Planning food for five growing people, for four days might I add, is a lot harder than you think. Especially when I get involved in that group. I’m not saying that I eat a lot, or that anyone in my group eats a lot; I’m just stating that it’s difficult. However, we had the super organising powers of Brooklyn, which everyone knows trumps any other problem. So with a slightly secret weapon and an amazing group we set off on a foodies dream adventure.
To say our preliminary plan was small, and way beneath our limit, might have been classified as an understatement. It turns out that a year’s worth of William Pike Challenges can change one’s perspective on the amount of food that should be brought along on any trip. After being reminded multiple times, finally being told we could feast like kings, we managed to write out a pretty decent menu. With a plan under way, we made our way onto step two, which brought along its own challenges.
We arranged each person would cook on a certain day, a much simpler solution compared to some of our other ideas. Then we were all calling dibs, I was the lucky one who got Tuesday. I only had one major meal that involved cooking, which was pizza. It was more for the safety of the group than anything else. After the others had decided what days they’d cook, we gave Anna a picnic to organise (it seemed like her type of thing). Now we had completed the stage I referred to as ‘The Easy Part’ the next part required a whole lot of research.
I only had pizza, relatively simple dinner in my eyes, especially once I realised it had a maximum of six ingredients. I threw together my part of the shopping list quickly and a few more days flew by of calculating and finally we put our lists together as a whole. We finished with just enough money to spare, equalling the amazing number of thirteen dollars each. Then it was suddenly Tuesday and we were heading off to the camp grounds (absolutely stunning by the way). The clock ticked over and I was standing in the kitchen, looking at the folder in front of me. After making a joke about Masterchef, which I received a few laughs for, I pulled out my pizza bases and got started.
It was once I'd put my tomato paste onto the bases and went to reach for the cheese that I noticed a small problem. I'd forgot to get the cheese out, so with a huff went searching through the fridge. Sadly, I came out empty handed and a quick scan through the shopping list confirmed there was no longer a tiny problem, but a rather large one. During the biggest shopping trip I'd ever heard of, they'd managed to forget cheese, which is crucial to the making of pizza. After a few words were exchanged and a quick glance at the clock, one of the parents flew off in their car to purchase the missing item.
I returned to my station after being informed that the cheese had arrived and waited patiently as it was grated. Once the ceramic had hit the counter, hands were darting out to grab a handful, I covered my bases in cheese before going to get the my other ingredients. Two of the bases had been claimed as Hawaiian, seeing as it was most of the groups favourite. The other was reserved for Pepperoni, a way to appease Brooklyn and her non-Hawaiian ways. The cooking took by far the longest, my pizzas going into the oven last. Part way through the cook it swapped ovens, taking up residence in the better oven.
It took forever and all the other groups had finished eating by the time the were on a plate and being sent out to the table. It was worth it though when I took a bite of the pizza. I wouldn't claim that it was the best pizza ever but after such a long cook I wasn't going to be picky. After we had demolished all the slices, Brooklyn and I made our way into the kitchen to wash the dishes that was remained. There was a brief pause of anything food related when I went outside but that time ran by and soon I was back in the kitchen getting our dessert.
Though this time the key ingredient was there.
Overall, I had a blast cooking on Tuesday and I definitely enjoyed eating the other meals. I reckon we planned amazingly which is why we had such an easy time when it came to cooking, the only slip up being the cheese fiasco. If I was to go back and change anything, I would only underline the word cheese a few more times. This camp was definitely one to remember and I hope everyone else had an amazing time too.
