4) To prevent food from getting waterlogged – double wrap it! Place food in a Zip-Top bag and then place in a plastic container – you can easily store items like deli meats and cheeses with out having to worry about them turning soggy.
Fast, Easy Eats:
1) To eliminate having to store opened condiments in your cooler try to stock up on single servings from delis, fast food,take out etc – ketchup, mustard, mayo, relish, even Tabasco Sauce! You can also find many other items online – like Peanut Butter & Jelly. Remember, you can make a fast and nutritious meal out of a sliced apple and a packet of maple almond butter.
2) Try a pre-cooked pizza crust! Just bring some fun toppings. Toss the crust on the grill – after 3-5 min flip, top it and cover. Your pizza will be crisp and hot in no time – plus its easy to make every taste happy. Don’t limit yourself to just standard pizza topping… grilled meats, fruits and veggies are all delicious topping. If you are feeling more ambitious you can always make your own crust at home before!
3) Make a pot of coffee at home and cool it, add milk and sweetener to taste and then place in a plastic or metal jug stored in your cooler. Add a few ice cubes and pour yourself a refreshing ice coffee all weekend long.
4) Make it in advance! There is a reason people sell those heady burritos on lot – they are fast and easy to make and can be reheated easily. Make up a few at home before heading out for the weekend and then wrap in foil. When you start to get hungry place the wrap in the foil on a hot grill for a few minutes. Just don’t forget to label them or else you might be getting bacon and eggs for dinner and beans and rice in the morning!
5) Bring your favorite take out from home. If you’re like me Chinese takeout is a post-festival must but why wait until you are home on your couch to enjoy a nice egg roll. Most appetizers can be bagged up and kept cool for a day or two and then heated up on the grill for a fast and delicious meal, even noodle dishes like lo-mein (if kept in the metal container) can be heated on a grill…just watch your fingers when you take it off ’cause it will be hot! Chinese food isn’t the only food that travels well – consider grabbing an extra foot-long sub. It will be even better after you toast it on the grill….just make sure to avoid any wet condiments (like oil & vinegar, and even tomatoes) which lead to soggy bread.
For something a little nicer:
1) To make a delicious home cooked meal faster: prep it and freeze it so that its ready to go into the pan or grill. Fajitas make an easy meal – just cut up your chicken or steak, peppers and onions and pour in a marinade. Seal all the ingredients in a plastic bag and freeze. After a day in the cooler it should be defrosted and ready to cook. Don’t forget the wraps, cheese, salsa and guac!
2) Another fun, easy meal that can be started at home is pulled pork. This favorite is simple to make in your crock pot: just cook a 5-7lb pork shoulder on high for about five hrs, remove the liquids then shred the pork and return it to Crock Pot and add a bottle of BBQ sauce, two tbsp brown sugar and the juice of a lemon and cook on high for two more hoursYou can then bag and freeze the meat and heat it up in a pan on your grill – add a roll and some pickles and you have a Southern staple.
3) If you are feeling Betty Crocker-ish try cooking up oatmeal muffins (or cookies) with dried fruit and nuts…it’s a tastier, fresher option to a granola bar – plus you can heat it up on a grill with a pat of butter for a yummy treat.
4) Make your own Wrap Bar! Bring a variety of veggies (lettuce, cucumber, tomato, sprouts) and toppings (mayo, hummus, mustard) all in their own zip top baggies then store together in a larger plastic container. Whenever you cook, just take the Topping Bar out and let everyone make their own while you grill up some chicken tenders, veggie burgers or sausages
5) If you love making a big breakfast at camp but hate the mess that bacon makes – try cooking it at home until it is just barely done. Drain off any grease on a paper towel and then store in a zip top baggie. Anytime you need a slice just remove it from the bag and heat it up for a minute on the edge of the grill (out of the reach of the flames)
As festival season nears the end of summer, I hope you used some of our tips and ideas to make it a better one. If you missed it, check out our articles on Setting up Camp and Staying Fresh and Clean and if there’s anything we missed, let us know!
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