NATURAL RESOURCES.

OUTDOOR CHEF

Campers who grow tired of a steady diet of franks and beans should check out the adventuresports.com section of camping recipes. Here are a few of the Web site's best dishes:

Among appetizers, they suggest turkey pot stickers, which require fresh ginger, cilantro, scallions, red chili pepper paste, soy sauce, extra virgin olive oil and wonton wraps.

For breakfast, emergency sausage needs just one pound of your favorite ground meat, salt, pepper and a tablespoon of nonfat dry milk. But: ``For a more Southern taste, add some peppers (seeded and finely diced) to the mix. ... Whatever your taste, have some fun with it and be creative.''

For main dishes, mix one pound of hamburger, carrots, cubed potatoes, an onion, seasonings and butter, wrap it up in aluminum foil and toss it onto your campfire.

Club hopping: Any of these fishing clubs across the country interest you?

Coalition of Confused Coastal Fishermen (www.coastalfishing.org): Membership in this Texas-based group increased from 12 to 700 in two years. The 12 founding members decided to spend a day tossing out lines at a beach in Freeport, Texas.

Jersey Coast Shark Fishing Anglers (www.jcsa.org): That's right, these guys actually fish for sharks for the pure love of the underwater beasts. No word whether ``Jaws'' alumni Richard Dreyfuss and Roy Scheider are honorary members.

CAMPING OUTSIDE THE CONCRETE JUNGLE

``The Best in Tent Camping: Southern California''

By Bill Mai (Menasha Ridge Press), $14.95

Mai subtitles his book ``A Guide for Campers Who Hate RVs, Concrete Slabs, and Loud Portable Stereos,'' which tells you what kind of campgrounds he favors. The author has selected 27 of his favorite, most serene campsites from the Southern Sierra to San Diego. Each is rated for beauty, noise, privacy, security, spaciousness and cleanliness. Detailed descriptions with suggestions on sightseeing and access maps are included, along with information on fees, restrictions and making reservations.

Unlike more comprehensive guides, this is a book for someone looking for suggestions on where to camp. The title is a bit deceiving, as most of the campgrounds listed do permit RVs. A number of the campgrounds are in California state parks, which have recently reduced fees, making for some bargain-priced adventures.

If you're looking for a where-to-go camping guide, with an emphasis on getting away from large, commercial spots with all the charm of camping in the Coliseum parking lot, this is your book.

Grade: A

- Bill Becher

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