No family camping trip would be complete without cooking up some campfire foods for kids, especially foods that kids can cook themselves. From old favorites such as s'mores to more inventive fare, inviting children to prepare and cook their own food on a campfire can be a great family activity with a delicious payoff.
S'mores
Nothing is more synonymous with cooking on a campfire than s'mores, a kid-friendly treat that's as fun to make as it is to eat. The recipe, as described on the All Recipes website, is as simple as they come: Spear a marshmallow on a stick and slowly toast it over the campfire, taking care that the marshmallow doesn't catch on fire. When golden brown, sandwich the toasted, gooey marshmallow between two halves of a graham cracker. Break off a small chunk from a chocolate bar and place in the hot marshmallow so the chocolate will melt. Gently press the graham cracker halves together, and allow your s'more to cool for a few moments before you dig in.
Hot Dogs
Another iconic campfire food is the humble hot dog. Using a pointy stick -- you may need to sharpen the tip with a knife -- spear a wiener and slowly cook it over the campfire until it becomes brown and the skin bursts. Place it in a hot dog bun and adorn with your child's favorite condiments. For something a bit more creative, try a "pig on a stick." Cook either a hot dog or sausage in the same manner, but before cooking, wrap a piece of dough -- such as frozen breadstick dough -- around the wiener or sausage until the dough turns into a golden-brown crust.
Hobo Dinner
In addition to cooking with the campfire's flame, meals can also be cooked in the embers. According to the Boy Scout Trail website, first fold some aluminum foil into individual wrappers for each person, sandwiching a wet paper towel between two sheets of foil to prevent burning and ensure even heating. Place 1/4 lb. of ground beef, a diced potato, a diced carrot and a quarter of an onion, also diced, inside this wrapper. Add some salt and pepper to taste, along with some ketchup or barbecue sauce. Fold the foil, ensuring it's sealed well, and place in the campfire's embers. Cook for 10 minutes, then flip it over to cook for another 10 minutes on the other side. Unwrap one to see if it's done; if not, continue cooking until the meat is cooked through and the vegetables have softened.
Pocket Pizza
Create a foil envelope. Place a piece of pita bread that's been carefully cut in half in the foil. Spread some spaghetti sauce or pizza sauce inside the pita and add some grated cheese and a few slices of pepperoni. If your kids are more adventurous, you can also add some other toppings, such as black olives, pineapple chunks or diced red or green peppers. Wrap tightly in the foil and place in the campfire's embers. After cooking for two or three minutes, flip it over and cook for another two minutes until the cheese is melted.
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