Camping
by gunner
Spring and then summer is not that far away to not think about it. I mean come on, who reading this has not looked out a window and pictured green trees, blue skies, and the smell of fresh pines? I know I have many times already.
Camper vs Tent:
We all our idea of a perfect camping trip. Some with a big 40 foot Winnebago with all the luxuries of home. Shower, bed, HEAT, etc… For some of us that is right. Then there are the others. I fall into that bunch. Give me a tent, sleeping bag, big ol’ fire and corn and potato’s then I am ready.
Let’s look at the difference between the two. RV, true you have heat, shower and all the comforts of home. But see that is just it, comforts of home. Why leave the house? I am not knocking this style in no way. But to me it is a great way to travel across country. Not go to your local lake and camp out every weekend.
The tent, that is camping. No shower, TV or heat coming from vents. Sleeping bag that is cold when you first get into it at night. The whole idea of camping is getting out and roughing it for however long. At least what I was taught camping was. To get away from it all and just relax. Now there will be some who will say they are relaxed in the big house on wheels, and I am sure they are. But are they camping, I mean really camping? Bacon and eggs in a cast iron skillet over an open fire with the smell & sounds of the wood popping as it burns…. Now that is camping.
Things that are good to have no matter how you camp:
Flashlights & extra batteries
First-Aid kit
Bottle of insect repellent
Cell Phone
(I put my cell phone and radio in bag and forget about them…unless I need to use them for an emergency)
Good Knife
Rope
Some cases a good weather radio
Flares to start a fire in an emergency
Water proof matches
Compass ( I have went to a handheld GPS)
Extra Clothes
Snap-lites
Whistle
Good two way radios
Advil or whatever you may take for pain
The list can go on and on. Use common sense when packing for a trip and make sure you have what YOU need to be safe and have fun. Being prepared for a trip can make the difference between having a great time or never wanting to do it again. The extra time it takes to check and check again, is really worth it.
Be safe, have fun and come back!
Showing posts with label camping. Show all posts
Showing posts with label camping. Show all posts
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Open Fire cooking
Open Fire cooking
by gunner
Ok, you have the tent all set up, everything is placed right where you want it to be. The table is set over there, the cooler is right next to it. You have your chair set up looking at a breathtaking view (no TV tonight, you have natures big screen) and the coleman lanterns are ready and waiting for darkness…
You now have the fire pit dug and surrounded by baseball size rocks. The logs are set in a tee-pee fashion and the fire is burning just right. You place the grill over the flame and now it is time to start the cooking.
You can cook so many ways while out camping there is not enough space on this site to cover them all. So I will just touch on a few of my favorites. Two ways to cook corn over a fire and both are great tasting. Leave the corn in the husk and place in aluminum foil with some water and butter. Wrap tight and toss them in the bottom of the fire on the hot embers. This way is I would say the most popular among campsite cooks.
But there is another way. Remove the husk and cut the corn cob in two parts. Smear with butter and then place directly over the fire on the grill. You get a flame grilled flavor and ad seasoning to taste.
At this point I also slice onion and peppers and place them over the flame on the grill also. I like the crisp flame kissed taste to these. You can also wrap the onion whole in aluminum foil with a little water and lots of butter and place it in the embers also. Now I do the aluminum wrapped potatoes. (Hard to beat these)
And as far as the main dish, it can be anything of your liking such as fresh caught fish or hamburgers or my personal favorite thick steaks! When I pack for the trip I will place steaks in a big freezer bag marinating in either Italian dressing, or homemade seasoning with some sort of marinara . Nothing taste better than a true flame cooked steak.
When cooking the fish I do not add much to it. I will splash lemon juice on it and maybe a few spices but not much. I am a big fan of fresh parsley… Oh and I forgot to mention, when cooking in a skillet, it IS cast iron… Nothing like home fries and bacon and eggs in the morning before you go out on the fishing trip for the day!!!
See you out there, and remember.. put out all unattended fires!
gunner
by gunner
Ok, you have the tent all set up, everything is placed right where you want it to be. The table is set over there, the cooler is right next to it. You have your chair set up looking at a breathtaking view (no TV tonight, you have natures big screen) and the coleman lanterns are ready and waiting for darkness…
You now have the fire pit dug and surrounded by baseball size rocks. The logs are set in a tee-pee fashion and the fire is burning just right. You place the grill over the flame and now it is time to start the cooking.
You can cook so many ways while out camping there is not enough space on this site to cover them all. So I will just touch on a few of my favorites. Two ways to cook corn over a fire and both are great tasting. Leave the corn in the husk and place in aluminum foil with some water and butter. Wrap tight and toss them in the bottom of the fire on the hot embers. This way is I would say the most popular among campsite cooks.
But there is another way. Remove the husk and cut the corn cob in two parts. Smear with butter and then place directly over the fire on the grill. You get a flame grilled flavor and ad seasoning to taste.
At this point I also slice onion and peppers and place them over the flame on the grill also. I like the crisp flame kissed taste to these. You can also wrap the onion whole in aluminum foil with a little water and lots of butter and place it in the embers also. Now I do the aluminum wrapped potatoes. (Hard to beat these)
And as far as the main dish, it can be anything of your liking such as fresh caught fish or hamburgers or my personal favorite thick steaks! When I pack for the trip I will place steaks in a big freezer bag marinating in either Italian dressing, or homemade seasoning with some sort of marinara . Nothing taste better than a true flame cooked steak.
When cooking the fish I do not add much to it. I will splash lemon juice on it and maybe a few spices but not much. I am a big fan of fresh parsley… Oh and I forgot to mention, when cooking in a skillet, it IS cast iron… Nothing like home fries and bacon and eggs in the morning before you go out on the fishing trip for the day!!!
See you out there, and remember.. put out all unattended fires!
gunner
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