Aluminum Vegetable Bomb Assembly Ingredients

Aluminum Vegetable Bombs (AVBs) for Camping

My family loves to camp, at least we used to. We have camped all over Europe, Mexico, Canada and the US.  Recently, we decided to drag out all our old equipment again and give it another go.  Our choice was the beautiful Platt River Campground near Sleeping Bear Dunes in northern Michigan.

Once again, we discovered the age old camping conundrum, “whether you go for one day or one month, you still have to take the same amount of STUFF”   When we told our friends that we were going camping, many of them said….”You are kidding of course……like are you going to sleep in TENTS!”  Yes, we are not only tent campers but natural wood fired campfire cookers! If you are an outdoors person, you know that cooking hot dogs, steaks, or s’mores are usually de rigeur, but how do you prepare some delicious and nutricious vegetables?  Years ago, as the camp chef, I  solved this problem by inventing the ALUMINUM VEGETABLE BOMB or AVB. Today, AVBs have become part of our family’s camping legend.  Everyone remembers how much fun we all had assembling these tasty devices.  So, since it’s camping time across the northern hemisphere, I thought I would let everyone in on the secret of  how to assemble AVBs, and then they can become part of your family’s outdoor culinary heritage.  

AVB…they EXPLODE with flavor 

Assembling an AVB

For each AVB you will need:

One potato (preferably 5” long (not fat) cut in half

¼ small carrot sliced (2 TBS)

1 mushroom sliced (2 TBS)

¼ green onion chopped (1 TBS)

1 slice cooked bacon large chop

2-3 TBS butter (small pieces)

2 green beans sliced

2 TBS chopped zucchini

Sea salt & pepper

3-4 sheets of heavy aluminum foil

1. Lay one sheet of AL foil flat (shiny side down)
2. Place potato halves on foil
3. Fill the space between halves with veggies
4. Sprinkle with bacon and butter pieces
5. Season with salt & pepper
6. Fold over halves of foil, making a folded seal
7. Roll up ends, repeat with three other sheets
8. Place AVBs in campfire or on top of grill
9. Turn constantly, for about 30 -45 minutes
10.  Carefully open one to check doneness after 30 minutes…

AVBs on the campfire

About the Author  Part time chef  Doug Cordier, is a food writer, TV cook,  Certified Ergonomic Consultant and business man. Doug is the owner of Cascom Group Travel and has been teaching corporate and Italian cooking classes for twenty years.

For more foodie thoughts and recipes, try www.cookingwithcordier.com 

Kufta, grilled meat on skewers

You’ll LOVE KUFTA

It has many names, Kufteh, Cufta, Kifta…..depending on country of origin Lebanon, Turkey, Serbia, Bulgaria, or Iran.  It all stems from the Persian word “to grind” or “meatball”.   Kufta is a mixture of meat, parsley, onions, bulgar wheat, spices and egg. They are usually formed into cigar shaped cylinders, then grilled, baked, fried, steamed, or poached.  They can also be served with a spicy sauce.  One thing is without question, this is a delicious ancient food, with endless ethnic variations.  The following recipe is one I have used for years. It is made with lamb and beef and then grilled. I also use a special an ancient middle eastern spice called BARAHAT, a mixture of allspice, cardomon, cassia bark, cloves, coriander, cumin, nutmeg and paprika. See if you can find it, because it adds a special exotic flavor to the kufta.

KUFTA

¾ lb ground lamb

¾ lb ground beef

¾ cup finely chopped or grated onion

1 toe finely minced fresh garlic

¾ cup chopped parsley

3 TBS chopped fresh mint leaves

1 egg (beaten)

1 tsp BARAHAT

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

1 tsp sea salt

Optional: flat wooden skewers (soaked)

Optional:  Labna or Laban (Lebanese  yogurt)

Directions

1. In a large bowl mix all the ingredients
2. Form into 10 equal balls, then into cylinders
3. If using skewers, run skewer through cylinders
4. Grill until med rare, residual heat will continue to cook
5. Don’t over cook. 
6. Serve with dollop of labna, garnish with chopped parsley or chives

Kufta, cooked on Grilling Stones

About the Author  Part time chef  Doug Cordier, is a food writer, TV cook, Certified Ergonomic Consultant and business man. Doug is the owner of Cascom Group  Travel and has been teaching corporate and Italian cooking classes for twenty years. For more foodie thoughts and recipes, try www.cookingwithcordier.com 

Photo and recipe by Doug Cordier.  All rights reserved, Cooking with Cordier 2010