Tater Tot Hotdish

Last summer, Joey P. (a five-year camper) said, "The food has changed my life. I mean it is so good." And you know what, I would have to agree. 

When you sit down to a meal, how often is it a meal that someone whipped up for 200 of your closest friends and family members? Answer: Never. At Camp Foley our awesome Cooks, Directors and Staff make it possible for everyone to come together, three times a day, over some pretty delicious food.

One of those menu items: Tater Tot Hotdish (TTHD). This camp meal has a cult-like following at Camp Foley, and it is NEVER to be called Tater Tot Casserole. Because this is Minnesota. #HotdishForLife

It consists of tater tots, ground beef and cream of mushroom soup (plus some secret seasoning). That's it! But somehow those ingredients come together in a 100% amazing taste experience. Your taste buds haven't lived until they've tasted Tater Tot Hotdish.

At camp, Tater Tot Hotdish is served with a bowl of cooked vegetables. And remember: Every table has to finish their vegetables! WHY?! Because vegetables are not only good but good for you. Campers and staff can also head to the salad bar for some leafy greens, fruit and a variety of other items. 

I caught up with one alum, Leslie Strobel, to see why she loves Tater Tot Hotdish so much. 

Who do you think loves tots more...
Leslie or Napoleon Dynamite?

Interviewer: What are three words you would use to describe TTHD?
Leslie Strobel: Delicious, Filling, Awesome
I: Why is TTHD your favorite camp dinner?LS: Because it's something I associate with camp; a meal that I only eat there.
I: How do you eat your TTHD?
LS: Well... If there are extra tater tots after all of the vegetarians take them, I get some and add it to the hot dish because I love tater tots.
I: No ketchup?
LS: No, I am a purist. 

Do you agree - Is TTHD better without ketchup? Let us know in the comments section. 

Stay hungry, Camp Foley.

Send an email to ad@campfoley.com with your favorite camp meal to be featured on the Rattlin' Blog!

Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup

Campers arrive in less than three months! So what better way to kick off our three-month countdown than by talking about everyone’s favorite... camp food!

It may surprise those people that never came to Foley how much campers love the meals! Some meals have been offered for what seems like forever, while others are new to the scene in the past few years.

This is NOT camp Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup.
But come on... how good does it look?

Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup has definitely been around for a while, and year after year the campers seem to really love it! The meal is always served with a bowl of veggies (usually carrots, cauliflower and broccoli) and a sleeve of saltines.

The real question is: How do you eat your camp Grilled Cheese? Do you dunk your Grilled Cheese in the soup? Or do you prefer to dunk it in some ranch dressing? Do you eat all your soup first and then the Grilled Cheese or save the Tomato Soup for last?

According to camp professionals (aka: me), the best way to eat your Grilled Cheese is as follows: Get half a bowl of Tomato Soup, rip the crusts off the Grilled Cheese and dip the crust pieces in the soup. Then, squirt some ranch dressing onto your plate and dunk the crust-less sandwich into the ranch dressing. If you eat this meal in any other fashion: YOU’RE WRONG. Kidding! To each their own! Maybe share your Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup Meal Strategy in the comment section below.

Camp Foley Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup Meal Facts:

1.  It takes three to four counselors more than two hours to make the 400 or so Grilled Cheese Sandwiches we eat for this meal!
2.  The amount of wheat bread we use to make the sandwiches would be longer than three and a half school buses! 

Try making Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup at home with your family for a delicious camp-inspired meal! Make sure to serve it with veggies and saltine and don’t forget the ranch dressing!