I always look forward to our camping trips in the summer, and this year was no exception. My mum has been visiting from India, and we were definitely looking forward to heading back into Jasper, and I wanted to make sure that mum's first ever camping trip was going to be a success.
There is always friendly competition between Jasper and Banff National Parks - I must admit, I am firmly in the Jasper camp (no pun, honest.) I love the weird shapes of the Jasper mountains, and we are almost always guaranteed to see some beautiful wildlife. This year we were lucky enough to see elk, marmots, bighorn sheep and the best of all, a beautiful mama bear with two cubs. Adz, mom and I were thrilled to bits.
I recently wrote a couple of posts on camping - including how I get myself organised and pack food - for The Kitchn, and as I was writing them, I realised how much I enjoy getting out and about in the fresh air. Adz loves it, and even my mum enjoyed the experience very much.
One of my favourite camping meals to make is this delicious paella, a riff on Ottolenghi's vegetable paella. I make lots of it, and we love having leftovers for picnic lunches when we're hiking or walking around in the park. Most of the ingredients for this dish are seasonal and I vary them to suit whatever I happen to have in my coolers at the time, which makes it a versatile dish to make outdoors. I make the paella vegetarian, but sometimes I will also serve with with fire roasted sausages. I found some delicious fennel and chili sausages at Ag Foods in Jasper and my mom and I loved them on our paella, while Kay and Adz ate the vegetarian version.
The nicest part of this dish is that you start off the initial prep on a campstove, but you can then cover your dish with foil and place it just off a campfire grill, which makes is simple and uncomplicated to make. And served with some of that cooking wine, it makes for a easy, healthy and hearty dish for those beautiful summer evenings.
As you can see in the above pictures, there are a few things I consider essential while camping (and no, it's not just the wine.)
I always pack my Falcon Enamelware prep set, as the nesting bowls and colander make it very easy to carry, take up minimal space, and work for a wide variety of purposes. I also have these sweet enamel plates and mugs, which my entire family loves and we use them all the time and not just for camping. I have my eye on this lovely teapot soon, and I don't think I could go camping without these essentials. Not only are they durable and lightweight, they are also easy to clean and can be used for several different purposes as well (yes, I know... that mug works really well as a wineglass too.)
Which is why I am thrilled to announce another giveaway from the lovely folks over at Falcon Enamelware on The Tiffin Box. To get you started for the camping season, one lucky person will win a set of four red rimmed enamelware plates and a second winner will recieve a set of four enamel tumblers in assorted colours.
To be in with the chance to win this fabulous giveaway, just read the simple rules below and enter.
Winners of the Falcon Giveaway - Congratulations Julie G and Lillian Tse. I'll be in touch.
Winners of the Falcon Giveaway - Congratulations Julie G and Lillian Tse. I'll be in touch.
There are three ways to enter.
To participate in this giveaway, please do the following - head over to the Falcon Enamelware website, here, and take a look at their beautiful products. Then come back and let me know in the comments section what your pick for camping season season would be. Please note, that only comments that answer these questions will be in the draw for the giveaway.
For extra entries:
'Like' the Falcon Enamelware page on Facebook, and come back and leave me a comment saying you have done so. A 'like' for my page would be a bonus, but won't count as an entry... that's just be you being nice to me :)
Follow me @michpetersjones and @FalconEnamel on Twitter, and leave me a comment saying you've done so.
Please leave an email address or a way for me to contact you if you win. This is really important as if there is no way to contact the winner, I will pick a different one.
This giveaway is open worldwide and you can enter from any country, as long as its legal.
The giveaway ends on August 25th 2014 at 8 PM MST. I will pick a winner and contact them by email shortly afterwards. Please respond to the email as soon as you can. If I don't hear back within 2 days, I will choose an alternate winner.
I will post the sets to the winner using Canada Post's parcel services. Please note that I will mark the package as a gift, but you will be responsible for an taxes or customs duties that your government levies on the package.
Recipe
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 small onion, diced
1 small fennel bulb, diced
1 red pepper, diced
1 cup chopped mushrooms
2 teaspoons smoked paprika
Pinch of saffron, soaked in a little warm water
1 cup paella rice
Salt to taste
1/2 cup white wine
2 cups hot vegetable stock
Large handful chopped olives
1 jar (about 4 - 5) artichoke hearts, chopped
10 - 15 cherry tomatoes
Fresh parsley, to garnish
Sliced grilled sausages, to serve
Method:
Heat the oil in a large, cast iron saute pan and add the onion and fennel. Saute for a few minutes, until softened, then add the pepper and mushrooms.
Fry together for about 3 - 4 minutes. Add the paprika and saffron, stir and add the rice and salt to taste. Stir until the rice is coated with the spices and vegetables, then add the wine.
Cook for 2 - 3 minutes, until the wine begins to evaporate. Add the hot stock, stir, taste and season with a little more salt, if necessary. Stir in the olives and the artichoke hearts. Place the cherry tomatoes on top of the paella.
Cover tightly with foil, and transfer to the edge of a campfire grill or turn the heat on your stove as low as it will go. Cook undisturbed for 25 - 30 minutes, then take off the heat and leave to rest for a few more minutes.
When ready to serve, open the foil, gently stir the rice and serve with sliced sausages and garnished with fresh parsley.
Love the prep set bowls
ReplyDeletemy pick for the camping season would be the mini tumblers
ReplyDeletehttp://www.falconenamelware.com/products/mini-tumbler
email cookiesmasher5@yahoo.com
liked falcon enamelware via fb name Karin Shaim
ReplyDeletecookiesmasher5@yahoo.com
My pick would have to be the mug. In addition to holding beverages, it can be used to serve food. I've even used an enamelware mug in place of a pot for camp-stove cooking (although I probably wouldn't with a shiny, brand new one).
ReplyDeleteI've followed you and @FalconEnamel on twitter.
DeleteI love the prep bowl sets and love the colander too!
ReplyDeleteI would love to have Enamel Mugs!
ReplyDeleteI have liked the Falcon Enamelware page on Facebook :)
ReplyDeleteFollowed @michpetersjones and @FalconEnamel on Twitter.
ReplyDeleteI like the bake set the most.
ReplyDeleteI like both pages on facebook username Carla Shiver
ReplyDeleteI like both pages on twitter username buddlakebirds
ReplyDeleteshivercarla@gmail.com
I love every single thing buuuut the tea pot is just ADORABLE!
ReplyDeleteI followed both on Twitter :)
ReplyDeleteI would pick this bake set and it could also double as serving plates. http://www.falconenamelware.com/products/bake-set
ReplyDeletebilliondollarprincesss@hotmail.com
My pick for camping season is the red plate set. http://www.falconenamelware.com/products/plate-set
ReplyDeleteI love the enamel mug!
ReplyDeleteI like both theirs and your facebook pages
ReplyDeleteLiked Falcon on facebook.
ReplyDeleteI like bother twitter pages @jnunavut
ReplyDeleteFollowed both on twitter.
ReplyDeleteI really like the falcon enamelwear tumblers. they are so pretty and useful for camping!
ReplyDeleteI have follow the facebook pages(both) and twitter pages. My fb and twitter id is coralcrue
My email id is coralcrue@gmail.com
the paella looks so inviting and delicious.
I'd choose the Prep Set.
ReplyDeleteI would love everything but the Prep Set and Pie sets besides the plates and mugs would be in my camping kit!
ReplyDeleteI followed Falcon on Twitter and also liked the FB page as well
ReplyDeleteI love the red prep bowls, liked and I love Jasper better too lol!!! Kirknsandra@shaw.ca
ReplyDeleteI Love the Tea pot because even when we go camping every year in W. Va. it's so cool up there that I have to have my warm Tea and this pot would come in handy.
ReplyDeletehttp://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0076/9852/products/White_teapot_large.jpg?v=1379352514
I liked both your page and Falcon Enamelware on Facebook.
ReplyDeleteI followed @michpetersjones and @FalconEnamel on Twitter.
ReplyDeleteMy E-mail is sh27617@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteLove the prep bowl set as well, but am sure the plates would be awesome to have in the trailer. I also liked their FB page. kbteske@shaw.ca
ReplyDeleteFor camping season, I would love a prep bowl set... but never mind camping, the bake set would get used continuously in my home!
ReplyDeleteAlready following you on twitter, but now following Falcon Enamelware from @caribougrrl.
I love the classic mugs. Do they come with hot chocolate?!
ReplyDelete- Prathima Mia Rodrigues.
I liked the Falcon page on FB and yours of course.
Deletehave liked both pages on Facebook (Your and theirs). I would take the prep sets and the plate sets as I have cups with flasks :-)
ReplyDeleteEmail is vfmin@hotmail.com
DeleteI love it all!!! But the prep set would be first on my shopping list. (alpenmicho at rogers dot com) ... and of course I like making all your recipes.
ReplyDeleteI followed you on twitter - alpenmicho
ReplyDeleteI followed falcon on twitter
ReplyDeleteI like falcon on facebook and of course I already like you.
ReplyDeleteprep set for sure
ReplyDeleteI liked the falcon page
ReplyDeleteI am now following you and falconware
ReplyDeleteI am now following you and falconware. I love your blog as well!!!
ReplyDeleteI like the teapot and the mugs!
ReplyDeleteI personally like the plates, mugs and colorful mini tumblers; they'd have so many uses! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI don't have nice camping dishes. I usually just buy some dollar store stuff before heading out. The prep bowls would be very useful! And I like the serving platter too!
ReplyDeleteI follow on FB https://www.facebook.com/imahappymess
ReplyDeleteI follow on Twitter @imahappymess
ReplyDeleteimahappymess(at)gmail(dot)com
I like the prep set but the serving platter is awesome too!
ReplyDeleteI like Falcon Enamelware on facebook
ReplyDeleteI follow both on twitter @juanitamay67
ReplyDeleteMy email is juanitamay67@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteThe
ReplyDeletePIE SET is my choice
The prep bowls look awesome! Would love to win the plates. Super functional!
ReplyDeleteAlso following you and Falcon enamel on Twitter!
ReplyDeleteI would totally take the prep set camping with me! (& wish I did last week, haha) Thanks for the awesome giveaway, you know how to contact me! :)
ReplyDeleteI also liked their Facebook page & yours! :)
ReplyDeleteAnd I follow you & Falcon Enamelware on Twitter. Hope I win! :D
ReplyDeleteI love the Prep set!! KairaWolfie@aol.com
ReplyDeleteCamping! Whether it is in a tent, camper, or on the ground, camping is an excellent way to travel to new places, see the 'great outdoors', and have a phenomenal time with your family and friends of all ages! I have had many camping adventures through my life that have made camping one of my favorite ... Free Survival Knife
ReplyDelete