What makes campfire classics so appealing is no mystery. With hot crackle of the fire in the cool air, cooking at a campfire hits all the five senses. The quintessential example? Golden brown marshmallow smashed on a melting Hershey’s bar between crispy graham crackers. An with it comes a wave of nostalgia. The smell of dry old locust wood crackling on the fire brings back memories of a lifetime — and creates new ones for your kids.
Comfort food brings so much joy and connection with friends and family, especially when we are traveling. Traveling by RV is a way for us to break out of the everyday to escape the security blanket of our four padded walls. It puts us in a more vulnerable and albeit exciting, environment. As our safety nets shrink, our senses become more alive.
Touch, smell, and fall flavors are in full effect with campfire classics. For many of us, they are the seasonal reminder of the rewards of camping. So, let’s dive into how to fire up some of the golden oldies — and in some cases, give them a new edge.
S’mores … with a Berry Nice Twist
I probably should have saved the best for last, but this campfire twist changed my outlook on s’more’s forever. S’more’s are every camper’s go-to. They are classic. Dependable. And always requested. You know pretty much exactly what you’re gonna get. (They are also a sweet lesson for kids on fire safety and marshmallow combustibility. And if they are like my kids, they are learning how to fence each other with red hot marshmallow pokers.)
Yet, despite everything the s’more has going for it, I have a confession: I get bit bored with them. But I like to use that as a launch point for creativity. For example, what if you inserted a slice of strawberry into the stack?
The first time I did that, it blew my mind. My boring old s’more exploded in my mouth with an unexpected delicious flavor. The strawberries and toasted marshmallows work some chemical magic together between those graham crackers. It tastes like a strawberry shortcake, but better. Strawberry s’more’s are still my favorite dessert to this day.
And you don’t have to stop at strawberries! You can add bananas, peanut butter, apple slices, bacon (oh my!), Nutella, or caramel sauce just to name a few.
An Easy Hot Dog Upgrade for Adults
We all know what a regular hot dog entails. It’s a camping staple, but … it can also be pretty bland. More likely than not, everyone on your camping trip will be expecting hotdogs on the menu. (Especially the little people.) So, let me make a recommendation: Add some adventure to the typical wiener dinner.
How can you achieves this? With two simple ingredients: jalapenos and bacon. Wrap your dog in bacon, and stuff your bun with jalapeños and cream cheese. And if that’s not enough, you can stuff your hot dog with cheddar cheese too. The kids may still want to stick with the plain ole hotdog, but just this little variation adds new texture to one of the campfire classics.
Freshly Caught Fish Over the Fire
If you’re camping near the ocean, or in the mountains surrounded by trout streams, you might have some freshly caught fish to put on the table. (If so, we have some recipes and ideas for catching fish near the coast and cooking what you caught.) Truly, nothing tastes better than fish cooked over a fire. If you are camping In the mountains, trout are not hard to come by. Before you toss your trout in a frying pan, consider cooking it over the embers of a campfire instead.
After you have cleaned the fish, open the belly and put some lemon slices inside, along with some fresh chopped onion and garlic. Cut a piece of aluminum big enough to wrap the trout in thoroughly and lay the fish on top. Add some hefty pads of butter on top of the fish and wrap it up with foil. Make sure the aluminum is sealed, and lay your foil package over the embers. Your fish should be cooked in about seven to ten minutes.
Just one warning: If you do this, of all the campfire classics, this may be the one your friends and family remember the most. So, you’re going to get asked to do it every RV trip.
Dependable Dutch Oven Classics
If you really want to utilize a campfire to the fullest, a Dutch oven will take you all the way.
- Campfire nachos are a great meal to share with family. I especially love this for the timely delivery that it offers. Layer your tortilla chips with black beans, cheese, jalapeños and veggies. Cover it with foil and let it cook over the fire until the cheese is melted. Layer in some grilled chicken or ground beef for added protein.
- Dutch oven apple crisp is another cozy classic. Slice some apples and mix them with sugar and cinnamon. Top them with a buttery oat crumble and bake them in the Dutch Oven over your campfire. Add some whipped cream for the ultimate delight of this classic fall dessert.
- Dutch oven chili is a great option for feeding a large group of people. Who doesn’t like chili? And Chilli cooked over a cozy fire will only add to the flavor. Cook the ground beef or turkey with beans, tomatoes and spices slowly over the fire. The even distribution of the heat from the Dutch Oven makes it a perfect way to cook chili, for a rich deep flavor.
Tools Necessary to Cook Campfire Classics
Here are some essential outdoor kitchen utensils that will expand your culinary options over the fire. The Dutch oven is our number one pick for necessary campfire cookware. Another handy tool is this telescoping marshmallow skewer from REI. You could always go find a stick to roast your marshmallow, but I personally have never had much luck (or patience) with that.
A cooking iron is a great way to cook gourmet sandwiches, pies, pizza pockets, and more! A grill grate will be your friend on many campfire cooking adventures. And don’t forget some heat resistant gloves to protect your most valuable culinary asset. And my husband’s favorite: a hatchet. You can’t have a fire without wood. So get to work!
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