Backpackers, let me pick your brain: I'm planning for the Appalachian Trail!
I'm looking for suggestions for ultralight (read: DRY) meal ideas.
For example, I just came up with this one:
Prepare at home and blend:
1 part ground sesame seeds
3 parts chick pea flour
garlic salt to taste
I still have to try to make it while I'm in civilization and see if the ground sesame seeds will get the job done so I don't have to haul tahini around (and its premixed- just add water).
So yeah, on the trail, I'd add it to boiling water and let it simmer for 5 minutes or so, and there it is: fresh, warm, instant hummus.
Of course, if there's a packaged instant hummus out there, I'm interested in hearing about that, too.
My biggest challenge is to get PROTEIN!
I've got TVP, soy flour, freeze dried soybeans...
I've noticed vegetarian jerky and it looks pretty good. I'll probably buy a bulk collection of vegetarian jerky and keep it in my bounce box (the box you mail up the trail to the next post office).
you can buy dry hummus mix in the bulk food section whole foods or most other hfs...it also comes pre packaged..one brand is Manischewitz..I know there are others as well...there are also dry nature burger mixes, chili mixes and tabouli mixes..just add water.
the only kind of veggie jerky that i like is the primal strips brand. the other ones smell way too dog-foodish to me and i can never even finish them - ughh. trust me! the flat, smooshed looking primal strips!!
Stonewall's Vegetarian Jerquee RULES!!!!!!! Fantastic Foods makes a ton of stuff that you just add water to. Taco meat, falafel, sloppy joes(use ketchup packets instead of tomato paste), hummus, soups, and chili. You could also maybe bring ramen noodles and those dried veggies-just add water. Also, you can buy refried beans that need to be reconstituted, and they are actually really good.
Stonewall's Vegetarian Jerquee RULES!!!!!!!
*shivers*
we'll have to agree to disagree.. but i guess if you enjoy eating stinky, super chewy pieces of styrofoam that's your prerogative...
primal strips are the only way to go! not primal sticks, not jerquee - only primal strips - unless you wanna completely lose your appetite which would mean you wouldn't have to bring much food at all..
Stop by my house when you get to Massachusetts Upper Goose Pond cabin. ;)b
Have you looked into sites/books like:
http://www.freezerbagcooking.com/
http://www.amazon.com/Lipsmackin-Vegetarian-Backpackin-Christine-Conners/dp/0762725311
I've used these two books while camping for easy food prep, and some of the recipes are really good.
Good luck on the trail! How exciting! ;)b
Do you have a dehydrator? When I backpack, I like to eat beans and rice. I cook them at home, then dehydrate them and package them in baggies. If I'm hiking late or really hungry, I stop about an hour from camp and add one of the baggies to a bottle of water. That way when you get to camp, all you have to do is heat for a couple of minutes.
I can't remember if anyone already mentioned tvp, but that's an option too...it can be rough on some people's tummies though. But if you like it, you can dehydrate marinara sauce, then rehydrate it at camp with the tvp for "sloppy joes"
Okay. That's a start.
Regarding Hummus:
Manichevitz, Health Food Store bulk sections and Fantastic Foods version... I'll check these out. Thanks--
Concerning jerky:
So far, I'm under the impression that I might find myself highly opinionated when it comes to my jerky preference. I'll probably run a taste test and see what works for me before I make a bulk jerky investment. So far, I have primal strips and Stonewall's to try. Any other suggestions/favorites?
Also, the Fantastic Foods idea:
OF COURSE! (Why didn't I think of that?)
::bonks forehead::
...except that some of those mixes (i.e. nature burger and falafel are going to require frying, which is a bit more of a hassle, since now we're talking about hauling oil or maybe Crisco around.) I've always like the TVP chili and the tabbouleh.
Concerning the cookwear:
I was just about to purchase a jetboil stove, which isn't compatible with my backpacker frying pan, but I guess I could opt out and get Primus' version of the same stove, which comes in a set with a itty bitty frying pan/plate.
Re: LucidAnne's offer...
You betcha! I'll make a note of it.
I'm NoBo, starting roughly around March 1... and I have to take off a few weeks in May, since I'm the maid of honor at my sister's wedding. Drop me a line at eval(unescape('%64%6f%63%75%6d%65%6e%74%2e%77%72%69%74%65%28%27%3c%61%20%68%72%65%66%3d%22%6d%61%69%6c%74%6f%3a%6c%74%72%61%69%6e%69%73%6d%79%6e%61%6d%65%40%67%6d%61%69%6c%2e%63%6f%6d%22%3e%6c%74%72%61%69%6e%69%73%6d%79%6e%61%6d%65%40%67%6d%61%69%6c%2e%63%6f%6d%3c%2f%61%3e%27%29%3b')). I haven't set up my AT blog yet, but I'll have an AT-specific email and blog site so my mom can have peace of mind and my dad can live vicariously through me. Anyone else wishing to help out a hungry hiker, your conversations and cars are most welcome!
Re: Literature.
I didn't get the "Lipsmackin' Backpackin'" book, but I thought about it. I'll think about it again. I have a few other trail food books that are sub-par, which is discouraging I guess. I guess I thought posting to this forum would give me enough creative feedback so I could come up with stuff on my own.
Re: Dehydrators and equipment
My bffs downstairs have one. I have free reign on it, but I haven't resorted to that since that would mean a ton of work! I have a vacuum sealer that I got to separate out portions of food. So what I'm looking at is mixing together dry sauces, faux meat and store bought bulk veggies, so I can package it with the vacuum sealer into L-Train size portions.
I'll check out "freezerbagcooking.com", since it seems to jive with my method... thanks.
Keep 'em coming, campers!