THE LAND NORTH OF SUPERIOR

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Over the years we have eaten many things at camp and on camping trips.  Some foods are staples, your spuds, eggs, bacon, a steak, ground pork/beef just to name a few.  In the land north of Superior I have found one food that everyone knows but is largely forgotten in the rush to feed the hungry crowds at mealtime.

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This food is already packaged for you and as anyone who has camped knows leaking blood and fluids from a faulty packing will lead overnight to food spoilage and some very nasty odours.  The use of ice in plastic bags will spread this spoilage quickly in the bottom of a cooler.  We often use 2 liter plastic pop bottles but as they are round they do not store with space economy in a rectangular cooler.  They do cost a lot less as you freeze the bottles and reuse them.  Also this way there is ice-cold water to drink as it melts during the trip.  We often made cool aide or fruit juices in the bottles when the kids were home, sure saved on the pop they consumed.

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This food is vacuum packed and because of this packing it’s storage life is extended considerably.  Even after it has thawed out, and we freeze this food solid before each trip, since air can’t get to it this staple will remain safe to eat.  Most of our meats, cheeses, and spreads are put into ziplock bags before we put them into the cooler.  With careful pressure air can be squeezed out of the bags and only a small amount of cooler space is lost in the process.  With this extra precaution many spills can be avoided and such spills as occur will not contaminate all the food in the cooler.  Vacuum packed foods are by far the safest to take on an extended trip.

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This food is also pre-made; it comes in individual servings, multiple servings and even in king size servings.  It come in the plain old flavour and also in a number of new and improved flavours to tempt the most jaded palate.  It comes in pork, beef, pork/beef, chicken and even in, I shudder to use the word, vegetarian versions.  The complexity and the versatility of this food are further demonstrated in the uses it can be put to.  It can be done in a fry pan, the BBQ, over an open fire, boiled, baked, even in a soup or a casserole.  These ideas are just a few of the ones that ingenious camp cooks will come up with in an effort to feed nutrition to hungry discriminating campers.  One of my favourites is with home fries and eggs for breakfast once you have run outa anything else.

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Though salt isn’t recommended I’ve seen folks sprinkle some on.  It takes pepper well and also favours the use of garlic and oregano.  The mustard hasn’t been made that can’t add a touch of unique flavour to this well rounded food.  Ketchup and onions, greens and tomatoes, even fancy roll-up coatings can contribute to a meal unlike the previous, and still leave room for a new approach for the next.  This lowly staple also has the advantage of being probably the fastest meal you can do, whether at home or the campfire.

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I’ve been told that vintage wines, if chosen carefully can enhance the dining experience.  I’ve found personally that an ice cold glass of milk works here as it does with any meal.  Beer, coffee, tea, hot chocolate and even water have been used to wash these nutritious wonders down.   The idea of such a versatile food should appeal to any camper, cook, housewife/father in need of more time to relax and enjoy the world and not the heat of the kitchen or campfire.

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This food as you may already guessed is the lowly hotdog wiener!  Since I’ve been a young boy I don’t think I’ve seen anything bring grins of joy to young faces and old as often as the hotdog.  To find a family without is unheard of, even today with our kids gone from home some 9 years we always have a package or two of these in the fridge and on a camping trip. 

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One of my first recollections of social life was at a birthday party and the clamour that erupted when hotdogs were announced as the ‘meal�?of the day.  The kids would sit impatiently as the bun wrapped tube steaks, a term learned much later in life, were passed around to eager hands.  Then would come the most dreaded moments of any party mother, the dipping and shaking of mustard and ketchup.  Of course back in those days we had mustard jars that you used a spoon or knife to get the mustard and bottles that needed careful shaking and pouring in order to not plug them. 

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Those were the days and they still carry on in this modern world.  If you want ideas what is probably the most eaten food in the land north of Superior don’t feel shy to ask.   Here in the outdoors paradise we have come up with some unique ones I believe.  Best get your mustard before the last squeeze!!!

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