Campsites in Alberta | Great Campfire Meals Part 2
Great campfire meals are an expected part of the camping experience, and no matter what campsites in Alberta you visit, or how long your trip is, everyone anticipates the amazing meals they will experience while camping!
In part 2 of our two part series on great campfire meals, we look at great camping side dishes, main courses and desserts, complete with an ingredient list, and how to cook this over an open fire, or on a camp stove. If you make these recipes, we at Elevated Experience Camping would love to hear how they turned out, and how you made this recipe your very own! Enjoy!
Camping Drinks
Though it might be tempting to buy a box of pop, and bring bubbly pop to drink, it’s expensive and full of processed sugar that is sure to leave everyone irritable and hangry a short time later. Instead, think of delicious and nutrisious, fun, non alcoholic drinks for everyone to enjoy can make camping a family fun experience! One of our favorites at Elevated Experience Camping is Mulled Apple Cider. You don’t need a lot of supplies, and this is the perfect way to start or even end a camp-gourmet meal!
Simmer apple juice in a pot over the open fire. Toss the following spices into the pot or put the spices into a tea infuser. Let it simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, and enjoy a beautifully spiced drink for campers of all ages! (And adults can feel free to spike their cup – just about anything will go well in this drink!)
Ingredients:
Stick of cinnamon (tossed directly into the pot)
2 slices of orange (tossed directly into the pot)
1-2 cloves
1-2 cardamom pods
1 star anise pod
2 allspice berries
1 piece of ginger
Camping Snacks
Camping is definitely synonymous with snacking! Whether you pack a delicious and nutritious trail mix for your hiking/biking/boating adventure in various campsites in Alberta. The best trail mix has a variety of seeds, nuts, dried fruit and some fun stuff! But part of the joy of camping is having some fun that’s not all about learning. And having some snacks that aren’t the most nutritious. At Elevated Experience Camping, we love Alabama Fire Crackers Nicknamed Alberta Fire Crackers ‘round here, y’all are popular because of their deliciousness and simplicity. Made with easy to pack while camping ingredients, and fast to whip up in any campsites in Alberta!
Ingredients:
2 cups olive oil
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder
2 tablespoons crushed red pepper
1 (16 oz) package of saltine crackers (any type of cracker will work!)
In a large Ziploc bag, add all ingredients, except crackers. Close bag and shake to combine. Add crackers to the bag, and rotate carefully until all crackers are coated. Let sit in bag overnight. The next day, place the cast iron grill on the open fire, when hot, lay crackers out on the grill, turning gently after a few minutes. After another few minutes, remove from heat and enjoy! This is a sure hit at any campsite!
Camping Main Courses
While everyone already knows and loves steak, hot dogs, smokies and chili. But what about a protein rich food that can be (partially) prepared ahead of time? This recipe is perfect for those campers who spend most of their time at campsites in Alberta exploring and adventuring. Sweet potatoes are an amazing camping food for many reasons. Try this wonderful Sweet Potato Black Bean Burger!
Ingredients
8 oz grated sweet potato, about 1 medium
1 14.5oz can black beans, drained
1 egg
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon cumin
½ teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon chili flakes
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 cup panko crumbs
Shred the sweet potato, and place in bowl with black beans that have been drained, mash them together. Next, add the spices and the egg. Do not skip the egg, this is important to bind the ingredients together! Mix everything together until well combined, then add the panko crumbs. Form the patties by pressing the mixture into a ball, then flattening the ball. You will want it to be ¾” thick.
This recipe will yield 6 patties. This part of the recipe can be done up to one day ahead of time. When ready to cook, add some vegetable oil to the skillet on the fire, and cook the patties for about 4 minutes on each side. Serve on a bun with any toppings you desire. The suggestions of the Elevated Experience Camping crew include lettuce and tomato, mayonnaise, hummus, ranch dressing, avocado, red onions. Bon appetite!
Camping Desserts
While everyone knows and loves s’mores – invented in 1927 by the Girl Scouts, the word s’more was a contraction of the words some and more, as in everyone would love s’more! And while s’mores are already on the list of favorite camping desserts throughout many campsites in Alberta, for those hankering a new sweet campfire snack, there are many to choose from!
The favorite at Elevated Experience Camping is Grilled Peaches and Honey Yogurt. This is truly the flavour of summer, is sticky sweet and simple to make! Most of the ingredients don’t need to be chilled, and it doesn’t use a lot of dishes. Put those pre-packaged cookies away!
Ingredients
2 large ripe peaches
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 (5.3oz) container thick Greek vanilla yogurt
lemon or lime juice
honey
3-4 mint leaves
Halve the peaches, removing the pits. Next, drizzle lemon or lime juice over the peaches, then generously dust the halved peaches with brown sugar. Lay the peaches side down onto the cast iron griddle over the cooler side of the fire, until the peaches start to soften, around 8 to 10 minutes. Remove the peaches from the grill, and top each peach with yogurt and honey, finishing with mint on top. Eat and enjoy!
Come Visit Us!
If you want any more delicious and nutritious ideas for meals to make while visiting campsites in Alberta, contact the crew at Elevated Experience Camping!
It’s our mission to make camping an elevated experience for everyone! We even have special grocery packages for you to purchase as an add-on to any camping reservation. That way, you don’t even have to worry about groceries – one of our team members will deliver your grocery package to you once you check in and get settled. Cooking while camping has never been easier, or tasted better!