Hobo Stew: A Personal Favorite

I looooove Hobo Stew!  It’s one of those meals that I had as a kid and never forgot how delicious it was.  Now granted, it’s much better over a campfire than it is in the oven, but if all else fails, it’s still delicious in the oven.  What’s better than meat and veggies that all cook together with very little cleanup?  Not much for this mama!  We were making it for dinner the other night and it occurred to me that perhaps not everyone has had hobo stew or thought to make it in the oven.  So I thought I’d share the “recipe” I use.  I use the term recipe lightly since I’m pretty flexible about what I throw into our packets.

Hobo Stew:
Recipe makes enough for four packets–plenty for four adults!

Ingredients:

1 lb Ground Beef (Or another type of meat if you prefer.  Steak would probably be delicious!)

4 small handfulls of Carrots

4 Potatoes

1 Onion

Olive Oil

Garlic Powder

Onion Powder

Salt

Pepper

1. Tear 8 pieces of aluminum foil and lay out, ready for veggies and meat.  I double my aluminum foil, so the 8 pieces will make 4 packets.

2.  Gather your ingredients and chop potatoes and onions.  I use baby carrots, but if you’re using regular carrots, peel and chop those as well.

3.  Form ground beef into four balls and place in the middle of the aluminum foil pieces.

4.  Fold the sides of the foil slightly so it makes a small bowl.  Add one potato to each packet, a handful of carrots, and 1/4 onion.  I like to place my onion right by the meat as it really gives it a good flavor.

5.  Season liberally and drizzle with olive oil.

6.  Close packets tightly.  The idea here is to not let the olive oil and meat juices run out and to allow the veggies to steam inside the packet.

7.  Place all the packets on a tray and bake at 350 degrees for 40-50 minutes.  (OR, if you’re camping, place in the coals of your campfire for 45 minutes or so.  That method isn’t quite as accurate, but is about 150% more delicious!!)

8.  Open and enjoy!  We just throw our whole packet in a bowl, open it, and eat it right from the foil.  Makes for VERY easy cleanup!

This recipe is also super simple for toddlers to help with.  I stood both the girls on chairs and let them put in all the veggies and sprinkle the seasonings.  I could have let them do the meat, but I’m a paranoid mama and don’t let them touch things like raw meat.  I also did the olive oil myself because I didn’t want it dumped on and wasted.  Get your kiddos involved in your cooking!  The’ll love it and will learn SO much in the process!