Camp Cuisine
Camp Cuisine - Camping Recipes
Inspire your inner camp chef with recipes for camping trips. It doesn’t matter if it’s shared around a campfire, cooked in your RV's gourmet kitchen, or take-out from the local deli, food just tastes better on a camping vacation!
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The Perfect Picnic
The Perfect Picnic
Everyone has a different idea of the perfect picnic. In truth it is your company that makes the perfect picnic, but what you bring along is like the icing on the cake. There are a few basic things you need to remember when putting together your perfect picnic meal.
First you need to bring along a refreshing beverage, a main course and a desert. Second, you need to be sure not to choose food items that can spoil and make you sick. You will also want to pack a cloth to sit on as well as plates and utensils. You can use disposable plates, but it is better for the environment to carefully pack regular plates and utensils, which you can wash when you get home.
Cute little picnic baskets make for a very picnicky style, but you may want to pack your food in a cooler or pack it with ice in your picnic basket to make sure your cool stays fresh and good.
Here is an idea of the perfect picnic meal. For the beverage, pack homemade lemonade, the main course is a simple antipasto plate and dessert is an angel food cake with sliced strawberries.
Lemonade
Homemade lemonade is pretty simple to whip up. You will need:
- 3/4 to 1 cup sugar
- I cup fresh lemon juice
- 1 cup water plus another 3 to 4 cups water
Fresh lemonade is easy to make and it is the perfect refreshing beverage for a picnic. Start by making simple syrup, which is just water and sugar -- this keeps the sugar from settling in the bottom of your lemonade. To make the simple syrup, combine 1 cup water and the sugar in a saucepan over high heat. Stir continually, and remove from heat when the syrup comes to a boil. Continue to stir if the syrup is not completely dissolved. Allow the syrup to cool.
While the syrup cools, squeeze 1 cup of fresh lemon juice. Now combine the syrup, lemon juice and remaining 3 to 4 cups water along with some ice in a large leak proof container. You should note that using only 3/4 cup sugar does not make a sweet lemonade. You can use either less or more sugar depending on how sweet you like your lemonade.
Antipasto Plate
Next prepare your antipasto plate. This does not require that you do much preparation -- you just need to pack the items in leak-proof, cool containers. You may also want to bring along a small knife to slice the cheese and salami. An antipasto plate usually consists of simple appetizer-like food items. Start with your favorite type of crackers. Next, pack some nice salami as well as some good quality cheese, like brie or gouda. You will probably want to include un-pitted kalamata and green olives and even some pepperoncini peppers.
Dessert
Finally, bring along an angel food cake with sliced, fresh strawberries. Angel food cake is a good choice for a picnic since it is easy to transport and the transport doesn't affect the flavor. You can either bake your own angel food cake, or purchase one from you favorite local bakery. Most angel food cakes are created equal and purchased ones are almost as good as homemade. If you prefer to bake your own cake, choose your recipe from a reputable source and bake your cake. To accompany the cake you can slice or chop some fresh strawberries.
To slice the strawberries you can use a sharp knife to slice the strawberries carefully and neatly. Or you can use a can opened with a regular can opener to crush the strawberries. The sharp edge from the can opener make it a great and simple tool to make perfect crushed strawberries. Pack the strawberries in another leak-proof container, then when you go to your picnic, serve the strawberries over a slice of angel food cake.
If you want to go all-out, you can also pack some freshly made whipping cream to serve with your angel food cake and strawberries. Only bring whipping cream if you have a cool place to store it during transport. To make homemade whipped cream, pour some whipping cream in a large bowl and beat vigorously with a whisk, egg beater or hand mixer. As you mix the whipping cream slowly add regular granulated sugar until your whipped cream is as sweet as you desire.
- Category: Camp Cuisine
Sandwiches
Sandwiches
Summertime is the perfect time of year to enjoy a nice cold sandwich. They are simple to make, and there are endless types to choose from. Everyone has their own favorite sandwich. Many of us remember slowly graduating from peanut butter and jelly to more sophisticated meals-between-bread. Here are some family favorites in the sandwich department.
King Kamehameha Sandwich
This sandwich is a family favorite. Basically, it is a cold cuts sandwich. It can be made in a variety of ways.
To make a family sized sandwich, get a round loaf of King Kamehameha bread. Slice the loaf in half horizontally. Layer cheese -- swiss, cheddar or havarti -- with cold cuts such as ham or turkey, and sprouts. If you like you can also add mayo and mustard, as well as sliced onion, tomatoes, pickles and whatever other types of items you like on your cold cut sandwich.
This may seem like a simple cold cuts sandwich, but the bread sets is apart. The Hawaiian King Kamehameha bread is a sweet sandwich bread and it contrasts nicely with the sliced meats and cheese. When making one of these sandwiches you should try to get freshly sliced cold cuts and cheese. The freshest ingredients make the best sandwiches.
Veggie Wrap
This simple sandwich is a delightful way to enjoy the fresh veggies of summer. It is also light and very refreshing, making it a great summer meal.
Spread a thin layer of hummus on a whole wheat wrap or tortilla. Layer sprouts, lettuce, sliced cucumber and red pepper on top of the wrap. Next, grate some carrots and drizzle a little bit of oil, vinegar, salt and pepper. Put the carrots on the wrap. Finish by rolling it up and enjoying.
Cream Cheese and Lox
This sandwich is a great way to enjoy smoked salmon. The best type of salmon for this sandwich is lox, a very lightly smoked salmon, but if you prefer more heavily smoked salmon that works as well.
Slice a plain or whole wheat bagel in half and lightly toast. Once the bagel is toasted, spread with a thin layer of cream cheese on one half. Place a layer of salmon over the cream cheese, then place a layer of very thinly sliced red onions and sprinkle with capers. Repeat with the second half and enjoy as an open faced sandwich.
This bagel sandwich is refreshing, light and extremely flavorful.
Each of these sandwiches is a delightful meal to enjoy during the summer. However, these are only three of thousands of sandwich recipes. Take the chance this summer to try some new cold sandwiches and enjoy your very favorite sandwiches.
- Category: Camp Cuisine
Camp Style Apple Pie
Camp Style Apple Pie
Apple pie is one of the great pleasures of summer. What better way to combine two of summer's bests than by making apple pie while camping? There are a few different ways to prepare apple pie while camping, and for good measure this article includes instructions for making amazing apple pie at home too.
Pie Dough (double crust):
2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup cold butter
1/2 cup water
Blend the four and butter with a food processor, pastry blender or even by hand, until it has the texture of course meal. Add the water slowly, while using the food processor or mixing with a spoon. You may not need the whole quantity of water - add part of the water at a time, blending until the flour and butter begins to adhere, but does not form a single mass without being pressed together. Be careful not to over blend or your pie dough will be tough instead of flaky.
Apple Pie Filling:
4-6 medium apples, thinly sliced and peeled (optional)
1/4 - 1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
You can either mix the filling ingredients in a large bowl or layer the apples and the cinnamon and sugar inside the pie. If you are camping and want to make fresh pie filling at the camp site, you can mix the cinnamon and sugar beforehand and bring the ingredients premixed.
If you want to make apple pie when camping, you need to come a little prepared. You have a variety of filling and dough options. You can always make your own pie dough; however, you will have to bring a few items and be prepared, which could be something of a hassle. Pre-made pie dough is a good camping option if you want to keep things simple.
If you want to pre-make your own pie dough, consider rolling it out in advance. Store and transport the dough by placing the rolled out dough on a piece of plastic wrap and rolling the pie dough and plastic wrap up together. This will ensure that the pie dough doesn't dry out and that you will be able to unroll the pie dough when you are ready to make your pie.
Should you decide not to roll or make your dough in advance, you will have to make sure to pack a linen or similar cloth to roll out the dough. You will also need a flat surface, so you may need to bring something that will serve that purpose. You will also need a large round tube to serve as a rolling pin if you don't wan to bring a real rolling pin. An empty wine bottle or similarly shaped bottle works well as a substitute rolling pin.
You have a variety of filling options. At home I suggest mixing all of the filling ingredients together in a large bowl before adding them to the pie. However, when camping you probably won't want to pack a large bowl, so you can layer the apples and cinnamon and sugar mixture, so the ingredients will blend while baking. You can also purchase canned apple pie filling if you don't want to bother with all of the filling prep.
Pie Iron
Using an pie iron is a great way to make all sorts of fun camping food. You can make your apple pie using two pieces of sandwich bread, or two square pieces of pie dough. When using the pie iron I recommend using canned pie filling. When using the pie iron and homemade pie filling you risk overcooking the bread or dough while trying to completely cook the filling. The apples will take longer to cook than the pie dough, but you won't have this problem if you use canned filling.
To make your pie, cut out at least two square pieces of pie dough, which will fit into the pie iron. Butter one side of each square. Place one square of the dough, buttered side down, into the bottom of the pie iron. Spoon some filling into the center of the dough, and place the second square, buttered side up, over the filling. Crimp the two pieces of dough together around the edges and close the pie iron. Put the pie iron into the fire and cook for 10-15 minutes. Open the pie iron a few minutes into cooking to check that the crust is not cooking to fast. Your pie will be done when the crust is golden brown.
Dutch Oven
Start by greasing the bottom and sides of your dutch oven so the pie won't stick. Place the bottom crust into the bottom of the dutch oven. Next layer the thinly sliced apples and the cinnamon and sugar mixture. Lightly butter the top of the top crust before gently placing the crust on the top of the filling. Crimp the two layers of crust together around the edges and slice large holes into the top crust. You can cut slits in the pie making a leaf like decoration; the slits act as vents and let out steam as the pie bakes. Finish by placing the lid on the dutch over and placing in the fire. Cover the lid with red-hot coals and bake for 20-25 minutes.
The Oven
Place the bottom layer of pie dough into a 9-inch pie plate. Fill the pie plate with your apple pie filling. If you are using fresh apples, you can mound the apples up, making a mountain over the pie plate. Place the second, or top layer of pie dough over the top of the filling. Crimp the two layers of dough together around the edges and cut vent slits into the top of the pie.
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and bake your pie for 30-45 minutes. Baking time will depend on how much filling you use and what type of apples you use. Some apples cook much faster than others, so check on your pie occasionally as it cooks. Your pie will be done when the apples are cooked down and the crust is golden brown.
- Category: Camp Cuisine
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