Your favorite camping food... Options

[H. David & L...]

Hi Robin - tried a cheepy toaster oven with nasty results. Then, I found a "WestBend Ovenette" to use on the cooktop. Still haven't tried it out yet, but hoping for good stuff. LdB

[Robin G]

Leslie, Do you have a crock pot? I made brownie's in a crock pot cause someone told me they baked a cake in one, so one year when we were wintering in Vegas I thought what the heck I will give it a try. They weren't bad! Where I goofed was not having enough "pam" in the crock pot before starting. So the worst part was getting it out then cleaning the crock pot. Can't remember how long I timed it. But remember just watching it and poking with a tooth pick till it came out clean. But again, not bad. Might try a cheap can of biscuits the first time to see how they come out. I also wonder if those crock pot liners would make it easier to just slip them out............... Good luck!

[Robin G]

Another question, has anyone ever tried the cheese cake filling that is pre-made? I make cheese cake all the time but make it from scratch so I have never tasted the pre-made and was wonder how it taste? Reason I ask is a few weeks ago I was out Christmas shopping and got thristy, so decided to pull into del taco for a coke, of course the lady on the other end of the speaker offered me an up sale, they had a new snack size fried cheese cake, Would I like to try it? Oh what the heck, if I remember correctly it comes in two size offerings, one being 2pc, the other being a 5 pc. I ordered the 2pc (with the intention of taking 1 to my Mom who loves cheese cake) Well, let me tell you, the second cheese cake snack didn't have a chance on making it home. It was soooooooooo flippen good, I scarfed up both and thought twice about going back for another order .................... So it got me to thinking could I make this type of dessert while camping? All it really is, is a wonton wrapper, cream cheese filling with dollup a carmel surup rolled up and fried like an egg roll. But I wouldn't want to go thru the process of making my from scratch filling, but thought about the pre-made filling and wondered how it taste? And do you think I could get a skillet of oil hot enough to cook over a camp stove? Robin

[Vivian]

We have used an electric skillet to bake refrigerated tube biscuits with good success. It takes a little experimenting to find the right temperature and timing so they are not doughy, but they are pretty good.

An electric skillet might also work to fry the cheesecakes since the oil temperature can be controlled. Of course, that eliminates the outdoors-over-the-fire feature which is part of the fun of cooking.

Donna, thanks for the link to Paula Deen's chocolate gravy which sounds like chocolate sauce, but I plan to try it and will report the results.

[Vivian]

The biscuits and chocolate gravy were unbelievably delicious! I was really skeptical about the combination, but it is excellent. The Paula Deen recipe makes plenty of gravy for 8 biscuits, and is neither too sweet nor too choclatey...just right! Thanks, Robin, for the great idea.

[Robin G]

Vivian, Your Welcome! Thank's for the feedback, I hadn't gotten a chance to try it. Yes the chocolate gravy I remember wasn't too sweet, it was a perfect combo.


Great idea of the electric skillet for biscuit baking while camping. So have you ever used the pre-mixed cheese cake mixture? How did it taste? Thanks again for the recipe feed back.

[richard c]

We like cut up pieces of squash, onion, green peppers, orange peppers, fresh mushrooms, asparagus ( sprinkle with Italian seasoning, garlic, add a dot of butter and olive oil ) Cook in foil on the grill until tender.
Some people like to add cubes of fresh pineapple or just grill fresh pineapple-yum.

[Vivian]

So have you ever used the pre-mixed cheese cake mixture? How did it taste? Thanks again for the recipe feed back.

I haven't used the pre-mixed cheesecake mixture yet, but I will get some the next time I go to the store. I also love cheesecake. I also subscribe to the philosophy that life is uncertain...eat dessert first!

[Robin G]

I also subscribe to the philosophy that life is uncertain...eat dessert first!

[SherryNPaul]

Vivian, you should rank right up there with the world's great philosophers!

Robin, I don't see any reason why you couldn't fry your cheesecake bites on a campstove. I found a cool little wok/skillet at Marshall's or TJ Maxx that I use at home and once in a while on the road. Because of the narrower bottom, it uses less oil, and gets hot pretty fast, but maintains a fairly even temp with the wok shape. Frying small items like battered shrimp in a few inches of oil is quick and easy, turning once.

If you don't like the premade cheesecake filling (and I've never seen or tried it), consider buying premade cheesecake on sale and cutting it up in cubes. Your treats could be premade and frozen. Because of their fat content (dare I say it?) they'll freeze well for a year or so in most freezers if sealed well in ziplocs, doing the IQF thing on a tray first so they won't stick together.

I guess this method would work best for me, or I'd probably eat all the cheesecake before I could try it in the fryer, otherwise!

Sherry