GoCampingAmerica.com | Posted June 2nd,
    2015

               

    Campground Cooking: Beyond Burgers
    & Dogs

               

    Happy Camper Blog

             

             
               
                 

    Fancy Toast

    Camping
    is all about adventure and discovering new things, but when it comes to food,
    campers tend to stick to the basics. Give your taste buds something new to
    enjoy with these ideas that will take your next camping trip to a new
    culinary level.

    1.Fancy
    Toasts

    When you think about a gourmet meal,
    toast is probably not the first thing that comes to mind. But with hardly any
    cooking required, this option lets you enjoy a fresh, healthy,
    restaurant-worthy meal in no time. Plus, creating your own take on this trend
    is as easy as knowing what you like because fancy toasts are
    completely customizable.

    Start with a hearty
    bread, one with whole seeds is great for added texture. Toast any way you
    have available – on a skillet, in a toaster inside your camper, on the grill
    – anything works. Then move on to toppings. Right now, the most popular
    version of this simple meal is avocado toast. A simple combination of smashed
    avocado slathered on warm bread (often topped with salt and/or red pepper
    flake), this toast can be topped with a fried or hard-boiled egg as well for
    an added boost of protein.

    Hate avocado? Skip it and
    slather on your favorite nut butter, then top with an in-season fruit. Or go
    savory with a combination of soft cheese and a fresh, sliced veggie (radishes
    and peas are tasty choices that hold up well when camping). The possibilities
    are truly endless, and trying new, unexpected combinations is part of the fun
    when playing with fancy toast.

    Pasta 2.Pasta
    Break
    up the camping routine with a filling pasta dinner. The key here is that the
    pasta can be cooked at home ahead of time, cutting way down on prep time and
    making this meal a cinch at the camp site. Simply cook the pasta in heavily
    salted water for about 2 minutes less than you would for a typical al dente
    result so you don’t end up with pasta-mush. Drain, rinse with cold water to
    prevent sticking, then store cooked pasta in a Tupperware or sealed plastic
    bag and toss in the cooler (use within 1-2 days). Whole wheat pasta is a
    great choice because it will make for a filling meal, no meat needed.

    Now
    that you’re ready with a stash of cooked pasta, what can you make? Instead of
    spending time simmering sauce (a task that’s not so easy if you’re cooking
    over a grill or campfire), keep it simple and fresh with this rule of thumb: one
    cheese + one veggie + olive oil + salt & pepper.
    Fresh
    herbs also always make a great addition to this
    equation.

    Here’s where you can let your inner chef shine.
    Like things traditional? Go with parmesan (which, like many hard cheeses, can
    stay good for days with no refrigeration) and diced tomatoes. Feeling funky?
    Try tangy goat cheese, thinly sliced zucchini and mint. All you need to do it
    throw all the ingredients into a large pot and toss until heated through. No
    matter what, you’ll feel like you’re dining al fresco in Italy right in your
    own campsite.

    Charcuterie 3.Charcuterie
    The
    word “charcuterie” originally referred to meats that had been cured in order
    to preserve them before refrigeration was easily accessible. But what started
    as a necessity is also just a really tasty way to enjoy different varieties
    of meat – plus with no need to take up precious cooler or refrigerator space,
    charcuterie is the perfect partner for camping.

    To create a
    gourmet charcuterie board that can rival any restaurant, you need to start
    with the star of the show: the meats. Many salt-cured meats can last
    up to a month without refrigeration
    when stored in a cool, dark
    spot. Salami, summer sausage, pepperoni, and Spanish chorizo all make for a
    flavor-packed spread. Next up is the cheese. Hard cheeses like aged cheddar
    and parmesan will keep just fine if wrapped and stored away from the sun.
    Finally, make a pit stop at your local olive bar and stock up on pickled
    veggies like a variety of olives, marinated artichokes, peppers, carrots,
    onion, and cornichons.

    This no-prep option is ideal for an
    easy mid-day lunch. Plus, you can have fun arranging your selections for an
    impressive presentation. Feel free to add any additional accoutrements (jams,
    nut butters, mustards, fresh fruit, etc.), then grab some bread or crackers
    and enjoy!