Rosemary Sage Chicken (kabobs)
This is about as complicated as I get. It is so tasty, I can't resist. One could decide to make these into kabobs. I make a few changes to cook it in packet dinners. I also make these at home all the time.
1. Put all the non-sauce ingredients (tomatoes, chicken, peppers, etc) in a large folded packet. Spread the chicken out so it isn't clumped together. This improves cooking.
2. Make the marinade and pour it inside the packet.
3. Seal the packet, place in zip lock bag, and freeze it.
When I made these for our last camping trip, the chicken was not thawed by the time I needed to cook it. It was taking forever to cook, so another option for cooking a little quicker is to grill it. Make and store as described above. I will then cover the fire pit grill with foil, rotate it over the fire, and dump the packet out on the grill to cook. This requires a little more attention, but is also tasty. As always, check the chicken for doneness before eating.
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Ninja Cooking Tip #1: Foil is Lighter than a Dutch Oven
I'll start this entry with a confession: I have yet to figure out how to use a dutch oven. Someone gave us a dutch oven while insisting they were necessary to camp cooking. Not realizing I shouldn't wash it, the dutch oven is now rusting in our garage. As I understand it, I am just suppose to sluff food off with oil? Really? One of these days I'll drag it out and re-season it. Maybe. But honestly, everything having to do with a dutch oven just reeks of hard work.
I'm sure I would love my dutch oven if we were resident campers. Family tent camping, however, is a different animal. I already have to squeeze 5 people, and our stuff, in the van. We value light and easy. In this category, featherlight and versatile foil is the way to go! You would be amazed what you can cook in foil packets. In addition, foil packets can be made in advance and frozen. I freeze EVERYTHING prior to leaving. When you are done cooking and eating, you throw it all away (or recycle). Voila! Dinner is served and cleaned up.
There are many ways one might choose to wrap food in foil. Our technique dates back to my days counseling at Outpost Camp and learning from the Kaufman's. The Kaufman's were a couple that planned all the outpost meals for the entire camp. They were very particular about how we should fold our foil packets for Hobo dinners, and now I am too.
1. Rip off a piece of foil. Size it a little more than twice as long as the sized packet you want to make.
2. Fold the foil in half.
3. Fold the left edge about 1 inch over. Fold again. Usually I fold again for good measure.
4. Repeat step 3 on the right side.
5. Open up the top and fill the packet with yummy stuff.
6. Fold the top down several times when done.
When making individualized packets, I usually mark them with permanent marker. Be warned, this is not full-proof because the marker sometimes burns off. So we'll also distinguish by folding a corner up a certain way.
My favorite way to make foil packets is in my kitchen prior to camping. I mix up the packets, then put them in ziploc bags (in case they leak). Afterwards, I freeze them. As I mentioned, I freeze practically everything we take: our jugs and bottles of water, bread, juice boxes, individual containers of apple sauce, etc. This reduces the need for ice in the cooler, saving space. We usually check the coldness of the cooler periodically, and start adding ice around day 2 or 3 of the camping trip. This depends on how hot it is outside. You'd be amazed how long a big jug of water can stay frozen in a cooler! The packet dinners will typically thaw in the cooler, but they stay cold if you keep them iced.
When I'm ready to cook up the foil packets, here are a few of the tips I follow:
1. Build the fire with coals in mind. After started, let the fire burn for around 30 minutes until it has burned down to some hot coals. Smaller pieces of wood, rather than gigantic logs, work best for this. When you are ready to cook, spread the log coals out a little bit for a wider cooking surface.
2. Pull the packet(s) out and lay them on the hot coals. Since they are already assembled, you will feel like a real camping ninja--take that dinner! Hiyah! Note: I also like to put hot coals on top of the packet, to cook on both sides. Avoid areas with open flames, because flame will scorch the meal.
3. Rotate the meals around every 10 minutes so they cook more evenly. Otherwise, relax and sip some tea. You may also spend the time repeatedly reminding your children not to put things in the fire.
4. Check for doneness before eating. De-li-cious!
Other helpful items to have for foil packet meals: 1. Tongs. These make it easier to get the packets in and out of fire. 2. permanent markers (as mentioned above). 3. Oven mitt. I always forget to pack this, so a towel/wash cloth also works.
I'll post my favorite foil recipes separately so they can be found easily.
I'm sure I would love my dutch oven if we were resident campers. Family tent camping, however, is a different animal. I already have to squeeze 5 people, and our stuff, in the van. We value light and easy. In this category, featherlight and versatile foil is the way to go! You would be amazed what you can cook in foil packets. In addition, foil packets can be made in advance and frozen. I freeze EVERYTHING prior to leaving. When you are done cooking and eating, you throw it all away (or recycle). Voila! Dinner is served and cleaned up.
There are many ways one might choose to wrap food in foil. Our technique dates back to my days counseling at Outpost Camp and learning from the Kaufman's. The Kaufman's were a couple that planned all the outpost meals for the entire camp. They were very particular about how we should fold our foil packets for Hobo dinners, and now I am too.
1. Rip off a piece of foil. Size it a little more than twice as long as the sized packet you want to make.
2. Fold the foil in half.
3. Fold the left edge about 1 inch over. Fold again. Usually I fold again for good measure.
4. Repeat step 3 on the right side.
5. Open up the top and fill the packet with yummy stuff.
6. Fold the top down several times when done.
When making individualized packets, I usually mark them with permanent marker. Be warned, this is not full-proof because the marker sometimes burns off. So we'll also distinguish by folding a corner up a certain way.
My favorite way to make foil packets is in my kitchen prior to camping. I mix up the packets, then put them in ziploc bags (in case they leak). Afterwards, I freeze them. As I mentioned, I freeze practically everything we take: our jugs and bottles of water, bread, juice boxes, individual containers of apple sauce, etc. This reduces the need for ice in the cooler, saving space. We usually check the coldness of the cooler periodically, and start adding ice around day 2 or 3 of the camping trip. This depends on how hot it is outside. You'd be amazed how long a big jug of water can stay frozen in a cooler! The packet dinners will typically thaw in the cooler, but they stay cold if you keep them iced.
When I'm ready to cook up the foil packets, here are a few of the tips I follow:
1. Build the fire with coals in mind. After started, let the fire burn for around 30 minutes until it has burned down to some hot coals. Smaller pieces of wood, rather than gigantic logs, work best for this. When you are ready to cook, spread the log coals out a little bit for a wider cooking surface.
2. Pull the packet(s) out and lay them on the hot coals. Since they are already assembled, you will feel like a real camping ninja--take that dinner! Hiyah! Note: I also like to put hot coals on top of the packet, to cook on both sides. Avoid areas with open flames, because flame will scorch the meal.
3. Rotate the meals around every 10 minutes so they cook more evenly. Otherwise, relax and sip some tea. You may also spend the time repeatedly reminding your children not to put things in the fire.
4. Check for doneness before eating. De-li-cious!
Other helpful items to have for foil packet meals: 1. Tongs. These make it easier to get the packets in and out of fire. 2. permanent markers (as mentioned above). 3. Oven mitt. I always forget to pack this, so a towel/wash cloth also works.
I'll post my favorite foil recipes separately so they can be found easily.
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
What is a Camping Ninja?
I've always envied those seasoned camping ninjas. You know, those campers who suddenly appear one day at a neighboring site. We didn't even hear them set up. The next day they are gone. We might be in the process of trying our 100th match to light a fire in the drizzling rain. The neighboring camp ninjas have opted for their electric cook stove, which is positioned under their lighted and screened meeting tent. People can smell their expertly prepared meal from miles away. I'm not ashamed to admit, I am a "camping ninja wannabe." I realize that this goal is probably too lofty for me. As a mother of three kids, and wife to a non-camping husband, the deck is stacked against me. Most days I am doing well just getting all three children in the car with clothes and shoes on their feet. On occasion, this has even proved too daunting! "T" (my middle child) will never let me forget the time we showed up at the mall only to realize that he, then 5 years old, had forgotten to change out of his pajamas. In my defense, he was wearing a coat.Still, I am a dreamer. I dream of that day when we make it through a camping trip without having to substitute a towel for a forgotten pillow. I dream of the day when my family has become such a well-oiled machine that we can set up our tent, or take it down, without alerting the entire neighborhood. Yes, I dare to dream. In the meantime, I will continue to enjoy family camping imperfection. Really, even with the raccoon invasions and leaky tents, camping is one of the best ways I have found for family bonding. With the bad, we also get s'mores, banana boats, pink sunrises, lightening bugs, shadow puppets, and campfire stories. Every camping trip gets a little bit sweeter.
I invite you to follow us on our journey to camping greatness. I am hoping that this blog can help us keep track of our favorite camp sites, meals, and camping tips. If there is anyone out there who shares my dream of becoming a tent camping ninja, then maybe you can learn from our mistakes (and successes). Since our family only camps in the summer, I also consider this an opportunity to sharpen my writing skills on a fun topic while out of seminary classes for the summer. Now, where to begin...
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