Campfire Cooking

Hey, a little ash ain't gonna kill ya!

Cooking over a campfire is one of those things in life that you just can't explain to someone that's never done it. Everyone knows of the toasted, melted, burned, dropped in ash and wiped off marshamallow treat loved by kids of all ages. But, even better is the smell of bacon or cobbler or beans mixed with the smoke from burning oak or pine. You can't bottle that smell!

And, the taste! Dude, hang on while I wipe the drool off my chin. You've got to try real campfire food to appreciate it. Stuff that you'd dump in the trash at home is a delicacy in the wild.

OK, so I've convinced you that you've got to go start a fire and cook something. How do you do it? Well, here's the more common ways to cook on a campfire. Each method has its place and anyone you ask will tell you their favorite. Try them all and broaden your culinary delights.

On a Stick

This is the most common way of cooking at campfires for kids. Stick a hotdog on a stick, give it to the kid, and let him cook. It's a great way to warm up simple food like that, but it is also a useful way to cook individual servings.

Pros:

• simple
• no tools
• easy to regulate cooking by changing position of food

Cons:

• only a few foods can be cooked this way
• people tend to destroy environment collecting green sticks
• often lots of wasted food due to dropping and burning
• all those hot, pointed sticks and flaming marshmallows can be dangerous

Food Suggestions:

• Marshmallows - DUH!
• Hotdogs
• Pig on a Stick
• Bannock - bread dough wrapped on stick

On a Grill

Just like barbequeing on the gas grill at home.

Pros:

• cook any barbeque food
• simple to use
• easy to see how cooking is going

Cons:

• heavy, dirty grill to pack

Food Suggestions:

• Hamburgers, hotdogs, steak, the usuals
• Shish-kabobs

In Foil

Wrap up your food, toss it in the coals, and wait awhile. Everyone gets to put their own meal together just the way they want.

Pros:

• cook pretty much anything
• simple
• individuals get just what they want
• lightweight

Cons:

• easy to mix up who's is who's
• challenge to remove meals
• hard to tell when food is done
• tend to have burned waste
• dirty foil to pack out

Food Suggestions:

• Hobo Dinner
• Chicken Dinner
• Pocket Pizza
• Banana Boats
• Dessert Burritos

In Coals

Forget the foil, just put the food right in the coals.

Pros:

• fun
• simple
• no tools
• lightweight

Cons:

• not really a lot you can easily cook this way
• easy to ruin food
• be careful when removing food

Food Suggestions:

• Egg in Orange Peel
• Coat an egg or potato with a layer of thick mud paste and cook it.
• Ears of corn soaked in water first

Dutch Oven

With a dutch oven, you are set! Anything you want, you can have.

Pros:

• great tasting food
• hard to really mess up
• cook for a large group

Cons:

• heavy, heavy, heavy - only for stationary camping

Food Suggestions:

• Absolutely anything you can cook in your oven at home
• Chicken, beef stew, chili, meat loaf, pizza
• cobbler, coffee cake, candied apples