Editor’s Note:
Camping is a quintessential pastime of autumn. For some, a meal in the great outdoors means cracking a can of beans and grabbing a spoon as preparing and cleaning up after meals seems too daunting a task. Jakob Nusbaum dispels that idea in his book “Campfire Cooking: Mouthwatering Skillet, Dutch Oven, and Skewer Recipes,” in which he shares the art of creating and cooking healthy, hearty meals with ease. Mr. Nusbaum says, “A fire doesn’t have to be big to be wonderful,” and his recipes and tips demonstrate that making meals doesn’t have to be complicated. So, what are you waiting for? Gather up your camping supplies and let’s get cooking!
Things to Gather for Campfire Cooking
For the Fire:
- Dry firewood, fire starters, matches or a long lighter
- Small kindling that you can buy from your hardware store or log dealer, or you can chop to size yourself
- Good fireproof gloves
- A shovel or stick for moving the firewood and charcoal around the campfire
- A bucket of water to put out the fire and for handwashing
Equipment:
- A pot or pan with a lid, a skillet, a grate and/or camp grill (many campsites already have grates that you can use)
- Long metal tongs for turning meat or vegetables on the fire
- A cutting board and a knife
- A pot and a ladle if you are making soup or a stew
- A sharp kitchen knife for slicing bread
- Cups, plates, forks, and knives (and/or spoons if you’re making soup or stew)
- Napkins or kitchen towel
What To Bring:
- Cooler with icepacks for storing all perishables such as milk products, meat, fish, or shellfish
- Thermos with coffee or tea
- Beer or wine
- Water for drinking while you cook
Cleanliness/Hygiene:
- Soap or other hand cleaner
- Kitchen towel
- Dishwashing liquid and a sponge
- Tea towels
- Dish cloths
- Garbage bags
Safety:
- Water for extinguishing the fire
- Band-Aids for if you happen to cut yourself
- Remember to check yourself as well as your friends and family for ticks after you’ve been outside in nature!
How To Start a Campfire and Keep it Burning
- Make sure your firewood is dry before you start a fire. Damp firewood produces a lot of smoke.
- Make sure that you have plenty of small kindling to start the fire. You can buy kindling and fire starters in hardware stores or at some gas stations.
Instructions for Safe Log Splitting:
Safety note: If you’re not comfortable splitting logs, you can buy logs that are already prepared for use on a campfire. Place your log straight up toward the back of a sturdy chopping block. If you miss the log, you will cut into the chopping block and avoid injury to your legs. Make sure you spread your legs and that you raise the axe above your head before you chop. If the log can’t stand on its own, DO NOT hold it with your hands or ask someone else to hold it for you as this could lead to serious injury. You can safely use an additional block of wood to support the log to make it stand up.
