Camping is cool
Loiter with a tent!
Camping is such fun and a night under canvas isn't complete without the blaze and woodsmoke of a fire and the smell of tasty food sizzling! |
It's pretty easy to make a campfire. First make sure you're in a clear area of field, with no overhanging trees or shrubs and a safe distance away from the tent.
If you're on private land, make sure you ask permission before lighting a fire. If you're on a site, you'll find some have designated fire pits.
Collect your firewood, sticks and kindling twigs. If you can, find some silver birch bark, which is great kindling to start the fire off with. It has a natural oil in it, which helps it to flame.
Then put down a small row of sticks (green or otherwise)to make a base. Then on top build a row of very fine dry twigs and then arother row, laid diagonally across the first.
Use some paper - or even better, a tiny piece of real cotton wool covered in Vaseline with a match or spark to start the fire and keep putting on little bunches of twigs and sticks until the fire is established.
Place a grill over the fire and gather round for some classic campfire cooking - arrange seating in the form of logs, boulders or portable chairs and stools.
Avoid building a circle of stones around the fire to contain it because if these contain water, as some do, they could explode when they get very hot.
Also make very sure to put the fire out completely if and when you leave the campsite. Otherwise, tree roots underground (some are only just below the surface) could catch alight and spread the fire.
NEVER LEAVE A FIRE UNATTENDED.
A tent is the ultimate room with a view - it's all about that moment when you wake up to birdsong, the sound of the sea or the swish of trees in the wind. Then you unzip your tent and take a few seconds to soak up the view - a beautiful beach and craggy cliff or a crystal clear lake and undulating hills.
Life under canvas can be quite luxurious these days too. There is a huge range of stylish accessories available to turn your tent into your own personal space.
Try and pitch your tent near small trees or bushes, which create an intimate space and are perfect for hanging lanterns and funky bunting to create a magical feel.
If there's a chance of rain, a slight slope helps with drainage. Always put your tent facing uphill so the moisture drains away from you.
You can use up a lot of energy pitching the tent, collecting firewood and generally making the campsite a pleasant place to be. You and your fellow campers will therefore appreciate meals that fill you up and keep you going.
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So make like a Girl Guide - Be prepared! Make a list and don’t forget to add:
- a kettle
- large saucepan with lid
- frying pan (nonstick is best)
- tin opener
- wooden spoon
- washing up bowl and brush
- a roll or two of thick kitchen paper towel
- and lots of matches
Think about a wind-up mobile phone charger and a Solar Powered Dock for iPod and iPhone
Just in case you are forced to stay under canvas during inclement weather take some fun Games for Camping such as this pack of 16 printables, which is loaded with great Camping Games for the whole family.
As far as food is concerned, the first thing to remember is that breakfast and the evening meal are the most important. Breakfast should give you the energy needed to face the day – especially if the weather is cold or damp.Porridge is a good option. The oatmeal will keep you full for longer. Make it more exciting by adding any variety of dried fruit and some dried milk. That makes a nice creamy porridge, with the only effort being to boil a kettle of water and mix!
Or how about some French toast, or eggy bread as it’s sometimes known? It’s simply bread dipped in beaten egg and a little milk and then fried. I love making this over an open fire. It doesn’t matter how hot the frying pan gets – the bread just cooks quicker. Nowadays I would pour maple syrup over it but that was unheard of in my youth!
Otherwise just fry sausages, bacon or eggs and stuff them in baps or rolls.
It’s worth making a bit of an effort for dinner but it all depends, of course, what sort of camping trip this is, how much gear you can carry with you and what shopping and other facilities you may have nearby.
You’ll find picnic ideas throughout this site, which will come in useful as camping food. Check out barbecue recipes or use ideas from Bonfire Night and bonfire recipes for instance, or a healthy picnic.
Dried pasta should be boiled in as much water as possible until just al dente. To the drained pasta, add a packet sauce and perhaps a can or two of tuna or chicken.
However, something to bear in mind is that if you use food from cans or tins, they cannot be burnt on the fire like cardboard containers and will, therefore, create extra rubbish to carry home or to the nearest available bin.
A tin or two of baked beans is always a good idea though. Very handy in a food emergency as they can even be eaten cold from the tin if needs must!
On the other hand to cook dried food, you need a good supply of fresh water – so think again if you have to carry it all!
Soup
is also a great stand-by on a camping trip.Finally, don't leave food scraps lying around the campsite. They could attract more wildlife than you bargained for!
Go to Home Page of The Picnic Site
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