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Camping, even primitively, doesn’t mean you have to eat primitively as well. Limitations of space in your backpack and cooler and the lack of specialized cooking equipment may change the way meals are prepared, but it need not mean that you’re stuck eating canned ravioli or reconstituting dried eggs. After all, what’s the point of enjoying the great outdoors if your taste buds at mealtime aren’t happy?
Car, or trailer camping doesn’t present the same challenge as going on a lengthy hike carrying everything you’ll need for the trip on your back. For some primitive campers, even obtaining drinking water can be a challenge. It’s heavy to carry, but necessary. If you’re camping near a stream or lake, bring along a portable filter made for that purpose. They come in all shapes and sizes, and unless the water supply is heavily polluted, can easily transform it into safe water for drinking or cooking. By freeing up the space and weight you’d need to carry water in your pack, it’s possible to tote in any number of additional supplies.
Unless you’re camping during cold weather, select foods that do not have to be refrigerated. Meats will be safe for the first night out even without a cooler if frozen solid, wrapped in foil, and tucked into towels or clothing. Canned or dried beans, peanut butter, tuna, or canned chicken are good choices for protein. Pasta and rice are light to carry, and many vegetables withstand transportation in summer heat without damage – other more delicate vegetables do fine with a little padding and shade. A loaf of white bread may not survive the trek in your backpack without being smashed, but bread with a crisper crust will resist damage. Dried milk is lightweight and easy to incorporate in recipes that use milk, even if you don’t enjoy drinking it. Potatoes are excellent camp food – sturdy, versatile, and satisfying. Vegetable oil, olive oil, and margarine all travel well. And don’t forget the spices!
With a few basic cooking utensils, you can create masterpieces in camp cuisine. All you really need is a sturdy pot with a lid, a spoon, spatula, serving dishes such as lightweight plates, bowls, and cups, and flatware. Food can just as easily be fried in a pot as on a skillet. Bring aluminum foil for wrapping food to cook buried in hot embers. Don’t forget trash bags – you should carry out everything you bring in.
Preparation and creativity can lead to some unforgettable meals cooked over an open campfire, without any special equipment. All it takes is some consideration of which foods are lightweight and don’t need refrigeration, and there are many to choose from. Stir fries, casseroles, pasta dishes, and even simple baked potatoes taste wonderful in the great outdoors. Creative camp cuisine may take a little practice, but even the most basic foods are easier to prepare than they seem in primitive conditions. Experiment, and you may be surprised at the possibilities.
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