Camping Breakfasts

One of my favorite childhood memories is of my Dad cooking breakfast while we were camping. He would whip up scrambled eggs, fry bacon and "toast" bread over the fire or the camp stove. It always seemed to taste better than at home! Now that I am a Mom, I have developed my own recipes and tricks for camping breakfasts thanks to my Dad's inspiration!

Breakfast Tips and Suggestions

I indulge my children once a year and buy the little boxes of cereal that come with a variety of choices. Yes, it's more expensive, but they think it's extra special to have their own box. Often they wake up while we are camping and are "starving to death", so I let them pick a box of cereal and fix their bowls while I clean up the tent, gather up clothes for the day and then start fixing a hot breakfast.

I have a supply of old bowls, eating and cooking utensils, and cast iron pans. I splurge and purchase paper plates and plastic cups, plus napkins and paper towels. We do have a camping stove, but we cook over the fire as well. I recommend using a cooler for the perishable food, of course, but also heavy duty, covered plastic tubs to store the cooking supplies and non-perishable food. Be sure to bring along a small plastic dish tub, old towels, dishrags, scrubbers (for the pans) and dish soap. I've found that loose items, paper or even plastic sacks just end up making a mess.

The recipes below are fun and easy. I also like using left over ham, or deli ham, chopped and cooked with scrambled eggs. For easy breakfasts or snacks, bring along bananas, oranges, toaster pastries (you can warm in a pan or on the fire very briefly) and yogurt. We usually have a big breakfast, a light lunch as the kids get hungry later, and a hearty supper with time for marshmallows and S'mores afterwards.

Campfire Eggs

(Save the remainder of the bacon for the next day's breakfast with the recipe below)

Ingredients:

• 8 slices bacon
  
  
• 1 1/2 cups frozen hash browns
  
  
• sweet onion
  
  
• salt
  
  
• pepper
  
  
• 6 eggs
  
  
• 1/3 cup milk
  
  
• 1/4 tsp. salt
  
  
• 1/2 cup shredded Cheddar or Colby cheese
  
  

Cook bacon in heavy skillet until crisp. Remove and crumble bacon. Pour off all but 2 tablespoons fat. Slice as much onion as your family likes VERY thin, and add to the pan with the potatoes, sprinkle with salt and pepper. Return to heat, or fire, and fry until potatoes are lightly browned. Beat together eggs, milk, 1/4 tsp. salt and pepper. Pour over browned potatoes in skillet. Cook without stirring until mixture begins to set. Using a spatula lift and fold partially cooked eggs so uncooked egg flows underneath. Continue cooking for about 4 minutes until cooked but not dry. Arrange crumbled bacon on top, sprinkle with cheese.

Breakfast Tortilla Wraps

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon margarine
  
  
• Eggs
  
  
• milk
  
  
• Cheddar Cheese or American Cheese
  
  
• Bacon
  
  
• Large Flour Tortillas
  
  

Beat your eggs together with a small amount of milk. I use 1 egg per person and 1 extra. Melt margarine in pan or spray with cooking spray, and add eggs. In another pan fry your bacon in strips and drain. After the eggs are cooked, add a spoonful or two to each tortillas, some cheese and a strip or two of bacon. (Each person can make their own). Roll up the tortillas and eat!

Sausage on a Stick

Ingredients:

• 1 12 ounce package fully cooked smoked sausage links.
  
  
• 1 package refrigerated breadsticks
  
  

Spear sausage on stick or hotdog fork. Coil one breadstick dough around each sausage link, pinching ends. Rotate slowly until bread is browned.

Pineapple or Apple Pancakes

Ingredients:

• 8 slices canned pineapple
  
  
• 2 large apples
  
  
• complete pancake mix (using water)
  
  
• syrup
  
  

Mix up your batch of pancake mix according to the directions (I make mine on the thin side) and prepare as usual. Place one slice pineapple slice on pan or griddle. OR slice and peel an apple and place a few thin slices on the griddle. Pour 1/4 cup batter over slice. Cook on the first side until it starts to bubble on top, then flip and brown the other side. Serve with syrup. NOTE: You can also sprinkle cinnamon sugar over the apples if you wish.

Visit The Treehouse- http://seedsofknowledge.com/treehouse.htm for more kid pleasing recipes and summer activities or subscribe to the weekly Treehouse Recipe Notes by sending any email to: villagetreehouse-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Do you have a time or money saving idea that wasn't included in this article? Please send it to tips @stretcher.com. We get the best ideas from our readers!

Reaping the Last Bounty
Harvest and preserve

Looking for Frugal Recipes?
Readers share where they find their best recipes

PBJ Again??
Wonderful lunchtime options

How a Full Pantry Saves Money
Stocking up can be simple and inexpensive

Throw a Thrifty Tailgate Party
Score with these winning ideas

I Would like to:

• Read other articles on this topic
  
• See what else is in this issue
  
• Subscribe to "The Dollar Stretcher" free weekly email newsletter
  
• visit the Problem Solving Center
  
• visit the Reference Library
  
• browse the 'author' index
  
• search 'by date' index
  
• check out Past Issues of Newsletter
  
• go see 'What's New'
  
• "Can You Help This Reader?"
  
• drop by 'Tips, Quips & Quotes'
  
• send email to the Editor of "The Dollar Stretcher"