Outdoor Cooking

Frying Pan Fish Fry

When it comes to frying fish at camp, whether camp is as tame as a state park campground or as wild as an Alaskan river, I've always thought less is more.

By that I mean using the least amount of stuff and as little oil as possible, to keep cleanup and storage simple and straightforward. With this approach, deep-frying is out, and pan-frying is in.

It's easy, nearly foolproof, and results in far less mess and cleaning fuss when the bones are picked clean. Oh yeah, and pan-frying either whole fish or fillets results in some of the best camp grub on the planet. Here's how.

Coconut Fried Bluegill and Camping Coleslaw

Prep Time: 15 minutes 

Cook Time: 5-10 minutes 

Servings: 6

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 lb bluegill or other panfish fillets
     

  • Seasoned Flour:
        - 1 cup sugar
        - 2 tsp sugar
        - 1 tsp salt
        - 1 tsp dry mustard
        - 1 tsp white pepper
        - 1 tsp granulated onion
        - 1 tsp garlic
        - 1 tsp cayenne
     

  • Egg Wash:
        - 2 eggs
        - 2 tbs water or milk
     

Cast Iron Corned Venison With Fried Eggs

Prep Time: 20 minutes      

Cook Time: 15 minutes 

Servings: 4

INGREDIENTS

  • 3 tbs butter

  • 2 1/2 cups potatoes, small dice

  • 3/4 cup onion, finely diced

  • 3 garlic cloves, minced

  • 1/2 cup bell pepper, finely diced

  • 1/4 tsp salt

  • Pinch black pepper

  • 1 1/2 cups corned venison, chopped

  • Hot sauce (optional)

  • Eggs

Dutch Oven Pizza

Pizza in a Dutch oven? Yes! And easier than you may think. Making a Dutch oven into a pizza oven is simple, just add lots of top heat.

 

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 par-baked pizza crust (Freschetta, Boboli, Mama Mary's or your own crust that has been baked in a preheated 350 degree oven, 10-15 minutes.)

  • 1/3 cup pizza sauce

  • 2 cups shredded cheese (Mozzarella, cheddar, colby, jack or a combination of choice)

  • 1 7-ounce package sliced pepperoni

Power Balls

Prep Time: 15 minutes 

Cook Time: 0-6 minutes 

Servings: Approx. 24

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 cup honey

  • 1 cup nut butter (peanut, cashew, almond, sunflower seed, etc.)

  • 1 cup powdered milk or protein powder

  • 1/2 cup coconut flour or cocoa powder

  • 1 cup brown rice flour

  • 1 cup chopped raisins or dried cranberries

  • 1/2 cup wheat germ or flax meal

Dutch Oven Dump Cake

Prep Time: 3 minutes 

Cook Time: 45 to 55 minutes 

Servings: 16

INGREDIENTS

  • 2 cans pie filling*

  • 1 box cake mix*

  • 1 can soda*

  • Fresh fruit, optional

DIRECTIONS

Spread pie filling evenly in the bottom of a 10- or 12-inch Dutch oven. Add additional fresh fruit if desired (or substitute one can of the pie filling for three cups of fresh fruit).

Camp Potato Packets

Prep Time: 20 to 60 minutes     

Cook Time: 25 to 30 minutes 

Servings: 6

INGREDIENTS

  • 6 medium baking potatoes

  • 1 to 1 1/2 pounds thick-sliced bacon

  • 30 (1-inch by 1-inch) slices of cheddar cheese

  • 1/2 cup minced or sliced olives

  • 1/4 cup thinly sliced chives or green onion

  • 12 (12-inch by 12-inch) sheets foil