FOIL PACK ITALIAN SAUSAGE AND VEGGIES

 Another fun and yummy camping meal!!!  Do it up!!!

Ingredients

• 1 package (13 oz) Smoked Italian Turkey or Chicken Sausage, coined
• 2 cups baby red potatoes, quartered
• 3/4 cup yellow onion, diced
• 1/2 cup crimini mushrooms, diced
• 3 small (or 2 large) bell peppers (whatever variety you'd like! I generally use 1 red, 1 yellow or orange, and 1 green)
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 4 and 1/2 tablespoons olive oil

Seasonings

• 1/2 tablespoon EACH: dried basil, dried oregano, dried parsley, garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon EACH: onion powder, dried thyme
• 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional
• 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese freshly grated, optional
• Optional: fresh parsley, salt and pepper

Instructions

• PREP: If using the OVEN; preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (218 degrees C). If GRILLING, prepare the grill by heating to medium-high heat (450 degrees F; 232 degrees C). Prepare 4-6 large sheets of heavy-duty foil; spray with cooking spray. Alternatively, if you won't be grilling: line a large sheet pan with parchment paper (clean up is just as easy!)
• PREP INGREDIENTS: Wash and dry the veggies. Coin the sausage into 1/2-inch thick slices. Chop baby red potatoes into 1-inch pieces (no need to peel). Finely dice the onion and mushrooms. Remove the stem and seeds on the bell peppers and thinly slice. Cut long slices in half lengthwise. Mince the garlic.
• COMBINE: Add the sausage, veggies, and garlic to a large bowl. Toss with the olive oil and all of the seasonings (basil, oregano, parsley, onion powder, thyme, red pepper flakes (if you like some heat), and a salt and pepper to taste (I add 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper; add to personal preference). Gently toss until well combined.
• ASSEMBLE FOIL PACKS: Divide the mixture evenly among the prepared sheets of foil or the prepared baking pan. Seal the foil packs tightly so no air escapes, but there is still room for steam to circulate. Do not double up foil (only one sheet of foil per pack).
• GRILL: Grill for 25-30 minutes or until veggies have reached desired tenderness (flip the foil packs at the halfway point and check for doneness to ensure your grill is hot enough). BAKE in foil packs: Bake for 30-40 minutes (at 30 minutes veggies are crisp; 35 is perfect for us; 40 yields very tender veggies). You can set the foil packs right on the oven rack or on a sheet pan for easier removal from the oven. BAKE ON SHEET PAN: Bake for about 30-35 minutes, flipping/stirring the ingredients once at the halfway point. *See additional cooking methods in the last paragraph of the post)*
• ENJOY: Carefully open the foil pack, expecting steam to be released. Garnish if desired with fresh chopped parsley, any additional salt/pepper, and freshly grated Parmesan cheese. We love grating the Parmesan cheese with a microplane right on top of the foil packs. If you leave off the cheese, foil packs may need some additional salt. Enjoy while nice and warm!

Notes

When checking foil packs for doneness, only open one packet to check. Once all the steam is released from a packet, it will take a bit longer to fully heat back up and continue cooking

Campfire chili bake

 I always love a new camping meal!!! This was super easy to make and was pretty tasty!!!

Serves 6

Ingredients

• 16 ounces elbow macaroni
• 15 ounces chili
• 7 ounces corn chips
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• salt to taste

Instructions

• Pour the whole box of pasta into a large skillet (approximately 12 inches in diameter).
• Pour 3 cups of cold water into skillet. Make sure the water covers the pasta.
• Turn the burner to high, then set your timer for 10 minutes (optional: add a bit of salt to taste).
• Cook on high, stirring occasionally until almost all of the liquid has evaporated.
• Add chili and bring to a simmer.
• Remove from heat and top with corn chips and Cheddar cheese. Serve immediately

Chicken, Tomato, Pesto Flatbread

Needed another easy camp meal :)  This was it -- super delicious and made in our camper at a rest stop!!!  DELICIOUS!!!

Ingredients:

2 cans chicken

naan bread

grape tomatoes

pesto

sliced mozzarella

Tortellini Pasta Salad

Was looking for some more recipes for camping and eating on the road -- this was GREAT!!!  I made up the noodles ahead of time and then threw everything together and we ate while we drove!!  It was really yummy too!!!

Ingredients:

Tortellini

Grape tomatoes

Italian dressing

Parmesan cheese

red onion

cucumber

feta cheese

Pepperoni

Lime Butter Salmon in Foil with Summer Veggies

Always looking for new recipes -- especially ones we can bring camping....this was great!!  BUT it took longer than it said for the salmon to cook so we had to keep putting back on the grill.  Evan wasn't a fan of the lime taste on the salmon but the rest of us liked it :)

Ingredients:

• 4 salmon fillets
• salt and pepper
• 6 Tablespoons butter, melted 
• 1 tablespoon lime juice
• zest of one lime
• 2 small zucchini
• 2 small yellow squash
• 1 pound asparagus
• 1 small red onion, cut into chunks
• 1 red pepper, sliced 
• 1 lime, cut into 4 wedges
• fresh parsley for garnish

 

• Heat grill to medium heat. Cut 4 sheets, enough to wrap the salmon and veggies, of heavy duty foil. Place salmon on center of aluminum foil and divide the veggies into each packet.
• In a small bowl add melted butter, lime juice, and zest of lime and mix. Pour evenly into each packet. Add lime wedge in each packet and bring up 2 sides of foil over salmon so edges meet. Seal edges, making tight 1/2-inch fold; fold again, allowing space for heat circulation and expansion. Fold other sides to seal.
• Place salmon packets onto grill and grill for 13-15 minutes flipping at about 7 minutes.To serve carefully open packets and garnish with parsley.

Big Mac Salad

This was yummy and healthier than a Big Mac 😂 Evan even ate it because he thought it was from McDonald’s hahaha. It would be easy to make camping too!!! 

 Serves 2 - Glamper Life

Ingredients:

• 8 oz lettuce chopped
• 1 lb ground beef cooked, drained
• 1 cup diced tomatoes
• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup pickles
• 1 onion diced 
• 1 tbsp sesame seeds
• Thousand Island dressing

INSTRUCTIONS

 

• Gather all ingredients.
• Combine the following ingredients in a large mixing bowl: lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, tomatoes, ground beef.
• Divide into 2 bowls and sprinkle each bowl with sesame seeds.
• Drizzle with salad dressing and enjoy.

Camp Garlic Fries

Rossy made the menu since we were Mother's Day camping and these garlic fries were DELICIOUS!!!!  I don't want to make regular fries ever again -- SO YUMMY!!!!

Ingredients:

16oz bag frozen french fries

olive oil

salt and pepper

3 clove minced garlic

1 cup shredded cheddar and Monterey jack mixture

2 green onions, sliced

Heat coals over campfire, or preheat grill to medium-high.

Tear aluminum foil to make 4 large rectangles.  On each foil piece, spread out about 1/4 of the fries.  Drizzle each serving with olive oil and toss with salt and pepper.  Fold each foil piece in half crosswise and seal the edges to make the packets.

When coals (or grill) are hot, add the foil packets.  Cook (tossing occassionally to avoid burning) until heated through and golden, about 20 minutes.  Open packets and add garlic to each.  Toss and let the fries crisp over coals, uncovered, about 1 minute more.  Top each serving with cheese and cook until cheese is melty.

Top with sliced green onions

Hobo pack Burgers and Taters

This was our FAVORITE hobo pack yet!!!  So delicious and the boys even gobbled it right up!!

Ingredients:

·       corn or carrots

·       potatoes (any kind will do – I grabbed up what I had in my pantry)

·       ground beef

·       french onion soup mix

·       onion

·       butter

·       salt and pepper

 Every person will get their own packet so start by cutting the foil. Make sure each piece of foil is big enough to hold the food and then wrap it up for cooking.

Cut up you onions, potatoes and carrots. I used about one potato and three baby carrots (one large carrot) per packet. I divided the onion up among the packets which ended up to be a tablespoon or two each. (There is no such thing as measuring when you are camping – you just have to eyeball it!)

Then I grabbed a patty size piece of burger and crumbled it up over the top.

I took the french onion soup mix and used it as my seasoning. I used about 1/3 of the envelope for each foil packet. Be sure to shake up the mix so you get some of the flavor from the seasoning on each one. Then use your hand to mix it all up.

Put a few pats of butter on the top of the mixture and fold ‘er up.

Cook them until the beef is browned and the potatoes are fork tender. If you overcook them the potatoes will burn onto the foil. You have to be especially careful if you are cooking over the campfire!

Salmon & Veggies Hobo packets

We tried some new hobo packets this camping trip for our long trip later this summer and this was yummy!!!  Healthy too :)  Glad the boys loved it as well!!

Salmon packet ingredients:

3 Tablespoons of Dijon Mustard

2 Tsp Chopped Garlic 

Mix Together and spread over Salmon pieces.

Place salmon into foil tent and cook on grill until flaky  

 

Veggie Packets Ingredients: 

1 cup chopped zucchini

1 cup mushrooms

1 cup yellow squash

1 cup cauliflower

1 Tsp Salt

1 Tsp Pepper

Drizzle olive oil over veggies.   Place into foil tent & cook until tender  

Potato, Bacon, Ranch Hobo pack

 This was really good and paired well with steak!!!  Yummy!!

Ingredients:

Potatoes - diced

Bacon - cut up

Ranch dressing

1 onion

Frozen corn

Shredded cheese

Put everything in foil and grill it up!!

Cheesy Chicken Hobo Pack

Looking for new recipes with all the camper fun we are going to have this summer, so tried this out at the cabin with the fam and it was delicious!!!

Ingredients:
1 box chicken flavored stuffing
1 1/4 cups water
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2 cups chopped broccoli
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
4 slices cooked bacon, crumbled
4 tablespoons ranch dressing

Preheat oven to 400.  (We just put these on the grill and it worked great!)

Spray 4 large sheets of foil with oil - set aside.

Mix stuffing and water together in mixing bowl.  Spoon 1/4 of mixture onto each piece of foil and set a chicken breast on top of each (we cut our chicken into bite size pieces and had just mixed in with everything - that worked great too).Top with 1/2 cup broccoli - sprinkle with 1/4 cup cheese, 1/4 of bacon, and drizzle of ranch dressing

Fold the sides of foil to make a packet.

Place the packs on baking sheet and bake 20-25 minutes depending on thickness of chicken.

Let stand 5 minutes before serving

Campfire Banana Splits

Cookbook tonight - and being the theme was grilling, figured we would make up a GRILLED dessert as well!  I also then got excited when I realized you could make this on a campfire too!!  I'm not a HUGE fan of chocolate - so I would probably put some resee's in there instead.....BUT it was really good!!

Ingredients: 

6 large bananas, unpeeled, stems removed 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips 1 (10.5 ounce) package miniature marshmallows

	Preheat the grill for high heat.
	Spray 4 sheets of aluminum foil, large enough to wrap bananas, with cooking spray.
	Slice the peel of the banana from stem to bottom, while slicing the banana inside lengthwise. The bananas can be cut into slices instead if you like, (while still in the peel) for easier handling later.
	Carefully open the banana just wide enough to place the chocolate chips and marshmallows inside the peel with the banana. Stuff with as much of the chocolate chips and marshmallows as desired.
	Wrap the bananas with the aluminum foil and place on the grill or directly in the coals of a fire. Leave in long enough to melt the chips and the marshmallows, about 5 minutes. Unwrap bananas, open the peels wide, and eat with a spoon.

Camping Pizzas

We love making our own pizzas when we camp :)  So easy and everyone can make what they want!!

Ingredients:

Pita sandwiches
Pizza sauce
Pepperoni
Shredded mozzarella cheese
Canned mushrooms
Onions, chopped
Tin Foil

Throw all your toppings in the pita - wrap up in tinfoil and throw in the coals of your fire.  Then eat away :)

Smore-tastic

So I needed to post something - and it was cabin fun this weekend, so I thought I would make a twist on your typical smore!  I'm not a huge fan of chocolate, so I pass on smores most of the time BUT I am a fan of chocolate when it's paired with peanut butter - so I made smores I actually like :)

Ingredients:
Marshmallow
graham cracker
Reese peanut butter cup
Roasting stick

Roast up that marshmallow to your liking....then throw it on a graham cracker that is topped with a peanut butter cup - and smore away :)

Camping Meals

Just got back from Apostle Islands - AMAZING!!  If you like to CAMP and KAYAK - this is a must :)  As I was there - someone pointed out I should add the food we had to my cooking blog - and since we camp a lot, I thought "heck yes"....so here are some ideas for next time you hit up the outdoors!!

Stroganoff (Beef Stroganoff & Green Beans with Oregano)

Sloppy Joes (Who wants some Sloppy Joes....)

Koni dogs (Koni "puke" sandwiches (Bestimore)

Chicken Salad (Chicken Salad Sandwiches)

Chex mix (Homemade Chex Mix (Pete Ronhovde style)

GARLIC BREAD

Ingredients:

French Bread

Garlic

Butter

Tin Foil

Cut slices (but not all the way through) into the french bread - stuff with minced garlic and butter.  Then wrap up in tin foil - and place on a nice fire (like the one Becca made)!  Cook for about 10 minutes or until lightly toasted - and yummy!!

PESTO PASTA

Ingredients:

Spiral noodles

Pesto

Tomatoes

Zucchini

Make up the noodles - cut the tomatoes and zucchini - and mix in the pesto.  For real - BEST camp meal EVER!!!

BURRITOS!!!

Ingredients:

Salsa

Black olives

Lettuce

Cheese

Tomatoes

Tortillas

Home-made quac

So quick and easy - and yet, OH SO GOOD!!  Thanks WI for such yummy food on our trip!!

 

GRILLED CHEESE

Ingredients:

2 slices bread

Cheese slices

Cooking spray

Sandwich maker

 

Spray both sides of the sandwich maker with cooking spray - put your bread in, slice of cheese (or 2...who are we kidding) - then close and stick in the coals.  Probably my favorite thing in the world!!!

 

PIES

Ingredients:

Sandwich maker (above)

2 slices Bread

Cooking spray

Pie filling

Spray both sides of the sandwich maker with cooking spray - put your bread in, fill with pie filling - then close and stick in the coals.  Little dessert heaven-ness!!

TACO IN A BAG

 I have to admit - this might be my FAVORITE all time camping meal.  We didn't have this at Apostle Islands, but this is a staple when the Sodahls go camping!!

Ingredients:

Hamburger

Taco seasoning

Cheese

Tomato

Lettuce

Black olives

Sour cream

Bag of your favorite Doritos (go for the $.99 grab bag)

Cook up the hamburger with the taco seasoning....then crunch up your bag of Doritos (probably the only time it's ever ok to do this...) - then throw everything in - mix up - and EAT!!  You'll want to camp every day!!

OMELETS IN A BAG

Felt like since I was on the "bag" theme - I would add an awesome bfast option.  We had this about every am when we were in Yellowstone - can't go wrong with a filling breakfast!!

Ingredients:
freezer bag
2 eggs
ham
cheddar cheese
onion / green pepper
mushrooms

All you do is fill the bag with your "omelet wants" - then press most of the air out of it - and seal.  Throw this in boiling water for about 13 minutes - or until your eggs aren't running, and roll out and serve!!  If you aren't like "backpack camping" - you could throw on some salsa too!!

PIZZA

Ingredients:
Pita sandwiches
Pizza sauce
Pepperoni
Shredded mozzarella cheese
Canned mushrooms
Onions, chopped
Tin Foil

Throw all your toppings in the pita - wrap up in tinfoil and throw in the coals of your fire.  Then eat away :)

STEAK AND POTATOES

Ingredients:
Steak
Potatoes
Tin foil
"Secret" seasoning
Shredded cheese
Sour cream / butter

If you don't know how to make this - then you shouldn't be camping anyways :)