Camp Food Delights

First posted on 10-22-2008

A camping trip always seems to bring to mind foods cooked outdoors over an open fire or over hot coals. Simple cooking methods, just a few basic spices and food never tasted better. Some camping treats, like ice cream in a can, does not need cooking at all, just a little work.

So here are three favorites that can be cooked up quick and together make a complete meal:

For an appetizer or to go along with the main course:
Campfire Biscuits

Tube of refrigerated biscuits

1/4 to 1/2 stick of butter or margarine

Preheat a skillet over the fire and melt a with a tight-fitting lid. Melt about a quarter of a stick of butter in the skillet. Arrange individual refrigerated biscuits in the skillet. Cover with a lid, but turn biscuits over periodically so they do not burn or stick to the skillet. Add more butter as needed. Once biscuits are golden brown and lightly crisp on the outside (about 15 minutes), enjoy.

The main course:
Foil Pouch Dinner

There are dozens of variations on this, but basically, use whatever ingredients you like best. Taking two equal sized sheets of aluminum foil for each person, create one wide piece of foil by overlapping the two sheets about a two inches and folding them together at the seam.

Use a basic meat - hamburger patties, cubed chicken, smoked sausage or cubed steak works well. Put the meat onto each individual’s foil.

Then allow campers a choice of toppings - as many as they would like - cubed potatoes, squash, cubed sweet potatoes, red pepper, onion, mushrooms, carrots, pineapple, most any kind of fruit or vegetable. A little salt, a little pepper and use any or all of that to top the meat.

Carefully fold the foil into a sealed pouch and place into the coals. Cook for 15 to 20 minutes but be careful opening up the pouch because the contents will not only be hot, but the water from the meat and vegetables will have created steam.

For dessert:
Ice Cream in a Can

Along with the ingredients listed below, you’ll need a 1 pound coffee can with a lid, a 3 pound coffee can with a lid, a little duct tape, some rock salt and crushed ice.

1 pint of whole milk (or half and half)

1/2 cup of sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 egg, beaten (this adds richness, but is optional because the egg will not be cooked)

ice cream toppings of your choice

Mix all the ingredients inside the 1 pound coffee can. Secure the coffee can lid in place with duct tape. Place the 1 pound can inside the 3 pound can and fill the void around the 1 pound can with crushed ice and rock salt. Secure the 3 pound coffee can lid with duct tape.

Roll the cans back and forth for about 8 to 10 minutes. Might want to switch off between campers for this task as 8-10 minutes of can rolling is a lot longer than it sounds. You can take a peek at the ice cream to see if it has hardened. If not, seal everything back up and roll the can some more.

Once the ice cream is ready, and at the consistency you prefer, scoop it out into bowls, top if you would like and enjoy.