For someone who loves to eat, I often have very little in my refrigerator. At last check there was a half carton of eggs, a few styrofoam boxes of leftovers, some plain Greek yogurt, and more things than I care to admit that are way past their prime. It’s times like this that I rely on my pantry for a quick and easy meal that doesn’t require a trip to the market. There’s always a consistent supply of canned tomatoes and dry pasta in my cupboard. A few heads of garlic are also always on hand, which store well in the dark with the previous two ingredients. A few snips of basil from the garden and you have the makings of spaghetti marinara. Bottled Kalamata olives and tinned artichokes make great additions as well, when you desire a little more textural and flavor contrast.

It’s really quite simple. Start the water boiling for the pasta. You can basically have the tomato sauce done by the time the water boils and the noodles are cooked. Fifteen minutes tops. About the same time it takes me to drive to in-n-out, wait in the drive thru, and drive home. And it’s healthier to boot as well.

camping, eating, and doing much of nothing in Yosemite National Park

The last time I was in Yosemite I was the young tender age of thirteen, on my 8th grade class trip. That fun-filled week in the great outdoors, the awe-inspiring scenery, and the camaraderie and experiences I shared with my friends, classmates, and teachers left an indelible impression on me. I had always made it a point to return, and despite the relative closeness of the park I had never made it back in all those years.

After a snowboarding trip earlier in the year, our friend Judy suggested that we join her on her annual summer camping trip to Yosemite. Excitement was met with anticipation; I could hardly wait to visit Yosemite once again. Of course it was a no-brainer that food would be a big part of our trip. There wasn’t going to be freeze-dried, prepackaged food in our camp. Especially having to sleep in less than ideal conditions, foregoing the creature comforts of a shower and real bathrooms, and being scruffy and dirty day-in-day-out, there had to be something to look forward to.

We arrived at our campsite in Yosemite National Park’s Hodgdon Meadows in the late afternoon, with cars brimming with supplies: coolers and bags chocked full of food and snacks, tents, chairs, sleeping bags, and yes even an Aerobed. We were definitely not ‘roughing it’. After unloading all our gear and fumbling with our tents, a fire was started and we got down to business.

The first night’s menu would be cedar plank wild Atlantic salmon, prosciutto wrapped asparagus, fire-baked potatoes, and roasted corn on the cob. Our friend Gordon brought his soy glazed chicken legs. The beautiful whole salmon filets were brined the night before in a simple solution of water, salt, brown sugar, black peppercorns, juniper berries, cloves, and a good handful of fresh dill. The brine helped keep the salmon deliciously moist during grilling, and the infused flavors of the spices, brown sugar, and dill were complimented by the sweet cedar smoke.

There’s no better way to wake up after a brisk night among the towering pines than with the wafting smells of breakfast: sizzling bacon, fresh eggs, buttery potatoes, and nose-perking coffee. It was probably more work than most people would bother with so early in the day, plus all the dishes that needed to be done without running water and a sink, but in my opinion totally worth the effort. It was a perfect start; fuel for the day’s activities.

We spent the day in Yosemite Valley, which was a good 45 minutes away from our campgrounds. We experienced some of the same incredible views we encountered upon entering the park the afternoon before: the grand and larger-than-life granite faces of El Capitan and Half Dome, steep valleys and canyons dotted with evergreens, misty waterfalls, and beautiful verdant meadows. We wandered around the valley floor for a bit, and cooled off in the crystal waters of the Merced River before returning back to camp.

Dinner later that evening was Korean: Marinated boneless short ribs, spicy pork, kimchi, rice, and some Korean lager. This meal was well suited for camping; everything was bought from the Korean market already prepared, and we packed the food in zip-top bags that fit easily in the cooler. The rice was precooked at home, which was quickly reheated with a little water and a few minutes over the fire. Totally simple and oh so satisfying. We followed the BBQ meal with our favorite nighttime activity, a little quality time around the fire. No distractions, just good ol’ conversation with friends before retiring for the night.

On the third day, a couple of us went on a short hike. We originally wanted to hike the infamous and challenging Half Dome, but due to our lazy, late start, we decided to only head up to Vernal Falls. The lure of a relaxing afternoon picnic on the banks of the Merced was way too strong; any farther of a hike would have taken too long and we would have missed out on the fun times on the river.

We saved the most simple meal for our last night: grilled bratwurst with caramelized onions. By now we had emptied out most of the perishable items in our cooler. It was time to go home.

Camping in Yosemite was an absolute blast. I’m happy to report that despite the crowds and sheer amount of people sharing the park at the same time, Yosemite today is relatively close to how I remembered it. The beauty, grandeur, and mystique of the park still continues to amaze and I’m sure next time I won’t wait so long to return. And I know next time we’ll eat well once again.