Camp Getaway Kitchen Guru

This past weekend worked in the kitchen at Camp Getaway, one of our youth group's favorite events.  I have secretly wanted to go to Camp Getaway because it's one of the teen's favorite events at our church and I've been dying to see "the cliff" they all talk about.  The view from the cliff was a little anti-climatic after my trip to Colorado, but I digress.  I have always thought about going as a cabin leader.  I have never considered working in the kitchen.  I don't like to cook.  I don't like to be in the kitchen.  I don't like to plan meals.  I don't like to dirty lots of pots and pans when I could get the same number of calories eating a peanut butter sandwich and using one knife and I have legitimate concerns about working in the kitchen.  I have set taco shells on fire in my oven.  I have burned almost every grilled cheese sandwich I have ever made. One year I forgot to put the sweet potatos out for Thanksgiving and found them in the oven at Christmas.  I have made Campbell's chicken noodle soup WITHOUT adding the can of water.  I know where the fire extinguisher is and how to take the battery out of the fire alarms. 

Fortunately, for everyone involved, I was just a lowly helper doing what I was told.  Loretta Haley has been the Camp Getaway kitchen guru for years and what a blessing she is to these two big weekends of spiritual growth and fun for our teenagers.  I agreed to be in the kitchen when I found out my friend Kris Newman would be in there, but I didn't know Loretta very well.  Not only is she a sweet, funny and enjoyable person to work with, she made some of the best food I've ever eaten and she didn't fall asleep while I was telling her a story (Kris!)  Not only does she plan, shop, prepare and make the food, she does all this like she's strolling through the park on a sunny day. Most ultra organized people I know are a little uptight and controlling.  Loretta was calm, relaxed and the furthest thing from controlling.  We had plenty of work to do but never felt rushed or overwhelmed.  She didn't get mad at me when I slept in a little Sunday.  And she was totally cool with me licking the cake batter bowl.  It was the best kitchen experience I've ever had.  It could be that I'm just really fun to work with so everyone was having fun or it could be that I was clueless and Loretta and Kris did 90% of the work while I wasn't paying attention.  Either way, thank you, Loretta, Kris, Rachel and Jessica for a super fun weekend.  I'll see you next year!