Trail baking

I keep looking for a better way to bake in camp; sure would enjoy some biscuits. I’ve been chasing ideas and swapping suggestions with the guys at Whiteblaze. I ran across this idea on the Louisiana Hiking Club newsletter. Karla bakes trail goodies in a pan of non- stick aluminum foil crimped to the rim of her cook- pot, and suspended over boiling water. Aha! That would avoid direct steam contact! Lacking her non- stick foil, I greased a sheet of the regular stuff. I found it easier to form the pan by mash- fitting it to the interior of my solo pot/cup. Slipped the foil out, added a layer of water to the pot, floated the foil “pan”, and rolled foil ends over the pot- rim at that level. This worked for my camp- cup and my Ti bowl… one size fits all. Covered with lid or sheet of foil, I simmered single servings of biscuit dough and pancake batter for 15 min. Crusts were tender and did not brown, but the products were acceptable. Now I have an excuse for some field- testing.

Alfredo Potatoes

Here's a quick and convenient recipe for the pack. Sarbar posted on Whiteblaze a recipe for instant mashed potatoes with an added Alfredo flavor mix. I tried it with my own camp mix for Alfredo sauce and it worked great. I carry the mix in a zip- bag and drop the bag into my 16- ounce soup cup to prepare. The cup supports the bag; just mix in the oil and water and eat from the bag. This portion size works for me in summer, but I have found that I need more mix or an additional side- dish for cold weather or high exertion. Here are the ingredients:

1Tbsp Parmesan
1Tbsp Milk powder
1 tsp Coffee creamer

1/8 tsp Tony’s seasoning (or salt, black pepper, red pepper to taste)
1/8 tsp Garlic powder
1/8 tsp Oregano
1/4 tsp Basil
2/3 C Potato flakes
1 Tbsp Olive oil

1 C boiling water

Quick ‘n easy grub for the weekend

My grab- and- go food stores were getting low. Whipping together a few of my weekend staples, I thought blogging it would allow me to share these ideas and help me keep track of my typical quantities for solo meals. I have been packing these in sandwich- size zip bags and identifying the contents with stick- on labels. Preparation became much more convenient this year, when I bought a set of plastic measuring scoops… just dip the quantity, rake it level, dump into bag, and you’re ready for the next. Having the servings ready to pack makes trip preparation easy, and it becomes quick and convenient to make my escape. I don’t have this skill honed quite as sharp as I was with it 20 years ago, but I am making headway. Here’s what I bagged this time:

2/3 C Potato flakes- I’ve been using Idahoan brand, the cardboard can is a convenient package to work from. My favorite use is super- quick and convenient. I drop the bag into my 2- cup soup mug (described previously), open the bag and roll it down around the rim of the cup. Add an envelope of chicken- noodle Cup- A- Soup, add 1 C boiling water, and stir. Margarine, or olive oil, spices, hot sauce are all good additions. The potatoes are good plain, too; flakes can also be added into pancake mix or used to thicken soups and stews.

½ C Biscuit mix plus 1 Tbsp milk powder- Biscuits always give me trouble, but I like them so much that I keep on trying to find convenient ways of preparation. I had better luck last trip, so I packed up some more.

1 C Raisin Bran plus 3 Tbsp whole milk powder- In camp, and when burning lots of calories, I often want supper early. If I can finish eating and clean up while there is still daylight, that is even better. However, that can leave me hungry before sack- time. A bowl of cereal easily resolves this. Again, I drop the bag into my soup mug, roll down the edges over the cup rim, add water and stir (cool water is better). If I have been careful with that thin plastic bag, I don’t even have to wash the cup, and it’s ready for my morning coffee.

Coffee bags, 3- 4 per day- I’ve been taking the Folgers coffee bags camping for a long time. They are very convenient, better than instant, and easy to pack. I usually use 2 bags and make 12 ounces for my morning cup. I may want another 6- oz cup if I am cooking breakfast, and another at noon or late afternoon when it’s cold. My hot- weather midday caffeine fix has been coming from instant tea, recently.

Other griddle- cakes for the pack

Here are proportions for some combinations I like. These would probably cook well in an oven, but outdoor baking has always seemed too troublesome or equipment- intensive for me. Campfire baking works well, but I rarely build a fire unless I’m entertaining company. I usually reserve campfires as a leisure activity; it needs nice weather and lots of time with nothing else on the agenda. Baking is best for group camping, too. The following recipes are for solo packers. Note that most of these recipes contain substantial ingredient additions. They all specify 1/4 C of just- add- water pancake mix. In a previous post, only flavoring ingredients were added to 1/2 C portions of mix.

Coffeecake
1/4 C just- add- water pancake mix
1 Packet instant oatmeal
1/3 C water
Blend your favorite instant oatmeal flavor into the dry mix, add water, and squish to mix. I prefer a single loaf of pan bread, rather than flapjacks with this recipe; and it needs to cook slowly.

Apfelkuche
1Tbsp chopped dried apple
1 tsp sugar
1/4 tsp cinnamon
4 Tbsp water
1/4 C just- add- water pancake mix

Note that the fruit, sugar, and spice must be packed separate from the pancake mix. Mix first 4 ingredients, let stand 5 minutes. Stir in the pancake mix, adjust water as needed, and cook on oiled skillet.

Cornpone
1/4 C mix
1/4 C cornmeal
1/8 tsp salt
1/3 C water

These pancakes are great with syrup. However, I usually use this recipe as corn dodgers with chili, soups, or vegetable dishes.


Crepes
1/4 C just- add- water pancake mix
1/4 C water
Make a large thin pancake to wrap fruit, veggies, eggs, cheese, and meats.

Jazzed- up pancakes for the pack

It’s in my nature to tinker with camp- food ideas; some of you may recall I was a food scientist in a previous life. My suggestions here are barely a beginning, too. Additions to pancake mix may include fruits, nuts, chocolate chips, raisins, etc. All sorts of flavorings, spices, and even peanut butter can be added. Leftovers will keep for the next meal or snack. For all of these, start with 1/2 C just- add- water pancake mix, and pack all dry ingredients in a zip bag. In camp, add about 1/3 C water to the bag, more or less as needed. Squish to mix, pour out pancake- sized portions on hot pan (smaller ones are easier to flip). Griddle slowly, because the extra sugar makes ‘em brown quickly.

Gingerbread- add to 1/2 C just- add- water pancake mix:
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp ginger
1 Tbsp brown sugar

Cinnamon flavor- add to 1/2 C just- add- water pancake mix:
Ground cinnamon, to taste
Sugar, to taste

Chocolate- add to 1/2 C just- add- water pancake mix:
Cocoa powder, to taste
Sugar, to taste

Backpacker’s pancakes

Camp food must be palatable and fill the void. It need not be a feast or a gastronomic work of art. Quick and easy are usually best, and outdoor appetites tend to negate many shortcomings. Pancakes have been one of my favorites: simple to pack prepare and eat, and adequately nutritious. I thought it might be fun to blog some of the pancake ideas I wrote up and shared once- upon- a- time. The just- add- water mixes are widely available. Pancake mix in a bag takes little room in your pack; protect it from puncture, and it will keep a long time without refrigeration. Versatility, too, is as important a consideration for camp foods as it is for camp equipment. Multiple functions yield savings in pack weight and bulk. Drown a stack of pancakes with syrup or honey; use individual pancakes like bread, for wraps, for sandwiches, and to make jelly rolls. There are endless ways to vary the mix, too. I’ll post some of those soon. Meanwhile, here is my basic proportion for a single serving:

1/2 C just- add- water pancake mix
1/3 C water (mixes may differ; I usually eyeball it)
Pre- measure your batch size into a zip bag, add water, squish to mix, pour your preferred sizes into greased skillet. Flip when nearly set and brown the other side.

Tickfaw SP: getting there

I-12 East to Holden exit # 29

Right on 441, South 2.2 mi

Left on 42, East 1 mi

Right on CC Hutchinson Rd, by store, South 3 mi

Right on 1037, West, (it makes a right turn), 3 mi

Left on Patterson Rd., across from Woodland BC, 1.2 mi

Keeping the cooties out

I use these “boot bands” frequently and have mentioned them before; perhaps it would be good to share a picture and some details. I got this idea from Hugh McManners’ 1995 The Backpackers Handbook (Dorling Kindersley Publishers, New York. 157 pp.), where he suggested them as a means to avoid wet pants- legs. Although I wasn’t concerned about wetness, a light- bulb flashed and I had to try this idea. In my neck of the woods there are denizens of the grass and brush which will crawl up your legs and bite you. The ticks and red- bugs (chiggers) are always hungry. The fire- ants have given me much trouble when pushing a mower in tall grass and weeds. I also worry about spider bites, although those are a less frequent threat. I have tried various wrappings to seal off my pants- legs, with limited success. Duct tape left a gooey mess after the tape was removed. Masking tape broke or didn’t hold well. String or wire couldn’t stretch with movement and tended to come untied. Pony- tail hair bands were too tight. I even tried rubber bands a time or two, but they would get snagged and break. McManners showed rubber bands tucked into an inside pants- cuff. Eureka! That protected them from abrasion and snagging. I usually slip the rubber- bands over my socks before the boots, so less stretching is needed, and I don’t get popped so often by breakages. Pulling rubber- bands over lugged boot- soles can be particularly tricky. Anyway, I just slip on the rubber- band and tuck the pants’ hem under it all around, to form an inside cuff. Short- legged pants with gathered bottoms look a bit funny, but they do the job. Spray bug dope on pants and socks, or treat clothes ahead of time with one of the permethrin- based products. Rubber bands mesh well with my philosophies, too: they are lightweight, simple, cheap, and readily available. I prefer heavier rubber bands, but can double- up two skinny ones and make do. Spare rubber bands are best stored in zip- bags, to avoid oxidation and weakening of the rubber. In addition to crawly- critters, I was pleased to use this technique to keep mosquitoes from flying up my pants- legs; mosquitoes like to hide in my canoe, out of the wind. When I hop into the boat, the banded pants- legs can foil a concentrated swarm of hungry bugs that are just lying in wait, to bite my legs and ankles.