Hobo Packets

Generally when someone thinks of cooking outside, one thinks of hot dogs and burgers, chips, raw veggies and fruit.  Hobo packets are also a popular meal to cook over the fire - hamburger, potatoes, carrots and onion.  But there can be so much more to hobo packets!

Step 1: Prepare the foil
Cut 18 inch square sheets of foil.

Step 2:  Choose your meat
Chicken - cut boneless, skinless breasts into 1/2 inch wide strips or use thighs.  Season with salt and pepper.
Kielbasa - Cut kielbasa or other smoked sausage into 4 inch long pieces and halve them lengthwise.
Hamburger - Make 4 inch wide patties and season with salt and pepper
Shrimp - Shell the shrimp and season with salt and pepper
Cubed steak - Just make sure it's tenderized well
Pork chops

Step 3: Toss in some extras
Beans
Vegetables - peppers, broccoli, carrots, potatoes, onion, cauliflower, mushrooms, garlic
Fruit - apples, grapes, tomatoes
Nuts
Cheese

Step 4: Add some zip
Parsley pump up - 2 Tbsp. parsley, zest of 1 lemon, 1 clove garlic, minced
Asian Fusion - 2 Tbsp. minced cilantro, zest of 1 orange, 1 1/2 tsp. grated peeled ginger, 1 tsp. sliced green onion tops or chives
Tex-Mex - 3 Tbsp. minced cilantro, 2 Tbsp. minced chipotle chile, 1 Tbsp. sliced green onion, 1 clove garlic, minced
Vinegar splash - 2 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar, 1 clove garlic, minced, 1/4 cup olive oil, salt and pepper
Ponzu Power - 2 Tbsp. ponzu (a Japanese sauce), 1 tsp. minced ginger, 1 tsp. honey, 1 tsp. sesame oil, 3 Tbsp. vegetable oil, salt and pepper
Mustard Madness - 1 1/2 tsp. Dijon mustard, 2 Tbsp. lemon or lime juice, 3 Tbsp. vegetable oil, salt and pepper
BBQ sauce
Ranch seasoning

Step 5: Seal, label and grill the packets
Make a campfire, or heat a grill on high.  Select your choice of ingredients and put them on one side of the foil.  Fold over the foil and roll up the edges to seal in juices.  Roll the foil as close to the food as possible.  Use a permanent marker to label the packets.  Lay the packets on the grill, on the coals of the campfire, or on the grate over a campfire flame.  Cook until the meat is cooked through - about 7 minutes per side.  Carefully remove them from the fire with fire resistant gloves.

Some varieties:
Oktoberfest
Kielbasa, butter beans, carrots, summer squash, Mustard Madness

Mediterranean Coast
Chicken breast, red potato, broccoli, red onion, feta, Vinegar Splash, Parsley Pump-up

South of the Border
hamburger, black beans, red onion, zucchini, grape tomatoes, corn, Pepper Jack cheese, Tex-Mex

Off to Asia
shrimp, red bell pepper, asparagus, pineapple, sliced almonds, Asian Fusion, Ponzu Power

BBQ Pork
pork chops, BBQ sauce, green beans, potatoes, onion

Hamburger
Mix into the hamburger meat the following:
2 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
2 Tbsp. mayonnaise
2 tsp. Montreal steak seasoning
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper

(Most of these recipes came from Family Fun)