Recipes

A fun aspect of houseboating is the chance to cook together and share family’s favorite recipes. A houseboat offers a cozy kitchen to cook in, but with so many people on board, the key is to keep dishes simple and plan them in advance.

Breakfast Burritos

Tortillas are a staple when houseboating, and breakfast burritos can be whipped up easily on the boat for a hearty start to the day. But if you want to make mornings super simple, make a variety of breakfast burritos with eggs, sausage, bacon and other ingredients before you leave the house. Wrap them in foil and freeze. Then, reheat them on the grill for a delicious, easy and hearty breakfast.

Spaghetti Feed

A large pot of spaghetti can feed a small army. Throw some corn with husks on the grill and add a couple bags of prepared salad and some French bread, and you’re all set.

Desserts

Who needs to prepare desserts when you can have s’mores by a campfire? Remember, you’ll need a fire permit!

Recipe Planning

Here are a few camping recipe websites that can be used and easily modified for houseboating meals.

Allrecipes Camping

Grilled Sausage with Potatoes and Green Beans
Yields 4
"An old crock-pot favorite ready for the grill."
Print
Prep Time
25 min
Cook Time
20 min
Total Time
45 min
Prep Time
25 min
Cook Time
20 min
Total Time
45 min
Ingredients
  1. 3/4 pound fresh green beans, trimmed and halved
  2. 1/2 pound red potatoes, quartered
  3. 1 large onion, sliced
  4. 1 pound smoked sausage, cut into 1 inch pieces
  5. 1 teaspoon salt
  6. 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  7. 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
  8. 1 teaspoon butter
  9. 1/3 cup water
Instructions
  1. Preheat an outdoor grill for high heat.
  2. On a large sheet of foil, place the green beans, red potatoes, onion, and sausage. Season with salt and pepper, sprinkle with oil, and top with butter. Tightly seal foil around the ingredients, leaving only a small opening. Pour water into the opening, and seal.
  3. Place foil packet on the prepared grill. Cook 20 to 30 minutes, turning once, until sausage is browned and vegetables are tender.
Adapted from Tonya Merriman
Adapted from Tonya Merriman
Go Houseboating http://www.gohouseboating.com/

View More Recipes »

 

Pinterest Recipe Ideas

Campfire Cones
Serves 1
Print
Ingredients
  1. 1 ice cream cone (I prefer sugar cones)
  2. 1 piece of foil, big enough to wrap the cone
  3. Chocolate chips
  4. Butterscotch morsels
  5. White chocolate morsels
  6. Walnuts
  7. Peanuts
  8. Almonds
  9. Toffee pieces
  10. Mini marshmallows
  11. Brown sugar
  12. Coconut
  13. Cocoa nibs (raw chocolate)
  14. Banana pieces
  15. Dried fruit
Instructions
  1. Allow each camper to design their cone with the fillers of choice in layers. Wrap securely with foil and place over heat near campfire or on grill to allow the chocolates to melt. Unwrap and enjoy.
For a variation you can take waffle cone bowls and fill them with the fresh fruit of choice. Try these delicious combinations
  1. Fresh strawberries and chocolate chips
  2. Peaches, white chocolate, and almond slivers
  3. Apple slices, cinnamon, raisins, brown sugar, and butter
  4. Bananas, butterscotch morsels, and brown sugar
Adapted from Chef Jessica Bright
Go Houseboating http://www.gohouseboating.com/

View More Recipes »

 

Six Sisters 25 Camping Recipes

Lumberjack Breakfast
Lumberjack Breakfast Packets
Print
Ingredients
  1. Sausages or Canadian bacon
  2. Frozen hash browns, or leftover cooked potatoes, diced
  3. Eggs
  4. Chopped tomatoes and green onions, if you like
  5. Shredded cheese, any kind.
Instructions
  1. Lay sausages or Canadian bacon on a double layer of foil that has been sprayed lightly with cooking spray. It is best to have the meat on the bottom so it can receive direct heat from the grill to cook properly. {Leave out the sausages if you don't like meat, and just start hash browns and a big dab of butter.}
  2. On top of the sausages, add a handful of frozen hash browns or diced leftover potatoes, an egg or two, and diced tomato and green onion if you like.
  3. Salt & pepper to taste. You can also add Cajun spice, or Old Bay spice or whatever spice your family likes. Wrap up packet and place on a hot BBQ for 15-20 minutes or until meat is thoroughly cooked. {If you are not sure how to close up the packet, please check yesterday's post here.}
  4. After the packet has cooked for 15-20 minutes...I like to open it up and add shredded cheese and put it back on the BBQ with the cover down to melt the cheese for a few minutes.
  5. Once the cheese is melted,.. presto....a delicious and very filling breakfast..or brunch is ready!
  6. Add some fruit and you have a picture perfect meal.
Adapted from Echoes of Laughter
Go Houseboating http://www.gohouseboating.com/

View More Recipes »

 

Plan Ahead

There are several ways you can plan your meals, depending on the type of group. You can make them as elaborate or as simple as you wish, since the kitchens (galleys) on most vessels have everything you need. Besides a good variety of cookware, bakeware and utensils, most houseboat models have a stove top, oven, microwave and barbeque*. Marinate your meats and chicken before you leave and keep them cold or frozen. Warm meat on the grill and add breads and salads.

Here are some suggestions to make your meal planning easier:

Have one person prepare an entire menu for the trip. Post a written menu indicating what food is for what meal.
Advantages: Minimum of excess food, efficient food storage, everyone knows what to expect.
Disadvantage: If someone eats the wrong food at the wrong time, it may upset the plan and could upset some people!

Assign meals to various people, making each person responsible for one or more specific meals.
Advantages: Meal preparation is fairly distributed, everyone participates in the planning. Cleanup is distributed too!
Disadvantage: You risk having to eat something that you don’t like.

Let each individual or family take care of their own food.
Advantages: If you have special eating demands, such as vegetarian preferences, you control your diet.
Disadvantage: You may miss the joys of preparing the food and dining together with others in your group.

If you’re houseboating for a full week, consider packing meat and frozen goods for the second half of your trip in an ice chest with dry ice, taping the lid shut. After four days, everything will still be frozen and you won’t have maxed out the refrigerator/freezers on your vessel.