Camping trip food suggestions and recipes.

Meals can make a significant contribution to the positive experiences of camping. Tasty, nourishing dishes warm the body and soul alike as you gather with family and friends to enjoy these meals in the great outdoors.

If you are the camp cook and enjoy preparing food outdoors, by all means make as elaborate a spread of food as you wish. For those who prefer to keep the cooking chores to a minimum, keeping it simple is the word of the day.

Pack smart, light and keep it simple.

For the most part camping recipes tend to be simple with a limited amount of preparation and basic ingredients. Foods which do not require cold storage are easier to accommodate on camping trips. Spices and seasonings are usually reduced to a few basics. Pre-made casseroles can be frozen and used in part as ice packs in the cooler for the first day or two. Healthy snacks and a little junk food come in handy between meals.

Easy Breakfast Recipe Ideas.

No-cooking breakfast.
- Cold cereal with milk and fruit.
- Add energy bars for the big eaters.

Breakfast burros
- Crumbled breakfast sausage in scrambled eggs, wrapped in a tortilla. Bacon, chopped ham or charizo can be added or used to replace the sausage. Add onions, diced green chilis and or bell peppers to taste. Grated cheese and salsa can also be rolled into the burro.

Bacon, egg and cheese biscuits (or croissants)
- Seasoned scrambled eggs on a biscuit topped with cheese and Canadian bacon, ham, bacon or sausage patties.
- Fresh fruit on the side.

Easy Lunch Recipe Ideas

Soup and sandwiches
- Hot, canned or pre-cooked soup.
- Cold cuts and cheese sandwiches
- Fresh fruit and nuts for munchies.

Chili and corn bread
- Hot, canned or pre-cooked chili
- Corn bread prepared in a dutch oven
- Applesauce

Burgers on the grill
- Hamburgers on the grill with favorite toppings
- Chips and dip or salsa.

Easy Dinner Recipe Ideas

Steaks, potatos and corn on the grill
- Steaks or beef patties
- Baked potatoes
- Grilled ears of corn

Barbecue chicken
- Chicken pieces basted with barbecue sauce
- Corn bread prepared in a dutch oven
- Sliced carrots grilled, sealed in aluminum foil with butter
- Wedge salad and favorite dressing

Easy fish filets
- Place individual servings of white-meat, boneless fish filets in a heavy-duty aluminum foil pouch. Add chopped onions, diced green chilis, butter and lemon juice. Seal the pouch tightly and grill for approximately twelve minutes, then remove. Open pouch and sprinkle with seasonings and grated cheese. Use the aluminum foil as a plate.
- Spanish rice
- Refried beans topped with grated cheese

Easy Dessert Recipes

S'mores
Place Hershey bar (or Reese' Peanut Butter Cups) on half a graham cracker, add a freshly toasted marshmallow or two and top with the other half of the graham cracker.

Daytime "Nana" S'mores
Place Hershey bar on half a graham cracker, add sliced banana. Spread peanut butter on the other half of the graham cracker and place it on top of the bananas. Serve with a napkin.

Toasted Banana Boat
Slice a banana down the middle. Leave the banana peal in place. Cover with Chocolate or Reese' Peanut Butter Cups and marshmallows. Wrap in aluminum foil and seal, Grill or place in hot coals for about eight to ten minutes, turning often. A bit messy but mighty tasty.

Easy Snack Recipes

Pita Bread Pizzas
- Brush pita with olive oil, cover with pizza sauce, add veggies and/or pepperoni and cover with grated cheese. Grill on lightly oiled aluminum foil for abour five minutes or until cheese is fully melted.

Easy Trail Mix
- 2 cups raisins
- 2 cups dried banana chips
- 2 cups pretzels
- 3 cups mixed nuts
- 8 ounces mixed dried fruit bits
- Mix together and place one cup each in a zip lock bag.

Yummy Celery
Mix raisins and and chocolate chips into peanut butter. Spread on celery sticks and serve.