Camping like a champ: tips and tricks
The holidays are here and every adventurous explorer is planning what to pack for a camping trip.
These camping tips and tricks inspired by Pinterest can improve your experience in the great outdoors.
1. Yes, it is true. You can cook almost everything in foil. So pack an extra roll or two. Have a look at foodnetwork.com’s 50 things to grill in foil:
https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/articles/50-things-to-grill-in-foil.html
2. For an easy and delicious breakfast make batter for flapjacks at home and pack it for your camping trip. The easiest way to store this, is in a squeezie bottle. Remember a pan for frying on the fire, butter and some syrup for serving.
3. Cook mealies in the cooler. The easiest way to cook lots of mealies, without boiling water on the fire, is to bring a large pot or kettle of water to the boil and put the mealies and boiling water in a cooler box. Forget about the mealies for 30 minutes and there you go.
4. Pre-scramble eggs and place in a 2L plastic bottle for easy transport and no need to pack a whisk or an extra bowl.
5. Use the egg carton as an easy way to start a fire by filling the holes with charcoal.
6. Or… make fire-starter pods with the empty egg carton. Keep your dryer lint and fill an egg carton with the lint and pour wax over it.
6. Doritos or Fritos make easy kindling for the fire if you are having a hard time getting it going, or you can’t find any dry kindling in the area surrounding the campsite.
7. Make some homemade bread in a large coffee tin to take with you on your camping trip. Find a banana bread recipe here: https://www.thereadystore.com/containers/2908/what-to-do-with-a-leftover-10-can-part-2/ or just buy some ready made dough at the grocery store and pop it in an empty can into a pre-heated oven (180 C) for 30 minutes.
8. The only lightning you really need is a headlamp, you need both hands to braai over the camp fire, and you are here to see the stars after all. You can turn it into a nifty ambient light for the tent by shining the light on a water filled milk container.
9. Pack clothes in a roll. Roll up a bottom, undies, socks and a top and then roll the outfit together. Secure it with a rubber band and prevent the messy bag scenario that unfolds by day two when camping. Plus not even the kids can make a mess as they grab the next day’s outfit.
10. Place tioletpaper in an empty CD spindle or a plastic container to prevent it getting dirty, wet or lost while camping. It is not called ‘white gold’ for nothing.
11. Make camping sangria by filling a jar with fresh fruit (a combination of strawberries, pineapple, grapes, berries and apple is a winner) fill with 2/3 parts red wine and add 1/3 vodka. Then just add a 2L Sprite or Lemonade for a refreshing summer cocktail.
12. Freeze bottles of water to keep your perishables fresh in your cooler box instead of ice. It won’t melt as fast and leave your food floating in water, and you will have fresh cool drinking water when camping.
13. Pack a First Aid kit. Fill this box with plasters, antiseptic creams, anti-nausea tablets, anti-diarrhea medicine, water purification tablets, cotton swabs, hand sanitiser, pain pills, antihistamines, tweezers, eye drops, and your personal medication prescribed by your doctor.
14. Bring ear plugs, especially if you are going to a busy campsite or a festival where snoring or music can disturb your sleep.
15. Don’t forget to bring a pack of cards and a good book, or two. Mother nature can be unpredictable and playing poker, snap or your family’s favourite card games in a tent can make a rainy day a lot more fun.
REMEMBER:
Almost any camping crisis can be resolved by using duct tape, ziplock bags and cable ties be sure to pack these three life savers.
Do not forget the can opener.
Bring mosquito repellent.
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