Written by: Mary Moran
Los Angeles, Ca July 20th, 2015 – How to make foods for camping was one of the highlights of my childhood summer camp experience, and, so 28 years later it only makes since that I finally trekked out to the wilderness to have a real camp experience.
Cooking over a campfire was my last choice when I filled out my class schedule and as fate should have it, the class found it’s way on to my agenda. The next day I was supposed to check-in down by the lake at 9 am. As all my friends took off to their lanyards, necklace making and hip hop classes I was off to the smelly lake filled with the unknown.
It all changed as I arrived, my eyes lit as the fire burned and mouth-watered as the mozzarella cheese fell out of the mystery bag of goodies. Our first item to make over the golden flames was our own pizzas and the second item was s’mores, and though I have forgotten the rest of the menus over the course of the class the love for cooking over an open fire has remained.
Recently my family of four plus a few friends decided it was time to go camping. We planned for weeks: tent, sleeping bags, coolers, water, location, etc and with such fond memories from years ago I took on dinner.
Recently my family of four plus a few friends decided it was time to go camping. We planned for weeks: tent, sleeping bags, coolers, water, location, etc and with such fond memories from years ago I took on dinner.
The day had finally arrived and because California was/is in a huge drought and the camp grounds was difficult to get a hold of (which meant dinner may or may not be able to be cooked on a bonfire) and not wanting to run the risk of ruining my one job I planned for an easy no cook dinner.
I unloaded the groceries onto my counter. My initial plan was to make everything ahead of time. Then after it was made I would label the food perfectly so all we had to do was unwrap everything. It was fail proof.
As I was thinking about our trip I thought, ”oh no, what am I going to do without wifi, cell service and my social media apps?” (Not to mention use a hole in the ground for a toilet!!!!). Despite the ease of my plan I decided a better plan was to make everything at the campground for the purpose of entertainment. I loaded the cooler with everything. It looked like a total mess, seriously, and pretty soon I didn’t know what I had and hadn’t packed and what I really needed in order to make everything.
The car was stuffed to the brim and loaded with everything and then some for one night of car camping. As we pulled up to our camp ground high in the mountains the view took my breath away and as we pulled up to the vacant lot I realized the memory from childhood was very different from the plot of land before me.
With high winds and pouring rain my husband jumped out of the car and set up the tent. The boys (2 and 4 years old) sat on the back of our car gate and coached my husband on where to put the tent.
Once the rain stopped my two and a half year old needed a job so we handed him a ruler and sent him to measure a log (I love two-year-olds, they’re so agreeable, sometimes). The tent was up and we were settled and everyone was happy.
After long wonderful walks around the campground everyone’s stomachs were growling and the kids temperaments were wavering. It was time to cook or rather put together dinner. The menu was hummus and pita, cantaloupe, caprese and prosciutto sandwiches, arugula salad and orzo and asparagus pasta with plain pasta for the kids. YUM!
As I was putting it together I realized I had forgotten a lot, if that was even possible.
- Forgot a bowl to mix the salad—solution: mixed the salad in the bag with the dressing and then served it out of the bag.
- Forgot there were flies in nature (I am kidding by the way)—solution: covered everything in foil.
- Forgot enough plates for kids and adults and serving food—solution: served food on the cutting board.
- Forgot red wine vinegar for the salad—solution: not my favorite but used the balsamic glaze instead.
- I made way too much food and then after we were done it had to sit in our car-unrefrigerated… eeewww. No solution.
As I stood back, it was a colorful masterpiece. I laughed, because this was far from roughing it, nothing like the cooking class I took as a girl and a completely different direction than the camping articles I had read online earlier. While I’m on the subject I have to mention this one article in particular where a serious wilderness man gave tips on how to cook an egg in orange rind over an open fire (I was intrigued, but I definitely wasn’t trying that this time).
Even though the dry conditions were so severe we were able to have a fire, which meant s’mores! No matter how fancy my main course turned out to be there was going to be nothing fancy or more satisfying than a toasted marshmallow smothered between chocolate and graham crackers. Camping at it’s finest.
As we slept under a blanket of stars and listened to nature talk outside our canvas tent I knew I would be back. I knew I could make everything ahead of time but it was part of my fun to make certain things on-sight, it allowed for great conversation, tons of fun and it kept me from missing my Internet.
What are your favorite foods to cook on a camping trip?
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