By Janel Esplin
From tinfoil dinners to marshmallow and weenie roasts, there are many ways to enjoy “fine cuisine” while camping.
Scott Hart, head of dining services at Aspen Grove Family Camp in the Provo Canyon, said camp cooking can be as simple or hard as you make it.
“It’s just a matter of time and preparation. It depends on what you want to do,” Hart said.
He said if students are just going on a overnighter, they should go the easy route by just having foil dinners or roasting hot dogs on a stick.
“If you want to go gourmet for the weekend, you can take the dutch ovens and reflector oven and make some good meals,” he said.
According to Karen Burns, a camp cooking specialist, charcoal is the easiest method of outdoor cooking.
“Charcoal is a good fuel for grilling, dutch oven cooking, stick cooking or foil packs to name a few,” she said.
She said a great method for college students to use is the foil packs because they’re fast, easy, cheap and taste great.
“All you have to do is layer the food you want in a square of tin foil and securely wrap the package with the ends folded or rolled up,” Burns said.
“Just cook them for 15 minutes on each side, turning every five minutes for even cooking,” she said.
Camille Hally, a senior from Idaho Falls, Idaho, majoring in English, said she loves to cook outdoors.
“The best way to go is to take a camp stove,” she said.
“When I was a backpacking guide, everyone’s favorite meal was chicken quesadillas,” Hally said.
She said if you should get all your spices mixed together ahead of time or use Lipton onion soup mix, your food will taste a lot better.
Hally also said it is important for people to remember they still need to get good nutrition when they are camping.
“Most people don’t realize that their bodies expend a lot more energy at high altitudes. Carbohydrates and proteins are very important to provide the energy that is needed,” she said.
