Silver turtles are a great way to teach Cub Scouts/Siblings how to cook and to provide a custom dinner for each of them with minimal effort.

Ingredients (per silver turtle):

• 1/4 cup of meat (ground beef, cubed chicken, etc.)
• 1/2 cup of cubed vegetables (potatoes, onions, carrots, peppers, broccoli, etc.)
• 1-2 tablespoons of wet condiments (ketchup, BBQ sauce, butter, etc.)
• Dry spices as desired (salt, pepper, garlic powder, etc.)

Equipment:

• Campfire ring (large is better) or grills for cooking
• Leather work gloves or welding gloves
• 2 folding tables (assembly line)
• Several tongs (assembly line)
• Aluminum foil (non-stick and regular)
• Sharpie

Preparation:

• Cube all meats and vegetables
• Start a campfire and make some good coals (the more the better) or pre-heat grill
• Pre-cut 12" x 12" aluminum foils 2 squares for each person (recommend non-stick for the inner foil)
• Set-up an assembly line in this order:  non-stick aluminum foil square, meat, vegetables, condiments, spices, wrapping area, regular aluminum foil square

Cooking:

• Rope off the campfire area and designate 2 adults to be inside the ropes.  These adults are in charge of the heating.  I recommend designating 4 experienced adults and have them switch out because it is a hot and busy job.
• Station new adults along the assembly line: 1 at the aluminum foil/meat, 1 at vegetables, 1 at condiments and 2 at folding/2nd aluminum foil
• Line the kids up (youngest first) and help them put their choices in on the aluminum foil and wrap them.  We require them to take at least 1 meat, 1 vegetable and 1 condiment.  You must include a wet condiment to create the steam that cooks it, otherwise the edges will burn and the middle will not cook.
• Use a sharpie to write names and cooking start time on the side of the pack.  (The upper and lower surface will be smudged from the coals.)  Making different shapes when wrapping can help with identifying later (swans are popular).
• Use the leather work gloves/welder gloves to place the silver turtles on hot coals or grill (350F - 400F) for 10 minutes on each side.  Check the first couple and adjust the cook time as needed.
• Open each slightly before handing to the child to vent the steam (and avoid potential burns)
• Enjoy your custom dinner!

Helpful hints:

• This is a great meal at home too!  Just use leftovers and your gas grill
• Welding gloves work better than work gloves
• The sharpie is easily scrapped off/covered so shapes help.  If you sequentially place turtles on the coals it is easier to know when each needs to be turned/removed.
• Cut potatoes and carrots small, these are dense and take longer to cook.
• Any of the food can be pre-cooked.  This can prevent undercooked meat or hard vegetables and speeds up cook time.
• Be sure to include a wet condiment or it will not cook properly.  The outside will burn and the inside will not cook.
• Be creative, you can cook almost anything this way.

Campfire apples are another desert version of silver turtles.  You already have hot coals, let's make more desert!

Ingredients (per campfire apple):

• 1 apple
• cinnamon
• brown sugar

Equipment:

• Campfire ring (large is better) or grills for cooking
• Leather work gloves or welding gloves
• Aluminum foil (non-stick and regular)
• Apple corer or knife
• Sharpie

Preparation:

• Start a campfire and make some good coals (the more the better) or pre-heat grill
• Pre-cut a 6" x 6" regular aluminum foil square for each person

Cooking:

• Rope off the campfire area and designate 1-2 adults to be inside the ropes.  These adults are in charge of the heating.  I recommend designating 4 experienced adults and have them switch out because it is a hot and busy job.
• Core and slice the apple.  Leave the skin on.
• Sprinkle cinnamon and/or brown sugar on the apple slices (not too much).
• Form the slices back into an apple shape and wrap the apple in the aluminum foil.
• Use a sharpie to write names and cooking start time on the foil.
• Use the leather work gloves/welder gloves to place the apples on hot coals or grill (350F - 400F) for 5 minutes on each side.  Check the first couple and adjust the cook time as needed.
• Open each slightly before handing to the child to vent the steam (and avoid potential burns)
• Enjoy. Yum!

Helpful hints:

• This is a quick dessert at home too!  Use your gas grill or oven.
• Welding gloves work better than work gloves
• Be creative, you can cook almost fruit for dessert this way.  Cook times will vary per fruit.

Submitted by: Ken Ford

Smore-anas are the desert version of silver turtles.  You already have hot coals, let's make desert!

Ingredients (per smore-ana):

• 1 banana
• 5-6 mini-marshmallows
• 8-10 chocolate chips

Equipment:

• Campfire ring (large is better) or grills for cooking
• Leather work gloves or welding gloves
• Aluminum foil (non-stick and regular)
• Sharpie

Preparation:

• Start a campfire and make some good coals (the more the better) or pre-heat grill
• Pre-cut a 8" x 12" regular aluminum foil square for each person

Cooking:

• Rope off the campfire area and designate 1-2 adults to be inside the ropes.  These adults are in charge of the heating.  I recommend designating 4 experienced adults and have them switch out because it is a hot and busy job.
• Slice the banana down the length inside the curve through the peel.  (Do not remove peel.)
• Place the mini-marshmallows and chocolate chips into the slice in the banana.
• Wrap the banana in the aluminum foil.
• Use a sharpie to write names and cooking start time on the side of the foil.  (The upper and lower surface will be smudged from the coals.)
• Use the leather work gloves/welder gloves to place the smore-anas on hot coals or grill (350F - 400F) for 5 minutes on each side.  Check the first couple and adjust the cook time as needed.
• Open each slightly before handing to the child to vent the steam (and avoid potential burns)
• Use a spoon to scoop the dessert out of the banana peel. Yum!

Helpful hints:

• This is a quick dessert at home too!  Use your gas grill or oven.
• Welding gloves work better than work gloves
• Be creative, you can cook almost fruit for dessert this way.  Cook times will vary per fruit.