Recipe Ideas

It’s well known that we love camping, but The Campfire Committee also has a love of cooking…and eating! Trying out new recipes or techniques when out in nature is one of the more enjoyable parts of camping for us. Sometimes we like to keep it nice and simple, other times we love to go all out and see how over the top we can get.

Here are some tried and true recipes we wanted to share. Generally these are on the simpler side things or are ones that keep the more difficult steps at home where a bit of prep and mess are taken care of before you’re even at your site.

Pizza Wraps

Ingredients

• Tortilla wraps

• Pizza sauce

• Cheese

• Pizza toppings (pepperoni, onion, mushrooms, peppers, etc.)

What else will you need?

• Aluminium foil

• Campfire with some nice hot coals (or stove and griddle…but that’s not as fun!)

Let’s do this!

1. Cut a piece of aluminium foil larger than the size of your tortilla.

2. Take a tortilla wrap and put it into the middle of your foil (basically using it as a plate for now).

3. Spread some pizza sauce into the middle of your tortilla.

4. Fill it on up with your cheese and other pizza toppings. You’re going to be folding/rolling your wrap up like a burrito, so don’t overfill it (*easier said than done!).

5. Time to wrap up your tortilla! Fold in the ends (top and bottom) and roll it up from the sides. Try and get it nice and tight, but don’t squish out all the good stuff inside.

6. Wrap your aluminium foil “plate” around your uncooked pizza wrap. Fold in all the edges and make sure you get your tortilla fully covered.

7. Find a nice spot in the campfire coals and put your pizza wrap in there to cook. Try and keep it out of the flame or else it will end up burning (unless of course you like that campfire burnt tortilla taste).

   Remember, this is a campfire… be careful here please!

8. It should take about 5-10 minutes for your pizza wrap to cook fully through. Using your fire tools / poker stick / fire gloves, take your pizza wrap out and carefully unwrap a little bit at one of the ends to see if its hot enough.

   You’re looking for all of the cheese to be melted and for the pizza wrap to be nice and heated through. You may need to move it around the coals of the campfire a bit to find that “perfect” spot.

9. Once your pizza wrap is cooked, unwrap and eat! If you’re careful unwrapping, you can use your foil to eat from, or you can use a plate… but really, who wants to make dishes!?

S’mores

S’mores

Ingredients

• Marshmallows

• Graham crackers

• Chocolate (something that will melt. i.e., Aero, Caramilk,

What else will you need?

• Roasting stick (you can just grab a nearby stick on the ground, just make sure its long enough that you’re a safe distance and won’t have to lean into the fire)

• Campfire with some nice hot coals

Let’s do this!

1. Using the roasting stick, pierce a marshmallow and slide it onto the stick enough so that it won’t fall off as it heats in the fire.

2. Roast your marshmallow over the hot coals of the fire until golden brown.

3. Take two graham crackers and put a piece of chocolate on one.

4. Using the graham cracker with the chocolate as a base and the top one as a scraper, take the marshmallow off of the roasting stick and onto the graham cracker.

5. Make sure you’ve got as much of it in your graham cracker sandwich as possible.

6. Enjoy and ask for s’more!

CREATIVE TWISTS: Use an ice cream cone and fill it with your marshmallows, chocolate and any other goodies, wrap in tin foil and put in the hot coals of the fire until all melted and delicious; try other kinds of chocolate with fillings that will melt with the hot marshmallow; Adults - dip your marshmallow into some Bailey’s Irish Cream or other liqueur

Campfire Nachos

Ingredients

• Tortilla chips

• Protein (shredded chicken, ground beef or turkey, black beans etc.)

• Cheese

• Nacho toppings (onion, sweet bell peppers, jalapeno peppers, etc.)

• Condiments (salsa, sour cream, guacamole etc.)

What else will you need?

• Cast iron pan

• Aluminium foil

• Campfire - nice and hot!

• Bowls for condiments

• Oven mitts

Let’s do this!

1. Preheat your cast iron pan on a grate over the fire - make sure to use your oven mitts once you’ve put it on. It will be hot!

2. Prep your toppings - cut any veggies, cook any meat etc.

3. Cut a piece of aluminium foil big enough and line your cast iron pan.

4. Spread an even layer of tortilla chips at the bottom.

5. Add a layer of each: toppings, protein and cheese.

6. Continue to make layers of your chips and other goodies until your pan is full (or you’ve got enough).

7. Cut another piece of aluminum foil and make a tented lid on your cast iron nacho creation.

8. Using your oven mitts, put the pan back on the grate over the fire.

9. Let all the cheese melt (approx. 10-15 minutes).

10. Dish out any condiments (individual bowls for each person suggested).

11. Remove from the fire and take off your tented lid.

12. Enjoy! Be careful, the cheese might be hot :)

Campfire Potatoes

Ingredients

• Potatoes

• Oil (olive, grapeseed etc.)

• Salt & Pepper

• Seasoning of your choosing (garlic, chili pepper flakes, cumin etc.)

• Baked potato toppings of your choosing (butter, sour cream, cheese, spring onions etc.)

What else will you need?

• Aluminium foil

• Campfire

• Oven mitts

• Fork

Let’s do this!

First Option - Baked Potatoes

1. Prep your potatoes by cleaning with water and drying them off.

2. Use a fork to poke holes in your potatoes, or alternatively cut a small slice down the middle of the potato.

3. Coat your potato with a layer of oil.

4. Rub salt and pepper all over the potatoes.

5. Wrap each potato in aluminium foil. It’s going in the hot campfire coals, so you’ll want to make sure it’s double wrapped so it can cook and not burn.

6. Let your campfire burn down so that you have red hot coals. Bury the potatoes in the coals.

7. Let your potatoes cook (depending on their size it can take between 40-70 minutes). Turn halfway through.

8. Carefully remove your potatoes from the campfire. Unwrap slightly and poke with a fork to check if they are done.

9. Unwrap and cut open your potato to fill with add any toppings.

10. Enjoy!

Second Option - Potato Pouch

1. Prep your potatoes by cleaning with water and drying them off.

2. Cut potatoes into chunks or slices - whatever tickles your fancy!

3. Cut a large piece of aluminium foil and fold in half to create a double layer bottom to your pouch.

4. Place your potatoes onto one half of the foil.

5. Coat with a layer of oil.

6. Add salt, pepper and any other seasonings.

7. Fold the empty half of the foil over on top of the potatoes. Pinch and roll the edges around to close it up into a foil pouch.

8. Carefully place your pouch on a grate over the campfire.

9. Let your potatoes cook (approximately 45-60 minutes).

10. Carefully remove your potatoes from the campfire and unwrap an edge to check if they are done.

11. Unwrap and enjoy!

Sample Camping Weekend Menu

Friday Dinner:

• Pizza Wraps on the Campfire

Preassembled or assembled on site, this meal doesn’t require plates, utensils, or any cooking equipment. Add your favourite pizza topping to a soft tortilla shell - roll and wrap in tin foil, throw in or over the fire on a grill until warmed through and melted)

• S’mores

Another easy camping favourite - all you need is roasting sticks, marshmallows, graham crackers and chocolate.

Saturday Breakfast:

• Oatmeal or Cereal

With a simple meal like this on day one, you can spend more time enjoying the park than cooking a meal on day one!

Saturday Lunch:

• Sandwiches, Veggies and Dip

A light breakfast means campers will be hungry for lunch! Sandwiches require very little prep, can be dish less and portable!

Saturday Dinner:

• Cast Iron Sausage and Veggies with Baked Potatoes

Baked potatoes require a lot of hot coals to cook and can take a long time if they are large or if there’s not enough heat. To cook enough potatoes for dinner and breakfast, get a fire going at least 2 hours before you want to eat - which leaves an hour to burn some logs into hot coals and an hour to cook the potatoes.

Sausage and veg can be done in a cast iron on the fire or a stove.

Sunday Breakfast:

• Breakfast Hash

This meal can be straight up leftovers from dinner the night before, chopped up and reheated in a cast iron pan. You can add eggs, additional veg or protein and/or cheese. Go all out with a sausage gravy or hollandaise.

Sunday Lunch:

• (Self Serve or Portable) Sandwiches, Veggies and Dip

If you go really big with breakfast, this meal may be optional. Opt for something that’s non-perishable like canned tuna or PB&J

Sunday Dinner:

• Ground Turkey and Bean Burritos

Here’s an easy make ahead meal - prep and cook the ground Turkey and bean mixture before packing and freezing enough for the group.

Burritos are also easy to adjust to many dietary options including vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, etc.

Dessert:

• Campfire Dessert Sandwiches

A cast iron sandwich maker or pie iron gives you lots of room to play with making different goodies on the campfire. Some dessert favourites are sandwich bread with jam or banana bread with some chocolate hazelnut spread

Monday Breakfast:

• Breakfast Burritos

Similar to Breakfast Hash, this can be leftovers from the previous night’s dinner or you can add eggs, nix the wraps - whatever tickles your fancy! As a one skillet meal and plates optional with wraps, clean up from this meal is minimal making packing up a breeze!)

Monday Lunch:

• On the Road and/or Snack Packs

Depending on your departure time, you may opt for lunch at the park or it may be easier to eat something on the road. You can pre-make sandwiches at breakfast, pick something up, or have snacks on hand until you get back home.

Snacks:

• Granola Bars

• Apples, Oranges, Bananas

• Trail Mix

• Popcorn

The Bins Lists!

We’re getting into the details of what goes into the different bins we bring camping, including the first aid kit! Check out the lists below for ideas of what to include in your equipment, kitchen and pantry bins.

The Equipment Bin

• Aluminium foil

• Axe / Hatchet

• BBQ Lighter & wood matches

• Bug jacket / bug hat

• Bungee cords

• Camp shovel

• Carabiners

• Citronella Candles

• Clothes Pins

• Duct Tape

• Emergency Ponchos

• Extra batteries

• Fire Starter

• Garbage & recycling bags

• Glow Sticks

• Latex Gloves

• Mosquito coil (pic) & holder

• Multitool / pocketknife

• Notepad / paper & pencil / pen / marker

• Paper towel & roll of toilet paper

• Playing Cards

• Reusable Twist Ties

• Rope

• Sandwich / reusable bags (various sizes)

• Sponge / dish cloth

• String

• Tablecloth clips

• Vinyl / plastic tablecloth

Kitchen Bin

Note: Bring what you need! If you're going on a solo trip, bring a set of dishes for yourself; if you’re a family of 6, make sure you have enough!)

• Apron

• BBQ utensils (tongs / flipper etc.)

• Bowls (reusable / non-breakable)

• Can opener

• Cheese grater

• Coffee pot / French press / kettle

• Colander

• Cooking utensils (tongs / spatula / wooden spoon / ladle / slotted spoon / spoonula etc.)

• Corkscrew / bottle opener

• Cups (reusable / non-breakable)

• Cutlery

• Cutting board(s)

• Dish cloths / sponges

• Dish soap (biodegradable) & bleach

• Dish washing bins (collapsible)

• Drying mat / rack

• Griddle

• Large bowl for mixing

• Mugs (insulated / travel)

• Oven mitts

• Pans (non-stick / cast iron)

• Plates (reusable / non-breakable)

• Potholder / hot mat

• Pots (from saucepan to large enough for boiling dish water)

• Scissors

• Serving bowl / platter

• Sharp knives (paring knife / chef's knife)

• Tupperware containers

• Wine or drink cups (reusable / non-breakable)

First Aid Kit

• Adhesive bandages

• Gauze roll

• Sterile gauze

• Triangle bandages

• Medical tape

• Safety pins

• Scissors

• Tweezers

• Tick remover

• Alcohol wipes / disinfecting agent

• Gloves

• CPR mask / one-way valve

• Splint

• Hand sanitizer

• Medical facemask

• Emergency blanket

• Extra over-the-counter meds (antihistamines / pain killers / anti-inflammatory / Aspirin / heart burn / eye drops etc.)

The Pantry Bin

• Oil (vegetable / grape seed / olive)

• Vinegar (balsamic / white wine / rice wine)

• Salt & pepper

• Spices (in travel / camping spice container)

• Coffee

• Tea

• Hot chocolate / apple cider

• Peanut / almond / nut butter

• Pancake mix

• Rice

• Pasta

• Pasta sauce

• Tuna

• Canned soup

• Unopened condiments (mustard / hot sauce / soya sauce)

• Protein powder / electrolyte tablets

Let’s Get Packing!

We’ve put together some packing lists to help get you ready for your car camping trip! Remember, these aren’t all required items - at the end of the day as long as you have somewhere to sleep, something to eat, something to drink and something warm to wear you’ll be fine! These items are some suggestions based on what we’ve come to learn helps make us feel as prepared and relaxed as possible when we’re in away at a campground!

Somewhere to Sleep

• Tent (+ ground sheet) / tent trailer / van / RV etc.

• Sleeping bag / bed linens

• Sleeping pad / air mattress (+ air pump, if needed)

• Pillow (travel / inflatable / favourite from home)

• Extra blanket

• Door mat

• Tent light

• Tent fan

Someway to Cook & Clean

• Stove (single burner / camp stove etc.)

• Fuel (propane / charcoal / iso propane etc.)

• Water jug

• Dish washing bins

• Biodegradable soap & bleach

• Sponge / dish cloth

• Drying towels

• The Kitchen Bin (Check out our “Bins Lists”)

• Cast iron pan / Dutch oven

• Roasting sticks / pie iron / popcorn maker etc.

• BBQ (portable) - propane or charcoal

• Hand soap / hand moisturizer

Something to Eat

Note: food and drinks to bring are up to you based on your preferences and meal / menu plans - be sure to check out upcoming meal plan templates and some of our favourite menu ideas!)

• Cooler(s) with ice

• Panty bin (oil, vinegar, salt & pepper, spices, coffee, extra canned / non-perishable items)

• Food (in bin / bag / box etc.)

• Drinks (in cooler or extras to be added later)

• Reusable water bottles

• Snack for the drive to the campground

• One (or more) “welcome” beverage in the cooler as a cold drink after campsite setup

Campsite Equipment

• The Equipment Bin (see list below)

• Tarp(s)

• Rope (various lengths and widths)

• Axe / hatchet / saw / wood splitter etc. (not a power chainsaw!)

• Fire tools (fire tongs / pocket bellows / gloves)

• Matches / lighter

• First aid & safety gear

• Extension cord

• Wagon

First Aid & Safety Gear

• First Aid Kit (Check out our “Bins Lists”)

• Medication

• Whistle(s)

• Matches / lighter

• COVID safety items (masks / gloves / hand sanitizer / disinfecting wipes)

• Sunscreen / aloe vera

• Raincoat / poncho + umbrella

• Hat / gloves / scarf

• Bug spray / after-bite / tick remover etc.

• Activity related gear (helmet / lifejacket / bail kit / tow line / extra paddle / lock(s))

• Bear horn / bear bars etc. 

Electronics

• Cell phone

• Smart watch

• Charging cables (+ cable organizer)

• Bluetooth speaker

• Battery pack / solar panel etc.

• Camera & accessories

• Laptop / tablet / portable gaming device etc.

• Extra batteries

• A/C converter for car

• Walkie talkies

The Fun Stuff!

• Games (cards / board games - be mindful of small & paper pieces that might get lost or damaged)

• Hiking poles & daypack

• Canoe / kayak / paddle-board etc.

• Paddles / PFD / Lifejacket & other safety equipment

• Bicycle(s) & helmet(s)

• Fishing gear

• Beach toys (sand toys / beach ball / goggles / pool noodles / inflatable floaties / floating mats etc.)

• Beach umbrella / shade

• Yoga Mat

• Frisbee

• Binoculars / birdwatching gear

• Lawn games (corn hole / lawn bowling / horseshoes / ladder ball / Bocce ball / Spike-Ball etc.)

• Sports equipment (baseball & gloves / soccer ball / football / golf clubs / volleyball / badminton etc.)

• Quiet time items (book(s) / audiobook(s) / journal / sketchpad / knitting / crossword / Sudoku etc.)

Personal Gear

• Day or warm weather clothing (shorts / pants / shirts)

• Evening or cool weather clothing (long pants / long sleeve / flannel / fleece sweater / sweatshirt / socks)

• Bedtime clothing (pyjamas / base layer / wool socks)

• Underwear & socks (bring extras!)

• Hats (sun hat / baseball cap / warm hat) & sunglasses

• Gloves / mittens

• Scarf / buff / neck warmer

• Raincoat / rain pants / poncho

• Windbreaker / down jacket / vest

• Footwear (running shoes / rain boots / sandals / water shoes / hiking boots / shower flip flops)

• Bathing suit

• Beach towel

• Face towel / cloth

• Personal medication

• Wallet (including ID, health card, emergency contacts, etc.)

• Toiletries (toothbrush / toothpaste / floss / shampoo / conditioner / soap / face-wash / wipes / moisturizer / hairbrush / comb / hair accessories etc.)

• Glasses / contact lenses & solution (+ extras)