Near-naked trees and chilling temps can only mean one thing: ‘tis the season to load up on food and shrug off your guilt. The United States has even dedicated a holiday for you to stuff your belly and build up extra “layers” for the winter months. However, Thanksgiving suggests a four-day weekend, which tempts many outdoor adventurists to ditch family dinners and escape into nature. Lucky for you, we’ve found ways to bring Thanksgiving to the wilderness, so you can binge eat and give thanks for this beautiful world while being surrounded by it.
THANKSGIVING HOBO DINNER
10 turkey cutlets
2 cans of gravy
1 bag of frozen green beans and carrots
1 package of cranberries
Pour an inch-layer of gravy on the bottom. Place the turkey cutlet on top. Sprinkle frozen green beans and carrots over the turkey. Top with more gravy and a handful of cranberries. Wrap up and place in the fire. Repeat.
Cook time: 20 minutes
Tip: Don’t use all the gravy in food prep. You’ll want some to pour over after the meal is cooked.
POTATOES AU TINFOIL
1 can of cream of chicken/mushroom soup
2 lbs. of small yellow potatoes
1 onion
1 bag of shredded cheese
Salt and pepper
Spread a layer of soup on the bottom. Cut the potatoes into thin slices and place 3-4 potatoes, worth on top. Slice onion and add. Add salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle a handful of cheese, seal, and place in fire. Repeat.
Cook time: 30 minutes
Tip: Potatoes often take the longest to cook, but the thinner you cut them, the quicker they soften.
MOM’S SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE
3 medium-sized sweet potatoes
1 cup of brown sugar
2 tablespoons of butter
1 cup of marshmallows
4 sheets of graham crackers
Chocolate bars (optional)
Dice the sweet potatoes and toss onto the tinfoil with cubed butter and brown sugar. Wrap up and place in the fire. After you pull the food out, open and place marshmallows, graham crackers and, if desired, chocolate, onto the steaming potatoes.
Cook time: 20 minutes
Tip: Try to keep the brown sugar toward the center of the potatoes or it will quickly burn.
APPLE PIE-IN-A-HOLE
6 apples
1 cup of brown sugar
2 tablespoons of butter
¾ cup of rolled oats
Cinnamon
Cut the core out of the apple. Dice butter and place a few cubes inside the hole, along with brown sugar, cinnamon, and rolled oats. Wrap in tinfoil and toss in the fire.
Cook time: 15 minutes
Almost all of these recipes received thumbs up and smiles from the Wasatch crew on a staff camping trip. Enjoy!
@carolyn_webber
Feature photo by Kiffer Creveling