As I transitioned to full time parenting, one of my goals was to serve hot meals anywhere. I have really knocked this out of the park since.
For larger meals, I use my portable Cobb grill. This wonderful system can cook a turkey with two large handfuls of charcoal. While cooking, you can swap accessories on or off to make stew or beans, bake bread, fry breakfast, grill a steak, or boil water. The sides and bottom of the grill are cool to the touch, so you can move the whole setup when desired. When done, you can quickly extinguish your coals with a bit of water and pack everything up. I’ve had a Cobb for a decade, but some recently released accessories have me using it multiple times per week. I started with simpler meals, but by Thanksgiving was making a turkey dinner with my Cobb and roasting a chicken each Sunday. I’d say that the Cobb Camp Kettle (that also serves as a charcoal starter) and the 3rd party GrillGrate are my MVP accessories. The GrillGrate makes perfect sear marks and cooks meat beautifully (it requires the new wider Cobb charcoal basket to get hot enough). Loaded with accessories, the system costs less than a small kamado grill, but is much more portable and durable in the field.
Most cooking is done with the dome lid on as shown here. An extension ring gives you more vertical space. With a backpack cooler and the Cobb, we can cook large meals anywhere. A clever lifting tool is used to move hot components. The raised Cobb griddle is great for soupy foods. This 3rd party Grill Grate is awesome for meats. It sits on the Cobb roasting rack. The kettle here can boil water and acts as a charcoal starter/rocket stove. This 11 lb turkey or a big chicken is no problem using the extension ring. It takes several hours to roast. This round cutting board and lid make it easy to transport cooked food, This Prime Rib Roast was our delicious Christmas dinner.
I take a tiny Jetboil camping stove everywhere I go. One lives in my car (along with a supply of compatible foods/drink). I use this stove to create quick, simple lunches or hot drinks. No matter how fussy my daughter is, she will always eat Mi Goreng noodles.
What we call “spicy noodles” are a favorite. This is much cheaper and tastier than freeze dried camping foods. I installed this gimbled Safire-brand Jetboil mount to cook at sea. The tip of Van Deventer Island. What a spot for a quick lunch!
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