All fired up
For centuries, fire has been used for everything from heating to warfare. But the most popular use includes cooking. During summer months, many rustic chefs return to the campfire as a means of preparing food for fun. Here are some of their tips:
What's cooking?Steve Roberts, coordinator of the Outdoor Adventures program at Slippery Rock University, teaches people how to survive in the outdoors by cooking with what nature provides."We subscribe to a 'leave no trace' mentality when in the outdoors," Roberts said."The cooking fires we build are done in fire pits that we dig and are fueled by the renewable resources we find in the woods."Once built, Roberts said the fires are often used to prepare popcorn, a camp favorite and nightly treat."We take a gallon tin can and put some oil in the bottom and a quarter cup of popcorn and jiggle till it pops," he said. After it pops, some campers enjoy garlic powder and soy sauce sprinkled on top."We also make bread on a stick and can make eggs in an orange peel over the fire." The bread dough is just put on a stick and rotated over fire until baked.The oil and moisture in the peel of the hollowed-out orange keep it from burning while the egg is cooked inside, he added.Dutch oven cooking is also a popular method of campfire cooking, especially for the Boy Scouts.Former Scout Master Jim Wilhelm of Valencia and his Eagle Scout son Andrew have enjoyed many meals from the classic black pot.
"The Dutch ovens are used in the pit after much of the fire has died down leaving red hot coals," Wilhelm said."We've sampled everything from stews to cobblers from the pots — and eggs and omelets cooked on the lids.""We went to one Scouting function where the gentleman prepared a four-course meal with several Dutch ovens going at once," he added.The Scouts also use charcoal briquettes beneath and on top of the lid when a campfire is not readily available.The Wilhelms have also used the foil packet method to cook in a campfire."One of our favorites is taking a burger patty or other meat, combining it with potatoes, carrots or other vegetables, wrapping it in cabbage leaves, then foil, and putting the packet into the hot coals," Wilhelm said.The moisture from the cabbage keeps the food moist and from sticking to the foil during cooking.While some use campfires to cook for survival or camping, the Killeens of Franklin Township view campfire cooking as fun and practical."With seven in our family, I especially enjoy cooking outdoors and having a free night from dishes and indoor cleanup," said Jamie Killeen.One family favorite is mountain pies utilizing a pie iron that contains two pieces of buttered bread with filling in between. They are then put into fire until toasted."We make pizza and grilled cheese ones and for desert we usually put cherry or apple pie filling in them, cook them and then roll them in sugar," she explained.The Killeens are also a fan of foil pack meals, with one favorite containing a chicken breast, potato slices, carrot and onion slices, and sauce — usually Italian or teriyaki."These are so delicious!" Killeen said.
Before the perfect meal is cooked, a suitable campfire must be built. Rick Carson, chief ranger at Moraine and McConnells Mill state parks, encourages the use of hardwoods."Softwoods like pines and trees that produce a sap can release toxins into the environment and your food when burned," he explained."Oaks and ash are the best to burn, but for cooking over a fire hickory and apple give the best flavor," he said."Open fires are not permitted in state parks. Only where fire rings are provided is it OK to build one," he added.The type of kindling used can often determine the success of a fire, and Carson suggests using the bark from a shag bark hickory tree — even if the wood is damp. The trees have a bark that looks as though it is peeling off the trunk."After finding the tree, look for pieces of bark that have already fallen off or look for a dead fallen tree to strip," said Carson, who discourages using living or green trees for burning."The bark combined with small sticks and a few dried pine needles can get a fire started. Dryer lint brought from home is also a way to recycle the lint and get your fire started."The Boy Scouts most often use two types of fire construction. The ceremonial fires are built using a teepee construction where the wood is upright and comes to a point, Wilhelm said. "We also construct a fire that looks like a log cabin. It is in the shape of a box and the wood is stacked with four sides," he added.Once fire-building is mastered, fires can be made in most conditions."We have seen Scouts successfully build fires when wood is damp," Andrew Wilhelm said. "Some Scouts have built fires in the pouring rain."Fire builders also must take location into account, Roberts added, advising the fire be built downwind of the campsite."In the wilderness, food smell on your tent, clothing and campsite can be deadly. Bears and other animals will follow the smells of food right to your site."
According to George Ban of the Butler City Fire Department Public Safety Education Office, safety also means containing a fire and building fires in designated spots."It is important that residents check the local ordinance before they build a fire on their property," said Ban. "In the city, we offer a recreational burning permit at no cost that requests the pertinent information on the fire such as where it is to be held, when and the reason," he said."Adults should be the only ones starting fires," said Ban, who reminds parents that children are often fascinated by fire, making them targets for accidents."Using an accelerant of any kind is extremely dangerous," he added. "Get your fires started with small amounts of newspaper or dry kindling. Using dry, seasoned wood for your fire makes starting it much easier."Fires should also be built at least 30 feet away from any building or structure, keeping wind conditions in mind."Be sure to have a water source available for extinguishing," Ban advised.Boy Scouts are taught fire safety, and Wilhelm says they take it seriously. To extinguish a fire, he suggests carefully rolling the bigger logs in water and to use water to cool the burning embers."Fires can travel through the roots of trees and catch a tree on fire from the inside out. You can never be too careful," he said.Ban noted that there are certain substances that shouldn't be burned such as garbage or vegetation, since their embers can be hazardous along with the noxious odors from smoke.Most parks have campfire pits, but experts recommend these tips when building a fire without one:• Put a circle of rocks around the perimeter of the fire pit.• Clear leaves and sticks in a 5-foot area around the pit.• Have water and a shovel nearby.• Extra wood should be stacked upwind of the fire.• Do not discard a match that is hot.• Never leave a fire unattended.
