Help with Food for the Races

[stateparkgrl]

We are planning on pulling our Starcraft to Richmond for 4 days in September. Our campsite has no water or electricity, and our camper has no water or refrigerator. In addition to the propane stove on our camper, we are planning on taking our big gas grill, which also has a single propane burner on the side.

Here is the problem. We cook for at least 8 people all weekend, and I need to come up with food that doesn't take up so much room in our two Coleman Extreme coolers. And we are all tired of hamburgers, hotdogs, etc.

I need some ideas for quick meals that (for the most part) don't require refrigeration, or can be put together and stored ahead of time and the cold part added later.

Thanks for the help!

Louise

[ForestCreature]

Even tho it needs refrigeration, what about a big pot of Chili. It can be made at home and frozen into Zip Lock bags or vac packed and kept in the cooler. Being in the bags it won't take up as much room as a bowl would. Just heat and eat, can't get much easier than that.
 
 I'm coming up blank for meals that don't need to be kept cool outside of a can of tuna.
 

[OC Campers]

My kids love tacos.  I fry up the corn tortillas in a little oil in a fry pan, you can buy almost everything else pre-shredded and the meat is easy to brown up.
Another favorite is meatball subs.  Buy frozen pre-cooked meatballs, a jar of spaghetti sauce, pkg of hoagie buns and a pkg of mozzarella cheese.  I warm the meatballs up in the sauce on the stove and then serve with rolls.  Easy and almost instant dinner.
 
Jacqui

[lushy]

We are planning on pulling our Starcraft to Richmond for 4 days in September. Our campsite has no water or electricity, and our camper has no water or refrigerator. In addition to the propane stove on our camper, we are planning on taking our big gas grill, which also has a single propane burner on the side.

Here is the problem. We cook for at least 8 people all weekend, and I need to come up with food that doesn't take up so much room in our two Coleman Extreme coolers. And we are all tired of hamburgers, hotdogs, etc.

I need some ideas for quick meals that (for the most part) don't require refrigeration, or can be put together and stored ahead of time and the cold part added later.

Thanks for the help!

Louise

When we go to a race we don't bring food......... just beer!   :!

Just kidding! We have the same problem for our race menu! We can handle only so many burgers, hot dogs or brats.  :eyecrazy:  We have brought marinated boneless chicken breasts, pork chops, and steaks that we cook on the grill and they seem to fit in the cooler since they are kind of flat. We bring them frozen also which helps keep the cooler cold. Baked potatoes are good on the grill and you don't have to keep them cold. Boxed noodle/pasta/rice dishes work. You will need to bring some jugs of water for that. Spaghetti/Ragu with french bread is another.

That's just a couple of things that come to mind......Hopefully someone else may have a few more ideas. Good luck with the menu!

I wish I could say I was going to Richmond! Have fun. Got an extra ticket??  :U

[stateparkgrl]

Thanks for all the ideas so far...I hadn't thought of freezing meat so that it takes the place of ice.

I think one thing I will do is substitute canned tuna and chicken for lunchmeats and cheese for lunches. That will help - since you have to have mayo for both, anyway. And I'm trying to get leftover packets of condiments from the pool concession where I work so I don't have to pack those, either.

I wish I could find a good recipe for a grilled meal that uses some type of canned or boxed meat! (Although the thought of it seems almost un-American!)

Louise

[dthurk]

Thanks for all the ideas so far...I hadn't thought of freezing meat so that it takes the place of ice.

I think one thing I will do is substitute canned tuna and chicken for lunchmeats and cheese for lunches. That will help - since you have to have mayo for both, anyway. And I'm trying to get leftover packets of condiments from the pool concession where I work so I don't have to pack those, either.

I wish I could find a good recipe for a grilled meal that uses some type of canned or boxed meat! (Although the thought of it seems almost un-American!)

Louise

Spam, canned chicken, deviled ham, canned tuna, canned salmon.  Maybe check some of the backpacking sites or canoeing or kayaking sites for other suggestions.  Kayakers quite often will go on multi night boating expeditions that require packing in and packing out.  No room in a kayak for much of a cooler.  Pre-prepared MRE's and food that doesn't require refrigeration is the order there.

[vjm1639]

After living in Hawaii for several years I found the Spam I hated as a child was really quite good after marinating the slices in teriyaki sauce and cooked on the grill!  Spam was quite popular in Hawaii.  I've fixed this for people many times over the years.  We do a teriyaki mix.. grilled pork, chicken, beef, and spam and so far everyone has loved it.    The spam cooked this way also makes a great sandwich on a bun with a slice of grilled pineapple.