Archive for the ‘Campfire Cooking’ Category
Single Burner Camping Stoves!
Chef's Delight!
With nostalgia, I remember the family camping trips when all mama had for cooking was three, single burner stoves. What she couldn’t do with those three stoves left little for the imagination.
My favorite meal was her spicy fried chicken, potatoes, gravy and the fresh asparagus that she would have me pick down by the creek. Every now and then, she would top it off with her panned pineapple upside-down cake and as dad said, “it was made too die for”.
Those days have long gone. But, even today, when out fishing the lake; at about dusk, I turned around to my grand-kids and said, “take a whiff, can you smell that spicy fried chicken mixed with the sweet smell of pineapple upside-down cake”? Their response was, “yea granddad, just like the last time”. Oh, what can’t be done with several single burner cooking /camping stoves ain’t do-able!
The Resident Authority!
Big Things in Small Packages!
The entire family knows that I spent many years in the military; so, by default, it seems that I’m the go-to person for all matters concerning the out-doors. Last week, I received one such call from a sibling whose young son was going out on a 2-day school trek and was looking for a light-weight/convenient way to heat water for dehydrated food and a hot drink.
I suggested two possibilities: 1. A small one burner stove, or 2. Obtaining a hand-full of heat tabs from the local Army/Navy surplus store. Because of weight and bulkiness, the later was selected. However, caution was given to use a well ventilated burning area, as-well-as a heating can/device that had numerous breathing holes in it.
The feed-back was that this, unlike other, cooking stoves worked to perfection. It was small, light-weight (didn’t require a pack mule), and not only dependable enough to cook my nephew’s food but also the food for two other campers whose stoves did not function properly, HOOAH!
Clean Water Is More Important Than You Know
Could be a Life Saver!
Never underestimate the importance of clean drinking water. In the United States we usually have the luxury of knowing that the water we drink and bathe in is going to be pure. At least this is the case in most situations, unless you are in the wilderness or backcountry. For situations like these it’s important to understand the basics of water purification.
The first and easiest way to purify water is to boil it. Bringing water to a boil and leaving it for several minutes will ensure that viruses and bacteria are eliminated. Another option is to buy some water purification tablets. These work well when there’s no other option, although they tend to leave a bad taste in the water.
Valuable Tips for Campfire Cooking!
Culinary Magic!
When I take my family camping, it’s a given that I am tasked with creating gourmet meals virtually from scratch. Everyone assumes that I can do so with ease because cooking comes so naturally to me back home. However, making meals in the great outdoors is much more difficult for a number of reasons. First, you can only pack so many fresh ingredients. Second, you’re severely limited as far as the tools at your disposal.
When I get to the campsite, I like to take out my camping cookware and begin building a fire suitable for culinary magic. The key is to burn some kindling into hot coals, then rake them into a grade. The coals should be high in the back and low in the front. From there, I position a rudimentary grill over the top and have a simplified temperature control system. Anything I want to cook fast or on high heat I put in back. The simmering stuff goes in front.