The double dip recession has meant that many people have had to forego a number of their luxuries in life. Superfluous investments and treats have been eschewed in place of sensible spending and prudent purchases.

One of the changes that many people have made is replacing the expensive holiday abroad with a more cost-effective family trip somewhere in the British Isles. The latter has often been overlooked as a poor cousin does present the opportunity for new adventures and new fun.

One such opportunity is the chance to try new foods and test your cooking ability. Camping holidays in particular tend to rely upon the ingenuity of the chef. Large cooking feats for all the family require quality ingredients and high quality equipment. It is unlikely that camping holidays will play host to intricate and haute cuisine, so simplistic meals that are rich in flavour are important. Meals such as roasted chicken and beef stew are particularly enjoyable during such a holiday.

One of the most enjoyable things about holidaying is experiencing the local culture. Find your local butcher and choose locally sourced meats to treat your family to. The same cut of meat from different parts of the country may taste completely different to each other due to the conditions in which they are raised and their diet. Research before going on holiday about which meats the area is well known for producing and invest accordingly.

Meals that include larger cuts of meat such as barbecued joints of beef require the use of a quality butcher knife. It is especially important to take good care of your butchers knife when you are in the great outdoors, the increased number of foreign bodies and bacteria could inhibit the effectiveness of the blade. Because of this, it is important that you keep the blade clean and dry and only use it atop a quality wooden butcher blood that does not aid the spread of bacteria.

The family trip is also the perfect chance to get all members involved in the food preparation process. Even the youngest members of the family can be given a supervised job as long as they are protected from sharp edges or hot substances. This can help large cooking times diminish and keep everybody interested in the process of lovingly creating a family meal. Hopefully these new skills will be transferred back home upon your return and your family will cook for you every now and then.