Campsite cooking: I guess it depends on how spoiled people are

[TamaraSavannah]

Next item, spaghetti for the non meat eaters.

Is it possible, workable, to take some already cooked stuff out, frozen in the cooler, and then heat it up for them?

My dive boss suggested wrapping it in tin foil at the camp fire. Would that work?

[Threerun]

Spaghetti? I don't think that quite lends itself to tinfoil cooking very well. Pot cooking- yes.

[TamaraSavannah]

Originally Posted by Threerun

Spaghetti? I don't think that quite lends itself to tinfoil cooking very well. Pot cooking- yes.

Well, one has to keep in mind that we are talking about a diving camping trip here, so how quick a meal can be prepared by a cold, hungry, tired person an hour or two out of the drink is a priority. Perhaps not for breakfast, but certainly for dinner in the waning sunlight.

[oregonwoodsmoke]

Originally Posted by Threerun

Spaghetti? I don't think that quite lends itself to tinfoil cooking very well. Pot cooking- yes.

Actually, spaghetti heats up really well. Pre-cook the noodles, carry the sauce and the noodles separately. Combine sauce and noodles and warm up in a pot over the fire. It can be warmed in foil, but liquid stuff is more difficult in foil.

I reheat sauce heavy stuff in foil, but I put it in small foil pans (like little pie tins) and then wrap in foil and put it on the fire. Not spaghetti, so far, but I make some dynamite baked beans. That system of reheating wold work well for spaghetti.

For non-meat eaters, it would be easier to make something like a macaroni salad and serve it cold.

I think that OP is trying to do this without having to cook. Spaghetti or mac salad involves cooking the day before.

[Threerun]

I'm thinking the 'classic' tinfoil dinner- no trays. I've been in Scouting for over 40 years, and hobo dinners are quite popular, especially on a Friday night when we travel in the late afternoon and set up camp in the dark.

Generally the boys use stout ingredients, like burger, potatoes, sliced veggies etc. Saucy foods don't really work too well in a hobo dinner. Not saying it can't be done, I just don't think it lends itself really well. I could be totally wrong and maybe it is fine- I just have never seen or tried that one.

If they are lining a pot with tinfoil, or using an aluminum tray- sure. You can cook just about anything you want. In fact I use a truckers oven a lot, especially during cold weather hunting trips. The size of a lunchbox, plugs into your vehicle and heats up to 350deg. I have removable aluminum trays and I make all kinds of stuff in it.

It's really nice to head into the car at noon and have a hot meal, especially when hunting ducks or geese and it's −10 with the wind howling!