Somehow food tastes much better outdoors. Maybe it's the crisp and fresh air. Maybe my appetite is bigger. Maybe it's being able to eat without being interrupted by the phone!
The only drawback to camping cooking is preparing and cleaning up. I don't like cooking multi-step recipes or scrubbing smoke-stained dishes in less than adequate dishpans after the meal when I can be watching the sunset.
That is why my favorite cooking 'pot' is aluminum foil.
Foil cooking allows you to prepare delicous meals in the coals of your campfire and have nothing to wash when dinner is over! Below are 7 of my favorite foil wrap recipes. But first let's go over the basics of tin foil cooking:
Use heavy-duty foil so you don't burn the food and so the packet doesn't tear.Use assembly-line technique, not one foil packet at a time. EPut some butter in the packet so your food won't stick to the packet.Sprinkle seasonings generously. It makes others think you are a pro at this.Double-seal by folding twice to keep the moisture in. When you fold leave air room for heat circulation inside.Don't cook foil packets over roaring fire. A small fire or white hot coals is better.
Tip: For first night, prepare the foil packets at home. When you get to camp, just toss them on the coals.
Here are 7 foil packet recipes: Note: depending on how hot the coals are, it takes generally 20-30 minutes, less for fish or pre-cooked items. Turn every 5 minutes.
Recipe 1. Ham & Sweet Potato
- 1 slice of pre-cooked ham (this can be fresh or canned)
- 1 serving canned yams (about 3 pieces)
- 1 or 2 canned pineapple rings
- 1 to 2 tablespoons of brown sugar
- 1/2 tablespoon butter
Recipe 2. Chicken Potato Packets
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
- 4 medium red potatoes, cut in 1/2-inch cubes
- 2 cups frozen green peas
- 1 jar (12 oz.) chicken gravy
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/8 teaspoon pepper
Recipe 3. Baby back pork ribs
- 3 pounds baby back pork ribs
- 1 tablespoon packed brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons pepper
- ½ cup water
- 1 ½ cups barbecue sauce
Or just purchase a packet of ready-to-heat Lloyds Barbecue Ribs
Recipe 4. Tuscan Sword Fish
- 1 can (15 oz.) Great Northern or cannellini beans, rinsed, drained
- 1 medium tomato, chopped
- 2 tablespoons prepared pesto, divided
- 2 swordfish steaks (4 to 6 oz. each)
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon pepper
- 2 lemon slices
Recipe 5. Shrimp Jambalaya Packets
- 1 pound peeled and de-veined medium uncooked shrimp
- 4 cups cooked rice
- ½ pound smoked sausage, sliced
- 1 can (14 1/2 oz.) diced tomatoes with garlic and onions
- 1 medium green bell pepper, chopped
- 3 to 4 teaspoons dried Cajun seasoning
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce
Recipe 6 Mexican Pork Packets
- 4 boneless pork chops, about 1/2-inch thick
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 cup medium chunky salsa
- 1 can (15 1/4 oz.) whole kernel corn, drained OR 1 package (10 oz.) frozen whole kernel corn
- ½ cup chopped green bell pepper
Recipe 7 Cranberry Apple Sweet Potatoes
- 4 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch slices
- 2 Granny Smith or Golden Delicious apples, cored, thinly sliced in rings
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- 3 tablespoons margarine or butter, melted
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Have fun foil cooking. Open the foil carefully to avoid a burst of hot steam .
For foil dessert recipes, watch a video of how to assemble campfire banana boat and other foil-wrapped dessert recipes [http://www.joyofcamping.com/camping-tips/campfire-smores-banana-split].
