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THE GREAT OUTDOORS COOKBOOK

Over 100 Recipes for the Campground, Trail or RV
By Melanie Jenkinson

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creative camping, backpacking and rv recipes since 2013

About Trail Forked
Nearly a decade ago, I launched Trail Forked in response to a need. I spent many years at basecamps and on trails struggling to create unique food experiences to match the occasions without help online. I am a backcountry explorer, an outdoor junkie, and an informal gourmet who has traveled some of the world's most beautiful trails. I take pride in sharing them with you, along with the menus to match. Let me show you how to make your meals as memorable as the grand views you enjoy them in.

Unfortunately, disappointment can set in when you're in a beautiful landscape and all you have to sustain the energy it took to get there is a rock solid bar with a manufactured flavor added to it. While I am an advocate of bars as a supplement on your journey, I don't think they are a star of your food supply. With a few extra minutes of planning, you could be enjoying a meal of Oatcakes with Miso-Caramel Sauce and Bacon or Thai Pork Larb served over jasmine rice that is bursting with fresh flavor. If your interest lies with the tasty option, follow along on this adventure!

For Latest Updates

To keep up to date on the latest updates follow along on social with us @TrailForked (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter & Pinterest) - your dedicated resource for Great Food for the Great Outdoors.

For updates on Howl at the Spoon, our artisan sauce company, find us @howlatthespoon and howlatthespoon.com — We update the website daily with events and locations where you can find our wildly convenient sauces. They are perfect for camping, backpacking and any meal-on-the-go.

About Me
My name is Melanie, and professionally, I have an extensive background in creative arts. My career path has allowed me to serve as a designer and creative director for various well-known global, national, and local brands. My love for design, art, and photography have led me to several notable national and international awards, of which I have been honored to receive.

On a personal level, I grew up in Ohio with a grand group of female foodies that shaped my love for cooking with their drive for constant perfection in every meal. We rarely ate out or dined from a prepackaged box of chemicals, which I can only now truly appreciate. I spent much of my childhood eating homemade food from my Mom, Grandma, and Aunts with lavish holiday spreads covering every open space in the house. The influences were an ethnic range from Italian to German to mid-West fare. My Dad comes from a Ukrainian background, so we always had pierogis, sauerkraut, and haluski rotated into the menu. My Mom worked for a local restaurant that made countless varieties of pierogis by hand, including dessert filled concoctions. When it came to holiday orders, they had to crimp thousands over a few days. She was a trooper about it and even featured in the local newspaper working in the kitchen (photo coming soon). This photo later went on to be painted and hung in the YSU Art Gallery by a local artist showcasing our community at work.

Since I graduated from Boardman, Ohio, I moved from Fort Lauderdale to San Diego and to Tempe, Arizona, where I spent 12-years after graduating college. I met my Irish husband in Phoenix before moving back to Dublin, Ireland, with him. On a training trip for his work to Portland, I decided this was where I belong and forfeited my return flight after accepting a role in the area. He served the last year of his contract overseas and came back to settle here with me in Oregon.

I feel incredibly lucky to both have met Dave and to live in the PNW. They both fuel my passion and inspiration for the outdoor lifestyle. Dave is an avid kite surfer, and mountain biker who doesn’t seem to mind my constant shoving of food down his gob to test. Oregon inspires me with every turn, but I also love to travel around the public land and parks across the United States, because it truly is the land that I love.

The adventures never seem to be long enough nor the challenges tough enough.

Happy Trails!
Melanie Jenkinson