It's true.

You too can now enjoy the same quality meals you enjoy in
your home kitchen in your campfire kitchen with little fuss.

Meals around the campfire are just as much the centre of
camping life as meals around the kitchen bench at home.

It's possible to unleash the gourmet campfire chef within
you when you know how to make your campfire work for you!

For an experienced outdoorsman, the key to good outdoor
cooking is both simplicity and creativity. Outdoor cooking
need not employ the techniques of a high-paid chef, or even
require the latest array of advanced cooking tools. It's
all about a case of good preparation, good thinking, and a
whole lot of luck.

Here are some simple campfire cooking skills that will help
you create mouthwatering dishes around the campfire in
minutes that are not only delicious but turn out just the
way they would if you were at home.

It is best to start off with a low heat fire and if the
food isn't cooking quickly enough increase coals.

Practice with a friend's camp oven before you go out and
buy one for yourself.

There are basically two kinds of fires - a trench fire or
the traditional, old-fashioned above ground fire.  A trench
fire is a pit dug into the ground about 30 x 45 cm deep.

Look for ground that's free from rocks as this is easier to
dig.  If the ground should become loose and the sides fall
into the hole, place rocks around the top to support your
barbeque plate and grate.

Building a below level fire will be safer for you in windy
conditions.

A below level fire is also easier to cook with in bad
weather conditions.

A trench helps retain the heat if you are forced to use
poor quality wood.

If you use good quality dry wood in the morning you will
normally wake up to hot coals under the ashes.

Remember it takes time to build good coals.  Don't expect
to be able to cook a delicious feast 10 minutes after
lighting your fire.

Use the cooler end of the trench fire for cooking cakes,
dampers and scones.

Remember to preheat your oven over the flames and level out
the ash and coals at the cooler end and place your oven
down on those coals.

It's a good idea to check the food you're cooking every
five to ten minutes and to add or remove coals in
accordance with how your foods are cooking.

Lift your dutch ovens and other cooking utensils off the
fire by using a thick rag and a piece of wire with a hook
on one end.

Carry strike anywhere matches as well as a butane lighter
and candle.

Keep matches in a plastic jar with cotton wadding on top.

Cotton balls dipped in Vaseline make great fire starters.

You should be able to hold your hands over the coals about 60 centimetres away if your oven is moderately hot.  It
will be hot but it should be bearable.

Your fire is ready when the flames have subsided and coals
are glowing.

Cooking in the outdoors may seem hard when you're miles
away from the comforts of your own kitchen, market, or
grocery store. But this is one experience that's worth a
try. So let nature bring out the best cook in you. Be
prepared, be simple, be creative - whatever suits your
fancy. But, don't forget the most important part - get your
family involved in the process and have as much fun outdoor
cooking as you possibly can.

After all, these are among the special ingredients of a
great camping cooking experience that truly lasts a
lifetime.

About the Author:

NOTE:  This is just one of the many super tips Karin
Manning has included in her latest book, "The Ultimate
Campfire Kitchen and Camping Guide".  (Her amateur weather
forecasting tips will have you predicting the weather
before you leave home.  They're cool!  Check it out at <a
href="http://www.easy-family-camping-recipes.com">http:///ww
w.easy-family-camping-recipes.com</a>

Backpacking and hiking are two of the most thrilling choices in outdoor activities. These sports are being chosen by more and more people every year as a means of relaxation and physical fitness. Even families are getting in to the backpacking and hiking action. But, for the newer backpacking or hiking person, there are a few items that are required to stay safe and secure while backpacking.

Sun Protection. Sun protection is very important when backpacking or hiking. Sun protection comes in several forms and all need to be covered. The skin is the first line of protection against the sun while backpacking or hiking, sunscreen should be waterproof and offer an SPF of at least 30. The second area to protect while backpacking or hiking are the eyes. The sun can be bright and cause sudden spots of blindness, which is something that is never needed when backpacking or hiking. Sunglasses and an extra pair or two, should always be packed.

Safety First. Many people forget about safety when backpacking or hiking, but there can be problems and when there are, a whistle can help. Depending on where you are backpacking or hiking, a whistle with no "pea" (the small ball in the center) may be the best choice. If the backpacking or hiking is taking place during cold months, the "pea" could freeze. Along those same lines, a plastic whistle will be sure to never stick to your lips in the cold.

Water, water and more water. Many beginning backpacking or hiking people think the water they need to take is always in the liquid form. But, that is not the best choice when trying to keep your pack light. Today there are many water filtration systems that can filter anything and everything from the water. These are perfect to use as a backup when the liquid of life has run out when backpacking or hiking.

Starting a fire. For those overnight trips, a firestarter or set of waterproof matches are ideal for a little warmth and a warm meal. But, many backpacking and hiking trips are only day trips and the backpacking and hiking team feel they may not need these things. One the contrary, as a safety measure, every member should include a way to start a fire in their packing essentials.

First aid out of doors. A first aid kit is needed for every pack. Backpacking and hiking takes places in environments that can lead to cuts, bruises and other forms of injuries. A first aid kit in every backpack can help to ensure the safety and health of all backpacking and hiking team members. Within these first aid kits should also be a pocket knife and a pocket tool set.

Don't get lost. Getting lost is one of the worst feelings of all time. A compass and a map can help to keep all backpacking and hiking team members on the right trail throughout the trip. These two essentials are the ones that are forgotten a lot of times when packing the bundles for the trip. Every member of the backpacking and hiking team should have access to a compass and map.

Hiking and backpacking are great ways to get a little physical activity and become better acquainted with nature and life outside. Together as a team, the backpacking and hiking group needs to make sure that every pack includes these essentials as a base and build the pack from there.

It can be daunting when first exploring the available information on growing Bonsai trees. You may be tempted to think it's all too hard or too complicated. So you may just give up before you even start, or not continue with your existing project. One secret is to use a good reliable source of Bonsai supplies and just DO IT.

Growing truly beautiful and long lasting Bonsai is more than a skill it's an art. But before you can become a master of the art you must learn the skills. Using good quality supplies is a necessary crucial step in applying the skills you will learn, to achieve the best results. If your Bonsai supplies are not up to par, then you are behind the eight ball before you even start.

When you have the right supplies on hand that is one thing less you have to concern yourself with. You can now focus on the task before you without being limited by a lack of proper Bonsai supplies, be that tools, soil mix, fertiliser or whatever.

Proper Bonsai supplies meansjust that. Bonsai supplies that are appropriate for the job and of good quality. The last thing you want is for your tree to die because your soil mixture doesn't drain well, or you need to prune immediately, but you find your shears are rusty and blunt.

It may not seem much of a big deal to you but your plants will certainly love you for it.

Of course I am not suggesting that you will fail to achieve a beautiful result unless you have everything you need readily available and of top quality. What is more important is the desire to learn the techniques and the patience to put them into practice until you have mastered the art.

You will have failures that will dismay you, but you will have successes that will outweigh those times. Those successes along with the sheer pleasure of nurturing a Bonsai tree from just a tree to a fully fledged Bonsai is what will keep you going.

Your Bonsai supplies will become second nature to you then. You will have the knowledge of what works and what doesn't. If someone asks you about how to grow Bonsai you will be able to answer with authority.

It can be daunting when first exploring the available information on growing Bonsai trees. You may be tempted to think it's all too hard or too complicated. So you may just give up before you even start, or not continue with your existing project. One secret is to use a good reliable source of Bonsai supplies and just DO IT.

Growing truly beautiful and long lasting Bonsai is more than a skill it's an art. But before you can become a master of the art you must learn the skills. Using good quality supplies is a necessary crucial step in applying the skills you will learn, to achieve the best results. If your Bonsai supplies are not up to par, then you are behind the eight ball before you even start.

With the right supplies readily available, this is one area of your project that is already taken care of. Now you can concentrate on the job at hand and not be limited by a lack of the proper Bonsai supplies, be that soil mix, fertiliser, tools, wire or whatever is necessary to do the job!

Proper or good supplies means simply Bonsai tools and other supplies that are of good quality and appropriate for the task to be performed. You would not want your tree to suffer because you had soil that did not drain well or shears that are blunt and rusty.

So although it may not be a matter of life and death for you, your plants will certainly appreciate your choice of good Bonsai supplies.

Now this is not to suggest that unless you have on hand everything that is available in Bonsai supplies, you will fail to achieve a beautiful result. What you need most is the desire and patience to learn the skills, then practice those skills over time until you have mastered the art.

There will be failures that will disappoint you, but the successes will more than compensate for those times. The sheer pleasure of turning an otherwise ordinary tree into a proper Bonsai tree is what will keep you going.

Your Bonsai supplies will become second nature to you then. You will have the knowledge of what works and what doesn't. If someone asks you about how to grow Bonsai you will be able to answer with authority.