Camping has been one of the most famous activities since humanity started. However, what makes it more special is that enjoyment we feel while eating with everyone in the great outdoors.
Meals eaten around a campfire is definitely the best, especially if it is accompanied by little chit chats that define people’s closeness and similarities in interest and goals.
Nevertheless, it is difficult to prepare meals without the comfort of your kitchen, which includes the proper tools and amenities. However, with the proper knowledge and motivation, you can definitely make campfire meals more special.
Here are some very easy tips that will surely aid you in making an enjoyable campfire meal:
1. Plan ahead and be prepared!
First and foremost, when planning a camping trip to wherever you may want to go, you should also plan ahead the meals you can cook while on the trip.
Campers can’t live by simply relying on provisions such as bread, granola bars, chocolates, fruits, and water. Though it would only be for a day or so, this would be unhealthy and would prove to be a negative thing since it doesn’t provide much nutrition.
For this, you should do a bit of research about the easiest thing to cook without taking for granted the taste. Simple meals would be okay since the essence of campfire meals doesn’t lie solely on that.
After, deciding what meals to prepare, you should pack the ingredients and equipment needed in a small cooler to avoid getting mixed with other things, as well as to decrease the chances of them going bad. This will do for simple meals such as eggs, potato, meat, and fish.
Moreover, it would be good to prepare an extra helping so that those who want more can have that option.
2. The fire, the fire – make use of the campfire!
A campfire is another essential part of a camping trip. It is something which can be a source of heat and light to the campers.
Campfires are easy to build. The traditional fire is okay; however, a trench fire has also a lot of redeeming qualities. When the wood is of poor quality, it is better to find a ground free from rocks and dig for about 40 cm.
Then, you can put the wood in the trench and light it with cotton soak in Vaseline, a pretty effective and handy way to easily light a fire. You can also put stones on the edge of the trench to hold the pot for cooking.
In this way, the wood can be converted into coal and it will light the camp, as well as warm the campers.
3. Try out new things! Be creative in cooking!
For a more enjoyable meal around the campfire, why don’t you mixed a few compatible ingredients around and whip a perfect meal which will surpass any other camp meal?
Having unique and creatively thought of cuisines will definitely make camp meals (and the experience of camping itself) more memorable. However, this will definitely require a few creative ideas to experiment on.
How about carving an orange out of its peel and using the peel to cook eggs atop the coals? Not only will it be a different method of cooking the egg for breakfast, it will also be quite a meal with a citrus twist. The carved out orange can then be dessert.
Other ideas can include roasted Nutella filled apples, foil cooked corn and potatoes, and foil wrapped fish, which in turn is wrapped in lean meat. Researching can also help in coming up with ideas for creative meals. The internet has tons of suggested dishes, which are not only easy to make, but also creative and delicious.
4. Involve everyone else! (Try assigning some tasks.)
Being creative, prepared, and having a good fire does not matter much when talking about campfire meals if one does not have anyone to share it with (though some would prefer to camp alone).
Having more companions is more fun and more enjoyable while preparing food for others people’s consumption is more fulfilling. To fully enjoy this experience, assign things to your companions. In this way, cooking will be done faster and you can have fun while doing the preparation together.
Involving your companions and your family in cooking, especially kids, will not only increase the laughter, it will also help them learn and grow in nature.
Following these tips might not make you an expert in cooking campfire meals; however, it will definitely help you in making campfire meals more fun and campfire food more delicious.
After all, food is better shared with others. Try these tips on your next camping trip. It might make the trip priceless!