Campfire Cooking Made Easy

Campfire Cooking Made Easy

(ARA) - Grilling over the open campfire is a rich tradition. Maybe it's a combination of how the wood brings out food's natural flavor and the ambiance of being outdoors. Whether camping with the family, hunting with friends or simply achieving that wood-grilled flavor at home, campfire cooking is delicious and easier than you might think.

"Camping is a popular activity that many enjoy all year long," comments Tom Benzschawel, an expert on outdoor cooking and creator of the Grate Mate Outdoors, Quad Pod campfire grill. "Whether you're camping for the evening with family, on a hunting adventure with friends, or on a week long scouts' trip earning a survival badge, cooking over a campfire is a fun experience that can produce great results."

This first thing to keep in mind is that cooking over a fire is different than using a traditional stove. Make sure to pack forks and knives as needed along with kitchen supplies such as tinfoil and resealable plastic baggies. It's also a good idea to bring extra butter and oil, along with salt and pepper as these can be used for cooking most items.

Planning out your meals will save you time and money when it comes to camping. Depending on the type of tools you have for cooking over a fire, you can cook simple items like hotdogs or complex items like pizza.

So what is the best way to cook over a campfire? Metal pokers might work for marshmallows, but are very limited when it comes to cooking a whole meal. Tripods are convenient, but they can get messy and are unstable. Use a grill made especially for this type of use such as the Quad Pod, a collapsible metal grill that can be placed over a fire for cooking many types of food. Four metal legs keep it stable and the adjustable grate was designed to provide the user with complete control of cooking temperatures. The side table allows you to keep side items, such as a kettle of coffee or ears of corn warm while you cook other food.

When cooking over a campfire it's fun to be creative, but remember you are cooking over an open flame so be careful and monitor food to make sure it is thoroughly cooked. You are sure to find a favorite you can cook over and over again, but if you need some ideas to get you started, use these recipes for a great start to outdoor cooking:

Camper's Tinfoil Dinners

1 roll tinfoil
1 potato cubed
2 carrots chopped
1 small onion chopped
Camper's favorite meat

Take a 12-inch piece of tinfoil and lay on the table. Place potatoes, carrots, onion and the camper's choice of meat on the tinfoil. Add a small amount of butter or oil to help the ingredients cook and prevent sticking to the foil. Cover with another piece of tinfoil and wrap into a small package. Place foil on the grill, flipping every ten minutes. Check progress after 20 minutes to see if meat and vegetables are thoroughly cooked.

Camper's Chicago Style Pizza

Pizza crust mix
1 small stick of pepperoni, sliced thin
1/2 cup spaghetti sauce
8 mozzarella slices
1 small onion, chopped
1 small can mushrooms, drained
1 small can black olives, pitted and halved
Pepper and oregano to taste

Mix pizza crust mix as directed on package. Pat out dough to 12-inch circle and place on grill. Add remaining ingredients. Cover top of pizza with a large piece of tinfoil. Bake until base is golden and insides are cooked. Allow extra time for thicker crusts.

After you've cooked all your food don't delay in cleaning up. Now with a full stomach you can truly sit back and enjoy nature. Who knows, you might have so much fun cooking over your campfire that you want to do it at home! Use your grill over the bonfire pit at home to get the flavor of the outdoors any time of year.

Ask for the Quad Pod by Grate Mate Outdoors by name at your local outdoor retail store. For more information visit www.gratemateoutdoors.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent