Camping food ideas needed.

[Baitball Blogger]

Forget the cans of beans. We need to pack food for a trip and each one of us is responsible for meal preparations on at least one of possibly two days. I want to splurge and get some of those camping food meals that keep for a long time. I bought some as part of hurricane supplies one year, but never got to eat them and I forget the brand name.

So, who has actually eaten the food, and which meals get high marks?

[NYC_SKP]

1. This is not a suggestion for modern pre-packed camping foods, but here goes:

I'd consider victuals, provisions, that were used by pioneers.

Salt pork, hard tack, dried fruits and nuts, for starters.

Dried codfish, smoked salmon, yum!

[KMOD]

2. When my son was a boy scout there was some kind of camping food

product he ate, can't remember what it was, I'll have to ask.

Why not stick to real food? There are many meals you can make quite easily while camping, especially if it's a short camping trip.

[Baitball Blogger]

7. We're going to fly into the remote area...

so we can't take perishables with us. Whatever they have to offer on the other side will be expensive, which is why we want to take our own food.

[hopemountain]

3. are you backpack camping or

car camping? for how long?

for backpacking - by all means, use the powdered, freeze dried stuff and be sure you have a good water purifier.

but, if you are car camping or horse camping and can pack a good stove or grill for an open fire, - there is no reason to not pack some real food and cooking utensils - as long as you can pack things in ice.

bon apetit! have fun!

[Baitball Blogger]

8. Good point about that water purifier.

I got Giardia the last time I was there.

[irisblue]

4. Hobo Packs, we made these in girl scout camp.

Keep these in the ice chest, and I now pre make these.
per person...I use 4 of gr. beef patty, 3 shakes of Worchester sauce, small handful of baby carrots, 1/4 onion, cut in biggish chunks, 1 potato, cut in biggish chunks. Double wrap in foil. Cook in the campfire ~45 min to an hour.

[truegrit44]

5. I was a campfire girl and we

made the same thing only we called ours Davy Crockett Stew.........I still make these at home and bake them in the oven.

[MrsMatt]

6. scrambled eggs

http://lifehacker.com/store-pre-scrambled-eggs-in-a-bottle-for-no-mess-campi-1602965155

you can use freezer ziplock bags to cook in boiling water

[Baitball Blogger]

9. That's interesting.

Thanks.

[Coventina]

10. Backpacking: tuna in the pouches. Ramen noodles! Camping: Beer can chicken!!

Glamping: salmon grilled on cedar planks.

My husband also highly recommends hard salami.
I don't eat such things, but to each his own....

[Baitball Blogger]

14. tuna in pouches is a definite.

Do they make Ramen noodles without MSG?

[Coventina]

15. Good question! My advice would be to go to an Asian grocery store

The quality and choices will be much greater.

[Dont call me Shirley]

18. I get Koyo brand ramen at sprouts. Take some teriyaki or soy sauce packets for extra flavor

[Kali]

11. My parents took some of the Mountain House products to the Aluetians

when they first came out (in the 70's?). I know my Mom liked them a hell of a lot better than vienna sausages.

the freeze-dried ice cream was fun.

I think we tried some of them before the first trip, and most were pretty edible. They must be better now.

http://www.mountainhouse.com/M/category/MHDL.html

I have made my own dehydrated things for camping. Tortilla soup was a big hit (no avocado, but dried tomatos, onions, green chiles, chicken bullion, fried corn tortilla "noodles" and dried red chiles cut in short strips. I think we carried a cooler and had some cheese on that trip.

the classic beef jerky is always good and you can use it for other dishes. make it yourself in the oven, much better than the gross dog treat commercial stuff. just salt (and pepper) some thin slices of trimmed lean roast and dry in a very low oven overnight (or hang on the clothes line in the sun) you can make turkey or chicken jerky too - use white meat

[Baitball Blogger]

12. Thanks Kali!

I knew I could count on you!

[MrMickeysMom]

23. We used to use those same Mountain House products in primitive camping of the 70's...

In fact, I found one a few years ago that survived several moves … Too afraid to open it!

The stuff was good, though (although expensive)

[Avalux]

13. Will you have something to cook on?

If you will have hot coals, get a pie iron. You can fill them with literally anything - whatever you can think of. I love mine.



http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FNLXWG/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_1?pf_rd_p=1944687702&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B0013HWZPC&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=09EF15ST24C7DE14G3VC

Recipe ideas....

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Make-Mountain-Pies/

https://www.pinterest.com/explore/pie-iron-cooking/

[Baitball Blogger]

16. Looks like fun. Thanks!

[alphafemale]

19. I use tortillas for the crust in them

Longer shelf life than bread, doesn't get soggy like bread, you also don't have to worry about it getting crushed.

[Avalux]

24. Thanks for the tip!

I'll definitely try tortillas.

[blogslut]

17. When I was a tweenage person...

I got to go on an overnight camp with some awesome college folk. Next morning, one of them dug a pit oven and cooked eggs, sausages and bacon. It was magical.

Here's an Instructable on the basic idea: http://www.instructables.com/id/How-To-Build-A-Pit-Oven-And-Cook-A-Salmon-In-It/

[alphafemale]

20. Do you have a food dehydrator?

That's a good start.

And these books.

A Fork in the Trail
http://www.amazon.com/Fork-Trail-Mouthwatering-Tempting-Backcountry/dp/0899974317

Lip Smackin' Backpackin'
http://www.amazon.com/Lipsmackin-Backpackin-Lightweight-Trail-tested-Backcountry/dp/1560448814/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1432859552&sr=1-2&keywords=lip+smackin%27+backpackin

Trail Food
http://www.amazon.com/Trail-Food-Cooking-Backpacking-Paddling/dp/0070344361/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1432859656&sr=1-1&keywords=trail+food+by+alan+kesselheim

There's others but I personally own and have used those.

Have fun!

[lastlib]

21. On the assumption that you're travelling light.....

and doing dehydrated foods, I suggest a JetBoil backpacking stove. Light weight, fairly inexpensive, fuel-efficient, and boils a quart of water in less than two minutes! Comes with a pot that stores the burner in transit, and fuel cans (pressurized) are readily available. You may not be able to take the fuel cans on a commercial flight, but perhaps you could ship them in advance to your destination and pick them up before you hit the woods. There are other good small stoves available as well, like MSR pocket rocket, but I'm personally partial to the JetBoil.

[Baitball Blogger]

22. I've been told that there will be cooking amenities.

So it's a question of traveling light.

[malthaussen]

25. French Army rations.

Seriously, you would not believe what they eat...

http://www.mreinfo.com/international/france/french-rcir.html

No wine included, BYOB.


-- Mal

[Baitball Blogger]

26. Good suggestion!

[malthaussen]

27. They're expensive, though.

If you have a contact in Europe, you can probably find them at lower cost than directly shipped to the US. And they're self-heating and include water purification tabs, so you don't have to worry about those aspects.

MREs would be another option, but their menus sure don't look as tasty as the French ones. One French rat gets 5 MREs in trade, although to be fair MREs are only 1/3 the daily ration. Having eaten both Cs and MREs, IMO there's not a lot to choose from in quality between them, but of course the MREs are easier to carry.

-- Mal

[u4ic]

28. Indian Food in pouches

like Tasty Bite (not as tasty as it was a few years ago), Vimal, etc. http://www.vimalagro.com/products_ready_to_eat_foods__pouch__9

Of course, bring rice as well!

I lived on this stuff while camping. If there was a store nearby, I often got more veggies or perhaps meat to add in. But they are meals in themselves without the added extras.