Friday Night Camp Out, Gourmet Tin Foil Dinners

We decided to go camping this past weekend on a whim.  I wanted to keep it close to home, so we set up camp in our backyard.  I wasn't feeling up to packing everything up and using a potty that wasn't my own... I've gotten really lazy in my old age... plus, my kids are young enough that I can get away with it.  I used to be quite the outdoors woman in my college years.  I almost majored in Recreational Therapy, which will come as a shock to many who know me now.  I did try to make our camp out as much like REAL camping as possible, so we lit our fire pit, set up our tent and  I made these yummy tin foil dinners, which could easily be taken and made on a REAL camp out.  The kids loved cooking them and gobbled them up!  After our tummies had their fill, we just sat around the fire, telling stories and looking up at the stars until bedtime.  I have to say, it was a great use of a Friday night!

Basil Balsamic Marinade

Ingredients
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions
Combine ingredients and whisk until incorporated.

Gourmet Tin Foil Dinners

Ingredients

Basil Balsamic Marinade

2 red bell peppers, chopped into bite sized pieces

2 zucchini, sliced into bite sized pieces

8 oz. baby bella mushrooms, sliced

1 large red onion, diced

32 ounce bag of frozen, southern style hash browns, thawed

Directions

1.  Combine the marinade and the mushrooms and allow to sit in the refrigerator for about 1 hour.

2.  Tear approximately 12 inch sheets of aluminum foil.

3.  On the dull side, layer potatoes, bell peppers, zucchini, red onion and then mushrooms.

4.  Drizzle a little of the left over marinade over the top.

5.  Fold the aluminum foil in half and roll it down tightly to keep any steam in.  Do the same on the remaining 2 sides.

6.  We cooked ours in a fire pit using briquettes.  Once your briquettes are grey, place your foil dinners on top.

7.  Cook for about 20 minutes or until they are cooked through.  The time will vary depending on how many coals you use and how hot they are.

8.  If you want to bake your foil dinner in the oven, bake it in a preheated 350 degree F oven for about 20-25 minutes.

(If you wanted to add in some protein, cubed seitan would work well.  You could even toss in a handful of pine nuts, which would be tasty.)