The Campout Cookbook: Inspired Recipes for Cooking Around the Fire and Under the Stars

Forget freeze-dried astronaut meal packs and bags of stale, store-bought gorp. Finally, here's a cookbook that complements the magic of gathering around a campfire and sharing a meal with friends. From the IACP Award-winning authors of The Picnic, which brought taste and style to eating outdoors (in the daytime), comes its companion, for leaving civilization behind and dining under the stars. A mix of dishes to make ahead and meals to cook on-site, The Campout Cookbook includes 75 recipes for wood-fired skillet pizzas; backcountry stews and chilies; fire-roasted vegetables and cast-iron breads; unexpected dips, jerkies, and high-energy bars; breakfasts to satisfy that yawning hunger that comes from sleeping in the fresh air; s'mores, of course (Vanilla Bean Dream Marshmallows & Co., Dark Chocolate Raspberry Fire-Ban S'mores); and cocktails, coolers, warm libations for chilly nights, and a Blood Orange Bug Juice.

Plus there's inspiration and know-how for every avid camper and enthusiastic neophyte: How to find a suitable campsite and build a campfire specifically for cooking over, and how to keep it going. Stargazing for city slickers. A troubleshooting guide. And the definitive packing list and camp kitchen materials. Just add a few scary stories for a truly memorable campout.

“The authors’ enthusiasm for feasting around a well-made campfire shines in their detailed instructions for assembling the right cooking gear, recipes, and unplugged entertainments. . . .The recipes are still the stars of this book, however. . . .Hanel and Stevenson write with flair and creativity, and their prose translates into action plans for some really fantastic outdoor sleepover parties.” ForeWord

“Who knew camp cuisine could be so elevated, pleasing even the most discerning foodie?. . .Many of the recipes are kid-pleasing and vegetarian-friendly. The colorful guide also includes solid camping tips, tricks, and safety information to make your trip memorable beyond the meals. VERDICT: Camping chefs of any skill level are sure to find something tasty to try in this cookbook.” Library Journal

Jen Stevenson is the coauthor of The Picnic, winner of the 2016 IACP Award for Best General Cookbook. Stevenson eats and tells on her Portland food blog, Under the Table with Jen, and is the author of Portland’s 100 Best Places to Stuff Your Faces.She lives in Portland, Oregon.

Marnie Hanel is the coauthor of The Picnic, winner of the 2016 IACP Award for Best General Cookbook. Hanel is a journalist who writes about the wild, wonderful way we live. Her essays and articles have been published by The New York Times Magazine, Food & Wine, and Vanity Fair. She lives in Portland, Oregon.

We love a classic camping experience, but don't like to suffer when we're outdoors (hence the book's dedication to "Survivalists with Standards"), and the book reflects that — yes, there are foil packets, but instead of ground beef and bell peppers, we're cooking Tin Foil Shrimp Boils, and yes, we love a good old-fashioned banana boat, but we might top ours with rum caramel and flaky salt...

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