Campfire Nachos
When I am completely immersed in the natural world, it is then that I feel truly alive.
Mr. B shares the joy I find in leaving the modern world behind and seeking solitude in vast natural spaces. Once the weather turns warm we happily pack our bags and head off into the woods whenever our schedule allows. Over the 4th of July we ventured out to the Black Hills of South Dakota. Meandering down bumpy dirt roads filled with rocks and tire-sucking mud holes without a final destination in mind, we eventually found ourselves stopped alongside a beautiful stream.
There we set up camp on a grassy flat spot, and spent the next several days frolicking in open meadows, fishing for elusive trout, and chasing grasshoppers from sun up to sun down (well only Oscar did that!). It was a private paradise sweetened by solitude and addictively relaxing.
Fortunately our camp site had a small fire ring fashioned by a previous camper, and we were able to expand our camp food repertoire beyond the small backpacking stove. I had packed my trusty cast iron skillet just in case we happened upon a campfire ring. Since we were “boon-docking” we packed in all water and food, meaning refrigeration was non-existent. Therefore, I planned meals that could be made from items which required little if any cold storage. Out of this, campfire nachos were born.
With a lot of fun and a little creativity we managed to build a hot bed of coals and then set up a “structure” of stones to support the skillet. While the fire heated up, I prepped my ingredients and layered the nachos into the cast iron skillet.
Once everything was nestled into the pan, I carefully set the skillet on top of the rocks. After about 15 minutes, the cheese was melted and the edges of the chips were crispy. Using a towel, we carefully transferred the skillet to an upturned log, and then dug in.
The nachos were a welcome change from standard camping food. Since we waited so long for the pan to heat through the bottom layer ended up a little burnt. Next time, I would pack a sheet of foil, and cover the pan to speed up the process of melting the top layer of cheese. However the novelty of nachos in the woods was worth the effort and my cast iron pan held up to the task beautifully.
We returned to civilization refreshed, relaxed, and ready to turn right back around for another adventure.
Campfire Nachos (Printable Recipe)
Serves 2 Hungry People
Ingredients:
1 bag Corn Chips
1 14oz can Refried beans
1 6oz can Black olives
1/2lb Cheddar cheese, grated
2 Tomatoes
1/2 Onion, diced
1 8oz jar Salsa
1 14oz can sweet corn
1 4oz can diced jalapenos
Directions:
Build a 1′x1′ bed of hot coals underneath a campfire grate or in the center of stable rocks which will support the base of your cast iron pan.
Place a layer of chips in the bottom of the pan, and top them with half of the: beans, olives, cheese, tomatoes, onion, salsa, corn, and jalapenos. Place a second layer of chips on top of the other ingredients, and then top these chips with the remaining ingredients, finishing with the cheese on top. Cover the top of the pan with a sheet of foil, and carefully place the pan on top of the grate or rocks. Let nachos cook, maintaining the hot coals for 10-15 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Move the pan to a heatproof location and allow nachos to cool for a few minutes.
Dig in and enjoy!
Carey said..
Your pics looks so green, cool and refreshing while it's SO hot here! Nachos sound like the perfect frolic and detour from campfire fare! Makes me wonder how to make Margaritas in a rustic setting? We'll be sure to try these next time out.
July 23, 2009 @ 9:45 am
A Feast for the Eyes said..
That stream look so inviting. It makes me nostalgic for the days I'd ride through those with my horse. SIGH. How clever of you to make these! There is nothing better, to clear our heads, than to be out in nature without the high tech distractions we have at home.
PS: Did you get my jam yet?
Debby
July 23, 2009 @ 11:59 am
unconfidentialcook said..
That would even get me to go camping! Yum! Oscar is adorable (he and Guthrie would love to swim together) and South Dakota looks gorgeous (who knew?).
July 23, 2009 @ 1:17 pm
Susan @ SGCC said..
My idea of camping out usually means a Marriott with no room service! But, if I could immerse myself in those gorgeous surroundings and eat those amazing-looking nachos, I might change my mind!
July 24, 2009 @ 9:59 am
Phoo-D said..
Carey- Oooh Margaritas are a great idea! Next time…
Debby- A horse would have been great fun!
Catherine- South Dakota is surprisingly beautiful, especially around the Black Hills. It is an undiscovered gem of an area.
Susan- Hee hee…no Marriotts for miles around here!
July 24, 2009 @ 11:48 am
Daily Spud said..
That looks like a gorgeous setting and there is definitely something about food that you cook when you're camping – something about the campfire and the setting make it all taste even better!
July 24, 2009 @ 2:33 pm
Sam said..
Shhhh keep the Black Hills a secret….don't need anymore to 'discover' its beauty….
Awesoome lookin nachos …will make some the this afternnon while camping in Spearfish Canyon…thanks for the idea…….
July 24, 2009 @ 3:44 pm
Mayberry Magpie said..
Campfire cooking is my FAVORITE! I'm still mourning the fact we didn't get to do any this summer on our trip to Colorado. A couple of years ago, my sweet mother-in-law purchased "Camp Cooking: 100 Years" for me — a cookbook compiled by members of the National Park Service. Check it out on Amazon. You would love it.
July 24, 2009 @ 3:54 pm
Liesl said..
Yum! Things over the campfire always taste better to me!!
July 25, 2009 @ 9:04 am
M. A. Salha said..
I agree with the sentiments here. To be immersed in nature is to truly feel alive. South Dakota looks beautiful, a world away from England.
July 25, 2009 @ 12:55 pm
TKW said..
Well, I have to rock the boat here and say that I HATE nature…well, being out and camping in it, anyways. Still, the nachos look delish!
July 26, 2009 @ 4:34 pm
Sofya said..
What a lovely experience to share.
This makes me reminisce of my own honeymoon spent in the Bad Lands and the Black Hills in the summer of 2004. It was a camping trip – we drove out west because I told him I missed seeing the yellow color around – what's with having grown up in the desert of Azerbaijan and all. Jacob, my husband, does an amazing job of cooking over campfire, and we grilled venison steaks and I can't quite recall what else, but I learned two things on that trip, watching him cook:
1)butter will make everything better
2)if you salt your food just enough to almost-just-about-barely the point of over-salting – just pushing it to that edge but not over – it will transform the most mundane things into the most delicious ones.
He used to work as a cowboy for three summers and most of his cooking was over campfire, so he's good at that sort of thing. We love to camp together, it's a wonderful thing. We also camped and repeated that experience near the Death Valley and in LA the following year. Then we had kids and that was the end of it. For now. But we discovered romantic hunting instead, and now we hunt together instead. Love and guns, what can be better, I don't know.
February 22, 2010 @ 12:52 am