Written By - Myrtha Chang - 08/28/2007
Link to Original Article here

The two most important meals when you go camping are the first meal and the last meal. A ravingly delicious first camping dinner puts everyone in a great mood for the rest of the stay. A memorable last meal makes everyone forget the burnt chicken or canned chili a few days before.

But who has the stamina to cook up a Martha Stewart rendition after putting up the tent and unpacking the camping gear? Here\'s what I do. I prepare this amazingly easy beef stew at home, refrigerate it and take it to camp in the cooler.

1st Camping Dinner - Beef Stew

- 3 lbs of stew beef - cut into 1 inch cubes
- 1 large onion, diced
- 4 tomatoes - cut into wedges
- 1/2 lb of baby carrots
- 1 red pepper - slice into 1/2 inch strips
- 1 lb of small mushrooms
- 2 small turnips - cut into small chunks
- 2 tbs of instant tapioca
- 1/2 cup dry bread crumbs
- 2 cups red wine
- 1 teaspoon of salt
- 1/2 tsp of black pepper
- 1/2 lb of frozen small pearl onions

Put all the ingredients except the frozen pearl onions in a Dutch oven with a tight-fitting lid.
Bake in a preheated 325 degree oven for 3 1/2 hours. Do not peek!
Add the pearl onions after the stew is removed from the oven.

The above recipe is provided by my favorite cook, Kathy Maister. You can watch a video of Kathy making it at StartCooking.com

Don\'t forget to bring a crusty bread. At camp, reheat your stew, and enjoy a hearty, scrumptious dinner. That\'s how to start a camping trip.