Camping with a Toddler – South Lake Tahoe: Bears, Cedar Sheets, & Grilled Cutthroat

Camping with a toddler at Lake Tahoe, California is both fun and exciting. Besides seeing a mama bear and her baby cub, one of the joys of camping or taking trips to Lake Tahoe is spending time on or around the water. We like to fish, kayak, and just play at the beaches. As a dad, it brings me so much joy to teach my sons outdoor activities. From building pretend rafts, to making bow and arrows, to learning how to fish and camp. Sharing some of the same outdoor activities that I learned as a child is one of the most enjoyable things we do as a family. Combine outdoor learning with fishing, hiking, and camping in places as beautiful as South Lake Tahoe or Santa Cruz, California – well, that makes being outdoors with family pretty awesome. 

A Dad’s Instructions for Catching and Cooking Cutthroat

Step 1: Have fun with your kid(s)

The purpose of going fishing, hiking or camping with your toddler is to have fun. It can be stressful if your expectations are based on what you used to do before having a child or if you think a toddler’s abilities are the same as an eight or twelve year old child’s abilities. It is important to remember that toddlers are small, and their minds can do more things than their bodies know how to handle. Plus there are emotions to consider with two and three year olds that you don’t see with older kids. So remember to have fun! 

Step 2: Soak Your Cedar Sheets

The first step is to have fun, so the second step, after catching your fish, is to begin the cooking process. We love cooking on cast iron. We have cast iron skillets, plus we have a Lodge cast iron reversible able griddle. This griddle is great because it has handles, and it is reversible. One side is great for cooking eggs, pancakes, and grilled cheese. The other side provides the ability to give your meats, chicken, or vegetables nice grill marks. This griddle does an excellent job of evenly distributing the heat and can be used in the oven, stovetop, campfire or grill. We enjoy using this griddle on the grill to ensure even cooking, so that your fish is not overcooked and to prevent fire flare-ups from burning our fish.

As for cooking, you can cook directly on the griddle or grill; however, I prefer using cedar sheets when cooking fish. The first step with using cedar sheets or cedar planks is to give them a good soaking in water or white wine. For smaller fish, you can wrap the fish with the cedar sheets. We caught a good size Cutthroat so we needed to use multiple sheets for our fish. The fish is placed on top of the sheets and you determine the number of sheets you need, based on the size of your fish. 

For soaking, it typically takes about 10 minutes in warm water to produce a good flavor and not have your sheets catch on fire. This cooking process will add a slightly smoky taste to your fish and give the fish some nice aromatics. 

The fun thing about cedar sheets or planks is that you can cook many types of fish (trout, white fish, or striped bass), chicken, and add subtle flavors such as white wine, lemon, and bacon. 

Step 3: Season and prepare your fish

Note: Cleaning and removing the insides of all fish should be done immediately after you catch them or within an hour for ultimate freshness and taste. If this can not be done, make sure that you pack your fish with enough ice to keep your fish fresh until you are prepared to cook them. 

Personally, I think that lemon, butter, and fish go hand in hand. However, for this recipe, I added bacon for more flavor and subtle saltiness, plus a generous amount of garlic and dill.

Ingredients:

• 1 6-8 pound Cutthroat
• 1 Whole lemon, sliced
• 3 Sprigs of parsley
• 2 Sprigs of basil
• 1 Tablespoon of olive oil
• 1/2 Teaspoon of Himalayan salt
• 1 Tablespoon of ground pepper
• 1 Teaspoon of paprika
• 4 Cloves of garlic, chopped
• 3 Slices of Apple Smoked Bacon
• 1 cast iron griddle
• As many cedar sheets as needed for your size fish

Instructions

• Light your grill and allow time for it to warm. The temperature should be around medium heat.
• Take your cedar sheets out of the water and arrange them on your cast iron griddle. The cast iron will allow for even cooking and prevent any flame flare-up from burning your fish.
• Chop your garlic and fresh herbs and sprinkle the herbs, garlic, salt, pepper and paprika on your fish. Your Cutthroat is easy to work with if you cut it down the center (from gills to tail) and leave the back intact.
• Layer lemon slices evenly on your fish.
• Layer your 3 pieces of bacon over your lemons.
• Set your fish on the cedar sheets, close your grill and cook for 10-12 minutes depending on your preference of doneness and the size of your fish.

After about 8 to 12 minutes, depending on the size of your fish, you will have a tender and flavorful dish that your entire family will love.You will also have a toddler excited to tell their amazing story of the day they went fishing in Lake Tahoe and saw a bear!

Cutthroat can be served with mixed greens, fresh vegetables, or any gluten-free side dish you prefer. My friend Sandi at Fearlessdining.com has a great recipe for Quick and Easy Mashed Rutabagas or you can try her Loaded Air Fryer Twice Baked Potatoes https://www.fearlessdining.com/air-fryer-twice-baked-potatoes/.

What do you enjoy about Lake Tahoe? We would love for you to share your experiences of camping with a toddler or cooking with kids adventures. Plus what are some of your favorite freshwater fish recipes? Connect with us on Twitter or Instagram @MapsCookingKids.com. Until next time, agape, be kind, and happy parenting!