Camping Cuisine Pre-camp Preparation When planning a camping trip, it's a good idea to have a variety of foods that are easy to store and keep for some time. A great way to get a good nature menu is by planning in advance. Dried fruits and trail mix can be created in advance for yummy munchies on the trail. Banana Chips Bananas Non-stick cooking spray cookie sheet zipper bags

Trail Mix

This fun food is completely simple to make. Just create a concoction of fun and munchy treats from the following suggestions:

2 cups of dry cereal (don't use flakes, as they will crumble)

Use all other ingredients in 1 cup increments:

• raisins
• dried apples or apricots
• banana chips
• nuts
• mini chocolate candies
• shredded dried coconut

Fruit Strips

• 2 cups of applesauce
• 1 Tablespoon of honey
• 1 teaspoon ofcinnamon
• non-stick cooking spray

Preheat oven to 150F. Spray the cookie sheet with non-stick coating. Mix the applesauce with the honey and cinnamon, then spread in a thin layer on the cookie sheet. Leave oven door open a bit and cook for 6 to 8 hours until dried.

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

• Pumpkin seeds, clean and dry
• 2 Tablespoons of cooking oil
• salt

Apple Dumplings

• 3 apples
• 1 teaspoon of cinnamon
• 1/4 cup sugar
• canned biscuits, or thawed pastry crust

Campfire Food

S'Mores

• Chocolate bar
• Graham Crackers
• Marshmallows
• Campfire
• Roasting sticks

Roasting Stick Cuisine

• long green stick- longer is better
• hamburger patties or hot dogs
• aluminum foil

Parents can prepare the cooking utensils by stripping the bark from the last 6 inches of twig. A careful shove should get a dog firmly onto the roaster, and the fork in the twig will offer hungry campers a "double roaster".

For those who prefer burgers, the forked stick is a necessity. Campfire burger flippers start with about 2 feet of aluminum foil. Fold the foil lengthwise, then place the burger patty at one end of the strip. Set the forked stick over the foil so that there is a fork of twig on either side of the burger. Then wrap the foil around the burger and the twig and pinch around the ends to keep your dinner in the foil. Simply hold the stick near the flame, turning the handle to flip the burger.

With a campfire and a good green roasting stick, adventurers can enjoy hot food on the trail.

NOTE: Proper handling of meat is essential to health. Be sure to pack perishable food in iced containers, and cook meat thoroughly before eating.

Campfire Veggies

• Aluminum Foil
• Potatoes, Corn on the Cob, or Carrots
• Campfire

After the fire has died to a proper cooking flame (hot coals and little flame) wrap clean veggies and place them about an inch or two from the hottest coals of the fire. Use your roasting stick to turn the veggies from time to time. (A good way to remember is to turn them after every camp song or story.) Depending on the campfire, your roasted veggies should be done in an hour. Test them by poking with your roasting stick- careful not to puncture the foil. If the veggie gives slightly beneath the foil, they are probably ready.

Let an adult remove the foil packages from the fire, and let cool before attempting to open. They will be HOT!

Egg in a Cup

• Eggs (keep in a cooler with plenty of ice)
• Wax-covered paper cups
• Water
• Campfire
• Metal Tongs

For this most amazing cooking trick, you will need fresh eggs which have been carefully stored in a cooler or insulated bag with a cold pack. You will also need waxed-covered paper cups just a bit bigger in size than the eggs, and water.

This trick only works with paper cups, so do not try to substitute with anything else! Campers place their egg in a cup and add enough water so the cup is nearly full. (Larger cups will take much longer to boil.) Then, with the help of an adult, place the cups very near the fire.

At this point, the tops of the cups may very well catch fire. Although the effect is quite spectacular, the cups are actually perfectly fine. The water keeps the rest of the cup from burning. The paper heats quickly and in turn heats the water very quickly. Within a few minutes, you'll have a boiled egg!

Removing the eggs from the fire is the trick to this adventure. We tried to push the cups from the fire with our roasting sticks, but instead ended up with eggs rolling through the coals of our campfire. Cheers to the quick camper who came to our aid with a large pair of channel lock pliers and a fast hand. We suggest preparing in advance by packing a set of metal tongs. ;)