Late Summer Camping Menu

This post was written & photographed by Gretchen Powers – filmmaker, photographer, and writer with a passion for storytelling and capturing the essence of a person, place or thing.

While autumn is right around the corner, the best days of summer adventures are still to come. I don’t know about you, but camping season is at its peak for me in the early fall when the temperatures drop, the bugs hide away and cozy flannels and down blankets are a must on the packing list. 

Want to sneak away for some weekends in September with school-aged kids? To alleviate the inevitable stresses about camping with family, we’re here to help you sort out the most critical aspect of any camping trip - the menu! 

The Cabot website is full of recipes to satisfy any picky palate and we chose a few to test out on a recent backyard camping trip. 

Good food tastes great, but tastes even better when you aren’t expecting to eat yummy food - i.e. when camping. When you take a little extra time in the kitchen before your trip to prepare dishes that can be reheated over the fire or on a Coleman stove, you all will be grateful you made the extra effort. Make your spontaneous weekend trip not just a camping experience, but a culinary one as well!

These three Cabot recipes are the best because of the convenience factor. The Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers, Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes, Frozen Bean & Cheese Burritos and our Picnic Cheese and Charcuterie Board.

There’s nothing worse than getting to camp later than you thought, setting up in the dark and then trying to make your meal. By pre-cooking some elements of your weekend menu, you'll have one less thing you need to worry about amidst the sleeping set-ups and tent spokes.

One worthwhile investment in your camping and cooking gear closet is a high quality cooler. Getting one that is rated to keep your food cold for a few days rather than just hours will make your camping experience even better. Being able to pack all of the cheese and culinary ingredients for a weekend of yummy meals without stressing about keeping them cold enough is a game-changer. Fresh milk in your coffee or tea in the morning, need I say more?

In addition to using your camp stove, consider using the grate over the campfire to reheat some burritos, or baked potatoes or grill some fresh fruit for dessert. Pineapples and peaches taste even better with a bit of fresh char.

Last but not least don’t forget dessert! The kiddos (and the kid in all of us) love a good s’more (or Cheddar S'more!) over the camp fire especially as the evenings get a little chillier. I’m always craving something sweet after a day’s worth of outdoor adventures. Whether you roast the marshmallows on the fire or throw them in a "cuppa" cocoa, a sweet treat is the perfect way end a day spent outside with people you love.