| One of the most fun times you can have while | | | | hike. Walking and hiking is hard work so you |
| camping is cooking for the group. Cooking is | | | | should bring some foods that will help boost your |
| generally done over a fire or on a grill. You should | | | | energy. Popcorn popped over an open flame is a |
| bring foods that are easy to store and keep | | | | fun way to prepare the next day?s snack. Trail |
| fresh. You should include snacks for the trail as | | | | mix is a traditional option and is limited to only |
| well as foods to prepare for each meal. Perishable | | | | your imagination. Use a combination of hearty |
| items should be stored in a refrigerator or in a | | | | ingredients with sweets. Combine granola, raisins, |
| cooler on ice. | | | | chocolate chips, M & M?s, cereal, dried fruits |
| Breakfast | | | | and nuts. Use whatever combinations you like. |
| Start your day off right with a breakfast that will | | | | My favorite camping meals though, are made with |
| get you ready for a day of hiking or exploring. | | | | pudgie pie makers (also called pie irons). They are |
| Slice up some mushrooms, onions, bacon and | | | | made of cast iron or metal and have long handles. |
| potatoes and grill in a skillet over the fire until | | | | Our family uses pudgie pie makers to meal |
| done. Mix eggs with a little milk and pour over the | | | | delicious treats for lunch and dinner. Bread is the |
| mixture to heat until the eggs are fully cooked. | | | | staple ingredient in making a pudgie pie. My |
| This is a great skillet meal that is easy to prepare | | | | favorite is grilled cheese. To make one, butter |
| and clean up. Another easy meal to prepare is a | | | | two slices of bread. Place the buttered side down |
| breakfast taco. Cook some eggs and place inside | | | | in the pudgie pie maker. This will prevent the |
| a tortilla with cheese and picante sauce. If you | | | | bread from sticking. Place a cheese slice on top of |
| feel a bit more adventurous, try a breakfast pizza | | | | each slice of bread. Close the pudgie pie maker. |
| using pre made crusts and eggs. You can cook | | | | Place in the coals of your campfire. It will only |
| the eggs any way you like them and add bacon, | | | | take a few minutes for the pie to cook. Turn the |
| potatoes or sausage. Heat the pizza crusts over | | | | pie maker after about a minute. Watch your |
| the fire and top with your egg mixture and | | | | sandwich closely. Depending on how hot your fire |
| cheese. | | | | is, the sandwich will cook very quickly. Ham and |
| Lunch | | | | tomato are also very good additions to your |
| Keep lunch simple and easy to prepare and clean | | | | cheese sandwich. |
| up so you get back to your adventures. | | | | Pizza pudgie pies are popular with our family too. |
| Sandwiches are a great lunchtime treat using | | | | Again, butter two slices of bread and place the |
| easy to store and prepare foods. Sliced lunch | | | | buttered side down in the pudgie pie maker. Add |
| meats with vegetables on bread make the | | | | your favorite pizza toppings (ours are canned |
| perfect pick me up. For a hot side dish to | | | | pizza sauce, pepperoni, and mozzarella cheese). |
| accompany the sandwiches take some frozen | | | | Close the pudgie pie maker and place in the coals |
| French fries, chili and cheese sauce; combine them | | | | of your campfire to cook. Be careful when |
| in foil, wrapping it tightly. Throw the package on | | | | removing pudgie pies from your pudgie pie maker. |
| the fire and cook until the fries are cooked | | | | Both the pudgie pie maker and your sandwich will |
| through and then enjoy your gooey chili cheese | | | | be very hot. |
| fries. | | | | Another favorite type of pudgie pie that our |
| Dinner | | | | family enjoys are dessert ones. Butter your two |
| Dinner consisting of a hearty stew is a great | | | | slices of bread and place the buttered sides down |
| option. Using canned vegetables, mix equal parts | | | | in the pudgie pie maker. Spoon in some of your |
| of your favorites in a heavy pot. These can | | | | favorite prepared pie filling (cherry or apple are |
| include corn, peas and beans. Also add a can of | | | | our favorites). Cook in the fire and enjoy. |
| chunk chicken and pre made barbecue pork. Add | | | | And of course, no camping trip is complete |
| two cans of tomato sauce and two cans of | | | | without making smores. They?re also very easy |
| chopped tomatoes and simmer slowly over an | | | | to make. Start by roasting a marshmallow over |
| open fire for a filling stew. If you went fishing and | | | | your fire. Once your marshmallow is warm and |
| were lucky enough to make a catch, fry it for | | | | gooey, stick it on top of a graham cracker and a |
| dinner. After cleaning the fish, cut it into fillets. | | | | piece of a chocolate bar, and then top with |
| Combine one can of beer with two eggs until | | | | another graham cracker. |
| thoroughly mixed. To that add twelve ounces of | | | | Cooking while camping can really be a lot of fun. |
| flour, two teaspoons of baking powder and salt | | | | Preparing foods should be easy and require little |
| and pepper to taste. Dip the fish in cornstarch | | | | clean up and use few pots and pans. At the end |
| then the batter. Place it in hot oil and fry until the | | | | of the night, though, no camping trip would be |
| batter puffs. This is a great way to enjoy the | | | | complete without toasting marshmallows. Cut |
| efforts put forth after a day of fishing. | | | | some branches and skewer large marshmallows. |
| Trail Snacks | | | | Hold each stick over the flame until brown and |
| No camping trip is complete without snacks to | | | | toasty. It makes a great, gooey dessert and an |
| prepare and bring while you are out on a nature | | | | ideal end to your day. |