I have a rule when we go on our annual northwoods camping vacation: NO COOKING.As you all know, I love to cook at home. But cooking in a pop-up is torturous. Let’s face it: cooking without running water, electricity, refrigeration, or an oven just ain’t fun. Bottom line: I’m on vacation. I shouldn’t have to work that hard.
Writing while camping, on the other hand, is a different story. Something about the smell of pines and breeze off the lake makes me desperate to write. This year, my husband chipped in to augment my writing proceeds from the year so I could buy one of those handy Neo word processors. And what a great investment it was. I found an empty campsite, dubbed it my office, and wrote for several happy, productive hours. I sneaked in hours of work on seemingly limitless AA batteries. I came home with a good idea for this year’s NaNoWriMo project and a solid idea for a flash.
This year’s camping trip was very good to me.
I did manage some cooking, but of the most perfunctory type. One morning, the neighbors stoked up their grill and it had me wondering: what breakfast food could you cook on a grill? Here’s what I came up with:
ANY TIME GRILL PACKETS
Per packet serving:
1/2 can diced potatoes, well drained
2 Tbsp. diced onion
2 Tbsp. diced green pepper
1 serving FULLY COOKED meat of choice: bacon bits, sliced breakfast sausages, cubed ham, smoked sausage (I used smoked sausage and it was YUMMY!)
Seasoned salt, to taste
Freshly cracked pepper, to taste
Nonstick cooking spray
Heat grill to high heat. For each serving, lay out a double layer of aluminum foil—12” lengths. Spray foil liberally with nonstick spray.
Place ingredients on foil. Fold foil over lengthwise, creating a durable seam. Fold in ends several times to make packets leak proof.
Place packets on grill. Cook 15 - 20 minutes, turning as needed, until heated through and veggies are tender. Open packets and dump on paper plates. After eating, discard mess and do something FUN.
5 comments:
What a nice view to work with! I'm glad to see that your vacation was good to you, and kuddos to your husband for investing into your writing.
The smell of the woods and campfires (grills) and yes that is the best grill food on vacation. You can pre-package them freeze 'em and keep them in a zip lock bag in the cooler till ready to cook. (foil does not like to get wet and stay wet hence the reason for the zip lock)
fast pizzas: pita bread cut into, spoon full of spaghetti sauce, shredded cheese of choice add pepperoni or whatever but just by the spoonful. Wrap in foil and grill.
Stephen, my husband is a great guy. He actually thinks of my writing as the bottomless pit that we constantly fling money into and that prevented me from staying in that high-paying corporate job. But he doesn't complain. Much. :)
Paige, the pizza idea is inspired. My daughter would go NUTS over those. I'll make them in Sept when we camp next.
Sounds blissful. And the Neo's a gerat idea; I have a teeny netbook myself.
but the REAL gift? That hubbers gave you time in the woods. What a super mensch... Peace, Linda
Oh, I agree, Greta. Getting away from the craziness of life and just being in a naturally relaxing environment can do wonders for the mind - letting it be free to create whatever it wants. So cool about the little neo writer. I've been wondering if the batteries held up. Sounds like it did great.
Great post!
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