Camp Cooking Interview With Tanya of Allotments 4 You
•What inspired you to start allotments4you.com?
This one's easy...My Husband...Why?? Simply beacause he isn't an avid gardener and yet had to continually listen to me go on about my triumphs and failures when I first got my allotment. Even though he wasn't overly interested he thought others might be so he helped me set up a blog ( I needed the help as I'm not overly great with things likt that on the computer!) It took a while to come up with a name I was totally happy with but when I did...'Voila!' allotments4you was born.
•What's your favorite meal to prepare?
My favourite meal to prepare is an unplanned one. I love to go in the kitchen and just raid the cupboards with absoloutely nothing in mind and then combine things to come up with something wonderful...there has been the odd occasion where it hasn't been so great...but not many....I think sometimes cooking without a menu is a great way to experiment and a lovley time to get the children involved.
•What camping recipes for kids would you recommend?
I don't think when you go camping you can actually bring 'recipes' into the conversation. Camping is about going back to basics and cooking over an open fire so things that barbecue easily are always a good way to go. Also don't just hink of things that your children will eat at home...you'll be surprised how the children getting involved and actually helping to cook things over an open fire will make them more inclined to try the foods they wouldn't at home.
Basically though stick to basics. Potatoes...corn on the cob....pizzas and sausges are usually good healthy staple which all children love. Obviously if you wnat to used canned stuff then that's fine...just remember to have something to open it with!
•What are some cooking utensils a camper should bring with them while camping?
Fork, spoon, knife and can opener. If you are going on a 'real' camping trip and intend to try and catch fish too then remember you'll need a good knife stored away safely for cleaning up the fish!
•What are some foods/utensils a camper shouldn't bring while camping?
You don't need ANYTHING fancy. You're going camping...that's essentially back to basics so keep your packing as basic as possible. A shallow bowl each will double up as a plate and a tin cup each can take hot and cold beverages. There isn't really anything you 'Shouldn't' bring as, lets face it with the fancy campers you can have these days you can have fridges and kettles and everything on hand so there is no longer the need to not pack things that may spoil in the heat etc. What you have to do id sit down and decide what you want to get out of your camping trip. Make the decision to go really camping or are you just wanted to enjoy the countryside a little? Only you and your family will be able to make that decision
•For vegetarian campers, could you suggest some vegetarian meals/recipes?
Cook whatever you are having and leave out the meat/fish. Doesn't that about cover it?? You aren't going to camp forever so you really don't have to worry about fancy food supplements.
•What's one food you can't live without?
I don't think having to name one is fair....but the thing I eat at least five days a week is weetabix so I suppose I will go with that....could mange without them if I was camping though!!
•What are some camping dessert recipes you would recommend?
The ONLY dessert to have when camping is raosted marshmallows....DELICIOUS!!
•If you could learn how to cook any meal from any chef, what meal would you want to learn how to cook?
This is hard. I very rarely follow a recipe to the letter...I may follow a recipe the first time I am preparing a meal but then I like to put my own twist on things so it makes them indivdual. I don't think there is a specific meal that I would like a chef to teach me how to cook...I think I would be more interested in learning slicing and dicing skills from them...or maybe effectively gutting fish and birds without destroying my kitchen..lol
•In 10 years do you see yourself still cooking and blogging?
Well I know I will still be cooking in 10 years...we always have to eat after all. I also hope that i still have me allotment then too so I think that yes I will still be blogging...whether there is still anyone around prepared to read my ramblings is another matter!!
Thanks Tanya for the interview. Please visit her blog @ Allotments 4 you