Like a lot of people who love nature, I’ve spent most of my life outdoors. Every chance I get, you will find me hunting, shooting, fishing or camping. We raised our four boys in Scouts, and we were on a campout every month and a week-long summer camp each year. In addition to all the outdoor activities we do, our tradition is to go on a three-week family summer vacation.
It does not matter with whom I am camping, dinnertime is always a fun activity, whether it's roasting hotdogs over the campfire, to Dutch Oven cooking, to grilling freshly caught trout, it is always a special activity doing in the outdoors.
One dish that everyone enjoys is Silver Turtles, which are personal meals prepared and cooked inside aluminum foil, uniquely crafted by the individual who is going to eat it. They are easy to make, fun to cook and please the most finicky eaters. To make them, all you need is aluminum foil, ground meat, potatoes, vegetables and a hot bed of coals. Lastly, you need to bring a hearty appetite.
To partake in this campsite favorite, follow these 7 steps:
Step 1: Start a roaring fire to get a hot bed of coals. Start to prepare your own Silver Turtle. If you are lucky enough to burn wood that gives good flavor like mesquite or pecan, that is a bonus. We have discovered that in the northern part of the country, where lodgepole pine is the most common tree, wood does not render as good a bed of coals as when in a campfire, when we use oak or other hardwoods. Pine is a soft wood that burns too fast and does not leave an adequate bed of coals over which to cook. You may want to bring charcoal briquets to add to the fire, maybe even some infused with mesquite, pecan or other flavored wood.
Step 2: Gather everything you need to make your creation. Portion out the ground meat, slice the onions, cube the potatoes in medium-sized chunks, and for convenience you can use canned vegetables like green beans, corn and carrots. A popular brand is “Veg-All,” which is a 7-in-1 can of mixed vegetables.
Step 3: Tear off a generous sheet of heavy-duty foil. If all you have is regular foil, use two sheets and overlap them a couple of inches for the desired width erring on the side of too much is better than not enough. Some people prefer to put the shiny side of the foil facing inward so the heat reflects toward the food and cooks more thoroughly. Spray Pam or a light coating of oil across the foil so nothing sticks to it.
Step 4: Roll your portion of meat into a large meatball. A ball of ground meat works the best for thorough cooking. Then, choose which vegetables you would like to add and scoop them around the meat. Hint: Add more vegetables than you think you are going to eat, because not only will they “cook down” but you will wish you had more because it is so tasty. Generously add your favorite seasoning blends or mixes—salt, pepper, garlic, Tony Chachare seasoning, or anything else you prefer. For leftover vegetables, wrap up in a new Silver Turtle so there will be extras for those who did not add enough the first time.
Step 5: Close the foil around the meat and vegetables. This step is the best step: Everyone gets creative and makes a design out of their tin foil meal. Some of the more artistic campers may create swans or turtles, while those of us with less talent may be satisfied with just a giant ball. We were lucky on this trip to have the Matriarch of the Mountain join us for dinner. She artistically created a “bunny” Silver Turtle. A new NRA Woman, Ashlynne, also joined us, who made a “grizzly bear head” Silver Turtle.
Step 6: Once you have a good bed of coals, arrange each of the Silver Turtles in a single layer across the coals. Set a timer and cook your Silver Turtles total about 45 minutes to an hour, depending on how much heat is generated within the fire. Cook on one side for about 20 to 30 minutes, then flip each of the Silver Turtles over on the other side and cook another 20 to 30 minutes. At around 50 minutes, remove one of the Silver Turtles, open the foil and check your meat to see if it has cooked all the way through. Hint: Check the Silver Turtle of the individual who prefers his or her meat well-done to gauge the progress of the others. If it looks like it is done, they are all ready to come off the fire. If not, put it back on the coals and let it cook longer, and check every 10 minutes or so. You know they are cooking because you can hear them sizzle.
Step 7: Remove the Silver Turtles and open the foil carefully because there will be a lot of steam. Grab your favorite shredded cheese, a fork and a side dinner roll and dive in.
Testimonials
Two individuals who joined us on this trip were making Silver Turtles for the first time. Terri said she very much enjoyed this experience and was going to make these for her kids and grandkids, the next generation of Matriarchs of the Mountains. Ashlynne, too, said she had a lot of fun making these and couldn't wait to introduce her family to Silver Turtles when she returns home.
As far as our boys, making these Silver Turtles brought back fond memories of all our camping trips and campfire adventures when they were growing up. At the end of the day, all you have left are memories so make them fun for generations to enjoy.
—Heidi Lyn Rao
