dangerdave
09-16-2014, 15:13
Being pretty much clueless about how to cook on a long hike---and do I want hot evening meals---I have read and reviewed many recipes and techniques. This past week, I was off on my annual hiatus to avoid the feverish gloom of the sado-masochistic "celebration" of the disaster of 9/11/01. You see, September 11th is my birthday. So, for the past 13 years, it has been my habit to retreat to the mountains of West Virginia, away from any and all media hype, depressing memorial services, and---hopefully---cell towers.
This year, as in recent years, I had the privilege to hang with a great group of guys, ATVing amongst the fine managed trails of the famed Hatfield & McCoy System in southern West Virginia. I packed my UL hiking kitchen in one of my boxes, and planned to cook a hot meal in the middle of our ride on my birthday, somewhere on the trail. As this would be my very first time trying freezer bag cooking, I was anxious to see how it would turn out.
Note: I am not interested in discussing the pros and cons, opinions, frustrations, or attitudes anyone has regarding the sport All Terrain Vehicle riding.
This is my camp kitchen, weighing in at a moderate 1.2 lbs...
http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o86/dangerdave911/AT%20Adventure/IMG_0848.jpg
After some internal debate, I had decided to cook a basic Mac & Cheese with chicken breast and bacon. At home, I unpackaged the Mac & Cheese, pouring the macaroni into a quart-size Zip-Lock double zip freezer bag, along with about a tablespoon of bacon bits. For packing purposes, I stuffed the unopened packet of cheese powder and the unopened foil pouch of Tyson Chicken Breast into the baggy with the macaroni. It all fit perfectly. On the side, I carried a tiny squeeze bottle of olive oil.
In the middle of my birthday ride, I pulled out my stuff and plopped down---literally---in the middle of the trail to start cooking. I wish I had more pics, but my photographer was so amazed at the tiny camp stove that he apparently couldn't function.
Here's where I cooked (me seated in the background)...
http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o86/dangerdave911/AT%20Adventure/6ac36539b2829690fdba75d9a27c3bac_zps17ec79d6.jpg
Here's how I prepared my hot trail meal: First off, I assembled my little canister stove, quick and easy. Then, discovered that my 450ml titanium cup holds almost exactly 2 cups of water. Perfect for my recipe! I fired the stove and placed the cup on top to heat up. While it was heating, I placed the now-opened bag of macaroni and bacon bits into my 750ml titanium pot. Once again, it looked to be just the right size for this kind of meal. Someone was thinking!
The water took about four minutes to boil. It would have been faster, I'm sure, but I started with the flame turned down a bit too low. Once I fired it up higher, the water was soon bubbling. I carefully poured the hot water into the freezer bag and quickly zipped it closed. I placed the lid on the pot, nestled it into it's cozy, and nibbled on some trail mix while fielding the usual barrage of questions from the guys.
I wanted to see how the cooking of the pasta progressed, so I check it at ten minutes. The noodles were still chewy, so I waited a few more minutes. At twelve minutes, the mac was just about done. There seemed to be a little bit too much liquid for my taste, so I poured a little out (maybe 1/8 cup). On the AT, of course, one would drink this. I added the powdered cheese, a healthy squirt of olive oil (about 1 tbsp), most of the Tyson chunked chicken breast meat, and stirred. I would soon learn that stirring inside a thin plastic bag with a titanium spork in problematic. The goal was to keep the pot clean, but resulted in a perforated bag that leaked a little juice into my pot. Lesson learned: "Shaken, not stirred." Thank you, James.
By the time I finished the last of the meal's preparation, the noodles (actually turned out to be shells) were perfect! Even though I was not very hungry at the time, I nearly ate the whole thing! The guys all tried some, and were universally impressed, as was I. A resounding success!
http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o86/dangerdave911/AT%20Adventure/IMG_0885.jpg
After I finished my meal, I stuffed all my trash (LNT, ATV style) into the empty freezer bag and hiked...I mean, rode...it out.
My conclusion: Better outcome than I had expected. I am a step closer to complete confidence in this endeavor. Now I know that I can keep myself fed, with a variety of meals, throughout my thru-hike.
This year, as in recent years, I had the privilege to hang with a great group of guys, ATVing amongst the fine managed trails of the famed Hatfield & McCoy System in southern West Virginia. I packed my UL hiking kitchen in one of my boxes, and planned to cook a hot meal in the middle of our ride on my birthday, somewhere on the trail. As this would be my very first time trying freezer bag cooking, I was anxious to see how it would turn out.
Note: I am not interested in discussing the pros and cons, opinions, frustrations, or attitudes anyone has regarding the sport All Terrain Vehicle riding.
This is my camp kitchen, weighing in at a moderate 1.2 lbs...
http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o86/dangerdave911/AT%20Adventure/IMG_0848.jpg
After some internal debate, I had decided to cook a basic Mac & Cheese with chicken breast and bacon. At home, I unpackaged the Mac & Cheese, pouring the macaroni into a quart-size Zip-Lock double zip freezer bag, along with about a tablespoon of bacon bits. For packing purposes, I stuffed the unopened packet of cheese powder and the unopened foil pouch of Tyson Chicken Breast into the baggy with the macaroni. It all fit perfectly. On the side, I carried a tiny squeeze bottle of olive oil.
In the middle of my birthday ride, I pulled out my stuff and plopped down---literally---in the middle of the trail to start cooking. I wish I had more pics, but my photographer was so amazed at the tiny camp stove that he apparently couldn't function.
Here's where I cooked (me seated in the background)...
http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o86/dangerdave911/AT%20Adventure/6ac36539b2829690fdba75d9a27c3bac_zps17ec79d6.jpg
Here's how I prepared my hot trail meal: First off, I assembled my little canister stove, quick and easy. Then, discovered that my 450ml titanium cup holds almost exactly 2 cups of water. Perfect for my recipe! I fired the stove and placed the cup on top to heat up. While it was heating, I placed the now-opened bag of macaroni and bacon bits into my 750ml titanium pot. Once again, it looked to be just the right size for this kind of meal. Someone was thinking!
The water took about four minutes to boil. It would have been faster, I'm sure, but I started with the flame turned down a bit too low. Once I fired it up higher, the water was soon bubbling. I carefully poured the hot water into the freezer bag and quickly zipped it closed. I placed the lid on the pot, nestled it into it's cozy, and nibbled on some trail mix while fielding the usual barrage of questions from the guys.
I wanted to see how the cooking of the pasta progressed, so I check it at ten minutes. The noodles were still chewy, so I waited a few more minutes. At twelve minutes, the mac was just about done. There seemed to be a little bit too much liquid for my taste, so I poured a little out (maybe 1/8 cup). On the AT, of course, one would drink this. I added the powdered cheese, a healthy squirt of olive oil (about 1 tbsp), most of the Tyson chunked chicken breast meat, and stirred. I would soon learn that stirring inside a thin plastic bag with a titanium spork in problematic. The goal was to keep the pot clean, but resulted in a perforated bag that leaked a little juice into my pot. Lesson learned: "Shaken, not stirred." Thank you, James.
By the time I finished the last of the meal's preparation, the noodles (actually turned out to be shells) were perfect! Even though I was not very hungry at the time, I nearly ate the whole thing! The guys all tried some, and were universally impressed, as was I. A resounding success!
http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o86/dangerdave911/AT%20Adventure/IMG_0885.jpg
After I finished my meal, I stuffed all my trash (LNT, ATV style) into the empty freezer bag and hiked...I mean, rode...it out.
My conclusion: Better outcome than I had expected. I am a step closer to complete confidence in this endeavor. Now I know that I can keep myself fed, with a variety of meals, throughout my thru-hike.