August brings with it the last opportunity for camping out for the season for many of us. With cooler weather and busier schedules just around the corner, it can be our way of embracing those last precious days of summer. But if camping means eating beans out of can and burning a couple hot dogs, it's time to rethink eating in the great outdoors. With a little planning and some creative thinking, you can have a great time in the outdoors and eat like royalty while you're at it.
Since you're likely to be camping for at least a couple of days (it wouldn't be camping without an overnight stay, would it?), I'm including a few recipes here to cover breakfast, dinner and even dessert. The recipes give you an idea about how to expand your options when camping.
Breakfast in a Paper Bag
- 1-2 strips bacon
- 1-2 handfuls frozen hash browns
- 1-2 eggs
- Seasonings to taste
Take a paper lunch bag and place the bacon strips on the bottom of the bag. Toss in the potatoes and break in the egg(s). Close the bag by folding down the top at least three times but leaving 3-4 inches of air space above the food.
Insert a pointed stick only through the top folded part of the bag. Hold the bag on the stick about 4-5 inches over the hot coals for about 8-10 minutes. (Be careful not to touch the coals or hold over the flames or you'll set your breakfast on fire!)
Remove the bag from the heat and pull out the stick with an oven mitt. Open the bag and fold down the paper. Eat right out of the brown bag. Throw your "dishes" in the fire. (But don't forget to save the forks!)
- Yields: 1 serving
- Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Fish Hobo Dinner
- Freshly caught fish, boned and skinned
- Lemon pepper
- Butter...lots of butter
- Veggies to taste (onions, green peppers, mushrooms, what ever you like...these taste good with fish)
- Potatoes to taste
Mix all of the ingredients together and place them in a heavy duty aluminum foil package. Place the package into the fire. Let it cook until the potatoes are soft and enjoy. Do not put into hot part of fire as this takes time to cook in all the juices from the fish and butter. The slower it cooks, the better it tastes.
- Yields: Depends on the amounts used
- Preparation Time: About 30 minutes
Tired of S'mores
- Marshmallows
- Reese's Peanut Butter Cups
- Soft Batch Chocolate Chip Cookies
Roast the marshmallow over a campfire. Place between two cookies with the Reese's Peanut Butter Cup. Rich and delicious!
- Yields: Depends on the amounts used
- Preparation Time: About 3 minutes