Camping Food

Before we went to Harlan last week, I searched the internet for camping food ideas, just so I had something other than grilled meat. I think the best thing for camping is to have your food already prepared (chopped, seasoned etc.) and put it in baggies (for messy stuff) & foil - if you're planning on cooking it. I meant to take a bunch of pictures but it was cold...and we were hungry.

Friday for lunch we had PB&Js (already made in baggies) because I knew we would be running around all day and might not get near a flame. We also had Pringles, which are especially useful on camping trips because you don't have to find a 'special place' to put the bag of chips so that they don't get crushed. I bought Pringles snack stacks which are very convenient because I don't have to find a place for the big tube, I just threw a few in my back pack before heading out on the trail. (I think they were $5 for 24 at Wal-Mart)

Friday for dinner we had steak & potatoes. Wal-Mart sells vacuum-packed steaks in a box- I bought a box with 6 rib-eyes for about $10....and they were AWESOME. I may buy vacuum packed steaks to eat at home! Anyway, the vacuum packaging is awesome because I didn't have to take all 6 with me and I could stick them right on the ice (and if the ice melts they won't get nasty floating in the water). For our side, I chopped up about 6 potatoes & half an onion before we left and put them in a gallon baggie, then added EVOO, salt & pepper. When it came time for cooking I drained the baggie a little and then placed the contents on a large piece of foil and folded it up the sides to make a big pocket. Last week Jeremy bought a Tool Box Grill and it was great, the perfect size. He also used a coupon code to buy it! He is learning so well!

Saturday for breakfast...we were cheaters and we went to a family-owned gas station down the street which happend to serve up an AWESOME made from scratch bacon, egg & cheese sandwich. However, I had prepared an "omelet" in a baggie which included six eggs, cheese salt and pepper, and sauage....we just never got a chance to eat it. If we did, I would have put a skillet on Jeremy's grill, poured the bagged contents out and watched it cook. Oh well, the gas station was g-o-o-d.

Saturday for lunch we had pita pizzas. I made these ahead of time putting tomato sauce, cheese, pepperoni (and other random ingredients) in a pita. I wrapped them in foil and put them in a gallon baggie (foil so they're ready for cooking and baggie so I can keep them in the cooler and not risk getting wet from ice). Now, if we had been at the campsite I would have cooked them nice and toasty on a campfire or grill, however, we were on the trail all day and Jeremy used his perfected art of manifold cooking. Now, as seen by the temperature gauge in your car, the engine temperature should not get above 210 degrees, so this is technically not cooking, it's just high heat warming, so don't throw a hamburger on your engine and expect it to cook in less than 5 hours...I also wouldn't do that because of the grease...no engine fires please. The picture to the side is Jeremy cooking up some pizza rolls and burritos which we ate Friday (because we didn't eat dinner until 11pm) and also Saturday (because we didn't eat until midnight). Anyway, if you are going on a road trip and want a hot meal (and not fast food) throw a burrito under the hood then get it out an hour or 2 later. yum-o.

Saturday for dinner we had brats on the grill and pudgy pies. If you have not had a pudgy pie, go to Wal-Mart and buy a pudgy pie (or sandwich) maker. It's less than $10 and well worth it. A pudgey pie is two slices of bread filled with pie filling (we used cherry). I brought butter spray (SO convenient when camping) and coated the outsides of the bread and put it in the pudgy pie mechanism. Cook it over a fire until the bread is nice and toasty. Mmmm I want one right now. The pudgy pie thing may also be used to make grilled cheese, or grilled ham or cheese or toast,or anything else you would like hot and in sandwich form.

Sunday for Breakfast we had cereal. I would've cooked up the omelets that I had planned for Saturday morning but we were packing up and just wanted to get home.

Okay, that ends my cooking recipes....Even if no one reads my silly blog at least I'll remember what to bring and how to make it on the next trip!