7 Meals You Never Thought To Enjoy When Camping

 

      Time for our mid-summer camping break from summer projects.  We love the Hessel Cedarville area near the Les Cheneaux Islands.  When planning any camping trip, even in an RV, part of the process is meal planning.  There are thousands of ideas that most campers cling to, especially when planning for kids.  It's just the two of us and Barb loves that I do it.  I love to cook and so it is a fun process; I do it weeks in advance.  One of the biggest and easiest is the OTR meals.  Meals made at home with plenty of leftovers that I label and freeze.  This allows us meals that might normally takes more prep than desired in the RV.  Then I just plug other ideas into the empty menu spots.  I try to keep with our favorites that won't take much prep.  Sandwiches and easy casseroles top the list.  

Hessel Casino Campground

      The menu for this trip has been planned in advance and as such I am sharing several of our choices for Breakfast and Dinner.  Several are OTRs, which are leftovers from home sealed and frozen for On the Road use.  All of these provide a variety of cuisines that don't require much prep and are delicious in the great outdoors.  Yes, we use a lot of venison, but we have it on hand so why not?  Not really fancy, just well planned.  Here you go:  4 dinners 3 breakfasts.  

Venison Patty Melt

This one is a favorite for me at least.  Double stacked venison burger with melted cheese and plenty of fried onions and grilled.  You can make this single stacked, my wife requests hers that way.  

Grilled Bologna & Cheese

This simple yet delicious recipe encompasses all of the flavors and culture of the south.  Thick cut bologna is best but layered with melty sliced cheddar and grilled is delicious. 

Chilaquiles Verde

This delicious breakfast casserole could also make a dinner.  A bed of tortilla chips covered with browned sausage, green sauce, Mexican blend shredded cheese, and your choice of chopped or sliced avocados, jalapenos, etc.  Add an over easy egg and top with sour cream or SW Crema Sauce.  Garnish with cilantro.  

Venison Breakfast Casserole

This is delicious as a, but doesn't have to limited to, breakfast.  This one will easily last 2 days.  Top and bottom are Pillsbury Croissant Dough with a layered filling of spinach, venison burger, pork sausage, mozzarella cheese and an egg/milk mixture.  Be sure not to overcook as the bottom dough layer can darken easily.  You can even skip the bottom dough layer, just PAM spray the bottom liberally.

Boudin Cheese Omelot

Delicious and easy to make.  Consists of egg, cheddar or jack cheese and skinned, browned boudin sausage.  Boudin is a Cajun rice and pork sausage stuffed casing.  The sides of biscuits and gravy are nice as the gravy can be on the side, on the biscuit, on the eggs, or all over.  

Venison Manicotti

Large pasta tubes stuffed with venison burger, herbs n spices and plenty of rich Ricotta Cheese

Tuscan Venison Pork Meatballs with Tortellini

This recipe uses the best of ground venison and pork sausage to make meatballs accompanied by pasta.  These little bites Tortellini often filled with a variety of meats or cheeses are similar to ravioli.  Their unique shape and sturdy structure make them a great fit for soups but can be used to further accent a filling meal.  In fact, one meatball and some pasta might be enough.  It is filling, but delicious.  

      There are many others of course such as Impossible Cheeseburger Pie, Shepard's Pie, Charcuterie, Chili, Fish Tacos, Queso Fundido, and Super Nachos to name a few.  This menu is typical of our road trips, even the mini ones.  Barb was able to enjoy a bit of casino time and we all got a bit of walking on the beach time in as well.  My job was the easy part.  A labor of love.  Heading back to the farm now.  Trips to Wisconsin and the UP-State Fair are still on the horizon.  Still so much more summer to enjoy.  

"When you're down on your luck and lost all your dreams there's nothing like a campfire and can of beans"

Tom Waits

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