Southern Style Cooking: Classic Italian-American Sausage and Peppers Is a Meal All on Its Own

Saturday, June 26, 2021

Classic Italian-American Sausage and Peppers Is a Meal All on Its Own

This Sausage and Peppers Classic Is Our Idea of Camping Food

Heather Ramsdell

You are going camping! It's going to be more difficult and less comfortable than regular life. This is perfectly fine because it will make all of the food more delicious.

Yes, delicious. Sure you could do the usual simple camping food--hot dogs, peanut butter sandwiches and canned chili--but embellishments like sausage and peppers, chili flavor bombs, or a hot bowl of ramen make it more fun.

Planning and packing are as central to camping as sleeping on bumps wondering what could possibly be making that noise in the dark. Oh, nevermind. Let's talk more about the food and aim for a midway point between recreating a complete outdoor kitchen and gnawing on a dry granola bar. I've been camping for many years and I've worked out some of the kinks. Here are my best tips exclusively for you, dear readers of The Spruce Eats.

Strategy: Plan one special meal and two easy/boring meals per day. Don't plan to roast or bake.

Dried goods: A few foods really spring to life with boiling water, such as instant mashed potatoes, couscous, dried shiitake mushrooms, rice vermicelli, instant polenta and ramen noodles, to name a few. Include at least one packet of instant oatmeal per person.

Room temperature-friendly foods: Dry sausage, dried fruit, citrus, nuts, olives, cucumber kimchi and pickles are surprisingly welcome. Backup protein balls, nuts and dried fruit, nut butter, and other fun snacks you could eat in the rain can save the day.

Cold brew coffee was basically invented for camping. Brew some while you set up camp. Instant coffee does the trick in a pinch.

Bacon? You'll be tempted to cook bacon at the camp. Resist. Cook the bacon at home. Roll the slices into a foil scroll and heat it up.

Speaking of foil: Wrap some sweet potatoes in foil and smother them in coals. Carefully pull them out when they are soft, slick them with oil and salt and brown sugar.

Flavor stash: Bring 2 or 3 secret ingredients to surprise yourself. Ideas include: a tiny bottle of hot sauce, fish sauce, a packet of mustard or soy sauce, a lemon or a clove of garlic, brown sugar, or a pill box full of cinnamon, garlic powder, chili powder, black pepper. Always bring salt and a small container of oil.

Food safety: Don't pack raw meat with anything else. Keep food cold by filling one third of the cooler with ice. All sorts of foods can be frozen, such as small containers of yogurt, juice boxes or milks, frozen tortillas, or a marinated skirt steak for carne asada that you will grill on day two.

Cleanup: Bring camp soap, a scrubby and a tub to wash dishes. Find out when sunset is and eat dinner 1 1/2 hours before. Doing dishes in the dark is a drag.

Garbage: Bring foods with minimal packaging. Follow guidelines about where to put garbage: away from wild animals and far from the tent. Pack a tasty prize for the kid who wins the garbage collection game.

Tools: A camp stove if fire is permitted, a flexible cutting board, a sharp knife, long tongs, hot pads, a spoon and a bowl. For each person bring chopsticks or a fork, a jackknife, a spoon, a shallow bowl and cup. Pack a portable hammock. You'll need this tool for napping.

Dietary restrictions: Eat whatever the most restricted person eats. Yes, you have to eat gluten-free bread all weekend. Just kidding, everyone can have their own bread.

Drinks: Bring cans of wine or make a container of one of these cocktails to go.

Marshmallows? Yes.

- Heather Ramsdell,
Senior Editorial Director