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2013-10-09 9:56 AM

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Subject: Camping Meals
We've picked up the camping schedule recently and menu planning gives me a headache. We're car camping, so I'll have a Coleman two burner and a portable grill available. What are your favorite camping meals?



2013-10-09 10:17 AM
in reply to: Goosedog

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Subject: RE: Camping Meals

Breakfast would be chocolate pancakes. Just dump a cocoa packet into one of those shake-and-pour bisquick containers. Bacon and eggs are good, too, as are breakfast burritos. Don't forget the Jiffy Pop!

2013-10-09 10:18 AM
in reply to: Goosedog

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Subject: RE: Camping Meals

There are other options beyond bacon?

I keep breakfast easy - Clif bar, cereal, that kind of thing. Scrambled eggs/bacon would also be easy.
Lunches I like sandwiches and pasta salad, you can make all of that ahead. Trail mix, string cheese, jerky, dates for snacks.

You're probably asking more about dinners though.
Spaghetti and meat sauce is pretty easy to make. You can even pre-make most of it if you don't want to mess with boiling water. Just heat up the sauce and toss with your pre-made noodles. Obviously burgers/brauts. Grilled chicken/steaks - pack it in a marinade zip lock. Veggie kabobs. Chili. Smores.
 

2013-10-09 10:20 AM
in reply to: Goosedog

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Subject: RE: Camping Meals
Are you going to be fishing or hunting too or do you want self contained meal ideas? Any dietary restrictions or picky eaters? I have lots of go-to meals, but I need a bit more info...
2013-10-09 10:24 AM
in reply to: switch

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Subject: RE: Camping Meals
Originally posted by switch

Are you going to be fishing or hunting too or do you want self contained meal ideas? Any dietary restrictions or picky eaters? I have lots of go-to meals, but I need a bit more info...


Self-contained with no dietary restrictions. The kids are useless eaters, so that's not even worth trying to address.

I didn't know pourable pancake mix was a thing.

2013-10-09 10:45 AM
in reply to: Goosedog

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Subject: RE: Camping Meals
Lots of options but an easy one is a hobo dinner

basically it's a ball of meat (your choice) and veggies and whatever spices you want. Double wrap it in heavy duty foil and put on hot coals (not a roaring fire)

Obviously S'mores are required and easy.

So many options with a gas grill and a campfire.

Check out boy scout dinners and you will be surprised at the ideas.


2013-10-09 10:55 AM
in reply to: 0

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Subject: RE: Camping Meals

Originally posted by Goosedog
Originally posted by switch Are you going to be fishing or hunting too or do you want self contained meal ideas? Any dietary restrictions or picky eaters? I have lots of go-to meals, but I need a bit more info...
Self-contained with no dietary restrictions. The kids are useless eaters, so that's not even worth trying to address. I didn't know pourable pancake mix was a thing.

OK, cool.

A couple of things I've learned about car camping and kids: prep work makes the whole trip and the quality of food much better, and, FWIW, if you can get the kids  involved in making the food (or gathering ingrediants), they usually like the food. 

If memory serves, you're a pizza and beer guy, right?  Campfire pizza is awesome, and you can get the kids involved (let them make their own).  Here's a how-to vid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8wpmRfnimo 

You can make the dough ahead of time and store it in a tupperware or even a ziplock bag.

One of the things our camp kids love is to make foil packs to cook on a campfire--you can precut potatoes, carrots, parsnip, fennel, and brats or chorizo (adults) and some fresh herbs (rosemary and thyme are good ones and their abundant right now) and  S&P, a little xvoo or butter, then let them choose what they want in their foil pack.  Again, the control aspect and the "I made dinner!" component is pretty powerful with kids. Older kids (your son is eight, right?), can even be included in some cutting prep if they're anxious to practice some knife skills.  This is a great meal for adults too.

Campfire chilli or a good beef stew like beef bourguignon (gotta love any recipe that calls for a bottle of red wine and a lb of bacon), can be made ahead of time and cooked the first night while you're getting set up and exploring and don't want to do anything super time intensive.

Taking some quickbreads (pumpkin or banana bread) and some bar kinda things (date bars, lemon bars, something like that) is a nice thing to have on hand for desert.  Kids love smores.  We tried to resist smores at camp for a long time, but kids just freakin love them. 

A dutch oven is a great cooking tool to have, though I am a pretty strong woman and I think they're really heavy.  There are some really good recipes online for things to cook in a dutch oven http://www.dutchovendude.com/dutch-oven-recipes.asp, though many of them use processed things (like yellow cake mix) I try to steer clear of.

Something like this apple cobbler tends to go over really well, if you want to cook a dessert.

http://www.cooks.com/recipe/li1kh090/apple-cobbler.html

Fajitas, any pasta dish (scampi is pretty great, and is easy if you pre-cook the shrimp), nachos all seem to be big hits too.

It's so much easier when you don't have to pack it all in--sounds awesome:)



Edited by switch 2013-10-09 10:56 AM
2013-10-09 10:58 AM
in reply to: Jtiger

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Subject: RE: Camping Meals
I like to pre-make chicken and veggie kabobs - very little clean up required and they cook pretty fast and get your meat and veggies in one. I usually make rice to go with them- but couscous is really good too.
Skirt steak- marinated ahead is good to.
I like to make some kind of muffins/ quick bread to grab when you don't feel like cooking (make prior to leaving) Cheese biscuits are good for this too.
Bagels and peanut butter are an easy breakfast or lunch option.
2013-10-09 11:10 AM
in reply to: Goosedog

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Subject: RE: Camping Meals
A fave on mine is the hobo meal.... get some stew beef, potatoes, carrots, a some butter.. wrap in aluminum foil.. throw it in the fire seam up (dont want to lose any juices.)

not sure this will work is a coleman.. but you have a camp fire.. perfect.
2013-10-09 11:13 AM
in reply to: Goosedog

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Subject: RE: Camping Meals
+1 for hobo meals. I camp often when climbing (but not with young ones). Typically I'll have eggs and meat for breakfast. Deli ham or pre-cooked ground beef is good to scramble into eggs..along with stir fried veggies if you want. Lunhc is usually trail side...if I'm on my own, trail mix and protein bars, and pb&j it is. When my girlfriend comes, she usually packs us deli meat and cheese to roll up together, some chopped up veggies, fruit and peanut butter for dipping the veggies. We usually pack hard boiled eggs too for whenever.

Dinner time is usually a hobo meal or burgers.
2013-10-09 11:15 AM
in reply to: Goosedog

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Subject: RE: Camping Meals


2013-10-09 11:17 AM
in reply to: strykergt

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Subject: RE: Camping Meals

Originally posted by strykergt MRE

You're a sick, sick individual.

2013-10-09 11:53 AM
in reply to: switch

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Subject: RE: Camping Meals
Originally posted by switch

Originally posted by strykergt MRE

You're a sick, sick individual.




I was going to suggest MRE's as well there are a few that aren't that bad
2013-10-09 11:55 AM
in reply to: austhokie

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Subject: RE: Camping Meals
With kids you have to do hot dogs on the stick at least once. Beans, too. And then you can recreate the scene from Blazing Saddles. Also a kid pleaser.
2013-10-09 12:21 PM
in reply to: austhokie

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Subject: RE: Camping Meals
Originally posted by austhokie

Originally posted by switch

Originally posted by strykergt MRE

You're a sick, sick individual.




I was going to suggest MRE's as well there are a few that aren't that bad


Some MREs are actually pretty good. Lotta calories, though.

If you're hobo-dinner'ing it, you can extend the theme into dessert territory: partially split a banana, add chocolate chips, peanut butter, mini-marshmallows, nuts, etc., wrap in foil and heat up by the fire. Open up and eat w/ a spork.

S'mores are still king, but it's a nice change of pace.
2013-10-09 12:27 PM
in reply to: Goosedog

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Subject: RE: Camping Meals

I discovered a perfect camping meal last camping trip and it only required a kettle. I cooked over the fire. Here's my macaroni and cheese in a kettle.

Fill kettle that has a strainer over the spout with water.

Boil water over fire.

Add macaroni. Continue to boil.

Drain by pouring. Water will come out by not macaroni. Genius, I think!

Add cheese, tuna and rest of the stuff in the kettle.



2013-10-09 1:25 PM
in reply to: switch

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Subject: RE: Camping Meals
Originally posted by switch

Originally posted by strykergt MRE

You're a sick, sick individual.

Don't forget sadistic....   Foot in mouth

2013-10-09 1:30 PM
in reply to: jeng

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Subject: RE: Camping Meals

pasta and hobo dinners are almost always on the menu as well as hot dogs cooked on a stick over the fire for "tradition".  S'mores as well cuz that's just what you do on camping trips.  I will do eggs and bacon that first day as well.

Since you are car camping, weight is not a total issue, but space might be.  I tend to portion out just enough ingredients and condiments to get by and not bring the entire gallon of milk or entire ketchup bottle.

Also pack your cooler in the order you eat it (last goes in first).  So you work your way down and don't have to dig around and keep it open for long periods of time.

I may do a lot of the precooking at home.  Like brown the hamburger at home and pack it cooked then just add it to the sauce and heat.

I also like opening up dried soups (like Nile) and putting them in a zip lock then adding hot water for a quick meal.

Man, now I'm thinking about how good food is on a camping trip.  All your senses seem to heighten in the fresh air for some reason.

2013-10-09 2:12 PM
in reply to: MadMathemagician

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Subject: RE: Camping Meals
Originally posted by MadMathemagician
Originally posted by switch

Originally posted by strykergt MRE

You're a sick, sick individual.

Don't forget sadistic....   Foot in mouth

Well, sadistic may cancel out the sick, or enhance it...

I haven't had an MRE in >20 years, and if I never have another one, that would be cool.  I'm sure some are "fine," but the idea of it is just too much--mass produced food that is packaged to last for years?  *shudder*

2013-10-09 2:50 PM
in reply to: Goosedog

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Subject: RE: Camping Meals
How much time and effort do you want to put into meals?

As Kido suggested, do a lot of prep work at home, precook (and pre-season) hamburger. You can also cook/freeze/reheat foods, just pick things that reheat easily in a skillet.

When I do foil dinners/hobo meals, I break the hamburger into small pieces and dice the potatoes and vegetables. It cooks more evenly. I also use a touch of Italian dressing as an all-in-one seasoning, grease,liquid.

I've done jumbalaya, beef and noodles, spanish rice, chili mac, fried rice, and beef stew as dinners. Sauteed cabbage makes a nice side dish.

Hawaiian sandwiches (grill texas toast, head ham/spam with a pineapple ring, add some cheese if you like) have been a big lunch-time hit if you plan to be at the campsite for the meal. Often, lunch is planned to be very portable so we can take it wherever we're going and eat when we choose. These meals might include pudding cups.

Breakfast burritos or breakfast casseroles are good, especially on a cool morning. If you pre-bake potatoes, they brown nicely as home fries. I usually skip pancakes on a campout because they're hard to cook and serve warm.

You can simplify making smores by using a fudge-stripe cookie or fudge grahams instead of separate graham crackers and chocolate bars. If you have a dutch oven, pineapple upside down cake or black forest cobbler (cherry pie filling with chocolate cake mix) are good. If you'd like a savory snack instead of a sweet snack try egg drop soup and some egg rolls or nachos. I've also done patty-melt squares (brown hamburger, mix in some cheese spread, smear onto the rye squares with a little onion and toast).
2013-10-09 3:35 PM
in reply to: McFuzz

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Subject: RE: Camping Meals
I still giggle every time I read "Dutch Oven" in this thread.

Hee hee.


2013-10-09 4:18 PM
in reply to: danimal123

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Subject: RE: Camping Meals
Excellent stuff folks. Thanks.

2013-10-09 5:39 PM
in reply to: Goosedog

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Subject: RE: Camping Meals
Timely thread as I'm getting ready to do some car camping as well.  Now if they'd hurry up and open up some national parks so I can skip the fines.  
2013-10-09 9:46 PM
in reply to: Goosedog

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Subject: RE: Camping Meals
+1 for camp chili. Make it up before you go and just heat it.

Not exactly health food but for some variation:

Breakfast - perogies with sour cream, bacon and a hot mug of hot chocolate (I'm assuming cooler temps).
- Loved the pancake idea but I'd mix in banana slices or spread on nutella.
- breakfast burritos with fried egg, cheese, beans and salsa.

Lunches - usually hot dogs, burgers or brauts.

Dinners - stir fried veggies, fried "Crap" dinner (precooked Kraft dinner - then fry it up) plus any meat or more bacon.
- a bit old school but "Sloppy Joes"


2013-10-10 12:23 PM
in reply to: Goosedog

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Subject: RE: Camping Meals
Originally posted by Goosedog

We've picked up the camping schedule recently and menu planning gives me a headache. We're car camping, so I'll have a Coleman two burner and a portable grill available. What are your favorite camping meals?




I have given up cooking while car camping except for boiling water.

If you are camping relatively close to civilization, you can usually get pizza delivered. There is also usually a microwave in the camp store. Sometimes even BBQ grills.
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