ShowUhow Blog

Campsite Cooking

Preparing meals while camping can sometimes be a challenge.  Without access to our kitchens and stovetops, we are often left with few options.  But that’s no longer the case!  There are alternatives to eating burnt hot dogs off sticks; all you need are a few supplies!

The Camp Chef Expedition 3X is one of the most powerful portable stoves available.  With three large burners and a 24” x 18” griddle you’ll be cooking gourmet meals in no time!

 

But why stop at the stovetop when you can bring an entire oven?  The Outdoor Camp Oven allows you to cook just as you do at home, complete with two oven racks and twin burners!  The oven heats to 400 degrees and only weighs 35 pounds.  Now that’s what I call campfire cooking!

 

I’m an over packer and have been told on occasion that I bring everything but the kitchen sink, but now with the GSI Camp Gourmet Kitchen I can even bring a sink!  This complete food prep and cooking center includes a drying rack, adjustable wire shelves for storage, and two sinks with faucet, making meal prep and clean up a breeze.

 

With a portable versions of your kitchen standards you’ll be cooking gourmet camping meals in no time!

Top Camping Suppliers

Summer camping is one of the joys of the season.  Whether you camp in the woods of a national or state park or at the beach, camping fun is entirely what you make it.  Whether you camp in an RV or a pop-up tent there are definitely some camping supplies you will need.  Here are some of the basics: 

Kelty makes some of the best camping tents for novice and experienced campers alike in a wide variety of sizes and shapes. You can’t go wrong with a Kelty tent.  Coleman makes a wide variety of quality lanterns.  If you haven’t gone camping since you were a Girl Scout you may not realize all the varieties of lanterns available.  Coleman lanterns come with all kinds of features.  They may be powered by batteries, liquid fuel, propane, kerosene and more.  One of the most popular is their kerosene lantern which is both economical and easy-to-use. There are also rechargeable lanterns that are crank operated to provide an emergency source of light in case you need to find your extra batteries at the bottom of your backpack. The North Face manufactures a wide range of high performance camping supplies, equipment and apparel.  You can find top quality tents, sleeping bags, packs and assorted gear to meet your needs for virtually any camping scenario from the relaxed to the most rugged and challenging.  Looking for a store with good advice about what gear is best for you? Consider REI one of the nation’s leading sporting goods retailers.  REI has a great reputation for carrying top quality merchandise and having experienced and knowledgeable salespeople who can guide you in the right direction. They also offer great customer service and a generous return policy with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Check out the July 2009 ShowUhow newsletter for more tips about camping and summer recreation at home. 

Fabulous Finds for the 4th

Whether you're planning to enjoy a day at the beach with friends, or heading to the park with the family, you are bound to need a few supplies in order to make the holiday a success. Here is a list of some of our favorite finds for the 4^th.

 

The Coolest Cooler - What's better than a cooler stocked with your favorite summertime beverages? The answer is a cooler that has a built-in stereo and your favorite summertime beverages! This new rolling cooler/stereo combo is MP3 compatible and leaves you with one less item to pack in the car!

 

Great Balls of Fire – At $30 this portable charcoal grill is small in price and in size. The Weber Smokey Joe Silver can grill up to six burgers at a time– perfect for any small gathering.

 

A Clever Canopy – Canopies are notorious for their difficult installation with directions that look as complicated as a space shuttle launch. But we’ve found the Quick Shade Compact Recreational Instant Pop-up Canopy, which boasts a set-up time of one minute – leaving you with more time to socialize and less time setting up.

 

We at ShowUhow hope you and your families have a fun and safe Fourth of July!