Vegetable Foil Packets in the Fire

I think we've started a new Sunday night tradition: Cooking over the campfire! It was so relaxing to be outside & apart from everything going on in our busy lives. We took about 2 hours to cook/eat, relax, talk, watch the fire, & stare up at the stars. It was a little getaway on our own patio!

To keep things simple, we cooked our veggies in foil packets right in the fire. I thinly sliced zucchini, bell peppers, & red onions, layering them & sprinkling them with salt, pepper, & garlic powder. Foil packets can be super versatile, so whatever veggies are in season will work. I carefully wrapped up the foil so it was firmly closed, & we were ready to cook.

On the menu: Tofurky hot dogs, veggie foil packets, & cherry tomatoes.

A note about the hot dogs: Neither of us is really into hot dogs, even before becoming vegetarian. I kept hearing about tofu dogs, though, so when I saw them at Whole Foods, I decided to check out the package. While the ingredients aren't completely clean, they are suprisingly decent, especially considering what regular hot dogs have in them! These were pretty good - better than what we remembered hot dogs being. I don't think we'll get them often, but it was fun & nostalgic to roast them on sticks over the fire.

We just tucked the foil packets along the sides of the fire. After about 15 minutes, we flipped them over & rotated them 180 degrees to make sure all sides were cooking evenly.

On a whim, I thought we should try roasting the cherry tomatoes. We love them roasted in the oven, so how could we go wrong? It was fun watching them burst when the fire hit them! I asked the Bup what he thought after he ate a few & he said, "They taste like warm tomatoes with a little char." Hah! 

Finished veggies - they were a little softer than we usually cook our veggies, but the flavors melded & they were delicious.

Vegetable Foil Packets in the Fire
Serves 2

1 medium zucchini, sliced thinly
1 bell pepper, sliced into strips
1 small red onion, sliced thinly
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
salt & pepper, to taste

Tear off 2 sheets of foil, about 1.5' long each. Spray the center of each sheet lightly with cooking spray. Layer the vegetables in the middle of the sheets. Sprinkle with garlic, salt & pepper.

Fold foil around the vegetables by folding up the two sides & rolling the edges together down to the vegetables. Then fold the open ends up, rolling until they are close to the vegetables. (See pictures for what it should look like. The goal it to make sure the edges will not come apart.)

Place foil packets onto the coals in a campfire, or grill over medium heat. After about 15 minutes, flip packets & rotate 180 degrees to heat evenly. Cook for another 10-15 minutes, then remove from heat and allow to cool slightly. Open packets & enjoy!

Note: You can use any combination of vegetables and seasonings. Potatoes will work, too, just make sure to slice them very thinly. They may need to cook slightly longer.