Good Campfire Cooking

Matt said:

Camping season is upon us. I like to bring some good food
when I go car camping (as opposed to backpack camping
when weight doesn't allow carrying coolers). In the past
I've done stuffed Cornish game hen wrapped in foil over
the fire. Creek potatoes are always good. I've made
saffron rice over the camp fire. Marinated flank stuff
works well, too.

Quoted message said:

What are some easy to prepare ahead (or don't have to
bring much with you) meals fit for cooking over a fire?
What delicious meals have you made over a camp fire? I've
always wanted to try a pizza over a fire myself, but don't
have much idea how that would work.

For me, the best meal is a good steak cooked over a hot wood
fire with a baked potato that's been cooked in the coals of
the fire, a green vegetable, and cold water to wash it down.
It just does not get any better than that.

Matt said:

Camping season is upon us. I like to bring some good food
when I go car camping (as opposed to backpack camping
when weight doesn't allow carrying coolers). In the past
I've done stuffed Cornish game hen wrapped in foil over
the fire. Creek potatoes are always good. I've made
saffron rice over the camp fire. Marinated flank stuff
works well, too.

What are some easy to prepare ahead (or don't have to
bring much with you) meals fit for cooking over a fire?
What delicious meals have you made over a camp fire? I've
always wanted to try a pizza over a fire myself, but don't
have much idea how that would work.

-Matt

I'm new to camp cooking and I'd love some pointers. DH and I
are going tent (car) camping next month...

--
jmk in NC

One dark day on Usenet, "Matt" <[email hidden]> said:

<snip>

Quoted message said:

What are some easy to prepare ahead (or don't have to
bring much with you) meals fit for cooking over a fire?
What delicious meals have you made over a camp fire?

Hubby's dad started him on these: on a large sheet of
foil, arrange ground beef with diced potatoes, onions and
carrots. Season well (we like salt, pepper, garlic, and
Worchestershire, amoung other things). Fold and seal foil
to form a packet, cook on a cool part of the fire for 45-
60 minutes. I'm sure you could add things like green
peppers if you wished or even subsitute chicken for the
beef. FIL called them "Hobo dinners". What's nice is that
you can get all the prep work done, then relax by the fire
while they cook.

Quoted message said:

I've always wanted to try a pizza over a fire myself, but
don't have much idea how that would work.

I'm sure some intrepid cook here has done it, but not I...

--
J.J. in WA ~ mom, vid gamer, novice cook ~ (COLD to HOT for
e-mail) "Why do my knees feel like the wanna tear up?"
- Carl, ATHF

Matt said:

What are some easy to prepare ahead (or don't have to
bring much with you) meals fit for cooking over a fire?
What delicious meals have you made over a camp fire? I've
always wanted to try a pizza over a fire myself, but don't
have much idea how that would work.

Funny you should ask.

seiner.comTravelRecipesOpen ↗

Look for the link to FunStuff. The trick is really to
use low heat.

And if anyone wants to contribute, feel free.

--Kamus

Matt said:

Camping season is upon us. I like to bring some good food
when I go car camping (as opposed to backpack camping
when weight doesn't allow carrying coolers). In the past
I've done stuffed Cornish game hen wrapped in foil over
the fire. Creek potatoes are always good. I've made
saffron rice over the camp fire. Marinated flank stuff
works well, too.

What are some easy to prepare ahead (or don't have to
bring much with you) meals fit for cooking over a fire?
What delicious meals have you made over a camp fire? I've
always wanted to try a pizza over a fire myself, but don't
have much idea how that would work.

-Matt

If you've got a cooler and easy access to ice, you've
pretty much got it made. I don't know if you're talking
about cooking on a charcoal grill or over a wood fire. I
can tell you, when I lost power due to a major storm last
July I did all my cooking on coal out of a cooler. But I've
also cooked over wood fires while camping; it's pretty much
the same thing.

I cooked bacon on a cast iron griddle and then used
the reserved drippings to prepare cornbread in a
skillet. I prepared jambalaya on the grill, and also
made a pot of soup.

I can't see why you couldn't do pizza in an iron skillet;
you'll just want to rise the dough, covered, and then top it
as desired and bake it off to the side-like with a lid on.
Might need to turn the pan around a couple of times to allow
for even browning of the crust.

I trust you have a dutch oven? They are great for making
stews and such.

You've already mentioned cornish hens, potatoes. Don't
forget corn on the cob, it's wonderful roasted. Soak it in
cold water (or shove it into the cooler with the ice) for
about an hour. Peel back the husks and remove the cornsilk;
brush the corn with butter or oil and lay some herbs along
the cob. Thyme, basil, sage. Put the husks back around the
corn and roast it about an hour, turning frequently. The
husks will blacken but the well soaked corn will not burn
and the herbs flavour the corn nicely.

Have fun!

Jill

"Matt" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Camping season is upon us. I like to bring some good food
when I go car camping (as opposed to backpack camping
when weight doesn't allow carrying coolers). In the past
I've done stuffed Cornish game hen wrapped in foil over
the fire. Creek potatoes are always good. I've made
saffron rice

over

Quoted message said:

the camp fire. Marinated flank stuff works well, too.

What are some easy to prepare ahead (or don't have to
bring much with you) meals fit for cooking over a fire?
What delicious meals have you made

over

Quoted message said:

a camp fire? I've always wanted to try a pizza over a fire
myself, but don't have much idea how that would work.

-Matt

Having been involved with scouting for 16 years......

Buy pita pockets, canned pizza sauce (or a container of
yourown homemade for the purists), shredded mozzarella and
pepperoni slices. Cut off the top of the pocket, open it up,
spoon in sauce, cheese, and as much pepperoni as you would
like. Either put it on a grill over the fire or in one of
those grilled cheese contraptions you use in a campfire.
Five minutes or so, you have a great handheld pizza. (Okay,
maybe not so great, but good ambiance)

You can mix and match what you want in it, it doesn't have
to be pepperoni. -Ginny

In rec.food.cooking said:

What are some easy to prepare ahead (or don't have to
bring much with you) meals fit for cooking over a fire?

Grilled Salmon Filet Mignon Shish Kabob

--
...I'm an air-conditioned gypsy...

- The Who

"Matt" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Camping season is upon us. I like to bring some good food
when I go car camping (as opposed to backpack camping
when weight doesn't allow carrying coolers). In the past
I've done stuffed Cornish game hen wrapped in foil over
the fire. Creek potatoes are always good. I've made
saffron rice over the camp fire. Marinated flank stuff
works well, too.

What are some easy to prepare ahead (or don't have to
bring much with you) meals fit for cooking over a fire?
What delicious meals have you made over a camp fire? I've
always wanted to try a pizza over a fire myself, but don't
have much idea how that would work.

-Matt

Tandoori chicken, marinated at home and brought chilled
or frozen.

Here's a good one with pork:

Pincho Moruno

.75 cup olive oil 2 T minced fresh parsley, or 1 T dried 2 t
crushed red pepper flakes 2 garlic cloves, crushed
1.5 t ground cumin 1 t dried thyme 1 t paprika 1 large bay
leaf, crumbled salt and pepper to taste
2.5 lb boneless lean pork, cut into 0.75-by-1-inch cubes (or
not, if you wish) or 1.5 lb chicken breasts

Mix everything but pork together. Pour it over the pork in a
ziploc bag, or use your favorite marinating technique.
Marinate overnight.

Thread cubed pork on skewers and grill on high heat
until done.

You can cut the oil back to 0.25 cup if you wish. I
usually do.

This works great with pork tenderloin, left whole. Not
having to skewer simplifies cooking.

Warning: This usually catches fire when you throw it on the
grill, but the flames subside quickly.

Cindy Hamilton

Heres my contribution...I have to do this every year for our
annual campout... 1 boneless porkloin 1 big jar of apricot
jam 1 small bottle apple juice I cut diagonal slices into
the pork loin about every 2 inches about 1/2 way
through..spoon jam into each slice. I am cooking over a
charcoal fire on a wire rack covered with foil. I lay the
loin on the rack, spoon in my jam. I start with the rack low
on the fire to sear the meat on the bottom. Then raise the
rack and cook slowly for about another hour covered loosely
with more foil, basting it with a mixture of the leftover
jam and applejuice....serves about 10 happy campers. I also
make Uncle Bens wild rice to serve with it.

Thanks for all of the ideas. I'll have to try the various
pizzas mentioned. Probably will try the hobo dinners, too.
I'll be off to the mountains for the 4th weekend and,
hopefully, it will not rain.

Regards, Matt

byakee said:

Hubby's dad started him on these: on a large sheet of
foil, arrange ground beef with diced potatoes, onions and
carrots. Season well (we like salt, pepper, garlic, and
Worchestershire, amoung other things). Fold and seal foil
to form a packet, cook on a cool part of the fire for 45-
60 minutes. I'm sure you could add things like green
peppers if you wished or even subsitute chicken for the
beef. FIL called them "Hobo dinners". What's nice is that
you can get all the prep work done, then relax by the fire
while they cook.

Paula Deen had that on her show, she called them Hobo
something, too. They looked good, like individual
meatloaves, unless I'm confusing it with something else.

nancy

Nancy Young said:

byakee said:

Hubby's dad started him on these: on a large sheet of
foil, arrange ground beef with diced potatoes, onions and
carrots. Season well (we like salt, pepper, garlic, and
Worchestershire, amoung other things). Fold and seal foil
to form a packet, cook on a cool part of the fire for 45-
60 minutes. I'm sure you could add things like green
peppers if you wished or even subsitute chicken for the
beef. FIL called them "Hobo dinners". What's nice is that
you can get all the prep work done, then relax by the
fire while they cook.

Paula Deen had that on her show, she called them Hobo
something, too. They looked good, like individual
meatloaves, unless I'm confusing it with something else.

nancy

I always called them "Campfire Pocketbooks". If you don't
want to use ground beef you can use cubed round steak or
even flank marinated in teriyaki with wine and garlic and
add the veggies. I double wrap the heavy-duty foil pouches
and cook indirectly next to hot ashy coals (or wood) turning
the pouch after about 25 minutes for a total cook time of
close to an hour. This also works with chicken.

Jill

One dark day on Usenet said:

byakee said:

Hubby's dad started him on these: on a large sheet of
foil, arrange ground beef with diced potatoes, onions
and carrots. Season well (we like salt, pepper, garlic,
and Worchestershire, amoung other things). Fold and seal
foil to form a packet, cook on a cool part of the fire
for 45-60 minutes. I'm sure you could add things like
green peppers if you wished or even subsitute chicken
for the beef. FIL called them "Hobo dinners". What's
nice is that you can get all the prep work done, then
relax by the fire while they cook.

Paula Deen had that on her show, she called them Hobo
something, too. They looked good, like individual
meatloaves, unless I'm confusing it with something else.

Yeah, that sounds about right -- I put ketchup on the ground
beef after it's done cooking. Another name for these (not
sure who told me this) is "Foil Babies"...

--
J.J. in WA ~ mom, vid gamer, novice cook ~ (COLD to HOT for
e-mail) "Why do my knees feel like the wanna tear up?"
- Carl, ATHF

Quoted message said:

"Matt" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Camping season is upon us. I like to bring some good food
when I go car camping (as opposed to backpack camping
when weight doesn't allow carrying coolers). In the past
I've done stuffed Cornish game hen wrapped in foil over
the fire. Creek potatoes are always good. I've made
saffron rice

over

Quoted message said:

the camp fire. Marinated flank stuff works well, too.

What are some easy to prepare ahead (or don't have to
bring much with you) meals fit for cooking over a fire?
What delicious meals have you made

over

Quoted message said:

a camp fire? I've always wanted to try a pizza over
a fire myself, but don't have much idea how that
would work.

-Matt

I like the Girl Scout potatoes, at least a friend started me
on them and called them that, and although I went to Girl
Scout camp I don't recall them.

Cut up a potato for each serving. I also use lots of onion
cut up, as the onion sort of melts away. Salt, pepper and
oil or butter, and place on oiled foil, making a packet for
each person. They sort of steam on the grill, so after they
are done I poke the foil to dry them out a little and grill
for a few more minutes for more of a roasted flavor. Carrots
and sweet potatoes are also good additions to this.

Another potato dish we like is what I call "potato books."
Take a potato and slice it very thinly but don't go all the
way through so it stays intact. Spread the "pages" open
enough to add oil and whatever seasonings you like. I use
salt, pepper, paprika and parsley and also like to put some
onions in there between the "pages". Wrap the whole potato
in foil and grill. These cook up a little faster than the GS
ones above.

I'll never forget our camping trip in Michigan. We were
going to the UP to visit a friend at Mich Tech. I had bought
one of those spaghetti kits where you get the dried
spaghetti, a can of sauce and a packet of cheese - okay, I
was a teen then. This was at the top of Michigan just before
the bridge. The mosquitoes were so bad that when I was
trying to drain the noodles I ended up throwing them out
with the water.

Quoted message said:

Having been involved with scouting for 16 years......

Buy pita pockets, canned pizza sauce (or a container of
yourown homemade for the purists), shredded mozzarella and
pepperoni slices. Cut off the top of the pocket, open it
up, spoon in sauce, cheese, and as much pepperoni as you
would like. Either put it on a grill over the fire or in
one of those grilled cheese contraptions you use in a
campfire. Five minutes or so, you have a great handheld
pizza. (Okay, maybe not so great, but good ambiance)

You can mix and match what you want in it, it doesn't have
to be pepperoni. -Ginny

This sounds very doable at a campsite. Actually, when I'm
camping I'll eat nearly anything and these sound close
enough to pizzas. Actually, one of those pita pizzas sounds
good right now.