There are few things more enjoyable than relaxing outside around a fire with friends and family. The crackling sounds of the wood, the breeze blowing through your hair, and the unmistakable smell of a campfire filling your nostrils sounds like the definition of perfection to many of us. Being able to prepare and then eat a full meal right in your fire, whether at a campsite or a fire pit in your backyard, can make for the start of a perfect night. Here are a few recipes that are not only delicious, but also surprisingly easy to make.
Breakfast Casserole
Ingredients:
½ lb. Bacon – Chopped
6 Eggs
½ Onion – Chopped
1 Potato – Chopped
½ Green Pepper – Chopped
1 Garlic Clove – Minced
1/8 Cup Milk
½ Cup Shredded Cheese of your Choice
Salt and pepper to taste
In a separate bowl whisk together the eggs and milk, adding the salt and pepper, and set aside for later. Set your cast iron Dutch oven on top of the fire pit grill and cook up the chopped bacon until soft and then add the onion, potatoes and green pepper. When the onion is translucent, add the chopped garlic. Cook up the garlic in the mixture for about 60 seconds then add the egg mixture. Move the logs around in your fire to disrupt the flames and set your Dutch oven in the coals with the lid on for about 20-30 minutes, until the egg mixture is cooked through. Add your cheese on the top and replace the lid until it melts, around 2-5 minutes depending on the temperature of your coals and the type of cheese. Allow to cool for 3-5 minutes before serving.
Salmon Veggie Foil Packets
Ingredients:
Salmon Filets
Asparagus
Carrots – Julienned
Olive Oil
Salt/Pepper to Taste
Drizzle of Honey
Lay out a rectangle of aluminum foil for each serving and rub a small layer of olive oil on the middle section. Place your salmon fillet in the middle and then place the vegetables of choice on there. Suggested are asparagus and carrots, but there is some wiggle room here based on your personal preference. Try to have at least two different types of vegetables to give a depth in your taste. Drizzle some olive oil and honey on top of the vegetables and salmon and top off with a touch of salt and pepper. Fold the aluminum foil up and place it in the coals of the fire, noting there should be no flames coming up out of the fire. Cook for around 10-20 minutes until the salmon flakes to show it is done. Cook time will depend on the thickness of your fillet and the heat of your fire, so keep an eye on it to prevent dry salmon.
Cast Iron Dutch Oven Mac and Cheese
Ingredients:
1 lb. Pasta of your Choice (Pre-Cook Al Dente)
¼ Cup Butter
2 Tbsp. Flour
2 Cups Milk
2 – 2 ½ Cups Cheese of your Choice
Spices to Taste
½ Cup Breadcrumbs
Setting your Dutch oven above your fire on a grill top, melt down the butter and make a roux by adding the flour gradually to the melted butter and whisking. Gradually add in the milk and cheese to create the cheese sauce. This sounds more complicated than it is, and it gets so much easier every time you do it – because you needed more reasons to make mac and cheese right? When the cheese sauce has a good consistency, add in whatever spices you want to add. Salt and pepper are always solid choices, and a dash of hot sauce with a pinch of nutmeg has a surprisingly tasty undertone. When you mix in your pasta, move the logs around in the fire to transition it from a high fire to mostly coals. Throw some breadcrumbs on the top, slap on that lid and then place the whole thing in the coals for about 20 minutes, and let cool for 5 minutes before eating.