In Wisconsin , campsites are filled with coolers packed with bratwurst, bacon for breakfast, bratwurst for lunch and burgers for dinner. (Not to mention sausages for snacks!) Those who are deeply rooted into a vegetarian lifestyle may not necessarily seek out vegetarian meat substitutes, but there is an element of fun and a sense of tradition when camping to indulge in a (veggie) burger with the works or grilled tofu hot dogs in a bun with some American cheese. These items, if even not in your daily food repertoire, can invoke a sense of childlike excitement and can taste so much better in the fresh air, cooked over a flame, after a day of hiking than they might at your kitchen table.

To enjoy summer time camping friendly treats, many tasty and easy recipes exist between delightful grilled vegetables and healthful meat substitutes. Many meat substitutes made with soybeans or tempeh, including veggie burgers and tofu "puppies" or veggie hot dogs, can be found readily available in a variety of types at your local food store. (Your selection may not be as great in the north woods, but you can usually find something in a pinch.)  

Another option can always be to make your own veggie burger from scratch using a thick paste of cooked lentils, black beans or chickpeas. Boil your bean of choice until soft, add a few herbs and spices or onion for flavor, shape into a patty and then broil your homemade burger over the flame by wrapping in aluminum foil. Add ketchup, mustard, relish, pickles or barbeque sauce, anything you like. Voila! Burgers are served!

One other excellent alternative is using Portobello mushrooms. These are a healthy and really delicious grilled vegetable. Look for those big mushroom caps in the produce aisle, marinate for a couple of hours in some balsamic vinaigrette and olive oil, season with salt and pepper, then slice them and grill them, wrap them in corn or flour tortillas for fajitas. Or you can grill one or two big Portobello mushroom caps, add some spinach and provolone cheese for an amazing and satisfying burger. Add your favorite condiments and enjoy!

If burgers and dogs aren't your thing, to make a spicy meatless chili, many have succeeded by adding seitan. Seitan is made from wheat protein, also called gluten.It is a thick, brown paste with a chewy, meat like texture. Some supermarkets carry seitan, look for it in the refrigerated case in the produce section or near the prepackaged meats like hot dogs and bacon. If your local grocer doesn't carry it, you may have more luck in natural food stores and co-ops. You can use seitan in any dish that calls for chopped or ground meat. Season it as you wish, add some tomatoes, corn and beans, simmer a pot of it over some coals and you are in for a tasty and healthy treat!

Of course, there are too many vegetable treats to mention here, between veggie kabobs, marinated in Italian dressing, grilled baked potatoes rolled in kosher salt and wrapped in foil, corn on the cob. The list is endless. Try your favorite veggies grilled or in conjunction with any of the items listed here and you are in for a fabulous meal that might lure some sausage eating co-campers over for a look-see.  

Like to snack when enjoying the outdoors? Soft, or silken, tofu is great for dips. You can whip it up in the blender until it has the texture of cream cheese and then add herbs and spices to make a dip. Pack in the cooler with chips or crackers and snack away.

Where ever your travels take you, whether it is into the wilderness or as far away as your own back yard, whatever you choose, slow down, take some time to enjoy the summer nights and make sure you save room for the toasted marshmallows!

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