Traditional Campout Food: roasted marshmallows

When I’m not busy in the garden, one of the fun aspects of my job as food educator here at summer camp involves joining each cabin of campers on the cooking portion of their campout. As a former Girl Scout leader, there’s nothing I love more than cooking on an open fire.

Burgers, hot dogs and s’mores are classic camp out food, our campers totally enjoy this menu and so do I. But I’m wondering if I might push the envelope to include some grilled veggies on upcoming camp outs. Imagine a summer squash, cut lengthwise and grilled on an open fire finished with a splash of balsamic salad dressing. Or a red pepper, roasted on the grill until it’s outer skin is blackened and the pepper becomes soft and super sweet. Grilled onions to add as a topping for those burgers. A potato and/ or sweet potato wrapped in tin foil and roasted among the coals could add another element to an already delicious cook out.

And for dessert, in addition to  our classic S’mores, I’m thinking we might add a fruit or two to the grill just for fun. Grilled peaches are delicious.  Just the thought of grilled bananas makes me hungry!

GRILLED BANANA S’MORES: Place 2 unpeeled bananas over medium-high grill heat; grill 4-5 minutes on each side until bananas darken and slightly soften. Remove from heat. Remove top half of banana peel and scoop onto graham cracker square. Top with half of a 1.55 ounce milk chocolate bar and another graham cracker half. Press gently together.

Adding some grilled veggies and fruits to our campout will no doubt create memorable food memories for these campers. They might even bring these ideas back home to their parent’s barbeque grills.

Have any other ideas of foods that would be delicious cooked out on an open fire? If so, post them in the comments section!