Serves: 5

A menu for a group of people isn’t too tough if all you’re going to do is line up a bunch of cans, open them, and then dump them in a pot. Like wise, hot dogs on a willow stick are easily accomplished without taxing one’s creativity. If you’re going to be a camp cook worth his salt, it’s going to take a little work and planning. Most of us don’t figure it out over night, but here are some tips.

Try to use recipes which are easy to multiply. For instance, if there are four people in the party or your family, choose or plan the menu for that number. Then if your cousin all of a sudden asks his in-laws to join the group for your trip, all you have to do is double etc. your recipe to accommodate the extras. Likewise, when I’m cooking a one pot meal in Dutch ovens, I figure about how many people one full Dutch oven will feed. Normally, I figure 6-8 main dish servings per 12” Dutch. It might vary a little with the recipe, the appetites of the group, or the weather. If you don’t think the weather is important, read on. I’ve taken the same 5-6 guys on a raft trip in the summer. If the weather is hot, everyone’s appetite seems to decline. On the other hand let it get cold and rainy and the same group of guys will pack away twice the calories per meal.

When planning meals I always plan for seconds. There is nothing worse than a group of guys who are cranky, surly, and still hungry. In addition, I plan on some sort of reserve in case the trip has to extend a day or two. My reserve may just be some rice and beans, but it’s a lot better than fried ice and donut holes!

Just who you are cooking for makes a big difference. For instance, little kids and older folks ,as a rule, tend to eat less. On the other hand, a bunch of guys in elk camp are capable of eating everything, including the slowest pack horse.

A Back Country Guide to Outdoor Cooking Spiced with Tall Tales - Camp Cooking with Dutch Ovens

More Recipes from the Cee Dub's Dutch Oven and Other Camp Cookin' Cookbook:
_A Pinch Of This And A Dash Of That
_Basic Camp Kitchen Lists
_Basic Camp Supply List
_Basic Chuck Box List
_Basic Dutch Oven Equipment List
_Basic Kitchen Equipment & Utensil List
_Budgets For Camp Cooks
_Buying A Dutch Oven
_Cleaning And Storing DO's
_Cooking "Lite"
_Cooking Techniques
_Cooking for VIPs
_DO's Need Love Too!
_DO: Cast Iron vs Aluminum
_DO: Do's And Don'ts & Tips
_DO: Dutch Oven Care
_DO: Selecting And Buying A Dutch
_DO: Selection And Care
_Decking Your Dutch Ovens
_Dutch Oven & Cast Iron Cookery
_Dutch Oven Equipment
_Garbage DO's And DON'T's
_Gettin' Started
_Is It Done Yet?
_Planning Your Menu
_Table of Dutches
_Words of Wisdom I
_Words of Wisdom II
__Last Word