Showing posts with label Camping Meals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Camping Meals. Show all posts
Thursday, 14 August 2014
I always look forward to our camping trips in the summer, and this year was no exception. My mum has been visiting from India, and we were definitely looking forward to heading back into Jasper, and I wanted to make sure that mum's first ever camping trip was going to be a success.
There is always friendly competition between Jasper and Banff National Parks - I must admit, I am firmly in the Jasper camp (no pun, honest.) I love the weird shapes of the Jasper mountains, and we are almost always guaranteed to see some beautiful wildlife. This year we were lucky enough to see elk, marmots, bighorn sheep and the best of all, a beautiful mama bear with two cubs. Adz, mom and I were thrilled to bits.
Monday, 24 September 2012
I have a confession to make. For all my griping about winter approaching, I do have a soft spot for autumn. I grew up in a place where we rarely had changing seasons, like we do here, and the first time I really experienced autumnal colours is one of my most cherished memories. Autumn in England comes slowly... here in Canada it feels like the colours change overnight. I don't need to wax lyrical about autumn colours, do I really? Anyone who's seen them will know exactly what I mean when I say that they can only be described as magical.
Its strange to see the difference in autumnal shades in various parts of Canada itself. Eastern Canada glows with subtle terracottas, dark reds and chocolate browns. We, here in Alberta, get sparkling yellows, deep gold and vivid greens. Its no coincidence that this city's colours are green and gold... a walk through the river valley on a crisp autumn morning will reveal exactly this beautiful palette of colours.
Kay, Aditi and I took advantage of the beautiful Indian summer we're having right now to go for one last camping trip to Elk Island Park. The drive in is nothing short of beautiful. Its not the brash, in-your-face beauty of the Rockies... instead its a peaceful, gleaming, almost bucolic beauty that soothes your soul and makes you happy to live in the prairies. The colours in the park are stunning and make me feel blessed for living where I do, and give thanks for being able to do what I do.
Monday, 10 September 2012
As summer comes to an end, I find myself scrambling around, trying to preserve the last of it... like if I hold on to it hard enough, the warmth and sunshine may just stay a little longer. Its a bit like watching your child grow up... except that in this case, summer will always come around again, but those precious childhood years won't ever be back.
Aditi started kindergarten last week. Even though she's been going to preschool, it struck me quite hard as to the fact that my baby was no longer a baby, and that she's now independent and ready for big-girl school. We placed her in a lovely programme at a wonderful school, but there is always niggling questions... are we are doing the right thing, is she too young to start school (she's a bit on the young side), will she cope with all the kids, is it too much pressure, how can we make her life easier... all valid, legitimate concerns, but the fact remains that the years race by, and seasons pass on by and my baby grows older with each passing day. Its enough to make a mum emotional.
Aditi started kindergarten last week. Even though she's been going to preschool, it struck me quite hard as to the fact that my baby was no longer a baby, and that she's now independent and ready for big-girl school. We placed her in a lovely programme at a wonderful school, but there is always niggling questions... are we are doing the right thing, is she too young to start school (she's a bit on the young side), will she cope with all the kids, is it too much pressure, how can we make her life easier... all valid, legitimate concerns, but the fact remains that the years race by, and seasons pass on by and my baby grows older with each passing day. Its enough to make a mum emotional.
Saturday, 15 October 2011
When Choclette announced that this month's special ingredient for We Should Cocoa is Chilli, I don't think she quite meant for me to take it so literally :-)
But what can I say? The Mexicans love chocolate in their chili and so do we. I know the combination of chocolate in the savoury chili can seem a bit unusual, but its utterly delicious, and actually fairly common too. I first saw the idea for a chunky chili with dark chocolate in an old issue of Delicious Magazine. It was a while ago though, and for the life of me, I cannot recall whose recipe it was. I made a vegetarian version of it a few times, and its always gone down really well, particularly with Aditi. Normally I just use dark chocolate for this recipe, but this time I decided to be a little different. I used this gorgeous Lindt dark chocolate with chilli, which is absolutely divine by itself, but adds a further layer of delicious darkness to this chili.
Wednesday, 3 August 2011
Sunday, 10 April 2011
I was chuffed to bits when I won Jacqueline's Slow Cooking Challenge over at Tinned Tomatoes. I was even more pleased because the prize was a copy of 'Market Vegetarian' by Ross Dobson. When the book arrived this week, I was so excited, that Kay commented that I was acting like I'd never won anything in my life. Well, I hadn't... not after those singing competitions in college anyway :-)
Monday, 21 June 2010
We went to Jasper on the BC/ Alberta border for our first camping trip of the summer. Jasper is just gorgeous and also has lots of things to do as a family. We went canoeing, fishing and on the Jasper Tramway.
We've been doing a lot of camping recently and I decided to do a mini series on cooking food for camping. Camping food has to be easy, usually one pot, nutritious, requiring minimal preparation (the fresh air takes it toll on energy levels) and tasty. Sounds like a long list doesn't it?
My first recipe is for an easy veggie chili, that can also be made with meat, if you prefer. You can save time at the campsite if you chop all the vegetables up before leaving home. You can use pretty much any vegetables you want and keep it seasonal.
This chili can be made over a fire or a camping stove, like I have here. I also make a easy chili spice mix, and put it into a small box, so I am not messing about with spices at the campsite. I use lots of shortcuts, so I spend less time cooking and more time doing things that matter [like drinking a lot :-)]
Recipe:
2 tablespoons neutral cooking oil (I use grapeseed or canola)
500g pack of veggie mince or ground beef (you will have to fry the meat first, to cook it, no need to fry the veggie mince)
1 onion, diced
1 large courgette or zucchini, chopped
2 carrots, chopped
1 pack (400g) crimini mushrooms, chopped
1 red or yellow pepper, chopped
2 cans of chopped tomatoes (800ml) or one 750ml jar of pasta sauce
1 can of red kidney beans or mixed bean, drained
Spice Mix:
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1/2 - 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon celery salt
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon paprika (optional)
Salt and pepper to taste
Method:
Make the spice mix in advance and store in a small tupperware container.
In a large pot, add oil and fry the onions, until soft (if using minced meat, add it at this stage and fry for about 5 - 7 minutes, till cooked through) Add the spice mix, and saute for another minute.
Add the rest of the ingredients, mix thoroughly and let the chili simmer for about 20 - 30 minutes.
Season to taste and serve with chunks of fresh bread or over rice.
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