CAMP COOKING
The following receipts for cooking are the result of many years’ actual experience, and have all been tried in actual camp-life. They are all comparatively simple, and may be prepared by aid of the utensils mentioned in these pages. The materials may generally be easily obtained at the stores, when fitting out, or of the farmers in the neighborhood.
It is assumed that a certain judgment will be exercised in the selection of rations, to govern the personal tastes of the various members of the party, and the resources of the surrounding country. One would not expect to have a variety of fresh vegetables in the Maine Woods; nor would it be reasonable to neglect such opportunities when offered. Hence a selection is presented, which may be presumed to fit all conditions.
“We can live without Love—what is passion but pining?
“But where is the man who can live without dining?”
“As we journey through life, let us LIVE by the way.”
CHAPTER VI
CAMP COOKING
There is a favorite saying in camp, that “the Lord sends grub, but the devil sends cooks.” This expression is old and homely, but it is apt, and many times, when it is the turn of the greenest man in camp to get dinner, we find reason to consider it true. We have seen an old woodsman toss together a few ingredients and turn out a meal that would cause our stomachs to cry, “Encore, encore,” and we have most of us experienced the sad results from guides who pretended to be finished cooks and had the whole party homesick before they had been in camp three days. The best supplied camp cuisine in the world would not keep off the “blue horrors” when in the hands of such bunglers.
Of course, everyone must first learn the how to do it, and equally of course some fail to ever learn. The latter could not boil water without burning it. I well remember my own first experience, and I remember, too, the experiences with some of the boys that I have tried to teach to cook.
The genuine camper is, certainly, the man who, taking but little food with him, lives upon the spoils of his rod and gun. This is, in most cases, impracticable to the ordinary camper. In the first place, it takes some experience to do it. In the second place, but few desire to do so, and there is no reason why they should. A party can live just as well in camp as they can at home, if they wish to, and can afford it. And also a party can live on a dollar a week apiece, if they choose; and live well, too.