We used to camp a lot when we were younger and I remember my Mom bringing pre-cut veggies like onions, peppers, zucchini, etc wrapped in foil pouches and just putting those on a grill for dinner. It was really good.

I found a recipe http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1950,153188-252197,00.html

I am sure ours were not blanched though. Mom's not much of a blancher :)

I wish I had other advice about what to pack...my parents have an entire shed devoted to camping supplies. It is too bad they live in NC because I would love to raid it!

If it's just a weekend, you'd be surprised at how little you need. It all really depends on what kind of camping your doing. Campground? Roughing it in a state park with a hike between your car and your campsite?

Rice and beans is an easy camp dish you can't go wrong with. I always recommend smores and trail mix as fillers too!

Our fav equipment is on our site in the camping section, check it out!

We camped a lot when I was a kid. We always kept the "camping kitchen" items clean and packed away in a little container/box. So, whenever you feel like going, you just grab the box they're in and you're ready to go! Old, tough, otherwise ugly looking utensils and plates were always demoted to camping gear.

I think my camping experiences are pretty different from others here. Have only camped with my guy friends, for a weekend at a time - so the most important thing to remember was the beer. :)

Other than that we have always just stuck with burger meat, hot dogs, buns for both, and ketchup/mustard.

Extremely simple :)

The veggie packs are a great idea! We buy freeze dried capming food from a camping supply store. Just add water and you can have a gourmet meal! We would bring along extra seasoning in zip loc bags to add more flavor to them.

http://www.rei.com/search?cat=8000&cat=4500001_Food&cat=4500042&hist=cat%2C4500001_Food%3AFood%5Ecat%2C4500042%3AFreeze-Dried+Food

Only other advice is dont forget sunblock and bug spray!

Here are the things I do not camp without:

1. water-when you think you have enough take a little more
2. trail mix
3. flip flops-for when you have to use the bathroom in the middle of the night
4. wet-wipes or hand sanitizer-you don't want to count on the campsite to have water at the ready.
5. pocket knife-infinitely helpful
6. bandanna/scarf-if it is hot it is nice to have something to wipe the sweat off your forehead.
7. socks-in case you feet get wet
8. sleeping mat-there are some great ones out now and they will make all the difference in the world, you don't want to wake up sore because you could feel the rocks on the ground through your sleeping bag

I love doing stuff on the fly like that! My rule of thumb is, I can buy whatever I don't bring. But I guess being stranded in the middle of the wilderness kind of makes that advice useless.

If I had five minutes to pack for camping right now, I'd probably throw some lighters, protein bars, running shoes, a camera, a couple of beach chairs and a good book into my bag.

And maybe some knitting.

Things like compasses and water and shelter are totally overrated.

Kelly

If you can, I would suggest camping at a place close to home the first few times, that way if you forget something, you can pop home to get it! We did this, and as we got better and better we went farther and farther! Also, make a list of what you pack on the computer, and as your trips get more involved you can add to the list! We're doing that now! We have an excel sheet checklist we print off each time, and as something gets put in the car, we check it off the list. After forgetting the canopener once, we'll never make that mistake again! There are "lists" of camping gear online, but all of them include a nuch of stuff you don't really need. Here is what I'd consider the basics for a weekend trip:
Gear:
Tent (ALWAYS keep the tent stakes in the bag with the tent)
Sleeping bag & roll if you need one
Mallet to put in the tent stakes
Tarp (for under the tent or above if it rains)
A good amount of cotton rope (to hang tarp if its raining, or to hang up trash bag if there are animals around at night)
Food Gear:
Canopener
Trash bags
Canned food (its easy)
Cooler with LOTS of ice
Bottled Water (even if you pick a site that has water or water nearby, bring bottles to put that water in)
(for your first camping trips I wouldn't worry about bringing a stove or anything, just bring stuff you can cook over an open fire at your site in foil or on a skewer)
Paper plate and plastic cutlery
Other Gear:
First aid--bandaids, antibiotic ointment is enough unless you're going to be doing some hardcore hiking.
Games to play without electricity (for us its ALWAYS a Yahtzee! marathon!)
a radio if you don't want the awesome silence of the outdoors the WHOLE time
books
FLASHLIGHT
LANTERN-if you don't want the whoel propane thing at first, you can just get a good battery operated one
FIRESTARTERS--a lot easier than using newspaper and matches, esp if the wood you get is a little damp! Which it can be.
LIGHTER
Jumper cables in your car
And I always like to have some cash--just in case!

And whatever clothes you want to wear--closed toed shoes are always good and extra socks :)
We're going for 4 days this weekend and this was all on my mind since we're packing tomorrow! Hope this helps!!!

You guys are the best. I'm already feeling more prepared.

Aaah, Camping. When I was a kid I absolutely hated that we were the family that went camping for 2 weeks in the summer instead of going to someplace warm and tropical like everyone else. My friends went to Hawaii, and I went to Wyoming or Montana.
Now, I look back at camping with nothing but fond memories, and find myself sad that we don't go more now. My family consists of only camping (and backpacking) experts, and I miss the times laughing in the tent late at night, or picking wild berries. AAAh.

Here's one of my favorites camping - it's so much better than smores you won't even believe:
Take a banana and peel back just one layer (don't rip it off) - Hollow out about 50% of it along the middle (eat it!)and stuff some chocolate and peanut butter in there. Fold the flap back down and wrap the whole thing well in aluminum foil. Stick in a good fire (if you have some good coals) or put on top a grill for about 10 minutes, to make everything gooey and delicious. Eat and smile! It's sorta healthy...especially if you use dark chocolate. :)

As with equipment, whenever I'm camping I'm most happy when I am properly dressed. Get a good base layer and a nice fleece, and a good rainjacket. There's nothing worse than being hot or miserably cold when you are out in the middle of nowhere, and it really makes a difference when you are out there and you feel good in what you are wearing and are comfy.

Good luck, and have fun!

OH - and if you are going somewhere where there are bears, PLEASE make sure you have a bear bin - There's nothing worse than waking up to learn that all your food is gone. Some camp sites have bear boxes there in stationary places, but if not, secure your food! And not in your car...I've seen firsthand how simple it is for a bear to get into a car filled with food if they really want to.

Amie - My family was never going to Hawaii but we certainly weren't campers. We took more Disneyworld road trips and big city vacations so I can definitely feel nostalgia for hitting the road like you do with laughing in tents.

That roasted banana, PB and chocolate treat sounds AMAZING. I'm definitely trying that one. In fact, I might even stick one in the chiminea tonight for a trial run.

Everyone's got such solid lists, I don't know if I can even add to it all!
Regarding the bear thing, when living in Colorado, most of my friends would make sure to get to the camp site early on while there was still light so that they could climb a tree and make a *food hammock* - i.e., tying all the food in a bad high up so a bear wouldn't get it. Unless you've got a car parked there, and just throw it in the trunk :)

My contribution: this is a super cheap and great book (some may think it's excessive, but I've flipped through it, it's clever and has great design) on campfire cuisine:
http://www.amazon.com/Campfire-Cuisine-Gourmet-Recipes-Outdoors/dp/B0018SY5VI/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1274813610&sr=1-6

I definitely recommend (as others already have) keeping a camping box with your necessities in it. One thing I always forgot, before I kept my gear in one place, was a spice kit of some kind. A few basic spices, plus a small bottle of olive oil, and you're set--no matter how elaborate or simple you decide to make your cooking set-up for the trip. After all, if you're not eating tasty food on a camping trip, what's the point?

My husband and I love to camp and have made all sorts of elaborate meals in the woods, but here's my secret to spontaneous and short overnight trips: just bring food that can be eaten cold. Some nice cheese, crackers, bagels, fruit, sandwich fixin's, granola bars or snacks, lots of water and some beer can be thrown together quickly, get's you through 24 hrs plus, and you can still build a campfire for fun at night but aren't relying on it for your meals.
No matter how bare bones I get I never go without a rain coat and a roll of toilet paper. If you find you need them and don't have them you're trip is done early.

Coral - I do like the idea of just taking cold foods and some bread to munch on - and maybe once I get the hang of camping after a few tries get on with the elaborate meals.

hobo pie iron... recipies galore on the internet and all you need is a fire, the iron, bread, and stuffings.

forget the flashlight and get a headlamp instead (it's much easier to pee in the woods with one).

A raincoat even if the weather is supposed to be clear.

a radio and a deck of cards.

babywipes/handiwipes (not hand sanitizer)

For around here, I don't think you'd need much at all! We just picked up and camped in our car for a couple nights, and we didn't bring much of anything. I'd bring one cooler full of ice, and that should be enough food storage for a weekend. We always take eggs for breakfast, and a cast iron skillet. Otherwise, just whatever you'd like to eat. Last Summer we did a lot of squash and zucchini over the fire. I made a packet/plate contraption out of foil, (fold up the edges) added some butter in it, and sauteed the veggies over the fire on the grill. Potatoes wrapped in foil and buried under the coals are SO good. Campground grilled cheeses are to die for, and so is rice pilaf. In Colorado we did a lot of skewers with veggies like mushrooms, onions, and green peppers. I have no idea why, but campground food always tastes so much better. We also always bring a watermelon to crack open.

I was craving a camping/kayaking trip this weekend, but I realized it was Memorial Day. Watering holes on holidays are wretched around here! SO many drunk rednecks :) I can handle some, but not an entire campground full of them.

i think its hilarious that you are a vegetarian and you post a pic of hot dogs and burgers for camping! ha! i love camping...and fishing...they go hand in hand if you ask me. so i would say a rod...that's about all you need...oh - and an air mattress is key to enjoying the evenings. a nice queen size comfy air mattress - like a coleman...

Aura - Agreed. I can only handle drunk rednecks when they're my own friends. Good call on the baked potatoes. Yum.

Carlee - I know! I took that polaroid last summer when camping with my friends. If you look closely two of the hotdogs are vegetarian and two of the "burgers" are portobello mushrooms. I ate the ones not touching the meat.

All you need is me. To sing you a lullaby. So you fall asleep quickly.

I have never been camping with my husband, but I want to go so bad! I am so glad you asked those questions, because this is helpful.

I agree with the camping box and previous commenter's lists. Bring a piece of paper and a pen the first time you go and write down all of the things you WISH you had brought.

We have a box of camping gear in the garage that has staples in - cooking utensils, spray oil, paper towel, dishwashing liquid etc. We have added to it over the years as we think of other things, usually after being caught out. Like matches.

As for the food and cooking thing, I cook a stew or casserole or something that can be reheated in one pot over a fire (or gas cooker) and eaten with much red wine.

I can sleep anywhere and anyhow if I have clean feet so I always have a washer handy!

We have camped in some of the most beautiful and remote parts of Australia - a crocodile and shark infested river mouth 3 days drive from anywhere, the most northern point of the Australian mainland, the Kimberleys, Nullabor plains to name a few - and one thing that always stays the same is that whatever you don't have won't matter. The being outside in awesome places with awesome people outweigh the fact you had to use paper towel for toilet paper, you ate cold baked beans after your husband hacked the can open with a screwdriver and your air mattress sprung a leak leaving you to sleep on the rocky rocky ground. When you remember those camping trips in the future, you don't remember the cold baked beans, you remember the sunset you watched while sitting in the dust, or stepping on a baby shark trying to get in the boat, or listening to waves crash on the beach you have all to yourself.

Gosh sorry, rave on much?

Oh camping!!! We go several times a year, no better way to get out of the city then emerse yourself in the middle of no where!

I dont like to pack alot but some of my absolute must haves are- BABY WIPES! These are probably my number one must haves, they will fulfill many rolls. A couple oil lanterns. Sunscreen! A cast iron skille, tin foil and ice and maybe a telescope!!!

Have fun!!!