Monday, June 24, 2013

Car Camping Food That Doesn't Require A Cooler

By Maureen Kellom


Barbecuing a fancy meal on your next camping trip can be a great deal of fun, not to mention delicious. Nonetheless, often we are limited by time, cash or space for transporting our gear. That is where low-cost and easy camp meals are handy.

You do not necessarily need to give up a warm, prepared meal to inexpensive food that is easy to prepare. With a mobile burner, you can still have your hot cup of java in the morning, cook warm morning meals, make fragrant stews and plenty more.

A portable gas burner can cost you under $20 plus a small propane tank will cost a couple of dollars. Besides being more affordable than a barbecue, stove or portable grill - this food preparation method uses up extremely minimal space in your automobile. They are even perfect for backpacking journeys.

Assuming that you do not want to bring food that you have to keep in a cooler, below are some concepts for camping meals that are simple, economical and healthy.

Pasta

Get yourself a big stew pot, and you can heat water for all kinds of noodles. Pasta is inexpensive, uses up practically no space and does not need to be refrigerated. Include a container of pasta sauce, and you have a warm, substantial meal. Leftovers also make a fantastic, easy lunch.

Chili

Get a couple of cans of chili and warm them up in your pot. Numerous products already have spices included, so this means less work for you without needing to forgo flavor. Once again, no refrigeration required, and naturally canned food keeps for a very long time. You might even add your chili to your pasta meal above.

Hot Cereal

There is nothing like a warm breakfast in the morning when you are camping, and oatmeal is cheap and takes up very little space. You can use the exact same pot you utilized for the pasta and the chili and toss in some oats for a couple of minutes with some cinnamon or maple syrup. For a heartier meal, you can even include some trail mix or dried fruit, which are great treats to take on a camping journey anyway.

Rice

Although it takes longer to cook than pasta, rice is a good alternative, since it is compact, affordable and it does not have to be refrigerated in its dry state. Rice complements any sort of meat, fish or veggie, however, I even like it plain with some soy sauce.

Tuna in a Can

Canned tuna is an inexpensive, easy and a fast source of healthy protein. Add it to rice, sandwiches, tortilla chips or eat it by itself from the can. Little serving containers are also a nice benefit.

Potatoes

This veggie might use up more space, but it is easy to transport, does not require refrigeration and is a low-cost healthy carbohydrate. You may like baked potatoes or those prepared in a frying pan vs boiled potatoes, but no matter what type of cooking devices you have, know that you have meal options.

Peanut Butter

Don't forget peanut butter. It is quick and easy and a great source of protein too. If you are searching for an alternative to sandwich bread, why not try whole wheat crackers or rice cakes?

There are plenty more food options to create car camping meals, but these staples are very versatile and help you create a wide variety of meals just by switching over your seasonings or sauce.






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