Night Bonfire Party Foods

A bonfire party brings friends together regardless of the weather.

Holding a bonfire party at night can be a wonderful experience for friends and family of all ages. In keeping with the theme, use the fire not only to provide warmth and light, but also for cooking your food. This cooking method has been used for the majority of human history. With some preparation and a lot of care around the fire, you can create a sumptuous feast for you and your party guests that requires cleanup and lots of fun.

On a Stick

S'mores are a classic treat enjoyed around a fire.

Using sticks to cook food over a fire is a popular method of cooking when camping, and this same method works well for bonfires. Because bonfires tend to be larger than a campfire, use caution and stand away from the flames. Find long, straight deadfall or bring some wood or metal sticks for this purpose. You can roast hot dogs and sausages on sticks or brown marshmallows which can then be used to make s'mores, a sandwich consisting of a piece of chocolate, two graham crackers, and a hot marshmallow. To avoid getting close to the fire, use very long sticks that can be planted in the ground at an angle that will place whatever is on their tips near the hottest parts of the bonfire. Before cooking, slide sliced vegetables and cubes of meat over the tips of each stick and then place the sticks in the ground. For a large number of guests, ring the bonfire with long kabob skewers to alert your friends as to how close they can safely get to the fire without injury.

Among the Coals

Corn roasted in the fire tastes sweet and smoky.

Make use of the fire by placing your food directly among the coals. Since the bonfire will be hotter than a campfire, use the outer ring of stones that mark the boundary of the fuel for the fire as a place to cook starchy vegetables. Wrap potatoes and other root vegetables in aluminum foil and use long tongs to set them among the coals. For corn on the cob, leave each ear of corn in its husk and soak the ears in a bucket of water for at least an hour before adding them to the fire. Vegetables cooked near the coals usually need less time than in an oven; corn should be ready within fifteen to twenty minutes while root vegetables should only take twenty to thirty minutes to cook, depending on their size. Remove the foods with tongs or fire forks.

Folded in Packets

A coat of seasoned breading over fish creates a crisp crust in the fire.

Cook fish or delicate vegetables in premade aluminum foil packets. The packets can be placed among the coals, just as the root vegetables and corn above. Season your fish and slice vegetables before packaging them between two sheets of foil, one on either side of your food. Fold the edges of the foil on all sides until the packet is tightly sealed. If you wish to toast a flat bread like pita, fry bread or naan, you can use a similar packet method to cook your breads. Place a sheet of foil on either side of your bread, fold down the edges, and then fold the packet in half or roll it. Retrieve your cooked packets with long fire tongs after fifteen minutes.

In the Cauldron

A hot fire-cooked stew can warm guests on a cold night.

Set up your fire pit as you normally would, with a small second stone ring that links to the first. Place a smaller amount of wood or coals in the side pit with either a metal stand for a cook pot or a tripod to hang a cauldron arranged over it. Prepare the ingredients for your favorite stew, soup, chili or hot pot. Cover the pot or cauldron with its lid and place it over the smaller fire pit or hang it on the tripod. Start the fire, making sure that the fire catches in the smaller pit as well. Once the fire does not require constant attention, wait about an hour to an hour and a half for the meal in the pot to cook enough to eat. Use a hook to lift the pot by its handle and remove it from the fire before serving the food inside.

On the Side

Add dressing to salad during the party to avoid wilting greens.

Bring a cooler complete with the condiments, drinks and sides you want to provide your guests. A salad with cool greens can be a refreshing counterpoint to hot foods from the fire, as can an assortment of fresh fruit. Make certain to bring along plenty of water if you are not near a fresh water source, since partying near the fire will make your guests thirsty.

References

• Earth Easy: Campfire Cooking
• CampfireDude.com: Campfire Cooking