I've spent the day getting ready for our camping trip this weekend. We will spend 4 days/3 nights at a state park. We are renting a cabin but will bring along a tent as well. It always amazes me how MUCH I pack for just a few days of "getting back to the simpler things". Boxes of linens, towels, cooking utensils, fishing poles, sodas, coffee pot, blow-up raft, air pump, bikes, first aid, games, plates, cups, food,bug spray, tables, marshmallow poles, axes, knives, ice, coolers, spices, charcoal, soap, flashlights, batteries and chairs line my list. Most people in this world live for years with less stuff that we use for a weekend of camping. My pioneer ancestors travelled in a covered wagon with less "stuff" and made it from Pennsylvania to California! (How did they do it without ziplock gallon-sized storage bags???????)
I seem to pack what I need and what I "might" need. I actually made a "camping notebook" to save my camping recipes, check lists, great campfire ghost stories, and first aid (which has pictures of poison ivy in spring, summer and fall....that stuff does change its look).
We as contemporary humans have a hard time doing anything "simply". Stores have things, gadgets, coolers, and everything else under the sun to make our lives easier, yet at the same time these things clutter and lose their usefullness over time. Go to any garage sale if you don't believe me.
It amazes me when Jesus sent out disciples and said not to take more than a cloak and the sandals they were wearing. Could I have done that? Could I just "go" in the name of the Lord with no suitcase, no make-up bag, no credit card "just in case", no SECOND SET OF SHOES? I doubt many women were in that group.
By the way, I have found the secret to camping cooking....TIN FOIL. It's the best way to cook! No clean up, no mess, no dishes to do. Everyone fixes what they want, sticks it on the fire, and eats it how they like it. All you need is a large box of Reynolds tin foil, a bottle of Pam cooking spray, a sharpie marker (to mark their names) and you are set to go! Here are some of my favorite recipes:
Breakfast in Tin Foil:
On two layers of foil, place two English muffin halves. Butter and add a layer of cheese, canadian bacon, and crack two eggs on top. Salt and pepper, seal up foil and place on coals. Done in about 10 minutes. You could also add a layer of frozen hash browns instead of the english muffin.
Hobo Dinner in Tin Foil:
On two greased layers of foil, place a hamburger patty. Add onion, seasonings, green pepper, garlic, chopped canned vegetables, or canned sliced potatoes. You can add cheese also if you wish. Seal up foil and place on coals for half an hour.
Upside Down Cakes:
On two greased layers of foil, put a pat of butter and a scoop of brown sugar. Add a sliced pineapple ring. On top of this place a cake doughnut. Sprinkle with sugar/cinnamon. Seal foil and place on coals about 7 minutes. This tastes like the real thing. Day-old dougnuts are fine.
Banana Boats:
Place a banana (unpeeled) on foil. Slice open, not cutting all the way through. In the slot add some chocolate chips, sliced marshmallows, and some cinnamon. Wrap in foil and place on coals about 5 minutes.
Ham Dinner:
In foil pockets, put ham (cubed), sweet potatoes (cubed), and a half of a chopped apple. Place on coals until heated through.
Apple Bake:
Take an apple, (don't peel), cut in half and core. Inside each half, stuff butter, raisins, nuts, brown sugar, cinnamon, etc... place apple back together and double-wrap in foil. Place on coals about 25 minutes.
Campfire potatoes:
Clean and cut up 6-7 large potatoes (don't peel). Place on double layer of foil. Pat with butter or oil, add garlic salt, salt/pepper, and a chopped onion. You could also throw in a couple slices of bacon for flavor. Seal up foil, set on coals for about 30 minutes.
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