Camping Hacks
July 20, 2022

Camping Hacks

In this month’s video I shared just a couple of the camping hacks we’ve learned over the years. Some have evolved and some have remained solid, untouched.

I wanted to provide a few more we have found to be essential when heading out in the woods.

Multiple Use Items We Didn’t See Coming.

A Paracord

Sure, you use it to hang between two trees to hold your wet swim suits and towels, but we’ve used it to:

  1. Hold the garbage bag up and away from the raccoons.
  2. Create a make-shift tether for Teddy when his was forgotten at home.
  3. Held the tarp securely over the camp kitchen when the windstorm hit.

The Rain Poncho

Sure, you use it to keep the rain off of you as you hike, but we’ve used it to:

  1. Lay out on the floor of our tent to keep a barrier from the water wicking up through.
  2. To cover the food items when a rainstorm was coming. 

Exfoliating Soap Pouches

Sure, you use one to keep your soap stored for camp showers, but we’ve used another to:

  1. Wash dishes as it becomes the perfect pan scrubber and it dries quickly.

Dollar Store Purchases That Were Brilliant

Chip Clips

Sure, you take a few bags of chips for lunch but then they get soggy or spill all over the food bag. Buy cheap chip clips and keep them in the camping tote.

Pool Floats

Sure, you could buy the little kids individual air mattresses that are expensive, but they will inevitably jump on them. Grab some cheap pool floats to put under their sleeping bags. 

Door Mat

Sure, you may not have a traditional door on a tent, but all of ya will surely have sand on your shoes/feet. Wipe those feet on the mat, thus the inside of the sleeping bags doesn’t get full of it. Pitch it at the end of the trip if you choose.


Fun Camping Food We Must Have

Before we jump to two recipes, let me suggest a slightly naughty hack. ;)

Take a few extra ketchup, mustard, hot sauce and mayo packets from your favorite restaurant before you go.

Sure you can bring bottles of those that need to be kept cold, but borrowing is a heckuva lot easier. (Just be subtle, man.)


Campfire Muffins:

  • Get a good number of large oranges. 
  • Buy a package of the water-only muffin mix.
  • Prepare the muffin mix according to the package directions. 
  • Remove an area off the top of the orange so you can stick a spoon inside. Scoop out some of the orange innards and set those in a bowl.
  • Fill the orange peel cups half full of batter.
  • Put the cover back on the orange cups, wrap each one loosely with heavy-duty aluminum foil.
  • Place in hot coals, making sure that the batter side stays up, and cook 6-10 minutes, or until muffins are done. Serve with scooped out orange segments!
  • Make sure to watch so they don’t burn.

Sure you could buy both oranges and muffins from the store, but the flavor is like nothing else and the kids love the fun.


And finally, as promised, here is the recipe for our all-time favorite, it isn’t camping unless we have:

Campfire Berry Cobbler

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 cup flour
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • ½ teaspoon cinnamon
  • Pinch of salt
  • 1 stick (1/2 cup) butter
  • 4 cups berries (I used 2 cups blueberries, and 1 cup each raspberries and strawberries)
  • Can of whipped cream

DIRECTIONS

Before you leave home, mix together flour, sugar, cinnamon and salt in a reusable container.

Over the white-hot coals of a campfire (on the metal grate/cover), melt butter in a 9-inch cast iron skillet. Pour melted butter into container with flour mixture (ONE THAT DOESN’T MELT), and stir until incorporated. Spread berries into an even layer on the bottom of the cast iron skillet, then sprinkle butter-flour mixture overtop. Cover with 2 sheets of tin foil, crimping around the edges to seal.

Return skillet to grate over campfire and cook for 30-45 minutes, until the berries are cooked and bubbling and the topping is golden brown. Serve immediately with whipped cream. Yes, have some whipped cream out of the can too.

Sure you could eat the whole thing in one sitting, but trust me, cold berry cobbler for breakfast with more whipped cream is even better!

Happy hacking, happy camping.

It’s simple.