Christmas is one of the best times of year to be with your family. It’s an opportunity to spend quality time with one another, expressing your love and appreciation for your family members and breaking bread together. And, for those families that love the outdoors, it doesn’t get any better than spending the holiday together in the outdoors, either camping, cross-country skiing, hiking or doing any other activity that your family loves.
But Christmas cooking shouldn't be just limited to December, you can get in the season all year round.
For the truly adventurous family with a love for the outdoors, a Christmas dinner around the campfire may just be a new tradition worth exploring. Some of the greatest-tasting meals of our lives are eaten after we’ve undergone physical exertion -- just think how delicious a meal tastes after a canoe trip or after you’ve been on an all-day hike -- so why not celebrate Christmas Day bundled up and enjoying the scenery, followed with a piping hot meal around the campfire?
Begin dinner with appetizers such as cheese and crackers, fresh veggies or any other treats you enjoy, and warm up with some hot tea. Whip up your favorite foil dinner for your main dish, one of the suggested entrees below. And top off your dinner with Christmas cookies you’ve made at home and brought along, or go with the old campfire favorite of s’mores, along with some toasty hot chocolate.
For the main dish, try a few of these recipes that we’ve rounded up below:
Backcountry Christmas
- 1 packet of Stove Top brand stuffing
- 1 7-ounce pouch chicken
- 1 cup dried cranberries
At camp:
Boil 1 1/2 cups water, then stir in stuffing. Add chicken and cranberries. Serves two.
(recipe via Backpacker, originally published as “Backcountry Thanksgiving”)
Corned Beef and Potatoes
- 1 package au gratin potatoes
- 1 large carrot
- 2 tablespoon margarine
- 1 canned corned beef
- 1 small onion
- a cup non-fat dry milk
At home:
Open potatoes and remove the cheese sauce. Mix the cheese sauce powder with the dry milk in a re-sealable plastic bag. Leave the potatoes in original package.
At camp:
Slice carrot into thin, round pieces while bringing the water to a boil. Put dried potatoes and carrot slices into the boiling water and cook until potatoes are tender. While potatoes are cooking, dice onion.
When the potatoes are done, drain the water well away from camp, leaving about 1/3 cup of water in the pot with the potatoes and carrots. Add dry milk/cheese sauce mixture and diced onion; stir well. Cut corned beef into pieces as you add it to the pot. Return to heat, stirring continuously until the beef is heated and everything is well mixed.
(recipe via Golden Empire Council Boy Scouts of America)
- 3923 views