Hot dogs, kabobs, burgers, baked beans — even s’mores! These are all campfire food favorites.

But have you ever thought maybe you’d like to step outside of the box on your next campfire excursion?

Here are some great campfire recipes that’ll help you do just that!

Heavenly Fish – this one uses the foil method and works perfectly with trout or any fish you choose.

Campers Stew – ground beef is used in this camping recipe, along with veggies and potatoes. Yum!

Cowboy Casserole – hamburger, beans and bacon over biscuits conjures up images of the Old West!

Fajita Marinade – put your flank steak or skirt steak in this and your campers will scream, “Yahoo!”

What do all these camping recipes have in common? They’re all incredibly simple and easy to cook over hot coals. Have fun!

Photo courtesy of KansasCitySteaks.com.

Campfire cooking this summer?

You lucky duck!

It’s fun and totally “back to nature” BUT, you’ve gotta follow some ground rules to make sure it all goes smoothly.

Here are some helpful tips for successful campfire cooking:

1. You could do stick-related meals like hot dogs and bacon-wrapped goodies (see above). Those are always tasty and fun. Just pay attention because they can burn quickly!
2. A yummy culinary trick is to wrap meat (fish, chicken) in wild leaves and tie it up with twine to give it an authentic flavor. You can cook it right above the coals and you’ll have a tender, deliciously flavored meal.
3. Repurpose the things you brought with you when cooking. Use a Frisbee as a chopping board or even as a plate. Hey, we’re outside, it’s not pristine, people.
4. Be sure to clean up after yourself before you leave. Camping etiquette requires us all to not leave cups, forks, napkins all over the ground. When you’re done it’s someone else’s turn to enjoy the great outdoors!

‘Tis the season — grilling season!

Summer is the most glorious time to fire it up and tend to some beautiful cuts of meat.

BUT, it can be not so pleasurable if you don’t know what you’re doing.

If you’re a newbie or just need a little refresher, here’s a quick Grilling 101 course for your summertime enjoyment…

1. Selecting the best cut for the job depends on what you’re going for. Meaty and hearty or buttery tender? Make your cut decision after perusing this lesson on steak cuts and you won’t go wrong.
2. Season it early. Don’t just throw a piece of meat on the grill naked. The art of seasoning is important. Read about its artistry and other steak grilling tips from a chef here.
3. Searing your steak is very important. But don’t just take it from me. Check out these steak grilling videos from the experts.

After you’ve read these lessons and watched the videos, you should ace the true test — grilling a steak that passes with flying colors!