Cherry Knife

Three Dishes To Cook When Going Camping

Sitting back and enjoying a camp-cooked meal may be one of the most satisfying aspects of camping. The restrictions of cooking in the Great Outdoors may be frustrating when you are used to a fully-equipped kitchen at home, but there is something special about eating hearty food off a plastic plate while out in the wilderness.

The secret to lightening the load when you are camping is to make sure you have the correct camping equipment. Always make sure you have good quality camping essentials – a sturdy tent, warm sleeping bags and a reliable fuel stove. Cooking outdoors means you will need pans, dishes, utensils, and fire-starting materials. Stock your mobile pantry with energy rich foods such as pasta, beans and tuna, to ensure you always have the basics to make a meal. If you have enough space, it’s a good idea to have an esky or even a fridge to keep the perishables from perishing.

No matter how good your camping equipment, some people will always has a negative attitude to camping. One of the main concerns is food. Camping food has the reputation of being somewhat stodgy; while many ‘city-slickers’ seem to have a developed a more sophisticated palate. However, naysayers may be surprised to discover exactly what can be cooked with an open stove and a whole lot of creativity.

Try your hand at Pork Risotto and you may be amazed at the results. Stir fry cubed pork and chopped hotdogs in a pan, and then add diced onion, peas, mushrooms, three tablespoons of dark soy sauce, a beef stock cube and salt and pepper. Add boiling water and simmer for half an hour. Stir fry ¾ pound of rice in some oil, top up pork mixture with water and add the rice. Bring to the boil and simmer for about five minutes. Take off the heat, cover and wait until the water has been absorbed and the rice is tender.

If you fancy a taste of the Mediterranean on your camping trip, why not try your hand at this version of Paella. For two people, cook one sachet of boil-in-the-bag rice (real rice if you prefer) and add one teaspoon of turmeric to colour. Fry two diced chicken breasts, garlic and onion with one teaspoon of turmeric and one of paprika. When the chicken is cooked, add one sliced pepperoni sausage and a cup of peas with some water. Drain and add the rice, chopped seafood sticks, some more water for texture, and bring up to the heat. Serve with tortilla wraps, Rioja, and maracas.

If you only have one pan then why not try Beef and Noodle Stew. Brown 500g beef mince, then add onion and garlic and cook until soft. Add a tin of chopped tomatoes, a tin of peas or carrots, stock cube, and about 250ml water, bring to boil and simmer for 20 minutes. Add dried noodles and a tin of baked beans then bring to the boil again and simmer for five minutes. Just remember to keep stirring the noodles or they may stick.

And when dinner is over and you are feeling replete, get tucked up in your sleeping bags and watch nature’s television.

Cherry Bloom – King Of The Knife