Ahhhh, fall. It’s here, there’s no denying it. Fall camping offers many rewards, including less-crowded campgrounds, increased wildlife spotting, and outdoor recreation pursuits best experienced in the cooler months. While the season brings colorful foliage and cooler temperatures, it also brings a wide variety of amazing foods to supplement your camping.
Cooler temperatures call for heartier cuisine, and simplicity is key when your cooking outdoors. The ultimate, undisputed champion of one-pot cooking is chili, a savory combination of meat, tomatoes, onions and beans, all slow-simmered with a variety of seasonings. Bear in mind, however, that the opportunities for variations of the ingredients are limitless, you just can’t go wrong. Load the pot early, let it simmer then enjoy the satisfaction as you sit bundled up near an early evening fire.
Your favorite stew recipe can almost always be recreated in the outdoors. Use a Dutch oven to allow your stew to simmer longer.
Fall is the time for squashes, butternut, acorn, and of course, pumpkin. These hearty and delectable gourds can be prepared in any number of ways but their finest hour is when they are roasted over an open flame then simmered into soups.
Want to take less time and have more variety? Then try “hobo packs.” Simply wrap favorite combinations of meat, fish, vegetable, and seasonings in heavy aluminum foil and place directly over the fire. These easy to make meals also allow for everyone in your camp to enjoy their own combination.
For dessert, try a berry cobbler. Pick your own berries or buy a bag of frozen berries. Mix them with sugar and cinnamon, and top it with store-bought crust dough. Cook your cobbler in a Dutch oven or even over a campfire on a grill.
Close your day with the year-round campfire favorite of s’mores.
