Muskallonge Lake Camping Trip

We have just returned from our 4th of July camping trip 4 days early because of the rain and cold. The forecast for the U.P. for the rest of the week was rainy and cold, so we decided to come back home where the weather might be better. It's raining here in Ann Arbor, but it's about 20 degrees warmer at least, and the forecast is for sunny skies the rest of the week.

Weather notwithstanding, I totally enjoyed our camp site at Muskallonge Lake State Park. It wasn't crowded at all, and it is on Muskallonge Lake, noted for it's good fishing, and within walking distance of Lake Superior and great agate hunting. It was a lovely park, and next time, I would really like to reserve site 134 or 145. We had sitte 29, and it was great, too. This camp never seems to be full. It's located next to the Deer Park Lodge - I hope they don't mind that I borrowed one of their pictures for my blog. I don't have any great pictures except rainy ones. They run a great camp store with fishing equipment and licenses, camping equipment, etc. If you are not a camper, rent one of their cabins on Muskallonge Lake. Deer Park is located between Whitefish Point and Grand Marais in the U.P., near the Two Hearted River, made famous by Ernest Hemingway. It is in the middle of nowhere, which is a great place to be, except when it's rainy and cold for days on end. So we came home early....but we will go back for sure.

One rainy camp night dinner, I made flank steak. This is my friend Ann's really good recipe for marinated flank steak called "Mom's Tasty Flank Steak" which was her mother-in-law's recipe. It works out great in a Dutch oven while camping, but at home you could make it under the broiler.

Mom's Tasty Flank Steak

Marinade
1/2 c. soy sauce
1/4 c. olive oil
1/4 c. lemon juice - bottled is fine for this recipe
1 T. thyme
3 green onions, sliced
A big flank steak

Place marinade ingredients in a plastic bag, and add steak. Freeze in marinade, and pack it in your cooler. (if you are making this at home, marinate it in the fridge overnight) At camp, put the beef and marinade in a 12 inch dutch oven with 10 coals on the bottom, 14 on top for about 30 minutes. (at home, broil it in a pan with the marinade until desired doneness) Serve with noodles. Yummy!