Camping Cooking Made Easy

Finally warm weather is here and it is time to break out the tent and have some fun with family and friends. Looking forward to the camping weekend but not hot dogs on a stick for three days straight? Don't get me wrong I like hot dogs and s'mores but there are other options.

With a little prep at home you can have a full meal even around the campfire. With many dinner dishes you can make it ahead of time and freeze it so it just needs to be thawed and warmed over the fire or in a Dutch oven ,which by the way is fantastic for cooking in the woods.

Some meal ideas are:

Spaghetti and Meatballs: Prep the sauce at home including cooking the meat (hamburger, sausage etc..) and freeze in a large zipper-bag or plastic container. Then you only have to warm up the sauce and boil some water, as a bonus it acts as an icepack in your cooler. On a cold camping trip you will be surprised how satisfying a plate of pasta is.

Chicken: BBQ, Honey Mustard, Teriyaki, etc... Portion your chicken pieces and place in a zip-lock type bag. Pour in your sauce and freeze, or you can refrigerate it if it will be cooked on your first night out. This way the meat has plenty of time to marinate without you worrying about insects deciding to take a dip in your dinner.

Casseroles- Any Type: These can be made in a flash, and if you pre-cook them in the aluminum baking pans, it can be placed right on the griddle to be heated. Try not to make them too thick as it will extend the warming time and can make it somewhat dry. If the layers are thinner it heats quickly and maintains its moisture. As a bonus, it can feed a crowd of hungry campers. When heating the pre-cooked casserole, keep away from direct flame, heating over the coals ensures an even heat without lava like spots and ice cold spots. Some types that are good, chicken and rice, ham and cheese (ham and macaroni and cheese), lazy mans lasagna; the only limit is your imagination.

Grilled cheese: This is so, so easy to make while camping and even the pickiest kid will scarf it down in a heartbeat. No at home prep required. You can make them just like you do at home, or right on the grill for a toastier version. Add some ham, bologna, or tomatoes and bacon for a little variety. Add some homemade or prepackages soup for a full lunch or dinner.

If time is an issue or if cooking isn't your forte' there are many prepackaged foods that are quick to heat and eat. If you buy a closable fine grate grilling basket (it Is usually used for burgers, chicken, fish , and locks shut so your food does not fall out when flipping, I got mine at Walmart for around $10.00) you can make almost any type of food like: Hamburgers (classic camping fare anyway), chicken nuggets, breakfast waffles/pancakes, sausage, Hot Pockets, even French fries for the kids without much fuss and with easy cleanup.

Camping is fun, but, it's harder to cook in the woods. We go out many times a year with our young twins, and I don't want them living off of hot dogs alone. You can do it, start up that fire and make some food the whole family will enjoy!