MARISSA'S CAMPING RECIPES
By: Marissa Graves, CPA - Director of Accounting & Finance at Sportiqe
When we go camping, I love to embrace the simplicity of everything. But as a self-diagnosed “type A personality”, that can be easier said than done. My dad always says that everything always tastes better in the woods, and I couldn’t agree more. Even a basic PB&J sandwich can be so much more satisfying when you’re listening to crickets in the background and the wind whistling through the pines. So I like to keep it simple when it comes to our camp meals. Mostly, because I want to spend less time in the kitchen or cleaning up afterwards, and more time in nature.
So I like to do most of the prep ahead of time so we can have quick hearty meals. For example, I’ll cook the meat and spaghetti sauce at home so all we have to do is boil noodles and heat up the sauce for dinner. Or I’ll make pancakes at home, so we just need to cook eggs and sausage first thing in the morning. But if you don’t have the time or desire to plan ahead, I wanted to share some of my favorite camping grub with you that will leave you full and ready to enjoy whatever the day brings.
FRIED EGG SANDWICH
I love this fun take on a traditional breakfast. You don’t have to worry about dirtying up a bunch of utensils like with a traditional “sit and eat” breakfast, and as an added bonus you can take this on the go. Like most of my favorite camp recipes, this one is adaptable to my mood and ingredients on hand. I’ve even made this sandwich with a donut before – messy, but delicious!
WHAT YOU'LL NEED:
- Oil
- Spatula
- Fry Pan
- Sandwich “bun” of choice – bread, bagel, hamburger bun, English Muffin, etc.
- 2 Eggs
- Breakfast meat of choice – bacon, sausage patties, etc.
- Sliced Cheese
FRIED EGG SANDWICH
I love this fun take on a traditional breakfast. You don’t have to worry about dirtying up a bunch of utensils like with a traditional “sit and eat” breakfast, and as an added bonus you can take this on the go. Like most of my favorite camp recipes, this one is adaptable to my mood and ingredients on hand. I’ve even made this sandwich with a donut before – messy, but delicious!
What You'll Need:
- Oil
- Spatula
- Fry Pan
- Sandwich “bun” of choice – bread, bagel, hamburger bun, English Muffin, etc.
- 2 Eggs
- Breakfast meat of choice – bacon, sausage patties, etc.
- Sliced Cheese
HOW TO:
- Heat up your pan and add some oil. If you’re cooking in the woods, you won’t have to wait long for it to heat up quickly. Crack your first egg into the pan and slightly break up the yolk. Allow to cook undisturbed for about 2 minutes. You can season with salt and pepper while you wait. Then, carefully flip the egg to fry the other side (should only take about a minute). Repeat for the second egg, or if your pan is big enough you can cook both at the same time.
- Cook your breakfast meat according to instructions – usually about 5 minutes or so. Be sure to flip at least once to avoid any burning.
- Assemble your sandwich – I follow this method: bun, egg, meat, cheese, egg, bun.
- You can always fancy it up a bit with special seasoning, condiments, or even veggies if you want. But I like to keep it simple and start the morning off with this hearty breakfast and a nice cup of coffee!
ENERGY BITES
Need a mid-morning snack, or maybe something easy to take on a quick hike before dinner? I love making these energy bites ahead of time, but it’s also easy to bring all the ingredients and assemble at camp when the mood strikes. These little treats make for great snacks on the hiking trail and are easy to pack. Depending on the ingredients, they are even “fido friendly” 😊 But what I think is the best part, is that I don’t think I’ve ever made two batches identical – the recipe is very forgiving so you can adjust to your preferences. Not a fan of pumpkin seeds? Just substitute with pecans. Maybe you need an energy jolt – sprinkle in some instant coffee powder with some chocolate chips. The possibilities are endless! Think of it like GORP (good ole raisins & peanuts), just more travel friendly.
WHAT YOU'LL NEED:
- Mixing bowl
- Mixing spoon
- 1/4 c. nut butter – peanut, almond, cashew (chunky, creamy, flavored, you decide!)
- 1/4 c. honey or other sweetener
- 1 3/4 c. oats
- 1/2 c. mix ins – dried cranberries, raisins, chocolate chips, pumpkin seeds
- Optional sprinkle – protein powder, instant coffee powder, chia seeds, etc.
ENERGY BITES
Need a mid-morning snack, or maybe something easy to take on a quick hike before dinner? I love making these energy bites ahead of time, but it’s also easy to bring all the ingredients and assemble at camp when the mood strikes. These little treats make for great snacks on the hiking trail and are easy to pack. Depending on the ingredients, they are even “fido friendly” 😊 But what I think is the best part, is that I don’t think I’ve ever made two batches identical – the recipe is very forgiving so you can adjust to your preferences. Not a fan of pumpkin seeds? Just substitute with pecans. Maybe you need an energy jolt – sprinkle in some instant coffee powder with some chocolate chips. The possibilities are endless! Think of it like GORP (good ole raisins & peanuts), just more travel friendly.
What You'll Need:
- Mixing bowl
- Mixing spoon
- 1/4 c. nut butter – peanut, almond, cashew (chunky, creamy, flavored, you decide!)
- 1/4 c. honey or other sweetener
- 1 3/4 c. oats
- 1/2 c. mix ins – dried cranberries, raisins, chocolate chips, pumpkin seeds
- Optional sprinkle – protein powder, instant coffee powder, chia seeds, etc.
HOW TO:
- I’ve found if you heat up the nut butter and sweetener in the mixing bowl a bit first, it will be much easier to combine. But this step is not necessary.
- Combine all ingredients together – kids can help! Once mixed, roll into bite-sized balls (a Tablespoon is a helpful measuring tool).
- Store any unused bites in a zippered bag or resealable container, but they won’t last long! These are great made ahead of your trip or when you get on-site. They are sure to be a hit and the mixing possibilities are endless.
SPICY CHICKEN RAMEN
A friend gave me a camping cookbook for Christmas one year because, as she put it “I’m worried you only eat bologna sandwiches out in the wild!”. Although not entirely true, I’m not very adventurous when it comes to our camp menu most trips. I’m grateful for her concern, because it ended up that one of our favorite new camp dinners came from that book! Hearty and different from our traditional spaghetti dinner, so it hits the spot!
What You'll Need:
- Large pot
- 1 package of Ramen noodles (any flavor, you won’t be using the seasoning packet)
- 1 can of canned chicken breast
- 1T each chili-garlic sauce, soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar (or any vinegar will do), sesame oil (or any oil will work), and sesame seeds
SPICY CHICKEN RAMEN
A friend gave me a camping cookbook for Christmas one year because, as she put it “I’m worried you only eat bologna sandwiches out in the wild!”. Although not entirely true, I’m not very adventurous when it comes to our camp menu most trips. I’m grateful for her concern, because it ended up that one of our favorite new camp dinners came from that book! Hearty and different from our traditional spaghetti dinner, so it hits the spot!
WHAT YOU'LL NEED:
- Large pot
- 1 package of Ramen noodles (any flavor, you won’t be using the seasoning packet)
- 1 can of canned chicken breast
- 1T each chili-garlic sauce, soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar (or any vinegar will do), sesame oil (or any oil will work), and sesame seeds
HOW TO:
- Boil the ramen noodles in a pot of water with at least 1 inch of water covering the noodles. Once cooked (usually 5-10 minutes), pour out the water. This can be saved for later to douse your campfire, or just be cautious of where you pour it out – it has small food particles and could attract wildlife. I prefer to pour it into the fire pit just to be safe.
- Once you’ve drained the noodles, add the remaining ingredients to the pot and stir it up to combine. Grab yourself a fork and enjoy!
MODERN S’MORES
As you can tell, when it comes to camping, I prefer that my recipes be very forgiving (exact measurements not required), require few ingredients, can vary based on my mood, and hopefully require very little cleanup. So this dessert is the perfect end to all of that. You can’t go camping without enjoying a traditional camp dessert – S’MORES!. My favorite tip is to swap the chocolate for a Reese’s peanut butter cup! Or try upgrading with maybe a doughnut instead of graham cracker. You’ll definitely be wanting S’MORE of these however you make them!
WHAT YOU'LL NEED:
- Campfire or open stove flame
- Roasting stick
- S’more top/bottom of choice – graham cracker, doughnut, Oreo
- Marshmallows
- Sweet filling of choice – chocolate bar, Reece’s cup, Nutella spread, etc.
MODERN S’MORES
As you can tell, when it comes to camping, I prefer that my recipes be very forgiving (exact measurements not required), require few ingredients, can vary based on my mood, and hopefully require very little cleanup. So this dessert is the perfect end to all of that. You can’t go camping without enjoying a traditional camp dessert – S’MORES!. My favorite tip is to swap the chocolate for a Reese’s peanut butter cup! Or try upgrading with maybe a doughnut instead of graham cracker. You’ll definitely be wanting S’MORE of these however you make them!
What You'll Need:
- Campfire or open stove flame
- Roasting stick
- S’more top/bottom of choice – graham cracker, doughnut, Oreo
- Marshmallows
- Sweet filling of choice – chocolate bar, Reece’s cup, Nutella spread, etc.
HOW TO:
- Pierce a marshmallow with your roasting stick. You don’t have to buy a fancy metal one, but if you choose to use a branch from a tree be sure it’s a green one (so it doesn’t catch fire) and you’ve removed the bark where your food is touching.
- Toast to your preference between 1 – 3 minutes over the open flame, rotating frequently to ensure it gets toasted (or burned) evenly.
- Assemble your s’more with the toasted marshmallow and sweet filling between your two sandwich ends. While you enjoy it, start planning how you’ll cook up your next s’more! Let your creativity run wild!