Archive for camp cooking

8 Must-Have Tools for Camp Cooking

Who says you can’t cook while camping? As long as you have the right tools, preparing a delicious gourmet meal out in the woods is easy! Before your next trip, make sure you have these eight tools for camp cooking.

1. A camp stove

Not every meal has to be grilled or prepared using a stick. There are plenty of camp stoves available that are lightweight and easy to pack.

2. Pots and pans

If you’re going to bring a stove, you’ll need some pots and pans, too!

3. Knife

This can be forgotten easily. When packing your knife, make sure you put a plastic cover over the blade for protection.

4. Spatula

Bring along a spatula that can handle both heavy and lightweight foods. That way you can use the same spatula while cooking your steak and potatoes.

5. Portable camp kitchen

You’ll need a place to store your kitchen items and prepare food. Pack a portable kitchen to make camp cooking a breeze.

6. Can opener

It would be frustrating to bring cans of beans and vegetables and then not be able to open them!

7. Headlamp

If you’re preparing a late-night meal, a headlamp can help you see so you avoid injury. It’s a lot more convenient than trying to hold a flashlight.

8. Cleaning supplies

Before you prepare each meal, make sure your pots, knives, and spatulas are clean. When washing dishes, keep at least 200 feet away from the lake or river so you don’t impact the natural environment.

Great Vegetarian Recipes for Camping

Camping as a vegetarian doesn’t mean you have to fill up on just sides and snacks. There are plenty of healthy vegetarian camping recipes that are both delicious and nutritious, and even the meat-eaters on your trip will enjoy them! Here are three to get you started.

1. Campfire-Roasted Potatoes

Kick your bland potatoes up a notch. This recipe is packed with flavor and can be served with your favorite veggies.

Ingredients

  • 5 large red potatoes, cubed
  • 1 medium onion, sliced
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 3 tbsp. olive oil
  • 3/5 tsp. ground black pepper
  • 3/4 tsp. dried oregano
  • Salt to taste

Directions

  1. In a large bowl, mix your ingredients together.
  2. Place your mixture in several layers of aluminum foil and then seal the edges.
  3. Position a wire rack over the hot coals and place your aluminum packet on top of the wire rack.
  4. Cook for 30 to 40 minutes, flipping the packet midway through cooking.
  5. These potatoes also make great side dishes for those on your trip who still want a burger.

2. Campfire Salad

You don’t need meat to get a healthy dose of protein. This salad includes veggies and black beans to keep you energized and full.

Ingredients

Dressing

  • 1/4 cup sherry vinegar
  • 1 tsp. sugar
  • salt and black pepper
  • 2 tbsp. fresh oregano, minced
  • 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Salad

  • 2 lbs. asparagus, ends trimmed
  • 1 lbs. fresh green beans, cut into pieces
  • 3 large carrots, shredded
  • 1 cup canned black beans, drained and rinsed

Directions

  1. To make the dressing, use a whisk to mix the vinegar, sugar, and oregano. Season with salt and pepper, then slowly add the oil while whisking.
  2. Blanch the asparagus and green beans. Blanching is when you drop vegetables into boiling water briefly and then place them in ice-cold water immediately afterward for a minute or two.
  3. Combine your carrots, black beans, and green beans in a mixing bowl.
  4. Drizzle your dressing on top, mix thoroughly, and serve.

3. Campfire Couscous with Zucchini and Pine Nuts

As long as you have the right supplies and a portable kitchen, cooking gourmet meals is easy! This recipe offers a nice break from your typical camp food.

Ingredients

  • 4 tbsp. vegetable oil
  • 1 medium garlic clove, thinly sliced
  • salt and pepper
  • 3 cups dry couscous
  • 4-1/2 cups water
  • 1 fresh thyme sprig
  • 1 medium zucchini, seeded and diced
  • 1/4 cup toasted pine nuts
  • 3 tbsp. currants

Directions

  1. Heat 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil in a saucepan on medium heat. Add garlic and season with salt and pepper. Cook until garlic is softened.
  2. Add couscous and cook for about 5 minutes or until golden brown.
  3. Add your water and thyme sprig and reduce heat to medium-low. Then cover the pan and let the couscous simmer for about 8 minutes.
  4. Remove the pan from the stove and stir in the zucchini. Cover once more and let the pan sit for about 5 minutes.
  5. Stir in the pine nuts, currants, and remaining olive oil.

What are your favorite vegetarian recipes? Leave a comment and let us know!

Easy Camping Meals That Are Also Healthy

With a portable camp kitchen like the Summit, it’s now much easier to cook gourmet meals while camping. That said, it’s always a good idea to have a few easy meals in mind for when you’re tired and need a break from cooking. These easy camping meals are still healthy, and they require little work to prepare.

Breakfast: Oatmeal

Oatmeal is perfect for breakfast because it comprises whole grains and is substantial enough to keep you energized throughout the day. All you need are instant oats, water, and any toppings you might like to include. When buying instant oats, be sure to look for Original and avoid buying flavored packets, which contain added sugar. After cooking your oatmeal, add fruits, nuts, and other healthy toppings as desired.

Lunch: Black Bean & Mango Salad

Nutritious food can also be delicious if you choose the right meals. This salad is refreshing on a hot summer’s day and is great if you have any vegetarians camping with you. All you need are black beans, mangos, a sweet red bell pepper, onions, cilantro, olive oil, lime juice, and a dash of salt. To make this meal even easier, prepare the salad beforehand and store it in a cooler. That way, all you’ll have to do is serve the meal when you’re ready for lunch.

Dinner: Grilled Chicken Tikka

When you’re burnt out from a full day of activities, take it easy and make grilled chicken tikka for dinner. Before your camping trip, simply marinate boneless chicken pieces in a mixture of tandoori paste and plain Greek yogurt, then freeze it in a Ziplock bag. Make sure the chicken is fully thawed before grilling.

Snacks: Cut-up Veggies and Hummus

Instead of bringing along a bag of potato chips for an easy snack, cut up vegetables like carrots and broccoli that the family can snack on throughout the day. If you don’t like to eat veggies plain, hummus is a healthy alternative to vegetable dips.

Camping can be exhausting, so give yourself a break now and then with these easy and healthy camping meals.

Jazz up Your Camping Recipes and Get out of Your Meal Rut

When you think of “traditional camp foods,” what comes to mind? Probably s’mores and hot dogs, right? If that’s the case, then maybe it’s time to throw something new into the mix. Many campers stick with typical camp foods because it’s what they know, but you can easily branch out and create a whole new menu with the right cooking kits like the Outdoorsman and these three camping recipes.

1. Chicken Kebabs

Swap out those hot dogs and hamburgers for a healthier alternative. With lean meat and veggies, chicken kebabs make healthy eating easy!

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs. boneless chicken breast cut into small pieces
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 2 garlic cloves, chopped
  • salt and pepper
  • herbs de Provence (or any of your favorite spices)
  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes
  • 3 green peppers, sliced
  • 3 red peppers, sliced
  • 6 Vidalia onions, quartered and separated
  • 1 pint baby portabella mushrooms
  • 12 bamboo BBQ skewers

Directions

  1. Put the chicken pieces, olive oil, garlic cloves, and spices into a large ziploc bag. Marinate overnight.
  2. Soak skewers in water overnight while chicken is marinating.
  3. Arrange your chicken and veggies on the soaked skewers.
  4. Sprinkle kebobs with salt and pepper.
  5. Grill for 2 minutes on each side, turning three times.

2. Baked Apples

Sick of eating s’mores every night? Try using apples to make a deliciously sweet dessert instead.

Ingredients

  • 4 large baking apples
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/4 cup chopped pecans
  • 1/4 cup chopped raisins
  • 1 tbsp. butter

Directions

  1. After washing apples, remove apple cores, making the hole about 3/4-inch wide. Dig out seeds with a spoon.
  2. Combine sugar, cinnamon, raisins, and pecans in a small bowl. Then stuff each apple with this mixture.
  3. Wrap apples in aluminum foil and set in coals, baking for 15–20 minutes.

3. Lemon Dill Grilled Fish Filets

Going fishing on your trip? If you have a lucky day, take advantage of the fish you catch and use it to make lemon dill grilled fish filets!

Ingredients

  • 4 cleaned fish filets
  • 1 lemon, sliced in half
  • 1 tbsp. salt
  • 1 tbsp. dry dill
  • pepper for taste
  • olive oil
  • 4 foil sheets

Directions

  1. Use olive oil to grease bottom of foil sheet and place fish filet on top.
  2. Sprinkle each filet with pepper and 1/4 of the salt and dill.
  3. Use half your lemon and squeeze juice over fish. Slice the other half into rings and then place the rings on top of the fish. Drizzle olive oil over fish.
  4. Fold sides of foil and tightly seal.
  5. Place foil packets over smoldering coals for 3 minutes, then flip and continue cooking for 3 more minutes.
  6. Remove foil from fire and wait 5 minutes before eating.

You don’t have to suffer hot dogs and hamburgers every night of your camping trip. When you’re stuck in a meal rut, these best camping recipes will hit the spot.