Camping Cook-Out

Written by Rosemary Mantini | 22 July 2009

Now that summer is in full swing, many people find that there’s nothing better than enjoying a few days at the cottage or camping in the bush. Spending time away from the comforts of the kitchen also means that there are lots of opportunities to cook in the great outdoors. For some reason, food that’s prepared outside on a grill and eaten in the open air just seems to taste better. Three words of warning: prepare, prepare, prepare. Failing to plan meals in advance is the best way to spoil a cook-out. Many campgrounds and cottage areas offer few, if any, well-stocked grocery stores within easy distance.

Here are some tips to help you assemble complete meals without last-minute surprises.

• Begin by prepping your vegetables, meat and fruit before you leave home. Chop vegetables, marinate meat and pack everything in plastic bags and store them in a cooler.

• Make sure you’ve packed skewers, a basting brush, heavy foil, long-handled tongs and lots of charcoal. Having the right tools and ingredients at the ready saves time and energy, so you have more of both to devote to other pastimes.

• Once you’ve arrived at your destination, take a few moments to think ahead to the next meal. As you make dinner, you can also cook some of the ingredients you’ll need for breakfast. Do the same at every meal, and you’ll always have the ingredients you need to complete the recipe.

Here are some scrumptious camping recipes to get you started.

Grilled Flank Steak with Chili-Lime Marinade

Scrampled Eggs with Jalapeño and Corn

Sausage Salad with Grilled Toast