I remember the first time I had a Hobo Dinner. I was on a camping trip with my family, and we were looking for a meal that was easy to prepare and required minimal cleanup. That’s when we stumbled upon the idea of a Hobo Dinner – a complete meal cooked in a foil packet. It was a revelation! The combination of hamburger, potatoes, carrots, and onions, all seasoned to perfection and cooked together, resulted in a symphony of flavors that was utterly satisfying. Over the years, this humble meal has become a staple in my kitchen. It’s not just perfect for camping trips, but for any day of the week when I need a quick, nutritious, and delicious meal. I love it for its simplicity, versatility, and the fact that it leaves almost no dishes to wash! In this post, I’ll share my go-to Hobo Dinner recipe. It’s a one-pot wonder that’s sure to become a favorite in your home as well!
Ingredients
- 1/4 lb. hamburger
- 1 small potato, sliced
- 1/2 carrot, sliced
- 1 slice onion
- salt and pepper
- 1 patty of butter
Baking Instructions
- Shape hamburger into patty.
- Place vegetables on top of hamburger (which is in the center of a 12-inch square piece of foil).
- Season with salt, pepper and butter.
- Fold ends of foil in a drugstore wrap.
- Bake at 400° for 1 hour.
- Serves 1 person.
Calorie: 400
Total cooking time: 1 hour
Difficulty level: Easy
The Great Hamburger Heist, or How Hobo Dinner Saved My Sanity
Let me tell you about the time I was left alone in the kitchen with nothing but a 1/4 lb. hamburger, a small potato, half a carrot, and a lonely slice of onion. Add a dash of salt, a sprinkle of pepper, and a patty of butter, and we’ve got ourselves a party.
The Lone Hamburger’s Destiny
There it was. The hamburger. A quarter pound of prime beef, sitting all by its lonesome. Did it dream of being a juicy steak? A gourmet burger in a fancy restaurant? Who knows? But destiny had other plans. It was to become a patty. A patty that was about to embark on a journey of epic culinary proportions.
Potato, Carrot, and Onion: The Supporting Cast
Let’s not forget the supporting cast. A small potato, a half carrot, and a slice of onion walked into a bar… err, I mean, my kitchen. Did they know they were about to be sliced and diced? Probably not. But they took it like champs. Especially the onion. It even made me cry a little. It’s an emotional process, okay?
Seasoning Shenanigans
Now, what’s a dinner without a little salt and pepper? It’s like watching a movie without popcorn, or going to the beach without a swimsuit. Sure, you can do it, but it’s just not the same. And of course, we can’t forget the patty of butter. It’s like the secret ingredient in a magic potion. It makes everything better!
The Art of the Drugstore Wrap
Now, comes the part that could make or break our dinner – the infamous drugstore wrap. I’ve seen the best chefs crumble under its complexity. But hey, I was on a roll (pun intended). After placing the veggies atop the hamburger, I folded the ends of the 12-inch square piece of foil like a pro. Call me the Picasso of aluminum foil.
The Oven: Gateway to Flavor Town
Now, here’s where things got really heated (literally). I slid our little packet of deliciousness into the oven set at 400°. My kitchen soon filled with the aroma of baking hamburger, potato, carrot, and onion. If this is what hobo life smells like, sign me up!
The Moment of Truth
An hour later, the moment of truth arrived. I gingerly opened the foil packet. The butter had melted into a golden pool, infusing the hamburger and veggies with its rich, creamy goodness. The aroma was intoxicating. And then I took a bite. It was a revelation. A symphony of flavors that made my taste buds dance.
The Aftermath
So there you have it. My tale of culinary triumph against all odds. Who knew that a humble hamburger, a potato, a carrot, and an onion, seasoned with salt and pepper and a patty of butter, could create such magic? And to think, it all started with a lonely hamburger and a kitchen devoid of inspiration. It just goes to show, with a little creativity, even the simplest ingredients can be transformed into a feast fit for a king… or a happy, satisfied food blogger.
The End
And that, my friends, is the story of how Hobo Dinner saved my sanity. As it turns out, cooking is not just about mixing ingredients. It’s about mixing a little bit of chaos, a whole lot of love, and a dash of humor. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a date with a leftover foil packet of deliciousness. Bon Appétit!
