First night/arrival meal

[SafetyCamper]

We like to visit a great local Sushi place and get take out....just before we leave and have that after setting up.... Nice to have a few drinks with it and just hang out with family and friends!!
Enjoy what works for you!!

[Scrapper]

Quoted from Cowracer, "Vegan is cruel. At the very least, that cow had legs. It could run. But that carrot had no chance, man. None."


Vegetarian ; vege translation "bad", tarian translation "hunter"; Indian word for Bad Hunter.

[Teresa CAL]

We like to cook large shrimp with butter, garlic and Old Bay over the grill, then put that over some hearty salads.
Croissant roll sandwiches
Thick bacon (for breakfast or bloody Mary’s )
I’ll marinate steaks, or chicken in ziplock bags, then they’re pretty much ready to be put on the grill when we get there.

[Jakieboy]

If you have access to Trader Joe's Markets, they have fabulous frozen Tamales in a variety of flavors that we enjoy. They can be steamed for 12 - 15 minutes straight out of the freezer, so you don't need to toil in the kitchen while you are relaxing after set up......or start them steaming while you are still finishing your campground setup. We always serve them with Hatch Enchilada sauce, green or red, whichever you prefer. Include a pre-packaged salad kit, corn chips, and salsa or guacamole for a nice Southwestern dinner.

For even better ideas, purchase a copy of the "The Essential Southwest Cookbook" available from the Southwest Indian Foundation based in Gallup, NM. Their recipes are magical.

[udy2554]

First night is usually what I call my “Red-Neck Surf and Turf”!

Pan fried, Beer battered Perch and Squirrel, and drink of choice!
(Heineken)

[Jefrid]

We prepare a lot of meals ahead of traveling. We’ll roast a couple chickens, shred the meat and freeze in meal size portions (2/3 lb for wife and me). When warming we season for Southwest, Asian or whatever we are in the mood for. We partially barbecue messy meats like baby back ribs, kalbi ribs and freeze. When we finish cooking at campsite meal is quick and less clean up. We also cook beans and lentils ahead and freeze in meal size portions. All of the above can be quickly made into delicious soups or salads on arrival or after a long day of play.

[Thearcher01]

Sometimes I make chili or stew and can it in quart jars. That is a good take along and just takes minutes to warm up. I am envious reading all these replies. I do not get to go that often but have my Grey Wolf 22RR and have been stocking accessories as I go....retiring next year and will be hitting the road often!

[Finster]

We prep about half our meals before we leave home to make it easier on our travel days, and days when we're out sight seeing and not at camp much. I usually smoke a brisket, prep veggies for Hobo's, make biscuits and gravy that can be reheated later.
Our first night we almost always get into camp late so our go-to is usually Walking Tacos. I will have everything cut and prepped ahead of time in containers. The meat reheats in just a couple of minutes in the microwave. We usually get those squeeze bottle tubes of sour cream when camping just for the convenience. Kids like them because they can make them however they want. Just dump your ingredients right into a small Doritos bag and eat. Use plastic utensils and there is no clean up later.

[lindenpa]

i Am surprised no-one has suggested using an Instant Pot for quick satisfying meals while on the road. As the DH (and primary cook) for my DW who is a vegetarian, I use it often to make meals at home or at the camp site. 10 minutes prep time then let things cook for 10 minutes and great meals are ready to enjoy.

[robbiels7]

Unless it has been a late arrival we will normally do nice thick rib eyes and some kind of side. Heck with a nice rib eye I dont need a side.

[Mountndream]

When traveling all day we tend to get in late. or leaving after work, we tend to arrive too late to put on a big spread. We alwas carry a Bertolli's frozen meal in a bag. One pot no fuss and its not another hamburger while traveling.

[jkoenig24]

Canned Dinty Moore Beef Stew can be easily "jazzed up" with the addition of some canned veggies (corn, string beans, peas etc) and a dash of Tabasco sauce and a pinch of garlic. Prep time ~ 5 minutes and another 5 minutes to heat. Add some cheese and crackers or a nice roll and you've made a satisfying, one-pot meal in very little time. Of course you can skip the "jazzed up" extras and just enjoy it as is.

[Cowracer]

Originally Posted by Beachbourbon

You guys realize this is a CONTEST, right? The campsite with the best food wins, and the judges are the other campers NOSES. If you’re not cooking awesome meat over a fire that makes everyone in the campground salivate, you’re not even in the game. If you’re ordering food in, you’re dining in shame.

No shame in going to a local restaurant if you’re site seeing, but if you’re eating in camp, you need to represent!

I have long since stopped caring about impressing other people.

I'll cook over-the-top meals for my friends, but only because I like cooking, and my friends like my meals. But cooking just to make the next guy (stranger) jealous? Hmmm... Can't see the attraction of that.

I guess I am not "in the game"

Tim

[Dave Lyon]

Originally Posted by TheWolfPaq82

A stop at KFC is usually pretty satisfying.

We'll have this the night before and and take leftovers for the first night. Also, we've done the same with pizza or picked it up on the way.

[Paulie1138]

Our ULTIMATE campground smeller-upper weapon!!! Turkey in a box!

Last fall camping: arrival night on this trip, pork chops with apples in a Dutch oven. Next day.....breakfast was a French Toast type casserole with bacon, eggs, cheese, bread all mixed together in a Dutch oven. No lunch, but early dinner around 3.....

Made stuffing, green bean casserole in the Dutch ovens, foil wrapped baked potatoes, pumpkin pie, Turkey-in-a-box with gravy....oh, and a few adult beverages!

[BriaBeck]

Back on our first camping trip before we got married, we cooked canned ravioli and spaghetti-o's and LaChoy chow mein on our little Coleman #425 Stove... with lighting from a coleman 228 lantern They taste so much better when camping!!


So, lots of times that's what we'll cook for the first night... chow mein or rav/spaghettios... brings back memories of that first exciting camping trip!!

[JohnD10]

Originally Posted by bedubya

Technically correct, but the difference is minimal.

Must be aluminum foil technology has changed since I was in scouts back in the 70's...

[spock123]

After driving between four and five hundred miles the last thing I want is a big meal. Something short and fast

[JohnD10]

Originally Posted by spock123

After driving between four and five hundred miles the last thing I want is a big meal. Something short and fast

Perfect time for a basic sandwich and some chips!

[Iwannacamp]

Originally Posted by JohnD10

Must be aluminum foil technology has changed since I was in scouts back in the 70's...

I like it when people call it tin foil....