Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

It depends where I am camping and whom I am with. Most of the time I cook from scratch. Last year I made a lot of sauces, vacuum packed them then froze them. That way all I had to do was boil water, put the bag in and let it warm up. Kept the cooler colder, clean up was easier. I also precooked chicken and ground beef, stored them the same way. I will also bring frozen vegetables.

Once I tried to prepare some [pasta ahead of time to save on prep work and froze it to keep in the cooler - when we thawed it - It was like the consistency of oatmeal - yuk - learned the lesson and prepared meals on site. To save on weight, we often wait till we get to the campground to buy fresh groceries in a nearby town and it also gives us a chance to explore the surroundings

starleen2 wrote:

Once I tried to prepare some [pasta ahead of time to save on prep work and froze it to keep in the cooler - when we thawed it - It was like the consistency of oatmeal - yuk -

I found some rice pasta that has energy saving cooking instructions. You put the pasta in boiling water, bring it back to a boil for 2 minutes and then turn the heat off, put a lid on it and let it sit for 20 minutes. It is then ready for serving. If you like your pasta warmer, you can turn the heat back on for a minute or so at the end of the time. Again, this was for rice pasta; but, you might try it with wheat pasta.

Any time it's for more than myself, I try to cook fresh stuff. After a long day of driving or a late night arrival however...might just be a box of mac N cheese, can of chili or a sandwich. A frozen pot pie fits just fine in a 8" do and can cook unattended while I set up camp. I always have a back up quick fix meal in the trailer. Doug

caseydog wrote:
And, I often prep my ingredients at home, and put them in plastic containers to take camping, where I combine them when I cook. I consider that cooking from scratch, too.

CD

CD, That's what I do too. I love to cook outdoors and the chopping and cutting is some times hard to do.

I love it when Bob Henry and Vicky come to the gatherings because, as you can see, they "love to cook".
Coincidently, "I love to eat".

Older I get, the fresher I want. When I quit smokin' a couple years ago, I dumped on the weight. Now I'm slowly workin' it off by eatin' right....

As a consistant SOLO camper, I always bring sum of the SAME things...pre-scrambled eggs in a tupperware container, breakfast sausage, and canned juices( a few different kinds fer variety). Then, canned beans or chili,beef stew, that sorta thang. Lotsa trail mix( my own blend, mixed at home). Now I'm thinkin bout the steak thing..marrinated in a zip lock bag.
haven't quite caught on to cookin from "scratch" while campin, but will learn from y'all.
Dunno a darn thang bout Dutch Oven cookin...but hope to learn soon !

We mostly hike during the day, maybe a little canoe time so its sandwiches, when we get back to the camp I don't feel like cooking and cleaning so depending on which trail section we picked we might stop at Sven and Oles pizza or grab a subway sandwhich. If to far out from a town to feel like bothering it is either more sandwiches or Dinty Moore or hot dogsover the fire. I figure I do enough cooking and cleaning at home.

Kurt (Indiana) wrote:

caseydog wrote:
And, I often prep my ingredients at home, and put them in plastic containers to take camping, where I combine them when I cook. I consider that cooking from scratch, too.

CD

CD, That's what I do too. I love to cook outdoors and the chopping and cutting is some times hard to do.

I love it when Bob Henry and Vicky come to the gatherings because, as you can see, they "love to cook".
Coincidently, "I love to eat".

Is it the fresh yeast bread hot out of the dutch oven~ or the stew ~or the meat loaf ~or the rootbeer cobbler ~or the chilli ~ or the OH OH OH
I know it's that damn cheese ball Vickie always spoils you with


Now you know why I go almost 300 lbs.

When I travel with the Motorhome, then we do lots of cooking, but when I travel with the teardrop, it is as minimal as possible. Much like when I drove an 18 wheeler. Stop to grab a bite and move on. In camp, simple to prepare, simple to clean up and back to resting.
No gourmet cooking, no non essential cooking. Eat, kickback and relax.
If is comes in a can, all the better. I only carry a single burner so meals can not be complicated, they are just a necessity.
Now, I appreciate what efforts that some folks go to for grub in a camp, but camping to me is a time to relax, not fuss about with a lot of dishes, cooking, and cleaning up. Gives me more time to wander, read, or listen to good music. My .02

OMG You poor sick soul !


OK just kidding to each his own !

I voted fresh - the majority is - but like many others, we prepare some at home for convenience and space saving.

Nothing beats outdoor cooking for adding flavor AND appetite!

Darlene

darnis wrote:I voted fresh - the majority is - but like many others, we prepare some at home for convenience and space saving.

Nothing beats outdoor cooking for adding flavor AND appetite!

Darlene

Yes, it always amazes me how things I cook at home taste so much better when I cook them while camping. The fresh air, the rustic surroundings, the occasional bug (added protein) just seem to make camp food taste better.

CD

I cook mostly fresh meals but I do most of the prep at home. Using canned ingredients is not out of the question. Generally cook and serve right out of the dutch oven. I've even been guilty of eating right out of the DO when I'm by myself (less dishes.)

Good eating is half the fun on a camping trip. Waffles, pancakes, sausage, eggs and good coffee for breakfast and a good steak or something in the DO for dinner is unbeatable. Even if the fish don't bite, you can eat well and have a great time.