Upgrade your camp cooking- car camping edition
We’re super creative in the backcountry, and can make magic happen with a few freeze dried ingredients. But when we’re on the river or camping in the front country, we bring the luxuries plus the kitchen sink (and a Dutch oven).
We’re super creative in the backcountry, and can make magic happen with a few freeze dried ingredients. But when we’re on the river or camping in the front country, we bring the luxuries plus the kitchen sink (and a Dutch oven).
Camping might be all about spending time in the natural world and enjoying the great outdoors, but that doesn't mean you have to settle for bland or unappetizing food. With a little creativity and some simple ingredients, you can elevate your camping meals to gourmet status. Here are five delicious and easy-to-prepare gourmet camping meals to try on your next camping trip:
Off to a good start…
Campfire Paella: This classic Spanish dish is perfect for camping, as it can be cooked in a single pan over an open flame. Simply sauté onions, garlic, and diced chicken (or veggie sausage you’re if camping with us!), add rice and a variety of vegetables, such as bell peppers, tomatoes, and peas, and simmer until the liquid is absorbed. Serve with a squeeze of lemon and a sprinkle of fresh parsley.
Grilled Flatbread Pizza: No need to bring an oven to the campsite, as you can make delicious pizza on a grill or skillet. Top pita bread with your favorite toppings, such as marinara sauce, cheese, and vegetables, and grill for a few minutes until the cheese is melted and the crust is crispy.
Dutch Oven Chicken and Potatoes: This hearty meal is cooked in a Dutch oven, a heavy cast iron pot that can be placed over an open flame. Simply layer sliced potatoes, onions, and chicken in the pot, and bake until the chicken is cooked through and the potatoes are tender. Serve with a green salad for a complete meal.
Foil Packet Fish: This easy and flavorful meal requires only a few ingredients and can be cooked on the grill or over a campfire. Wrap fish fillets, such as salmon or tilapia, with lemon, herbs, and butter in heavy-duty foil, and bake until the fish is flaky and delicious.
Campfire Chiles Rellenos: For a Mexican twist on camping cuisine, try this dish of stuffed chili peppers. Simply roast peppers over an open flame, then stuff with cheese and wrap in a tortilla. Fry in a pan until the cheese is melted and the tortilla is crispy. Serve with salsa and guacamole for a delicious and filling meal.
Patience is the key to good Dutch oven cooking
We’re baaaack!
Fear not, the school year has returned and with it our feeble attempts to share our tales of epic teen adventures, globetrotting, and... well, let's just say our blogging hiatus was due to frenetic energy release and not a lack of motivation!
Did you miss us? Think we’re lost in the woods? Eaten by bears?
(Or didn’t notice we were gone? Keep that one to yourself.)
Fear not, the school year has returned and with it our feeble attempts to share our tales of epic teen adventures, globetrotting, and... well, let's just say our blogging hiatus was due to frenetic energy release and not a lack of motivation!
No, we weren't watching the grass grow and binging TV (well, maybe a wee bit of Ted Lasso). We were off leading the kind of teen adventures that could rival Indiana Jones' exploits, minus the cool hat.
First, it was off to the wilds of North Carolina in early June. We're talking playing Tarzan on a high ropes course and zip line, strolling along the Appalachian Trail to visit a thru-hiker shelter, swimming in creeks that might or might not have been the set of The Last of the Mohicans, and discovering waterfalls like we were on a real-life treasure hunt.
Amelia has a great attitude and fantastic taste in hoodies
Oh, but that's not all! In late June, we jetted off to Maine for a classic New England getaway.
Climbing and an afternoon hike? All in a day’s work!
We swapped out the ropes course and zip line for climbing gear and scaled rocks like Spider-Man's slightly clumsier cousins. Then, we channeled our inner Tour de France contenders as we biked the picturesque carriage roads in Acadia – only a few mishaps and wrong turns, promise!
Lunch at Jordan Pond House, then a race to the finish!
And then there was sea kayaking along the Maine Island Trail. Our pals at Sea Kayak Stonington hooked us up with brand new boats and guided us to our very own private islands.
Photo: Michael Daugherty @seakayakstonington ig
Lastly, we ventured into Baxter State Park, where we hiked through rain, fog, and what felt like a cloud factory gone haywire.
Rain and fog? Of course, it’s Baxter.
As if that wasn't enough, we even managed to squeeze in some personal travel. Emily was off to Vancouver and its mountainous charm, while Allen scouted a route at O’Bannon Woods for future trips (coming soon…).
We even made time for a family getaway to Syracuse, NY for some actual R&R!
Family time? What’s that?
But alas, there’s no rest for the weary. Yes, we're already back in the classroom, ready to impart wisdom and knowledge to the young minds of tomorrow – and maybe slip in a few stories of our summer adventures for good measure. If nothing else, we’ll surely spend some time daydreaming about the summer that was.
So, there you have it, friends. We might have been MIA for a while, but trust us, it was all for a good cause. Now we’ll catch our breath, share a few stories, and make plans for future adventures.
Now, where to next…?
Meet Your Guides- Emily Ross
You know those people who “light up a room?” Where laughter follows their movements at social events? Whose stories often fall somewhere between “I didn’t know that,” and “you’ve got to be kidding me?” Allow us to introduce you to Emily. You can thank us later.
You know those people who “light up a room?” Where laughter follows their movements at social events? Whose stories often fall somewhere between “I didn’t know that,” and “you’ve got to be kidding me?” Allow us to introduce you to Emily. You can thank us later.
Emily is the Yin to Allen's Yang; you will not soon forget her boundless energy, contagious enthusiasm and curiosity, and her infectious laughter. Oh, and her meals are killer, too.
Patagonia 2019
As for her experience?
Teaching middle school in New Zealand? Check.
Au pair in Scotland? Check.
The Cappadocia Loop in Turkey? Also... check.
Glacier routes in Iceland and Mount Rainier? Uh huh.
Hiking Machu Picchu? By the rugged Salcantay Route? Yep.
How about a “date” with Allen, backpacking through Torres del Paine National Park in Patagonia? While 6 months pregnant? Of course.
Solo travel in the Masai Mara? Italy? Greece? The Netherlands? Estonia? Australia? Well, you get the picture. She hasn't done it ALL, but she hopes to soon!
At home in the desert
Emily provides a wealth of knowledge and perspective from her travels on 6 continents, yet maintains a sense of wonder and a yearning for "what's next?!" With 17+ years of experience as a Montessori educator, she is a master of turning work into play. She especially loves the canyons of the Southwest and sunny beaches all over the world.
Emily is a lover of art, music, and great food, a long distance runner, and a world- class mother. We’re sure you’ll get along famously.
(You’re welcome)
The Company You Keep…
As a travel program director, I have had the privilege of working with some of the most reputable outdoor education programs in the world. These programs provide students with unique opportunities to learn about themselves and the world around them, while also gaining valuable skills that they can use throughout their lives.
As a travel program director, I have had the privilege of working with some of the most reputable outdoor education programs in the world. These programs provide students with unique opportunities to learn about themselves and the world around them, while also gaining valuable skills that they can use throughout their lives. While certainly not an inclusive list, the following folks have been instrumental in shaping who we are as a program.
National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS):
NOLS is the leader in the field of outdoor education. In the fall 1994, I spent a semester climbing and skiing through the mountains of Wyoming and exploring the canyons of southeast Utah. Here I learned not only the “hard skills” that taught me to be technically proficient, but also how to weigh risk, predict outcomes, and communicate effectively with my peers. It was the hardest, most rewarding 94 days of my life.
NOLS offers programs all around the world, ranging from 7 days to an entire year in length.
The outdoor classroom
Outward Bound is one of the oldest and most respected outdoor education programs in the world. Founded in 1941 in the UK, Outward Bound has been providing students with transformative experiences for over 80 years. Our first experience with OB was in 1997 at a Wilderness First Responder training course. Since then, Mags has also completed a river course in Oregon with these fine folks.
Wilderness Medicine Institute:
WMI is a leader in the field of wilderness medicine. Now a part of NOLS, they offer initial certifications, continuing education, certifications for medical professionals, and search and rescue courses. We have now completed 7 WFR recertification courses with WMI, and they continue to modernize their curriculum and standards to match the best practices of the ever- evolving field of medicine.
Our go-to guide service in the Rockies, the always friendly folks in Estes Park have led our climbing trips since 2008. The Colorado Mountain School offers a wide range of courses, from beginner-level courses to advanced courses in ice climbing and mountaineering, and has programs in some of the most beautiful and challenging mountain ranges in the world.
Last, but certainly not least, is our home away from home. At Prescott College, the world is your classroom. Writing research papers by campfire light after 8 hours of paddling whitewater is standard fare for a student in the outdoor education program. Want to learn Spanish while also studying coastal biology? There’s a base at Kino Bay, Mexico. An internship guiding mountains in Nepal would not be out of the ordinary, and senior projects have produced curriculum guides, sustainable farms in Central America, and art exhibitions across the country.
Maybe you can’t take the boy out of Prescott
The writer, Dick Schaap, often said that his favorite pastime was “collecting people.” We’ve been fortunate through the years to be involved in a community where we can say the same. Thanks to all of you for letting us play along!
Tough Sledding
It’s been tough sledding around here lately. We know that time heals, but the passage of that time can be staggeringly painful. That time can move unbelievably slowly. If you are feeling the weight of these times, there are numerous community resources available.
I called to check on a friend in New York in late September, 2001. The new reality of a post- 9/11 world was still in its infancy.
This person was more of a mentor than a friend at that time, and I was unsure how to navigate the uncomfortable conversation and the answers that were likely forthcoming.
“How are you guys?” I asked.
“You know, it’s been tough sledding. Almost everyone we know has been affected directly. We’ve lost a lot of good people.”
As the conversation progressed, I realized that it wasn’t difficult, and it wasn’t uncomfortable. I learned that it wasn’t about me, it was about listening. And about just reaching out to say “hi,” and “we’re thinking about you.”
I’ve had a few similar conversations this past week, mostly at home, as this town is dealing with the heartbreak of yet another mass shooting, this time at a local bank. The lessons from 20+ years ago hold true today:
Call your people.
Say hello.
Let them talk.
It’s been tough sledding around here lately. We know that time heals, but the passage of that time can be staggeringly painful. That time can move unbelievably slowly. If you are feeling the weight of these times, there are numerous community resources available.
Or give us a call.
We’d be glad to join you for a walk.
And just listen.