a really fun theme.

We have a kitchen on the open air middle deck of the 

houseboat where we usually serve and eat dinner.

Cuban Pasta Salad

One night was Mozzarella and Poblano Crepes.  The 

crepes were filled with Mozzarella cheese and topped with 

a tasty poblano pepper sauce (flavorful, not spicy) and 

corn and Mexican Crema.

One lunch was Cafe Rio Salad or Tacos.  We let whoever is in 

charge decide the table decor, using real plates or paper plates,

whatever they want. 

 I love how creative people get. The first two years I did all the 

cooking, and by then I was ready to be done with the boat. 

We became wiser, and now for over 25 years of houseboating 

at Lake Powell we have had everyone help with meals.  

We try new things and get lots of great ideas.

This seemed to be a year of internationally themed dinners, and 

so one night was Italian with Caprese Salad Skewers - simply layering 

fresh Mozzarella, tomatoes and basil and topping with 

Balsamic Glace.  These were so wonderful and fresh.

She bought darling slates that were used as serving plates for 

the crusty bread and Caprese Skewers, and the dinner was 

Spinach and Cheese Calzones.  

One lunch was homemade French Dip Beef on 

rolls.  We each make a lunch and a dinner, and people 

bring what they want to eat for breakfast as it ranges 

from protein shakes to eggs or cereal.  

But we usually always help cook and clean up together,

while the men manage the boats.

After a day in the sun and water we often don't want to eat 

dessert, so we decided to make it and serve it as an 

afternoon snack.  These were Molten Lava cakes 

purchased at Chilis Restaurant, frozen and brought 

to the lake.  We bring ice cream in a cooler with dry ice 

down to the boat and promptly put it in the freezer.  

It is really wonderful to have ice cream out on the lake, 

and sometimes we make homemade ice cream there too. 

This Cuban dessert with fresh peaches and cream 

on pound cake was filled with caramel,

and we chose to have it for an afternoon snack too, 

and I served it to the ladies out in "Mingo"!

Our dinner was Indian themed. 

It turned out to be a little unusual, as we were 

traveling back to the marina while dinner was 

served (we had to get home earlier than usual as 

one of the husbands had planned a surprise birthday 

party for his wife Saturday night.)  We had the 

boat services captain us in to the marina, taking about 

an hour and a half ride.  They were to show up at 2:00,

but didn't show up until 6:00, so dinner was being 

served as we traveled.  Everyone thought that was quite 

a treat.  

We started with a Coconut, Mango, Peach and Strawberry 

smoothie to refresh their palates.  They were small so 

they didn't fill you up. 

Dinner was Chicken Tika Masala and Chicken Coconut Kurma 

with Garlic Naan and basmati rice and a little Mango Chutney.

We brought down the chargers and stainless steel bowls 

for a fun presentation.  

Everyone said they would love to always have a traveling 

dinner on the lake, but as you can't really plan the timing 

of the hired captain (the marina requires a professional to 

pull you into the slip - reduces damages!) I don't know that it 

would happen again, but we sure enjoyed it.

We also enjoy a game of Bingo once during the week, 

where everyone brings a prize and hubby wears the pants 

my oldest son made him for a sewing project in junior high.  

We figured they are over 20 years old now.

Hope this inspires you for a lake house dinner, or even 

a summer dinner in the back yard.  

Lake Powell Menu June 2018

Welcome to a week at Lake Powell with our adult children.

(This gigantic flamingo joined us this summer - from Sam's Club.)

Every summer we spend several weeks houseboating

at Lake Powell, and a few years ago I decided to

share our menus for others who wanted inspiration

on what fun foods they could whip up.  

These posts have been one of my popular posts, 

and I hope people have taken their food options 

up a notch or two by this inspiration.  

Everyone takes a day and decides on their 

menu, purchases their food, and prepares and 

cleans up.  This takes a lot of burden off of 

me, and we get a lot of fun variety, as people 

choose something new and exciting to share, 

or an old favorite.

Bajio Shrimp Tacos (copycat recipe)

Chicken and Bacon Alfredo Gnocchi

Wedge Salads

Loaded BBQ Potato Chips with

Burgers and Deep Fried Pickles

Shrimp Ceviche and Guacamole

Italian Sodas

Chicken and Beef Tacos

Oreo Pan Sugar Cookies

Twisted Breadsticks

Korean Beef Bulgogi with Deep Fried Potstickers

Peanut Butter Balls

Ham, Egg and Cheese Breakfast Sandwiches

Smoothie Bowls for Breakfast

Raspberry Meringues with Sorbets and Passion Fruit Sauce

Needless to say, I have to do a little cutting back

when we return home, but we always have

a lot of fun with food besides fun with boating

and swimming.

Obviously cooking on a houseboat with full

kitchens, freezers, large and small appliances

and a grill make creating anything possible! It

is not the same as cooking while camping or

glamping.

We have a couple more trips planned, and there should

be a lot more great food.

I promise I will post the recipes for the Alfredo Gnocchi

and Meringue Desserts, which were recipes I made.

Until then, enjoy summer!  It is almost half over - sigh!

Smoothie Bowl

I had my first smoothie bowl last summer and 

then again when we were down in Cabo, and

hubby and I fell in love.  Smoothie bowls are the

perfect breakfast or even dessert for summer.

We are headed to Lake Powell next week and

this will be featured on our menu for breakfast.

My Week of Lake Powell Menus are always one

of my most popular posts for the summer.  I noticed

people are already reading them.  We don't do hot dogs

and plain old hamburgers when we houseboat at

Lake Powell - everyone does their best to cook a

great meal.  Look forward to my week's menu

after we get back.  

Of course you can mix it up every time you make

one, but this smoothie bowl features items that we

almost always have around the kitchen.

Smoothie Bowl Recipe

1-2 bananas, cut into pieces

1 handful of blueberries,

1 handful of raspberries,

6 - 8 strawberries,

1 orange peeled

1 C. ice cubes

Place everything in a blender until smooth.

You want the smoothie to be thick so that

it is spoonable and the toppings won't sink to

the bottom.  You can substitute frozen fruit for

the ice cubes if you want.  

This should make enough for two people.  Divide

into two bowls and top with fresh fruit and sprinkles of

granola, coconut or nuts - anything you love that gives

it some texture and flavor.   Eat right away.  

So easy and quick and refreshing and 

perfect on a hot summer day.

Enjoy all the fun tastes of summer.  Add some pineapple, mango,

or any fruits you love.  

I told my friends the other day,

"I have waited my whole life for summer!" 

Enjoy every minute of it for it flies!