Campfire Foil Packs

From roasting marshmallows to cooking hearty stews in a Dutch oven, it’s the season for campfire cooking. Try this simple recipe that can be prepared in a zipper bag ahead of time and packed in to your campsite.

Ingredients

• 1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast meat - cubed

• 2 onions, diced

• 1 (8 ounce) package sliced fresh mushrooms

• 1 yellow bell pepper, seeded and sliced into strips

• 1 red bell pepper, seeded and sliced into strips

• 4 cloves garlic, sliced

• 4 small potatoes, cubed

• ¼ cup olive oil

• 1 lemon, juiced

Directions

1. Gather all ingredients.

2. Build a campfire and allow the fire to burn until it has accumulated a bed of coals. Rake the coals into a flat bed on one side of the fire.

3. Combine chicken, onion, mushrooms, peppers, garlic, and potatoes in a large bowl or a large resealable plastic bag. Pour in olive oil and lemon juice and toss to coat.

4. Evenly divide the mixture between 4 large sheets of aluminum foil. Top each with another sheet of foil and roll up the edges tightly. Double wrap each packet with another sheet of foil.

5. Cook over the preheated coals until chicken is no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, about 40 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F.

Grilled Stuffed Poblanos

Fire up dinnertime with these grilled vegetarian stuffed poblano peppers that benefit from charred, smoky flavors.

Ingredients

• 8 poblano peppers

• 5 ears corn, husks and silks removed

• 1 (15-ounce can) no-salt-added black beans, drained and rinsed

• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1 teaspoon ground cumin

• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

• 2 tablespoons butter

• 2 tablespoons flour

• 1 cup milk

• 1 cup shredded pepper Jack cheese

• 1 cup pico de gallo

• cilantro leaves, lime wedges, and/or radish slices, for serving (optional)

• chili powder, for garnish

Directions

1. Prepare an outdoor grill for indirect grilling, lighting burners on just one side or pushing lit coals to one side. Preheat to medium-high heat (375 to 400 degrees F (180 to 200 degrees C)). Lightly oil grill grates over lit side.

2. Grill poblanos and corn, covered, turning occasionally, until poblano
   skins and corn are charred, about 10 minutes. Keep grill lit.

3. Transfer poblanos to a large bowl, cover, and let stand for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, let corn stand until cool enough to handle; cut kernels from cobs.

4. Remove and discard poblano skins, keeping stems intact. Make a lengthwise slit down one side of each poblano, starting at stem and being careful not to cut through to other side. Remove and discard
   seeds and membranes.

5. Stir together beans, corn kernels, cilantro, oregano, garlic, salt, cumin, and black pepper in a large bowl. Spoon about 1/2 cup bean mixture into each pepper, enclosing pepper around the filling.

6. For the cheese sauce, melt butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat; whisk in flour. Cook, stirring until lightly browned, 1 to 2 minutes. Whisk in milk; simmer, stirring, until slightly thickened, 2 to 3 minutes. Gradually whisk in cheese until melted. Remove from heat and keep warm, stirring occasionally.

7. Lightly oil grill grate over unlit side of grill. Grill stuffed poblanos, covered, until filling is heated through, 5 to 7 minutes.

8. Serve immediately with cheese sauce; pico de gallo; and (if using) cilantro, lime wedges, and/or radishes. Garnish with chili powder.

Smashburgers

This smash burger recipe makes super juicy burgers with crispy edges. Don't use meat that is leaner than 80/20 for best results, and make sure the meat is very cold. If you recently got a new griddle-style grill, these are perfect for grilling outside. These grill up very fast because of the high heat, so make sure you have everything ready to go!

Ingredients

• 4 hamburger buns

• 2 tablespoons butter, softened, or as needed

• 1 pound ground chuck beef (80% lean)

• 4 6-inch squares parchment paper

• salt to taste

• 4 slices American cheese

• burger toppings of choice

Directions

1. Preheat an outdoor grill for high heat and lightly oil the grate. Set a cast iron flat-top griddle or large cast iron skillet onto the grill and preheat until smoking.

2. Spread butter on the inside of the buns and toast on the flat-top until lightly browned. Set aside.

3. Form meat into 8 loosely-packed balls, 2 ounces each. Do not pack the meat tightly, as this will prevent it from smashing properly. Place each ball on the hot flat-top, cover with a piece of parchment (to prevent sticking to the spatula; re-use each parchment square on a second patty) and immediately smash down to a 1/4 inch thickness using 2 stiff, sturdy spatulas that are criss-crossed to get proper leverage as you press down. You may also use the bottom of small skillet. Sprinkle the meat with salt.

4. Grill for about 45 seconds, until the edges are dark brown and the centers are a light pink color. Using a bench scraper or firm spatula, gently scrape up the patties, flip over and immediately cover 4 of them with cheese. Grill an additional 15 to 20 seconds; stack the plain patties over the cheese-covered patties so you have 4 stacks. Move each stack to a bun and serve with your favorite toppings.

Zucceazy

The great zucchini harvest is upon us! Here is another recipe to add to your repertoire of zucchini cookery.

Ingredients

• 2 medium zucchini, sliced lengthwise

• 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

• 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar

• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Directions

• Step 1

Season zucchini with salt and pepper and brush lightly with olive oil.

• Step 2

Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat. Place zucchini slices, a few at a time, into hot pan and cook until the pattern of the pan is imprinted into zucchini, about 4 minutes. Turn and cook an additional 3 to 4 minutes.

• Step 3

Combine olive oil, vinegar, parsley, garlic, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Brush cooked zucchini with olive oil mixture and serve.

Campfire Meal: Hobo's Delight

This recipe combines hamburgers with onions, baby carrots, and potatoes in individually cooked foil packets. It’s easy cleanup makes it the perfect meal for camping.

Ingredients

• 2 pounds lean ground beef

• 1 onion, sliced

• 1 (16 ounce) package baby carrots

• 4 potatoes, peeled and sliced

• seasoned salt to taste

• salt and black pepper to taste

Directions

• Step 1

  Preheat grill for medium-high heat.

• Step 2

  Form the ground beef into individual patties, and place each patty on a piece of foil large enough to hold the patty and some vegetables. Layer each patty with onion slices, carrots, and potato slices. Season with seasoned salt, salt, and pepper to taste. Wrap foil around food, and seal each packet tightly.

• Step 3

  Grill 30 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender. Carefully open each packet (the steam that escapes will be very hot), and serve.

Grilled Tarragon Mustard Chicken

If you're looking to grill some chicken but are tired of the traditional grilling sauces, try this. It's flavorful and doesn't require time to marinate.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

• 2 tablespoons finely chopped garlic

• 1 tablespoon dried tarragon

• 1 teaspoon honey

• 1 tablespoon lemon juice

• 4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves

Directions

• Step 1

  Preheat grill for medium heat and lightly oil grate.

• Step 2

  Whisk mustard, garlic, tarragon, honey, and lemon juice in a small bowl. Pat chicken breasts dry with a paper towel; coat one side of each breast with mustard sauce.

• Step 3

  Place chicken, coated side down, on grill; cover with remaining sauce and close grill lid. Turn chicken over after 10 minutes. Cook chicken breasts until no longer pink in the center and juices run clear, about 20 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F.