Tips for cooking in the wild –
I’m one of those people that never sits still. I love my home but I am challenged to relax there. There are always things that need to be done, so to unwind I love to camp and go to cabins for weekend minibreaks! There’s nothing better than finding a place in nature to relax, cook some interesting meals, maybe read a book or magazine, and hang with my family.
Cooking away from home or when traveling can be a challenge. If you don’t want to cook from scratch every night, one option is to pick up a few Take & Bakes from Tracy’s Kitchen for a few lazy nights in front of the fire. For nights when you want to “rough it” here are a few tips for packing the cooler to keep in mind.
- Marinate any meats ahead of time, bring frozen if possible as it will act as an extra ice pack.
- Bring pre-made salads: potato, rice or pasta that can be added to a meal.
- If there is no fire ban (this is BC, check!), bring a grill for grilling meats and veggies.
- Again, assuming you can have an open fire, for a simple first night meal, I always bring frozen meat sauce, spaghetti noodles and garlic bread. The sauce can be simmering over the campfire and the water coming to a boil while you set up your tent!
- Basics for the cooler include: yogurt, fruit, milk, frozen marinated meats, spaghetti sauce, sliced meats and cheese, condiments, salad fixings and corn on the cob.
- Another great meal is curried chicken for camping. Just bring some chicken breasts, grab a jar of Patak’s Tikka Masala sauce, some basmati rice and you are done. Just simmer the sauce and add the raw chopped chicken, cook a further 20 mins and camping is done curry style!
Other great meal ideas
I love a great burger, but camping can be more than hot dogs, burgers and canned baked beans. Plan your meals ahead, prep and marinate items and then when you arrive you can spend more time in the lake and less time in front of the camp stove. You don’t have to compromise on good food just because you are camping!
