How to make a foil packet

1. Start with a large rectangle of foil at least 2½ times the depth that you'd like your packet to be. Heavy-duty foil is best but if it is not available, double or triple layer your pack.

2. Fold your rectangle in half, lengthways.

3. Fold the side seams inwards, making small folds to seal the edges. Refold each seam several times for reinforcement.

4. Fold the bottom crease several times.

5. Now you should have a foil envelope with only one opening and three seams that have been reinforced with several folds each.

6. After adding the ingredients, fold the final seam over several times to seal the packet completely.

Cooking in a foil packet1. Place the food you want to steam or stew into your pre-made foil packet. This can be any combination of vegetables, meat and other ingredients.2. Add any desired seasonings or herbs. Thyme, bay leaves and other aromatic herbs, along with onions or other aromatic root vegetables, work wonders. As the food inside the packet steams, these will infuse the rest of the food with flavor.3. It helps to add something moist. Try a drizzle of olive oil, a pat or two of butter or even a splash of water or stock.4. Season the food with salt and pepper.5. When all of the ingredients and seasonings are in the foil packet, seal the final seam.6. When your coals are ready, place the foil packet near the fire. It should be close enough so that within a few minutes you can hear the liquid starting to steam and bubble inside.Do not put the foil directly into the fire as the foil will become brittle, or even burn, and can pop open. Keep the packet close enough to the fire to cook, but not directly in the heat.7. Cooking time will vary depending on the types of food, the heat of your fire and the size of your packet. Because the boiling liquid in the package steams the food inside, the cooking is generally fairly quick.You can always open the pack and use a fork to test the doneness of the food and wrap it closed again if the food needs more time. Generally, carrots, potatoes and other hard vegetables need a bit more time to cook and soften.8. Experiment with new combinations of foods to cook in a foil packet.Source: Girl Scouts Western Pennsylvania

“Outdoor cooking is an extremely important part of Girl Scout camps,” said Lisa Shade of Girl Scouts Western Pennsylvania. “It teaches girls important skills without a lot of conveniences.”“They create some pretty delicious stuff,” she said.Girl scouts make this recipe every summer at camp. It is scout tested and kid approved.Serves 41 lb. ground beef1 small onion, chopped1 or 2 cloves garlic, chopped4 to 6 small potatoes, chopped into small pieces8 to 10 small mushrooms, chopped1 can green beanssalt and pepper to tasteWorcestershire sauce to tasteMake four foil packets.Form the meat into four burger-sized patties (not too thick). Place each one in pre-folded foil packet.Top each patty with some onion, garlic, potatoes, mushrooms and green beans.Sprinkle salt and pepper over the ingredients in each packet. Then drizzle a little Worcestershire sauce in each packet.Seal the packets tightly so the juices stay inside them to cook everything.Place the packets in the coals and cook them until they are sizzling, flipping periodically.Cooking usually takes between 15 and 30 minutes and depends on the heat of the coals. Check the temperature of the meat and tenderness of the potatoes for doneness.Source: Girl Scouts Western Pennsylvania

BananasChocolate chipsMini marshmallowsLeave the bananas in their peels.Cut a slip along the length of one side of each banana, being careful not to go through the other side.Open the bananas like hot dog buns and fill them with chocolate and marshmallows.Wrap the filled bananas in aluminum foil and place them in the coals for a few minutes.Source: Girl Scouts Western Pennsylvania