Caravan, camping and holiday cookery

peterbaker

Small joint of silverside or topside beef (usually easy to find in most supermarkets in the early evenings at half price reduction) browned first in the saucepan, maybe with some chopped onions if you like onion in the gravy, then cooked on slow heat in cheap red wine. I.e. Pot roast. Can be cooked (maybe 90 mins) and then taken aside to "rest" while you cook the veg. I do this quite frequently whilst camping and it's a hit with the kids.

The other extremely easy one which the kids love is of course 500g mince (serves three) plus one medium jar Dolmio original sauce, plus quick boil pasta

skintmostofthetime

If you're feeling extravagent you can get `electric hook-up' which means you could take a slo cooker with you and do a `cook-up' first thing and then have a slap-up meal waiting for you. You will need to get a camping electric socket to plug in but then you just put an ordinary socket the t'other.
The electrics aren't too expensive but if you're only away for 1 night prob not worthwhile.

Sus1e

One of my old favourite foods for camping was a very very simple dish

One tin of Heinz Beef Broth soup, one tin of tinned potatos - drain the potatos and put them in the same pan as the soup. Heat thoroughly.

Serve with bread and butter - Yummy!

suzywoozy_3

We take a frozen veggie chilli and either have that the first or second night. Couscous is much easier than rice or pasta (as someone has already said)as you don't need a ring for that and it's Ok cold.

We too use supernoodles (tesco 8p version) they are cheap and quick and easy, we just eat them as they are and have salad with them.

We tend to do a couple of BBQs.

And then a chip buttie night, buying from a local chippie.

Pasta and tom sauce is very easy and cheap too. Cook pasta first, then drain and stir in a can of chopped toms (maybe tuna, sweetcorn etc) and reheat.

We always spend a bit more than usual when we are camping but not too much.

Agapanthus

I wouldn't recommend an electric hook-up unless you're in a caravan or trailer tent with a proper 240v electrical installation. Things in tents tend to get damp: damp and mains voltage aren't a good mixture.

Check with the campsite if they'll let you use a disposable barbecue. Some only permit barbecues on stands so that the grass doesn't get scorched. A few bricks can sometimes solve that problem.

When you've finished barbecuing the meat or whatever, you can put on barbecue desserts if the barbecue's still hot enough. My kids used to love these:

Make a slit in a banana and push in a square (or two!) of chocolate. Wrap the banana in foil and leave it on the barbecue, turning occasionally, while you eat your first course. The banana doesn't really need cooking, but the chocolate melts into a sauce.

You can also do "baked" apples. Take a small eating apple, core it and stuff with dried fruit (raisins, sultanas, etc.) As above, wrap in foil and cook on the barbecue. As it's an eating apple, it doesn't really matter how much it cooks, but it should soften a bit and the juices start to run.

Both are great with tinned evaporated milk or cream.

You can also toast marshmallows over the barbecue and dip them in chocolate sauce.

The wine box is essential!

thriftlady_2

Great tips :T I'm a camping virgin, I'm planning to lose my camping cherry this summer I've found a brilliant book with loads of tips and recipes. It's really inspired me and instead of dreading the whole experience I'm fired up with enthusiasm.

This is the book http://www.amazon.co.uk/Happy-Campers-Kat-Heyes/dp/0747586667/ref=pd_bowtega_1/202-4560088-2422211?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1178040891&sr=1-1

They have a website with some recipes on too
http://www.thehappycampers.co.uk/

thriftlady_2

Another thought, have a look at the recipes Queenie posted on this thread http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=410439&highlight=convenience+mixes I think some of them would be great for camping. There are rice seasoning mixes which look useful. I'm planning on taking a bag of my pancake mix (mentioned in the thread) as all you have to do is add water and fry in a dry non-stick pan. My sil is going too, she's a seasoned camper and always cracks open the variety packs of cereal, but I'm planning to wow the kids with my hm pancakes - not that it's a competition or anything

lindadykes

We go camping to motorbike rallies throughout the year, and as you can imagine space is at a premium, so 1 compact burner is all we can manage. I sometimes try and fit a wok in! and below are the two recipes I used at the last rally we went to:

Singapore Fried Noodles
Pack of flame grilled chicken pieces
Pack of straight to wok noodles
Pack of stir fry veggies
2 Tbsp of Amoy Singapore Fried Noodle Sauce decanted into a small plastic container. (This comes in a jar and is available from oriental grocers, but if you can't find it any sachet of stir fry sauce would probably work.)
Spray oil
Spray wok with oil, add stir fry veg and stir fry for about 5 mins, add noodles and heat through. Add the chicken and sauce, combine and heat through - serve.

Provencal Potatoes
Tinned new potatoes
Pack of cooked tikka chicken
Can of petit pois and baby carrots
One of those stir through pasta sauces - I used a sundried tomato and garlic one.
Spray oil
Spray wok with oil, add drained potatoes, peas and carrots and stir fry till well heated. Add Chicken and sauce and stir until heated - serve.

Miss_Kitty_Fantastico

thanks for all the brilliant replies definately inspired now

just need to wait for the weather to take a turn for the better

daleyd

" I sometimes try and fit a wok in! "

LOL hope you don't stick it down the back of your jacket - you would end up looking like Quasimodo:rotfl: