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Campsite Meal Planning and Recipe
Hello Again, Today we will be talking about meal planning. Meals are one of
the most memorable aspects of any camping trip and if one meal is
a disaster you will never hear the end of it. I will show you how
to avoid spending half the day in...
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Campsite Meal Planning and Recipe
Hello Again,
Today we will be talking about meal planning. Meals are one of
the most memorable aspects of any camping trip and if one meal is
a disaster you will never hear the end of it. I will show you how
to avoid spending half the day in the kitchen and still deliver a
meal that will knock their socks off. Pre planning and pre prep
are a great way to buy more time for doing what you came for
"Camping". Later I will share a recipe that includes a great way
to pre cook pasta. There are two methods for meal planning, the
ration method and the recipe method. Today I will focus on the
recipe method. I will go into depth on the ration method in a
later issue. A small group in a camp setting will find the recipe
method much easier to implement. If you have a very large group
or need to be mobile the ration method is desirable.
An efficient and fun way to plan your menu is to gather up all
your favorite recipes and make a daily menu centered around your
planned activities not worrying about space or supply
restrictions. For example if you are planning some hiking,
sandwiches will do the trick. If you plan to stay close to the
site you can afford some more elaborate meals. I try to plan for
a variety of situations. This allows you to be fixable once you
hit the site. You don't have to follow your menu to the tee. Mix
it up, be spontaneous and have fun.
Once you have your menu, figure out what supplies you will need,
then depending on your space and weight requirements adjust your
menu and/or your equipment accordingly. Otherwise just creating
the menu can be a real challenge. Our goal here is to have fun.
This method for meal planning is an easy way to figure out what
supplies you will need without a lot of size and weight
calculations. There are plenty of complicated formulas you can
use for meal planning and in some circumstance like backpacking
or extended trips these are essential, but for the average
campsite certainty not necessary. If you forget or overlook
something, most campgrounds either have a store on site or within
a short driving distance. You might kick yourself for having to
spend twice what something is worth but you won't starve.
When planning your menu include plenty of fresh water,
high-energy snacks and trail foods like fresh fruit, beef jerky
and granola. Stay away from things like chips, soda and cookies
unless you plan on sitting around the campsite wishing you had a
TV to watch. Outdoor activities require a lot of energy and burn
a lot of calories. The best way to plan healthy meals is to use
the USDA's Food Guide Pyramid. Keep in mind appetites will be up
so plan accordingly. Click on the link above to visit the USDA's
site.
Do as much pre planning and pre prep as possible. <=(Say that 5
times fast) I use a lot of zip lock bags, cutting up and cooking
as much as I can before I get to the site. Use a cooler to keep
your perishables like milk, condiments and fresh
vegetables. I
use powdered milk in all my camp recipes because it is convenient
to carry and easy to convert your recipe to fresh milk if you
have it. I usually use fresh milk for the first few days then go
to the powdered milk after we have run out. At least that is the
plan. My daughter loves to drink milk and always throws a fit
whenever we run out of fresh. I often find myself reentering
society in exchange for a little peace and quiet.
The nice thing about the recipe menu planning method is most home
recipes can be converted to outdoor recipes with very little
effort. This next recipe is a perfect example of something that
is equally delicious at home or out on the campsite. Note the pre
planning tips that make this a quick fix without compromising on
taste.
Campsite Pasta Italiano
7 to 8 oz pasta
4 Tbsp olive or peanut oil
1 lb Italian sausage cut into ½ inch pieces
1 28 oz can Italian Style crushed tomatoes (do not substitute
with regular crushed tomatoes)
1 tsp garlic powder
Salt and pepper
Parmesan cheese
Do Ahead Tip: Cut sausage before hand and store in a zip lock bag
Do Ahead Tip: Cook the pasta at home as directed on package.
Drain and rinse with cold water. In a large bowl add pasta and 2
Tbsp oil. Toss until evenly coated, seal in a zip lock bag and
store in cooler until needed.
Do Ahead Tip: Plan several pasta dishes and cook all the pasta at
once. Store each portion in a separate bag. Use a permanent
marker to write the name of the recipe each bag is intended for.
Before you prepare your meal remove the appropriate pasta bag
from the cooler and let it reach room temperature.
Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large skillet on medium high. Add
sausage and brown evenly until cooked through. Drain grease; add
crushed tomatoes and garlic powder. Stirring constantly bring to
a boil and reduce heat to medium. Simmer until thickened about 5
to 10 minutes. Remove from heat and add pasta. Mix well. If your
skillet is too small to add the pasta you can mix all the
ingredients in a large bowl. The heat of the sauce will reheat
the pasta. Add salt and pepper to taste and serve with parmesan
Cheese.
Whala! A simple delicious meal whipped up in a flash. Guaranteed
to stick to the ribs after a hard days play. Don't forget to
leave some room for the S'mores.
Don't miss the incredible savings @ Camping & Cooking Supplies.
Discount prices on camping supplies and more. 100% satisfaction
guaranteed or your money back!!
About the Author
I am an avid camper with a passion for the simple life. Growing
up in Rural America meant camping and fishing from a young age.
As the owner and operator of Camping & Cooking Supplies I strive
to provide a tremendous resource for the camping enthusiast. So
come and visit us at Camping & Cooking Supplies.
See you on the trails.
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