Enjoy the Great Outdoors with Delicious Food

I have a secret?I am not a great outdoors camper? I only lasted 2 weeks as a Girl Scout!  Camping may not be for me, but for thousands it is their one escape they look forward to every year.  Whether you camp to enjoy the smells, sounds, and subtleness of the wilderness or you go to escape the city, I still want to give you some cooking and packing tips to help make your trip as successful as possible.  I look at camping much like catering (which I know a lot about).  Cold foods must stay cold and sanitation is key so the group doesn?t get sick and the great outing isn?t ruined.  State parks are full all season long with tents, RVs, campfires and the joyous sounds crackling wood while cooking over an open fire.

You can search on how to make the perfect fire, use a Coleman grill or cook inside the RV.  Any way you choose there are some basics you need to remember so the cold foods stay cold and hot foods are cooked to the right temperature and served properly.  Nothing worse than feeling under the weather while away from home!

Prepare a menu and pack it as it will be used to maximize space as well as limit the opening/closing of coolers and/or refrigeration stations.  Select foods that can be reworked into other dishes with minimal ingredients:

Burgers   >>>   sloppy Joes   >>>   chili over Fritos with cheese
Meatloaf   >>>   burgers   >>>   tacos

Other recommendations include:

Bring chicken or chops camping freeze them in marinade, and figure 1/person to help reduce leftovers.
Double wrap potatoes in foil to place in fire to bake.  Cut up leftovers to add with eggs the next day for a skillet dish.
Lunch & Snack Ideas: hot dogs, PB & J, and assorted dips with veggies & fruit
Brats can be cooked in beer for dinners.  Add kraut to the same skillet for a festive evening.

Packing & Storage

Use resealable bags to keep foods sealed and leak free.  Freeze items flat so they can double as cooler cubes for packing.  Boxes (better for stacking than bags) of frozen vegetables are great chillers and perfect for cooking.  Frozen vegetables are blanched and can be ready served.
Bring frozen foods that can be used as they thaw, if they are already in marinade, all the better!
Think about packing & minimizing.  Use individual serve condiments like those from McCormick (see previous blog on McCormick pre-packed spices).  Buy ingredients that will last only the time you are camping; less to bring home.
Minimize your cookware by having each item work several duties. Wooden spoons are great because they have 2 ends to use. Discard when done (3/$1.00).  Use disposable utensils, eating ware & drink ware.  If you wish to go green, provide each family member with a ?for them? color of ware for the outing and keep it all together in mesh bags.

Cooler Space

Use the freezer vegetables and meats as the ?ice? for the refrigerated items.  Check your recipes to make sure you have all the correct ingredients. It may help to bundle them and place the frozen items as the dividers.
It may be hard to keep milk cold enough on a trip, so use items like frozen yogurt ?pops? or freeze yogurt cups to serve for dessert or a cool snack.  Cheese is great anytime, and boxed dry milk can be added to pancake mixes, casseroles, and soups to provide calcium without having to worry about the cold factor.