Camping season is just around the corner (in fact we head out for our first weekend trip next weekend, come sun or snow!) and with that comes the joy of open-fire cooking. I was wondering what all you like to cook while out camping? Do you have a favorite recipe? Or maybe a great tip to share with all of us?
The two couples we usually go with are all foodies, like me and Wanda, so even though we do Hamburgers & hot dogs we also try to do a couple of interesting meals. One of my favorites (newly favorite as I created it last time out) is Tandoori Spiced Grilled Chicken Thighs with Sweet Potatoes and Caramelized Onions. It is simple and much of it is make ahead. At home I rub down chicken thighs with a mixture of Tandoori Seasoning (found at Penzey's or The Spice House) mixed with some ground Chipotle, to kick up the heat. I also make a ''hobo'' packet of peeled, sliced and blanched sweet potatoes, caramelized onions, salt, pepper, butter, a hint of cinnamon, and a hint of the ground chipotle. This is wrapped in 2-3 layers of aluminum foil. Everything is put into the cooler and all I have to do grill the chicken and throw the ''hobo packet'' into the embers to heat it up.
While camping I am all about saving time on the cooking chores (that leaves more time for hiking, running the dogs and of course drinking serious amounts of beer), so we do lots of things in advance, and pack it up to take with us. We usually do oatmeal for one breakfast so I mix it all up with loads of nuts and dried fruits, sugar, salt, etc. and put it into a ziplock bag so all you have to do is boil water, add the contents of the bag and stir. Muffeletta style sandwiches are also great. I make them the morning we leave, wrap them in a couple layers of plastic wrap, and since I use really crusty bread they are perfect the following day for lunch. All that oil and vinegar has seeped into the bread, but they aren't overly soggy, and all those flavors have add 24+ hours to meld and mingle.
The two couples we usually go with are all foodies, like me and Wanda, so even though we do Hamburgers & hot dogs we also try to do a couple of interesting meals. One of my favorites (newly favorite as I created it last time out) is Tandoori Spiced Grilled Chicken Thighs with Sweet Potatoes and Caramelized Onions. It is simple and much of it is make ahead. At home I rub down chicken thighs with a mixture of Tandoori Seasoning (found at Penzey's or The Spice House) mixed with some ground Chipotle, to kick up the heat. I also make a ''hobo'' packet of peeled, sliced and blanched sweet potatoes, caramelized onions, salt, pepper, butter, a hint of cinnamon, and a hint of the ground chipotle. This is wrapped in 2-3 layers of aluminum foil. Everything is put into the cooler and all I have to do grill the chicken and throw the ''hobo packet'' into the embers to heat it up.
While camping I am all about saving time on the cooking chores (that leaves more time for hiking, running the dogs and of course drinking serious amounts of beer), so we do lots of things in advance, and pack it up to take with us. We usually do oatmeal for one breakfast so I mix it all up with loads of nuts and dried fruits, sugar, salt, etc. and put it into a ziplock bag so all you have to do is boil water, add the contents of the bag and stir. Muffeletta style sandwiches are also great. I make them the morning we leave, wrap them in a couple layers of plastic wrap, and since I use really crusty bread they are perfect the following day for lunch. All that oil and vinegar has seeped into the bread, but they aren't overly soggy, and all those flavors have add 24+ hours to meld and mingle.
