Camping food

[pkellyc]

Well, were off to go camping next week for 4 days at the beach. Dh and I, my 2dd's, 4 nieces, a nephew and 1 friend of dd's. Making a total of 9. Here is our menu. Hamburger 3 ways.

1st day- hamburgers and hot dogs with corn on the cob cooked in the fire

2nd day- tacos- or taco salad for some

3rd day- goulash and bread and butter


I plan to cook and spice the taco and goulash meat ahead of time, seal it in ziplock bags and place it in tupperware, fill the tupperware with water and freeze the meat into the blocks of ice. What do you think? Will these blocks of ice around the meat keep it safe? How long do you think they will take to melt?

I am really hoping this works out everything except the hamburgers will be precooked and easy to put together. No chopping onions and peppers, no spices to add either. The hardest thing to do will be to cook pasta and how hard is that. I am also thinking of a pasta salad for the first night.

[SewCrafty]

Sounds like it should work fine. I don't know how long it will take to thaw though, guess it depends on how well your cooler keeps things cold and how hot it is where you are.

Don't forget to filled a couple of gallon milk jugs with water, leave about 3 inches of space at the top for expansion and freeze them for your cooler. They will last a LOT longer than cubes.

Have fun camping!

[3-boys-4-me]

If you have 2 coolers I would take them both. Pack your drinks in one cooler, this cooler will be opened more often therefor causing the ice to melt quicker. I would put all your food items in another cooler, which will be opened less and the ice will last longer. How long the ice lasts is going to depend on the temperature, quality of the cooler and how often it's opened. Have fun, camping is a great!

[Laurie in Bradenton]

Sounds like you've already gotten the advise I'd give. Have a great time.

Laurie in Bradenton

[leasmom]

I'm planning on going camping for 1 to 2 days to start off, we've never gone camping (except for half day) so we're gonna start slow at first and we're gonna rent a mini-cabin. There's no electricity, so I'll have to cook outside. So far I have the ideals for hotdogs, baked beans and maybe corn on the cob. Grilled cheese sandwiches, eggs and bacon for breakfast, and some marshmellows for dessert.

[pkellyc]

Leasmom, everything sounds so good I hope you have a wonderful time.

As far as my blocks of ice, it worked out very well. By day 3 for the goulash my meat was still semi frozen so I knew it was perfectly safe. By not going to the store during the weekend it left us with lots of beach time, hiking, just generally enjoying the sunshine and eachother. We had a great weekend and plan on another this summer.

[leasmom]

Thanks. I'm using our change jar to save up. I want to save up enough to pay for the licenses, to buy a fishing pole, and for two days. It's $45 each night so for right now, I have only onedays rent, and some change, but we're getting there.