COOKING

Keep a Cooking Notebook

Camp cooking is a skill you can master by doing a lot of it. Write your food lists and recipes in a notebook each time you prepare for a campout. At the end of every trin, make notes about what worked well and what didn't. Perhaps you needed a larger frying nan or more oatmeal, or maybe you took too much cocoa As you plan your next outing, your notebook will remind you of changes you want to make. - -

PLANNING YOUR MEALS

Careful Planning allows you to take enough food so that everyone inyour patrol eats well, but there aren't many leftovers. You'll also know which pots, pans, and utensils to takealong. Consider the following as you plan your outdoor meals:

• How many Scouts are going and how logn will you be away from home? Fresh foods are fine for short outings. For trips longer than a day or two, carry supplies that won't spoil.
• What are you going to do If your days will be packed with action, choose recipes that won't take long to prepare. When cooking will be a high point of campout, take the ingrediens and gear needed to make a real feast.
• How will you reach camp? Backpackers will want to keep their loads light with simple meals of nonperishable ingredients. If you will be traveling by car to your campsite, you might want to take griddles, Dutch overns, fresh an canned foods, and plenty of utensils.
• What weather do you expect: Winter menus should contain more of the fats your body burns for heat. Take along soup mixes and hot drinks to warm you up. Summer meals can be ligher and should include plenty of fluids.