THE NOT-SO-IMPRACTICAL CAMP COOK

Call it a crime... 

This lifelong camper doesn't think a burnt hot dog (retrieved from the campfire embers) can compare to a decent meal.  Or even a half decent meal.  As a child, I developed a true distaste for hot dogs.  As an adult, I refuse to subject myself to this traditional "gourmet" camp meal.  Don't get me wrong, when a charred demon dog was presented to me by the angelic face of a three year old after finishing an hour long weenie roasting marathon; I wouldn't stammer before exclaiming "Its the best I've ever tasted." Truth is, with years of practice, I could fake a bite better than the rest of 'em.

At some point in my camping career (I call it that because I consider myself a pro now), I vowed never to be subjected to even an inch of a fiery foot long. Flash forward twenty years, and in my own mind, I've perfected the artistry of camp cooking.  Of course, it helps that I no longer have little ones to tend.  It also helps that my other half is smart enough to not complain about camp cuisine;  For he who sits back chilling and relaxing while others bust their hump...well, that would just earn him a "stupid" label, wouldn't it.

After the heydays of my park model existence gave way to tenting it once again, I had no choice but to simplify, reduce, and reinvent the extravagances of camp meals gone by.  So, it became almost a quest to come up with new meal plans for camping out.  Like many campers, our days are filled with activities away from the actual campsite. Unfortunately, wanting to be on the fast track of activities often equals repetitive dining out to save time and effort.  This is simply not an option for large families or budget minded travelers. So start off small and expand your menus. The key to successful meals at camp is off-site preparation, reducing actual cooking time, and eliminating cleanup.  Less packing means less repacking.  Its usually when you are breaking down camp that you realize just how much went unused.  Not that a camp stove isn't convenient, its just that over time we have developed techniques that eliminate the need for it. We try to use the campfire whenever possible (sometimes we use a wire grill over it).

Breakfasts need to be decent, and lunches light. Dinners need to be quick, but filling. Normally, this is hard to accomplish before 9:00pm (when the last of the summer's rays set upon our campsite and everyone hasn't already settled fireside with a beer in hand and no ambition). Try this meal plan the next time you camp!

Its breakfast time!  Wake up and put some water on to boil.  If you don't have a wire grill, place some rocks in the fire pit and balance your pot over the coals. 1-1 1/2 gallons should do. Use to make your coffee with and reserve the rest for "Omelets-in-a-bag".  Our morning coffee consists of a pre-made mixture of instant coffee granules, sugar and powdered creamer.  We keep this in an airtight container with a scoop inside.  2 scoops go in a paper/foam cup.  Add hot water second so no need to stir.  If you prefer cappuccino, try this recipe .  

Drop your pre-made sealed omelet bags into the pot of hot water for about 10-15 minutes.  We use 2 eggs, ham, cheese, onions, peppers and mushrooms. Each person can create their own mixture at home and write their name in the space with permanent marker. Store in cooler until you need. It cooks very quickly once the egg starts to set. You can slide out on paper plate or eat directly out of bag.  Use the leftover hot water for washing up before starting your day.

Lunches usually consists of sandwiches/subs. Make these ahead and wrap in foil.  Add some pretzel sticks and fresh fruit together in a ziploc(w/name).  Store in cooler. Everyone can grab as they get hungry.  Or stock the cooler with pre-made chopped salad and fruit cups.  Need a heartier lunch; add chicken, or a layer of tuna salad.

Supper will be a cinch, if you just take a few minutes before your trip to create foil packet meals.  Spread a generous piece of tin foil out and then layer precooked meat, potatoes or rice, and then a vegetable.  Add a dollop of gravy or creamed soup and seal into a packet.  Try one of these combos:

• Sliced ham, rice and green beans
• Chopped chicken breast, mashed potatoes and corn
• sliced meatloaf, mashed & peas

Freeze ahead and store in cooler.  When ready for dinner, place on grill or towards the outside of fire pit (about 15 minutes).  Open and eat.  Scrunch and dispose. There is no limit to what you can cook in foil pouches.  Use your imagination.  More ideas for foil meals here.

Italian Chicken with marinara, onions and zuchini

Cubed ham, sweet potatoes, pineapple and peppers

Rosemary cubed steak, potatoes and peas

Why spend your supposed "down time" running around the campsite trying to get organized to cook?  Then scrubbing pots and dishes after dark! Do your prep before you go!  Nothing is worse then being on edge, and under pressure, trying to get a decent meal out to your troops. Just try this plan once....you'll never look back.  Who's really happy eating cold Pop Tarts, Lunchables and burnt hot dogs every camping trip?  Not me! ...and probably not you.  So do something about it. 

DEFINING "CAR CAMPING" TO CAMPERS.

Parts of this blog post are taken directly from something that I originally posted on the camping boards over on Reddit.  Often times a contributor offers up a great tip on the boards and is met with negative remarks or down votes; not because its bad advice, but simply because it doesn't fall exactly into what someone else deems their ideal version of "camping". 

Why do people take the term " Car Camping" so literally?

When someone hears the term "car camping", they might envision a couple of 20-something adventurists throwing some stuff in a vehicle and hitting the road for a spur of the moment road trip.  My close-to-50 year old version of that...throwing my sleeping bag into the back of my jeep, backing it up to a campfire at my $20 campsite and falling asleep; then stopping at McDonald's for breakfast (then stopping back for a $1 menu lunch & dinner) whilst enjoying the RI beaches. Some people might diagnose people like this with " Not spending $100 on a hotel room just to sleep" syndrome.  Well, I guess I got the sickness...and it's contagious! So, if you often find yourself extreme minimalist car camping, please know you aren't alone. There are thousands of other people out there willingly deemed "insane".  To newbies, I invite you to voluntarily commit yourself to the funny farm....its a sometimes-safe haven where the greatest memories are created. 

For the record...Hotel management does not appreciate guests burning the phone book in the bathtub to roast weenies and marshmallows. Go figure.

Now, lets focus on what the general camping community might define as "car camping".

"Car camping" I believe, (and wiki agrees) that Caravanning, RV camping, tenting, truck camping, motorcycle camping ... it goes by many names, and the experience varies widely, normally involves the use of motor vehicles to get to a campsite.

Unlike "walk in", "backpacking" or "minimalist" camping (well respected breeds onto themselves) who accept/love the challenge of journeying into the wilderness carrying supplies and equipment while testing their own abilities, survival skills and techniques. Car camping allows you to bring more equipment, more food...and plenty of stuff you'll probably never need/use. The focus is on enjoying the campsite/campground experience while partaking in things like group cook-outs, short day hikes, and other outdoor activities. Cyclists and kayakers fall into a gray area depending if they travel with a tow-able.  

Car camping might be a solo hobby or a group hobby. Realistically, its quite difficult to be a "minimalist" when camping in large groups (especially with kids). So, when people share a packing list that appears to include everything plus a kitchen sink, the term "glamper/glamping" gets thrown in their direction. Far from it!

Glamorous camping, aka "glamping" is more geared towards simultaneously satisfying your craving for the outdoors, your penchant for a good meal, a nice glass of wine, and a comfortable bed.... WAIT! That's me! ...except I do it in $50 tent, drink whatever is on sale, think "good" means not burnt, and an air mattress vs. hard ground is comfy. And jsyk...yes, I have some gadgets, tech devices, and often use real dinnerware... But, I've never been called a glamper. Except by a backpacker ;-)   And that's fine, because as a tenter, Rvers are my glampers. 

Anyways, I think we all know a true extreme glamper when we see one. And you know what? There is nothing wrong with it! I've seen lots and lots of people, spend lots and lots of money on hobbies that they didn't seem to get half the enjoyment from. So, you'll just have to deal with the fact that you got a plastic flashlight with low batteries... and they got a solar powered chandelier in their tent. Don't be a hater....they are still camping!

So whether your "car camping" trip leads to down a remote dirt road to the edge of a stream...or a paved parking lot where you unroll your awning and unpack your camp chair... or a half grassy/half shaded 70 ft. site with a fire pit, picnic table, water and electrical hook-ups, with a lake, beach, or swimming pool, and playground nearby.... ENJOY IT! ...and NEVER feel or make someone else feel that yours/their ideal version of being part of the great outdoors, is any more/less meaningful!

Find hints, tips, recipes, gear, DIYs, products, and advice for all your camping adventures on any/all of our social network pages. You'll find Bound4Burlingame on Facebook, Pinterest, Reddit, Twitter, Blogger, YouTube and the web.

A CAMPING WE WILL GO

BFF Laura

Jessica

It's guest blogger time!  I became acquainted with Jessica and Laura first through the Bound4Burlingame Facebook page, and then I finally had the pleasure of meeting them (and their offspring) when we rendezvoused at Burlingame Campground over the 2013 camping season.  I found them both to be kindred spirits and look forward to many more camping trips and off season excursions. 

Thank you Jessica and Laura for your continued support!  Camp On!

And now a word..or two, from Jess.....

Another summer has come and gone with my very special gaggle of people.  I wouldn't want to be in the company of anyone else for summer vacation then my BFF and OUR 5 kids.  We started camping at Burlingame umpteen years ago with our folks, and have continued the tradition with our own band of misfits.  Every winter begins the countdown and the questions from my girls “mamma, how much longer till we go camping?” ……or to my BFF--”Pearl, what camping items did you find this week?” My BFF’s name is Laura but I call her Pearl LOL—it references my grandmother and her best friend, but that is a tale for another blog.

This year our camping trip seemed to creep up way to slowly, but finally it was upon us.  As excited as we all were, a few weeks before our annual trip, my BFF delivered devastating news to me…. She would have to LEAVE CAMP EARLY! GASP  ‘THE HORRA’  Her oldest had football practice.  Damn kids ruin everything!!  We have a set routine.  An order of things done.  A set way to begin and end our camping  journey, so as NOT to anger the camping gods.  It seems that we miss something every year which results in cracked windshields, trips to the ER with hot cops, postage stamp sized campgrounds, torrential down pours, hurricanes, car alarms that refuse to shut off, or tarps a-smoldering.  There is a long laundry list of camping mishaps for us and each memory makes us giggle.

This year started off on the wrong foot!  As I mentioned the camping gods…. They were already plotting against us just for the fact that my BFF had to leave early.  Now, one of the other rituals that we have is to meet at a specific time.  Then, 45 minutes AFTER that specified time we all manage to get to our meeting spot.  Once we are on the road, and then turn back once---twice---sometimes three times for things we have forgotten, we begin our journey.  I am the driver and Laura is the ‘navigator’ and yes I use that term very loosely.  As we listen to the kids bicker and argue and fight and laugh, Laura and I reminisce of old times and ponder what will go wrong this year.  This is the routine.  This is what did NOT happen this year as we took 2 cars (dun duh duuuummm) AND Laura left a full 5 hours after we did.  There was no hope for us to make it through the week without the camping gods having their revenge.  Arriving at our normal halfway spot in Middletown Connecticut, i felt the void  of half of my camp clan missing.  Not even my pick me up DD coffee was oddly not the same.  But….drive on I did.  Once I made it to Burlingame, I set up camp with minimal yelling for the kids to help me.  Then off to dinner and the store to pick up supplies.  FINALLY  my BFF showed up around 8, just in time for her to fall asleep around the campfire!  And so ends our first day.  

Camping Cuisine...

The rest of the ‘week’ was filled with new friends, (thanks Laurie and Craig) lots and lots of rain, a trip to Wal-Mart in the middle of the night with my love to stop the Titanic (aka my tent) from sinking.  It is amazing what tarps keep out (the rain), and what they also keep in (smelly feet and kid stench…oh, and body heat and.... tooting).   This year brought  new adventures to the Point Judith Lighthouse, Bagels and More, the Umbrella Factory, Misquamicut go karts, and a Chinese buffet (please don’t judge).  If you are looking to lose yourself in jewelry, clothing, cool nick-knacks or a bamboo maze—The Umbrella Factory is the place to go.  For a few hours of fun off the beach, the go karts and bumper boats are a blast!   This trip was also filled with the old standbys.  The beaches of Westerly, Charlestown and Galilee, Frisbee tosses, metal detecting, Watch Hill for the carousel, ice cream and our annual trip to Romeo’s shop.  

...the camp tradition will live on!

And of course, the most important thing of all…. Memories made around the campfire.  I was even grown up enough this year to let others light the campfire. Between the s’mores, roasted starbursts and laughs, not a moment will be forgotten.  Children falling asleep in the chairs by the fire, marshmallows flying all around for a marshmallow war and 007 trying to make an appearance with lighter fluid.  Folks, my love is more dashing then 007, but should not try and get a job as a special effects master in Hollywood.   With boys being boys and trying bug zappers on themselves, wood that didn't want to light, rain forcing us under a pavilion for a lantern lit game of taboo….. the laughs were never gone for long.  This is my place.  This is home to me.  And every year I spend here with my BFF, my love,  our kids, or our folks that come for the day, it always leaves the promise of a  lifetime of memories.  My countdown to next year has already begun.  Only 343 days to go! Laura…let the shopping begin.