More Than a Campfire Dinner

The other night while I was throwing a roast together for supper, it led my thoughts to summer, and what my family always referred to as "Hobo Dinners". I'm positive the term Hobo is not politically correct or acceptable these days, but I'm equally assured that it was intended as a positive word choice in admiration for legends like Boxcar Willie, and others who had actually traveled via train in search of work, so I'm leaving the title as is. Since becoming the grown up I've learned there are as many catchy titles as there are unique ways to prepare such meals, but as a kid it always seemed to make camping just a little extra fun for us. From choosing the ingredients to build your own personal aluminum foil meal, placing that deliciously seasoned packet in the hot coals, listening to your dad tell tall tales of Sasquatch and other mystical creatures, all the way to tearing open the top to discover your potatoes are perfectly soft and had absorbed all the flavors from the burger your mom had placed on top.

It wasn't until I was a grown woman with a son of my own that I ever put any thought into how such a meal could be served any other way, and outside of camping. We had made an appearance at a church shindig. It was just outside of an old cemetery, full of many of our ancestors, on the ground where an even older church had once stood. Right where anyone would believe to be a great place for a get together with a fire and stories to tell. My grandmother, along with her friends had built meals in coffee cans (the quality ones like what papaw stored his old rusty nails in, not the plastic ones they sell today). Each can had been layered with veggies and meats and was being maintained over the fire by the elders as they talked tractors, trucks, and all the popular current events of the week. It was a lovely meal and great fellowship, with so many people who are no longer around to make more memories with. A wonderful memory I'm grateful to have, and a learning experience I'm thankful I was there for. Also, an impressive reminder of the importance of coffee. Online you can find a quality fella named Bruce Mitchell who offers a video on how to prepare a great dinner in a coffee can with hot coals and minimal effort.

As I stood in my own kitchen washing potatoes, seasoning my roast, and preparing to layer everything into my Great-Grandmother's cast aluminum roaster, it got my gears turning. It made me curious as to which process of layering meats and veggies actually came first. Without putting in much research, I'm leaning towards the good old fashion roast. Aluminum foil came about sometime in the early 1900s, and I'm sure wasn't a staple in everyone's home at that time. Cast iron has a much longer history, and has always been a preferred method of cooking, at least in my family.

When you bring it down to the foil level, it's a great way to create some quality time with your kids. Even in their teenage years mine enjoyed building their packet and sitting around on their phones pretending to listen to my chatter around a fire in the back yard. Have fun with it and use your imagination. While I prefer just ground beef with potatoes, onions, and peppers, sometimes I like to spice things up a little with chicken, shrimp, fresh pineapple, a little habanero, with some broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots. Whatever creation you come up with, enjoy the process, engage in the company you're keeping, and absorb the memory you're making. You'll enjoy it as a thought much later in life.