Cooking at camp is a uniquely satisfying and fun experience. I really love to cook on a campfire, with all my cast iron cookware. I have a Dutch oven, a couple of different skillet sizes and an amazing griddle. My iron knows its way around burning logs, and delivers flavorful meals that come together at a joy-filled campsite, seasoned with laughter and devoured after a day of playing hard!
There is no right way or wrong way, we simply suggest easy. I am an owner of an RV rental company near Medford, which means I can go out in an RV anytime. I offer up some campfire food ideas, that work just as well either at the fire or in your RV kitchen.
Planning pays; always shop before departure day. Have two clean coolers ready; one for beverages and one for cold food. If you are taking campfire skillets, get them in a box ready to go. Even though our RV rentals have indoor cookware in the fully outfitted kitchens, I still pack my iron, it’s just so fun. Beverages are critical! Load up beverages in the cooler a day or two ahead and smother in ice just before you leave. You will have coldies on arrival. Our camp insist on hitting the ground refreshed. The rest can go in the RV fridge once set up, but we still keep ice chest full because icy cold is part of the camp experience, at least until the ice runs out and then that fridge is your best friend! I am focused these days on reducing my single use plastic consumption, so I choose cans, cardboard juice boxes and juice concentrates as much as possible. Take large jugs of drinking water. Camp water can sometimes have an unpleasant taste and can ruin your camp coffee.
Have a “to go” spice rack. The same full flavors from home taste better in the great outdoors. One way to transport herbs and spices is in saved tic-tac containers. The perfect size, they close tightly and are very light weight. Always bring oil and butter if you use it. Never forget the S&P! These traveling cooking basics are winners! Important condiments are ketchup, mustard, mayo; and I don’t go anywhere without Tabasco. Also, I chop onions, etc. for cooking or condiments before I leave. (People will think you have a cooking show!) While we do stock some basics (salt, pepper, etc.), it's always best to bring your favorites just in case!
Now for some family snack hacks... Kids play hard when camping, it is grab and go
food all the way y’all! You will need recharging snacks to fuel the extra burn. Bring all your favorite high-powered snacks like oatmeal raisin cookies, muffins, peanut
butter, cheese sticks, hearty crackers, cut snack veggies & fruit, and a good nut-rich trail mix. The theme for “grab and go” is more protein, healthy carbs and less refined sugar. By avoiding empty carbs, high sugar snacks and soda, you will help keep those
little engines fueled and minimize exhaustion charged emotional breakdowns in camp. It might be the smartest thing you do to preserve a great vacation.
Before departure, easy prep camp breakfasts can include premixed pancake batter (don’t forget some fresh blueberries to toss on), scrambled eggs or a French toast cinnamon egg mix to dip a good bread in and toss on the griddle. But be sure to transport cold and in unbreakable containers. Before leaving, microwave some potatoes and cut them up for an easier pan fry or grate them up for hash browns. Yummy! We bring diced kielbasa or browned sausage crumbles to toss into a full scramble which can be rolled up into heated flour tortillas if you like. Just like that, you are the camp cookie from meal one! Remember to pack the syrup!
Lunch doesn’t have to be difficult either. Cut a French bread loaf lengthwise and load it up with cured meats and cheese slices. Keep cold until just before serving; serve with condiments and veggies. Cold roasted chicken and a cheese plate is also easy and amazing! And, If you are not prepared at all times for dogs roasted on a stick, you have lost your way. Pick up plenty, make sure you have all the condiments. Dogs are a go-to at any time of the day and roasting your own is an integral part of memory making! In our camp, if there is a fire going, there is a dog-roasting station nearby. And please always bring plenty of prepped fruit. Quality fresh food is a must! Cut watermelon will always be my go-to.
Bring a pot of your best chili (though store bought will do the job) along with some prepped cheese and onions. Throw that on a dog and you are making some seriously classic camp memories! Taco filling or carne asada to toss on the grill. Heat corn tortillas wrapped in foil. Serve with prepped onions, cheese & cilantro, salsa and
don’t forget the lime. Easy peasy! Prep some cubed meat and veggie for skewers and invite each person to customize and cook on the fire or grill. Teach a man to fish… Skewers make excellent appetizers and can be interactive food fun with proper supervision. The king of all camp dinners? Foil packets for the campfire or grill: salmon, butter, dill, black pepper and lemon; chicken, bell pepper, onion, garlic powder and cumin; cut corn cobs, onion, red potato (already microwaved) and plenty of black pepper or again, allow each to customize their own. Cracking open the foil to a waft of aroma is awesome. I haven’t met a foil packet that I didn’t love!
Finally, be ever ready with s’mores. S’mores are memories, people! The thing about s’mores is they are totally delicious but more than that... from the very first time roasting a marshmallow and squishing it onto grahams and Hershey squares, you are in love, embarking on a lifelong trip with some of the most iconic camping memories.
Don’t be the camper who lost a single minute of their limited vacation time, chasing around comforts they forgot to plan for. Sweet Dreams RV Rentals can ease your outdoor experience by providing you with everything but your food. It is truly what we are all about.
We deliver a fully outfitted RV within an hour of Medford or Ashland, and set it up at your campsite. Sleep soundly, and wake up everyday at the top of your game, to focus on relaxing or recreating to the max! We show you how to find the best campsites nearest Medford or Ashland on our website; sweetdreamsrvrentals.com/campgrounds-rv-parks. We have tips on what is happening in our region on our Facebook page: facebook.com/sweetdreamsrvrentals/. We want you to spend every precious hard-earned minute having nothing else to do but have fun! The true objective of Medford’s best RV Rental service is to provide you with all of the comforts, so you can have all the fun!
Camp food hacks are supposed to be easy so you have more fun at the campsite. Easy prep, quality food, easy cooking, optimal relaxation!
We invite you to try this… while you are prepping at home, start to imagine experiencing your outdoor life. Imagine you are not in the daily grind, but instead in a comfy camp chair with a cold drink, meandering through the head space that brings you back to life! Imagine you smell the trees, the lake and the fresh air. You can actually hear the distant laughter. It all seems real, real right now. It’s where you live your best life!