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    Winter Camping and Activities
       Menu Ideas?
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Date/Time: 03/28/2024 05:08PM
Menu Ideas?

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Previous Messages:
Author Message Text
Minnesotian 01/12/2014 11:52AM
For winter, I really like making pasta frittata at home, wrapping it in foil, and having that as either a snack at one point or a really good breakfast.


I enjoy cutting up summer sausage and frying that as an alternative to bacon.


Bear Creek Soup is wonderful.


And I will be bringing in my jello mold oven for the first time this week and trying that out. Hopefully a pizza will appear.

and oh, I forgot, but Corned Beef Hash is great for breakfast. I'll take that out of the can and dehydrate it.
SteveElms73 01/12/2014 10:28AM
I'm hungry just looking at it!


awbrown 01/12/2014 09:03AM
quote SteveElms73: "Theres something about cooking breakfast at camp that stimulates all the senses...the smell of the bacon...the sound of the crackling wood stove and the snapping grease, the smell of burning wood....the feel of the warmth of the stove...ahhh heaven!"


I recall seeing one of your photos showing your breakfast cooking on your winter camping sheet metal stove and wishing we had smellographry!


SteveElms73 01/11/2014 08:44PM
Theres something about cooking breakfast at camp that stimulates all the senses...the smell of the bacon...the sound of the crackling wood stove and the snapping grease, the smell of burning wood....the feel of the warmth of the stove...ahhh heaven!
Doughboy12 01/11/2014 06:09PM
quote awbrown: "quote SteveElms73: "Before I got into hot tenting and learned the luxury of being able to eat a meal in warmth and not having it freeze instantly on me, I used to cook most of my meals to fit in a big insulated "Bubba" mug. I would do things like chili, spaghetti, ham and pea soups and stuff like that. Meals that I could plop into that big insulated mug and it would stay warm as I ate it. For breakfast I would slice up a pound of bacon, 3 or 4 eggs, mushrooms, onions and peppers and mix it all up and throw it in the mug as well.




Nothing beats the smell of bacon at camp in the winter!"




Bacon sizzling and coffee perking side by side. Close your eyes and you can imagine that this must be what heaven smells like. Life don't get much better!"

***Like***
awbrown 01/11/2014 10:33AM
quote SteveElms73: "Before I got into hot tenting and learned the luxury of being able to eat a meal in warmth and not having it freeze instantly on me, I used to cook most of my meals to fit in a big insulated "Bubba" mug. I would do things like chili, spaghetti, ham and pea soups and stuff like that. Meals that I could plop into that big insulated mug and it would stay warm as I ate it. For breakfast I would slice up a pound of bacon, 3 or 4 eggs, mushrooms, onions and peppers and mix it all up and throw it in the mug as well.



Nothing beats the smell of bacon at camp in the winter!"



Bacon sizzling and coffee perking side by side. Close your eyes and you can imagine that this must be what heaven smells like. Life don't get much better!
SteveElms73 01/11/2014 10:24AM
Before I got into hot tenting and learned the luxury of being able to eat a meal in warmth and not having it freeze instantly on me, I used to cook most of my meals to fit in a big insulated "Bubba" mug. I would do things like chili, spaghetti, ham and pea soups and stuff like that. Meals that I could plop into that big insulated mug and it would stay warm as I ate it. For breakfast I would slice up a pound of bacon, 3 or 4 eggs, mushrooms, onions and peppers and mix it all up and throw it in the mug as well.


Nothing beats the smell of bacon at camp in the winter!
NotLight 01/01/2014 06:49PM
These are Russian meat dumplings (Pelmeni). Hard to make, but easy to cook when it's cold out, and no mess to clean up. You just boil them frozen in a light broth for ~20min to cook them. I suppose you could use the frozen ravioli from the grocery store too, but maybe not quite the same. These are really good.











George 12/28/2013 06:33PM
If you are going cold (and even with a hot tent) you may want to pre slice your cheese. It will freeze rock hard otherwise. Also, things like Peanut butter, jelly, syrup will freeze also (although if it has sugar in it, the freezing will take longer).

Basically think of putting everything you bring in your freezer for a day...and that is how it will be on the trail :P
McVacek 12/24/2013 08:50PM
We are headed out for our first official trip of the year in just 5 days. Our menu includes: steel cut oats, nuts, jerky, cheese, dried fruit, cookies, fish jambalaya, chili mac and cheese, filet mignon, fish chowder, spaghetti, wine, and of course-CAMP TODDY!!! :) We also do a lot of soups and our lunches are always quick.
Papinator 12/16/2013 11:28AM
We like to do curry in winter ANd summer :) you can buy the "curry blocks" in similar form to almond bark at any asian food store - we cut up all the veggies/meat at home and kept in a container until ready to use, then you just put them in a pot with water and add the curry. So good, and you can do spicy if you like to add a little extra heat!


We also do eggs almost every morning winter and summer. If the eggs freeze, we put them near the stove before cracking to thaw them out, however, if it gets too cold, they will bust open on their own (though they won't go anywhere, as the insides are frozen) so you have to pick out the shell. We have our own chickens so I know the eggs are really fresh so I'm not too worried about keeping them cool in summer (though hot would be problematic)


Last trip, we took a whole chicken with us and just kept it on the sled frozen, in the afternoon I rubbed it with dehydrated tomatoes powdered, put it in the pot with a little moisture on top of the stove and let it cook for hours. SO GOOD. Best chicken I ever ate.
Arlo Pankook 12/16/2013 11:25AM
Bangers and mash!
Doughboy12 12/16/2013 09:40AM
Hot Tang...that is great in the morning as well as "on the trail" to get a little warm kick in your step.
Soledad 12/15/2013 10:21PM


karola has it right with the vacuum sealer, I use for chili, eggs and lots of other things. I will be base camping/fishing next week and have prepared some of my favorite chili which I froze. Steel Cut oats, craisens, walnuts brown sugar. Frozen western omelettes bacon. Lots of coffee, hot tang.
Pancakes sausage. Pita Pizzas
karola 12/15/2013 06:28PM
In the past I have pre-cooked meals. If you have access to a vacuum sealer you can essentially cook anything you want and freeze it. When camping bring water to a boil and put the whole bag in the water to thaw and warm up. We have done this with things like pork/venison roasts. I also like to bring in pre-cooked brats and cook them over the fire. Other than that I typically fry fish and do oatmeal for breakfast. One thing I have found is that I typically eat a late breakfast and early dinner...two meals a day.
Frenchy19 12/15/2013 05:45PM
Thanks, and keep the ideas coming, please! I figure we will eat more fat than on a summer trip, especially at night when I want those cals to help keep me warm. Love the idea of cooking the bacon and eggs at home.


I have been on winter trips before, but this is the first time the planning lands in my lap. Very familiar and comfortable with summer/fall trip planning, but the winter is a different beast. Like the idea of using a Dutch oven for pizzas; I do this in the summer as well. Also thinking of a big old pasta dish one night.
Doughboy12 12/15/2013 04:05PM
I was surprised at how GOOD Idahoan powdered mashed potatoes are. Even the wife liked them. There are MANY "flavors."
awbrown 12/15/2013 03:36PM
I hot tent and primarily cook on the wood stove. When winter camping, I like to eat more fat then I would in the other seasons. I also like to eat warm, so I eat a lot of soups and stews. I try to prepare most meals in one pot.


I also love the smell of breakfast cooking, so every breakfast includes bacon (or sausage), which I cook at home, wrap a meals worth in tin foil and freeze. I also prepare scrambled eggs and freeze them as well, and reheat the frozen items on top of the stove right in the tin foil. A hot bowl of morning oat meal is a must also.


Toast is made by melting some butter on the top of the stove, slather some on a slice of bread, slap the bread onto the side of the wood stove. It's done when it falls off!


Lots of warm drinks, coffee, teas, hot chocolate, bullion.


I do a lot of my cooking in my dutch oven. It sits on top of the wood stove and I pile coals on top. It's fun to bake stuff or cook up a pizza.


In some ways winter camping meal planning is easier, because any fresh meat, veggies, etc. won't spoil. Some fresh food doesn't do as well of course. Things like eggs are problematic.


One of my favorite meals is made with Spam. I know folks make fun of Spam, but everyone I've ever prepared this meal for, likes it.


Slice up a can of Spam into small pieces, brown in a fry pan or dutch oven. Add some peas, mushrooms, some chopped onions, sliced potatoes (use either canned or fry up some ahead of time). Heat it up, dish it out, salt and pepper to taste. Viola! It's delicious, and very filling.


Frenchy19 12/15/2013 12:38PM
Curious what you folks plan/bring for chow. We will be base camping and fishing, so hopefully a few fish will fill our plates for at least one day, but I know better than to count on that (especially with my fishing prowess!).

I am responsible for three breakfasts and three suppers, and I have some ideas, but I would like to hear what you folks have prepared in the past.

Thanks!