Uncle Bernie’s Magic Seasonings

If you’ve ever wanted to take your campsite cooking from “pretty good” to downright magical, this collection of spice blends and marinades is your new secret weapon. Perfect for the road, these mixes are easy to prep, easy to store, and packed with flavor. Whether you're crisping up breakfast potatoes at a campsite, flipping fluffy pancakes on a griddle, grilling burgers under the stars, or slow-cooking steak tips after a day of travel, these tried-and-true recipes from Uncle Bernie bring comfort and taste to every mile.

1. Home Fries Spice Mix
This mix can be prepared ahead of time and stored in a sealed container for several weeks.

• 1 part Salt

• 1 part Celery Salt

• 1 part Black Pepper

• 2 parts Garlic Powder

• 2 parts Onion Powder

• 3 parts Paprika

• 2 parts Parsley Flakes

• 1 part Thyme

2. Magic Pancake Seasoning
Add this to any pancake mix—dry ingredients first, then liquids.

• Pinch of Salt

• ½ teaspoon Nutmeg

• ½ teaspoon Cinnamon

• 1 to 1½ teaspoons Vanilla Extract

3. Magic Hamburger Seasoning (Per pound of ground beef)

• 1 oz. finely chopped Chives or 2 oz. finely chopped Green Onions

• 2 oz. finely chopped Curly Parsley

• ½ teaspoon Coarse Sea Salt

• ½ teaspoon Coarse Black Pepper

• ½ teaspoon Dried Italian Seasoning

• 2 tablespoons finely minced Garlic

• 2 tablespoons Lea & Perrins Worcestershire Sauce

• 1 tablespoon Raw Turbinado Sugar

Mix thoroughly and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before forming into patties.

4. Magic Smoky BBQ Steak Tip Marinade (2-part marinade for 2 lbs of steak tips — start 2 days in advance)

Part 1: Italian Marinade
(Or substitute with your favorite oil-and-vinegar-based Italian dressing)

• ¼ cup Light Olive Oil

• 1 oz. Red Wine Vinegar

• 1 tablespoon Minced Garlic

• 1 teaspoon Italian Herb Mix

• 1 teaspoon Sugar

• Salt & Black Pepper to taste

Whisk together thoroughly with a fork.
Massage into the beef by hand until the meat changes from red to a bluish-purple hue—this means the vinegar is working to tenderize it.
Refrigerate for at least 8 hours.

Part 2: Smoky BBQ Marinade (Next morning)

• ¼ cup Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ Sauce

• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce

• 1 teaspoon Mesquite Liquid Smoke

• 1 tablespoon Minced Garlic

• 1 tablespoon Turbinado Sugar

Combine ingredients and massage into the marinated beef.
Refrigerate for another 8–12 hours.
Remove from fridge 40 minutes before cooking.

Good luck, and let me know how you like them!

Yours truly,
Uncle Bernie