Camping Out

[brigid]

Has anybody got any ideas for foods to bring along on a camping trip? Anything that is easy and pretty foolproof?

[norsen]

Has anybody got any ideas for foods to bring along on a camping trip? Anything that is easy and pretty foolproof?

Biskwik, beans, and spam. No refrigeration needed. But then again, define your version of camping? Promitive, RV, etc. LOL.

[K. Slink]

YEP, you really need to define what kind of camping you will be doing. There are many different kinds, each with own dividual needs....

[K. Slink]

INDIVIDUAL needs, the above should read.....

[brigid]

Camping in a tent at a campground for starters. I am not familiar with camping. It is a new experience. The last time I camped out was at Grand Canyon when I was 6, but I only remember the coyotes howling at night. Bisquick is a GREAT idea. Any canned meat, I guess, and certainly canned beans. This sounds like cowboy foods for eating on the trail. Can't forget coffee. Cowboys always had those tin cups full of steaming coffee. Hahaha!

[norsen]

A good ice chest, and packing and useing it carefully can keep cold food cold for a day or more. It depends on the outdoor temperature.
Pack it full. Plan your menu and place it in layers. Don't leave any space. Use block ice (which goes on top) put in ice cubes to fill up the smaller spaces. You could use clean gallon, half gallon and quart sized plastic drink containers to make your own, with the added benifit of clean cold drinking water after it melts. And don't drain off any melted water in bottom of the chest until it is empty or you pack up and leave. The local type of critters also needs to be considered. If no bears, wolves or coyotes, find a nice shaded all day spot. put your collers or coolers there and cover with a thick blanket etc. Duct taping the lid seam is another thing some do. Do not open till needed. Open, shut and cover quickly.
Depending on how many and how many days for size and quantity of coolers. Large 3-4 inch thick styrofoam coolers work good. My uncle and his hunting and fishing crew have used these methods for decades in the USA and Canada.
You might want to consider freezing meat etc. before packing for use later on in the camping.
Or check if campgrounds has ice available and buy as needed.
No matter which method, keep your pop and beer in a seperate cooler.

[Kateri-Marie]

Hamburger helper. Kraft Dinner. Pre-made stuff that you can do on a portable stove.
No gourmet cooking camping!

[brigid]

A good ice chest, and packing and useing it carefully can keep cold food cold for a day or more. It depends on the outdoor temperature.
Pack it full. Plan your menu and place it in layers. Don't leave any space. Use block ice (which goes on top) put in ice cubes to fill up the smaller spaces. You could use clean gallon, half gallon and quart sized plastic drink containers to make your own, with the added benifit of clean cold drinking water after it melts. And don't drain off any melted water in bottom of the chest until it is empty or you pack up and leave. The local type of critters also needs to be considered. If no bears, wolves or coyotes, find a nice shaded all day spot. put your collers or coolers there and cover with a thick blanket etc. Duct taping the lid seam is another thing some do. Do not open till needed. Open, shut and cover quickly.
Depending on how many and how many days for size and quantity of coolers. Large 3-4 inch thick styrofoam coolers work good. My uncle and his hunting and fishing crew have used these methods for decades in the USA and Canada.
You might want to consider freezing meat etc. before packing for use later on in the camping.
Or check if campgrounds has ice available and buy as needed.
No matter which method, keep your pop and beer in a seperate cooler.

These will be very helpful suggestions and are really practical. I know it is going to be something I am going to love. We haven't made any plans for precisely when we are going, but I am very grateful for all this help.

[brigid]

Hamburger helper. Kraft Dinner. Pre-made stuff that you can do on a portable stove.
No gourmet cooking camping!

Yep! Time to relax. No time to fuss over food. Sounds like a good thing to me!

[norsen]

Here's a few tips for easy, minimal equipment camp cooking.
http://www.scoutorama.com/recipe/rec_results.cfm

Ate alot of the apple pie, hobo dinner and potatoe dinner as a kid ruff camping. We would ride our bikes or someone would drop us kids off for 2-4 days at a time. What we took with us depended on how we got there. LOL. Didn't take tents usually.
You can set up a lightweight cheap kitchen box. Plastic divided plates, cheap pie pans etc as plates. Lightweight and can be nested. Maybe a couple of army surplus or boy scout mess kits. A couple of light weight nesting aluminum pots. Plastic silverware, or pick up cheap real ones at thrift store or a dollar type store. Spoons seem to get the most use. A few cheap prep knives, serving ladles, spoons forks, and turners. Maybe a couple 6-8' cast iron skillets,
good fire mitts, cheap BBG long handled tool set. and maybe buy or borrow a cheap cast iron griddle or grate. sizes of cheap plastic tumblers that nest and you are set to go as a begginer or advanced camper
Camping should be fun, and meal prep and clean up shouldn't be a chore. Oh, we always rubbed nelspatha on outside of cooking pots, makes cleaning it easier.
And get a boy scout handbook. Alot of good tips and fun things in one.