You don't have to go far, or spend a lot of money to camp, and if you do most of your prep work before you leave, once you're there, it's all a snap.
We never fail to have the time of our lives!
Here are some recipes, ideas, and suggestions that we've collected. If you haven't camped before, give it a try--what do you have to lose?
You may just discover that you all love it too!
I like to set a nice table even if I'm camping. Yes, I forgo the cloth napkins, but there's no reason you can't fancy it up a little bit. I found these awesome picnic table covers that I can't live without. They're vinyl and have elastic edges that hold onto your table regardless of the wind. They clean up with a damp cloth and there's covers for the benches too. I always send the kids to pick some wildflowers while I'm cooking and we have a "camping vase" for the table!
I also suggest picking a spot with a lovely view. You may not have the Pacific Ocean, but a pretty field, or a grassy bluff can be just as tranquil.
If you're looking for things to cook other than burgers & hot dogs--take a look at the suggestions below. Some of them we learned during our time in the Girl Scouts, and we still love making them now. The Hobo Fire Packets are easy and there's pretty much no clean up. Everything is seasoned and bundles into foil packets. Kids love these. They'd snub a meal like this at home, but for some reason--campfires are magical.
Hobo Fire Packet Dinners
~On a sheet of heavy-duty foil, place 2 cabbage leaves, marinated chicken -or- hamburger patty, thinly sliced potatoes, a little celery and thinly sliced onions. Sprinkle well with salt, pepper and garlic powder. Seal tightly and cook over campfire for about 20 to 25 minutes.
Test for doneness.
If you've never grilled a banana before, now is the time. These are so delicious. Make certain not to flip them over while grilling though...that could be really messy.
They're stuffed with chocolate chips and marshmallows. Sure to be a family favorite!
Girl Scout Dessert Delights
~Cut a whole unpeeled banana halfway through--end to end. Place marshmallows and chocolate chips in the split part. Close banana slightly and wrap securely in foil--keeping cut end up for sure.
Cook over campfire for about 12 minutes, until everything is melted and gooey. Open foil CAREFULLY and remove from peel. Serve.
This is my husbands idea of an ideal camp meal. Something about the stack of pans makes him feel like we're "roughing it" I think. It is pretty impressive how it's all finished at once. Hobo's know how it's done...
Fancy Fire Dinner
~Put a pan of hot dogs in water over the fire. Use a second pan as a lid and fill with can of pork -n beans. Top that with a metal pie plate. Into the pie plate pour a prepared Jiffy muffin mix. Cover with a 10 inch lid. It takes about 15 minutes for the muffin batter to thoroughly bake, and by then the hot dogs are cooked and the beans are hot and ready. Serve together.
This is the perfect dessert to go with the "Fancy Fire Dinner" above. Be careful, these suckers get scorching hot. But they're fantastic and the kids will laugh hearing the apples "sing".
Apple Singers
~Place an apple on a cooking stick and roast over campfire until the apple sizzles (sings) and the skin splits. Cool for a minute, then carefully peel away the skin. Slice into quarters. Roll immediately in a mixture of cinnamon and sugar.
What's a camp out without S'Mores? Wrong, that's what. Here's a few variations we've tried and liked.
S’mores Variations
Strawberry S’mores:
Cinnamon graham crackers
Strawberry marshmallows
White or milk chocolate candy bar
Chocolate S’mores:
Chocolate graham crackers
Chocolate marshmallows
Chocolate candy bars
Peanut Butter S’mores:
Graham crackers
Marshmallows
Peanut butter cups
Usually, the night before a camping trip, I will fry three pounds of bacon and drain it and store it in a Ziploc bag.
That way breakfast is a snap. I can make eggs and pancakes and just heat up the bacon instead of having to fry it all. It’s also handy to have for BLT’s as we always have tomatoes and lettuce for our burgers.
I also like to make fresh lemonade and put it in large Ziploc baggies in the cooler. It takes up little space and I can just pour it into a pitcher at the camp site. Everyone loves lemonade.
If you’re planning to make grilled chicken, prepare the marinade and put it in a large Ziploc bag with the chicken.
Most marinades are just fine to use overnight and the chicken stays so juicy. Here’s one of my favorites and it’s always a hit! You can serve it with warm tortillas and salsa, or with a baked potato and corn—even chopped into strips on top of your favorite salad. It’s quite versatile.
ADOBE MARINADE for chicken
1 teaspoon peppercorns
3 bay leaves
2 teaspoon minced garlic
1/3 cup balsamic or red wine vinegar
1/3 cup soy sauce
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt
1 cup water
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
Mix all ingredients well. Marinate chicken in it at least 1 hour in refrigerator—up to 24 hrs. Grill.
Most of all, enjoy your time together. It's the best thing ever for us to get away without tvs, computers, video games and focus on having fun in nature. We hike, swim, read, play games, collect shells and collapse into our tent each night and sleep like logs, hearing only the ocean tide and crickets.
