Hobo Dinners

I first learned to make these as a teenager. They're a great, hot comfort food while out camping...as well as a winter day at home. There's just something about hot meat and potatoes that makes me feel cozy and satisfied. Version one is the basic camping recipe...version 2 is the home recipe. Of course, you could add carrots, broccoli, bell pepper, mushrooms, etc. The beauty of the packets is that they can be customized for every one's tastes. Just mark the top with a sharpie marker when assembling....and make sure to remember where you put each packet on the fire in case the marker burns off!

Hobo Dinners...Camping Version:
Make these packets in the morning to eat in the evening of the same day.
Or, prep 4 separate containers to assemble the packets at camp as follows: 1. Season and form the raw hamburger patties a day or two ahead and layer between wax paper in a container. 2. Place the onion, carrots, and butter in the foil packets. 3. Peel and cut the potatoes and store in a water tight container of very lightly salted water. Use enough water to cover the potatoes so they don't turn brown. 4. Put the cheese into it's own container. When you're ready to cook, add a hamburger patty to the packet, drain off the water from the potatoes. Shake off the excess water as you place the potatoes in the packet. Proceed as directed below. 
1 lb hamburger
season salt
6 potatoes
1 small onion
2 carrots
2 cups Velveeta cheese or Kraft singles, or any shredded cheese you like. Regular cheese will be a little stringy, while the processed cheese will be creamy.
2 Tbsp butter
pan spray
heavy duty aluminum foil
Get 6 large pieces of foil cut and laid out. Spray each one with pan spray. Divide the hamburger into 6 patties, sprinkle with seasoned salt and set one patty in the center of each foil square. Peel the carrots and potatoes. Cut into medium to large bite sized pieces. Place the equivalent of one potato and some carrot on top of each meat patty. Cut the onion into slices and place one slice on top of each potato pile. Sprinkle the potatoes and onion with more seasoned salt. Place a one tsp pat of butter on top of each food pile. Pull up the sides of the foil and fold over. Fold the ends over. Refrigerate until ready to cook. Cut the velveeta into small chunks and set aside. To cook...make a fire or use charcoal briquettes. Let the fire burn hot for at least 30 minutes to make coals. Pull the coals to the side and place the packets on top. Let cook for 10 minutes and flip over for another 10 minutes....adding coals as needed. Carefully pull the packets off the coals and open one end to check the doneness of the meat and potatoes. If they are just cooked, add the 1/2 cup of velveeta cheese per packet and reseal. Let sit for 5-10 minutes longer to melt the cheese and cool enough to eat. Open the foil and eat hot.

Hobo Dinner...Home Version:

1 lb hamburger
season salt
6 potatoes
1 small onion
2 carrots
2 cups velveeta cheese, cubed
2 Tbsp butter
pan spray
Spray a 9x13" baking pan. Season the hamburger, make patties, and lay in the bottom of the pan. Peel and cube the potatoes and carrots. Slice the onion and layer all veges on top of the meat. Dot with butter and cover with foil. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour, or until the meat and potatoes are done. Add the cheese and recover with the foil. Leave in the hot oven for 10 minutes to melt the cheese. Serve hot.