Grilled Elk Steak Tinfoil Dinners + DIY Flag Placemats

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, INC. and The Coca-Cola Company, all opinions are mine alone. #USOCarePacks #CollectiveBias

Independence Day is a special time of the year. We get to celebrate our freedom, independence and this great nation that we live in. I am thankful for the men and women that serve and have served in the Armed Forces. These troops sacrifice in ways I can’t even imagine so I can enjoy the life I live. My father served for several years and my brother-in-law served for over 20 years. It is close to my heart and just one of the reasons I am proud to be an American. I love that the USO does so much to help our troops and they have partnered with Coca-Cola™ to provide care packages to soliders over seas. Their goal is to donate 3000-5000 care packages.  Through the help of Sam’s Club members who purchase the patriotic marked USO Coca-Cola™ cans, these purchases will assist the USO in providing the proper funding for our soldiers to receive these care packages.  You can find these specialty marked USO Coca-Cola™ packages for purchase in any Sam’s Club in a pack of 35 classic Coca-Cola™ cans, or the new 30 count Mini USO Coca-Cola™ classic cans.

Join Coca-Cola by donating care packages to military soldiers overseas. This is a great way to show support to our troops.

While you are prepping the food, you can have your kids make these Flag Placemats. All you need is white 12×12 cardstock paper, watercolors, and a silver star garland. We used glue dots to attach the stars, but you can use hot glue, glue stick or whatever. Looking at the picture you can see to have them color a blue square and then use the foam brush to paint red stripes. These were fun for them to make and turned out great on our table when we ate.

Now that you have your kids making their placemats, you can get the dinners put together and on the grill.

These Grilled Elk Steak Tinfoil Dinners are easy to put together and taste amazing! The Coca-Cola marinade adds a delicious flavor to the meat and makes it more tender. Here is what you will need:

• Elk Steaks
• Coca-Cola
• Potatoes (we used mini potatoes, but you can take large potatoes and slice or dice them)
• Carrots (we used mini carrots, but you can use whole carrots and slice them into thin slices)
• Onion (cut into slices)
• Fresh Green Beans
• Butter
• Seasoning
• Olive oil

The night before you are going to eat, you will take a large baggie or storage container and pour a can (or two depending on how much you have) of Coca-Cola over the top. Add a tablespoon or two of Worcestershire sauce, seasonings and salt and pepper. Mix together and then add the steak. Marinade overnight. To make the dinners you will layer 3-4 long pieces (about 18-24 inches each) of tinfoil like a star. Then you will put oil down, the steak, vegetables, and then top with oil, seasoning, and a pat of butter. Wrap the edges around the food and seal tight. Put in a campfire (firepit) or on a grill or in your oven and cook at about 350 degrees for 30-45 minutes or until the meat is cooked and the vegetables are tender. Enjoy with steak sauce, bbq sauce or other preference.

There are not enough words to describe what our troops and their families have accomplished and sacrificed for the freedom of our nation.  The way of life that we are able to enjoy would not exist without the strength and perseverance of those who are strong enough to stand up for what is right and in some cases do the impossible.  As I sit with my family around my dinner table and enjoy this tin foil Coca-Cola™ marinated elk steak and vegetable dinner with my ice cold specialty marked USO Coca-Cola™ can, reminded of all the small freedoms that I take for granted such as being able to be together as a family, eating what, where, and when we want to, celebrating how we want to, and especially the freedom to stand up, hold our hands to our hearts, and pledge our thanks to our great troops through flying our beautiful flag around our nation with patriotism.

Support our troops and buy the specialty marked USO Coca-Cola™ all summer long. You can also Join Coca-Cola by donating to send care packages to military soldiers overseas.