Get Cozy with Firepits

Now you're cooking with fire!

Ahh...the delightful aroma of food on the fire. There's nothing like campfire cooking. You, too, can replicate this deliciously primal cooking technique in a backyard fire pit! It's easy, and using foil packets makes cleanup a breeze. Because the food is contained in an aluminum-foil pack, you don't have to worry about grease dripping onto your pretty copper fire bowl. Here's how it's done:

Ready the Fire. Glowing embers are better for cooking than a raging fire. Let the fire burn down a bit, then shovel a thick bed of embers to one side. Keep the flames burning on the other so you'll have fresh embers to replenish the cooking area.

Wrap It Up Right. The key to successful foil cooking is the wrapping; it must be leak-proof and sturdy enough to tolerate frequent flipping during cooking. Place a large sheet of extra-wide, heavy-duty foil on your work surface. Place the food in the center, and bring the two longest edges together over it. Fold them over together 3/4 inch from the edge, forming an open-ended tent. Fold the foil again, and continue until it's snug against the food. You need at least three folds to ensure a good seal, so adjust the width of your folds accordingly.

Get on a Roll. Next, roll up the sides until you have a fairly snug packet. Here, you're rolling the foil tightly as though making a rope, rather than folding.

Handle with Care. Use long tongs to nestle the packet on the embers, handling by the rolled edges only. Flip the packet every 5 or 10 minutes. Most foods take 30 to 45 minutes.

Check It. When you think the food is done, transfer the packet to a plate, then carefully unroll the foil (watch out for steam). If the food isn't done, rewrap the packet and put it back on the embers with the seam up. Don't flip a packet that has been rewrapped, because the seal is compromised.