If you browsed my blog recently, you might have noticed that I have been enjoying the great outdoors frequently this summer. Just like travelling, camping is for me a way of connecting with the nature and reconnecting with myself. After a long busy week at work, I find comfort in the wilderness. But camping isn’t just a nature occurrence, it could also be a culinary experience.

For those who are tired of the classic wiener on a bun, here are 10 easy camping food to prepare at home (for most of the recipes I haven’t included measures since I like to go freestyle when I cook):

1. Mexican Breakfast     ***Pair with a Ceasar***

My brother introduced me this flavouring Mexican dish at my first wild camping adventure out West when I was 15. It stayed one of my favourite since. No preparation needed, except for the guacamole.

Ingredients:

• Tortillas
• Cheddar cheese
• Refried beans
• Sour cream
• Salsa
• Homemade guacamole

Prepare the guacamole in advance. Put cheese and refried beans on tortilla, then fold in 2. Place on BBQ grill until the cheese is melted and the tortilla is crispy. Garnish of a generous portion of salsa, sour cream and guacamole. You could add an egg on top as well.

2. Omelette with Pan-fried Potatoes    ***Pair with a coffee Bailey’s***

This earthy meal is easy to prepare and will wake you up nicely.

Omelette ingredients:

• Your favourite fresh vegetables
• Eggs
• Milk
• Cheese (I use cheddar or feta)
• Cooked bacon (could also be ham)
• Salt and pepper

Chop the veggies, cheese and meat. In a bowl, beat the eggs and milk. In a Mason jar, combine all dry ingredients together. In a second Mason jar, put the liquid mixture. Once at your outdoor kitchen in the woods, pour the content of the 2 jars in a hot pan and cook just the way you like it.

Pan-fried potatoes ingredients:

• Red russet potatoes
• Onion
• Green onion
• seasonings

Cut potatoes in half and boil until tender, but still a bit crunchy. Place in a plastic container and toss in olive oil and seasonings. All you need to do is to pan fry until nice and crispy!

Another alternative to this recipe is to put the omelette and hashbrowns in a wrap with sour cream and salsa. It makes a delicious breakfast wrap!

3. Mini-quiches   ***Pair with a homemade Sparkling White Wine Sangria***

Either for breakfast, snack or dinner, these mini-quiches are a real treat!

Ingredients:

• Mini-quiches shells (I use Tenderflake)
• Eggs
• Milk
• Bacon (or ham)
• Frozen spinach
• Feta
• Cheddar
• Salt and pepper

Cook the bacon, then chop in small pieces. Unfreeze and drain spinach. Cut feta in small cubes. Beat eggs and milk together, add salt and pepper. Mix the bacon, spinach and cheese to the egg mixture and pour the filling in defrosted shells. Shred some cheddar cheese on top. Follow to instructions for cooking.

4. Ham & Cheese Waffles   ***Pair with a Mimosa***

You need a waffle maker for this one.

Ingredients:

• 3 eggs
• 2 cups milk
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1-1/2 cups shredded cheese
• 3/4 cup cubed cooked ham or bacon

Beat eggs, milk and oil in a bowl. Combine flour, baking powder and salt, add to egg mixture and beat until smooth. Add cheese and meat. Pour in waffle maker and cook until brown and crispy. Once cooled down, you can store the waffles in aluminum paper. Place them on the BBQ grill until well toasted. Butter up and put maple syrup. Serve with a fruit salad. You’ve got yourself a delicious sweet and salty delicatessen.

5. C.H.E.L.T Croissants    ***Pair with a Cider or a Stout***

My boyfriend’s favourite!

Ingredients:

• Croissants
• Cheese (Brie is phenomenal in this)
• Ham (for optimum pleasure, substitute for prosciutto)
• Eggs
• Lettuce
• Tomatoes
• Mayo

Don’t need to give you directions here. Pretty simple. But make sure you toast the whole package on the BBQ grill. Yum!

6. Antipasto Platter    ***Pair with a Pinot Grigio or Dolcetto***

So much to say here! But I’ll link those recipes to awesome food website. Here are some ideas for when the sun is hot in the afternoon and you want a light snack, or to open your appetite before dinner. Plus in camping, we always eat.

Ingredients:

• Hummus
• Artichoke dip
• Selection of cured meat
• Assorted of olives (don’t forget the blue cheese stuffed olives)
• Marinated vegetables
• Selection of cheeses
• Bread
• Crackers
• Crudities

7. Marinated Thai Chicken Shish-kabob with Green Bean Salad    ***Pair with a Gewürztraminer***

My mom’s recipe, a true finger licking dish.

Thai chicken ingredients:

• Chicken
• Fish sauce
• Oil
• Garlic
• Cumin powder
• Coriander
• Curry powder
• Sambal oelek
• Maple syrup (or brown sugar)

Cut the chicken in bite sizes. Pour all ingredients in a dish plate. Make sure the chicken is all submerged. Cover and refrigerate all night. Place on sticks (if wooden sticks make sure they soaked prior in water). Place in Ziploc bag. Cook on BBQ.

Green bean salad ingredients:

8. Grilled Prawns with Orzo Salad   ***Pair with unoaked Chardonnay***

Marinated prawns ingredients:

• Prawns (or shrimps if preferred)
• Garlic
• Lemon or lime juice
• White wine (if you are a fan of prawns, I’m sure there’s some kicking around)
• Salt and pepper

Marinate the crustacea in oil, garlic and salt and pepper (you can place them on sticks if you want them as skewers, make sure again to soak the wooden sticks in water prior). Ceil in Ziploc bag and refrigerate overnight. When you are ready to feast, add the citrus juice and the white wine to the bag and mix well. Wrap the prawns in foil paper and place on BBQ grill until cooked the way you like (just a few minutes). Or place directly on grill if they are on sticks.

Orzo salad:

I always have this side dish during Christmas and Thanksgiving and it’s been so delicious that I modified it a bit and started to add it to our camping menu.

Ingredients:

• Orzo
• Frozen spinach
• Feta cheese
• Walnuts
• Bacon
• Dried cranberries
• Oil
• Salt and pepper

Cook orzo. Chop bacon and cook. Toast walnuts. Once the orzo is cooked, drain and let it cool down. Then add all ingredients together in a large bowl and mix well. Add oil to the salad so it doesn’t sticks. Add salt and pepper. Place in plastic container. Yummy side dish that is as good heated or cold (I prefer it cold).

9. Pasta   ***Pair with a Shiraz***

A lot of people don’t think about bringing pasta in camping. But it’s actually very easy to make with no preparation needed (unless you want to add extra to it).

Ingredients:

• Ravioli or tortellini of your choice
• Sauce of your choice

Boil water in a pot and cook ravioli for 6-8 min. Add sauce. I even add some cured meat from my antipasto platter and add some cheese on top. Voila!

10. Papillote   ***Pair with a Malbec***

A bit of preparation at home and a bit of time to cook, but once you dig in it, I assure you that you won’t be able to stop.

Ingredients:

• Yams
• Potatoes
• Onion
• Garlic
• Brocoli
• Mushrooms
• Cheese (I use cheddar, my boyfriend uses Velveta cheese)
• Sausages
• Butter
• Seasonings

Cut the vegetables in bite sizes. Take the sausage meat out of the skins. In a large piece of foil paper, place the vegetables, sausage meat, squared pieces of butter and cheese. Combine everything together. Season well. Foil the paper and refrigerate. Just before dinner time, place the papillote in the BBQ (you could also put it straight on the fire). Cook 30-40 min or until everything is soft and hot. This savoury and juicy meal will bring comfort and warmth after a full day playing outside.

Bon Appetit!

Note:  I am not a food blogger and these recipes are just ideas I share with you. Also, I lost my recent pictures on my phone hence the few pictures taken from the Internet. I hope you enjoyed and I wish you a happy end of summer!