 Getting
to the hut or to a nice camping spot is one of the best moments of a
tramping day. It is the time to relax, rest tired muscles and joints,
enjoy the views or the atmosphere and eat an appetizing meal. We have
seen some pretty revolting billy contents being wiped clean by hungry
mouths but we still believe there is no good day in the bush without a
three course meal. We usually start with soup to renew the fluids lost
on the track. The choice is large, the packets are light and the
resulting mixture satisfying. Then come the main, noodles, mashed
potatoes, rice, couscous or peas. Apart from dried sausage and speck,
meat is not convenient to carry, powdered eggs are fine. Last comes
dessert, stewed fruit or pudding.
We are not strong enough to carry fresh or canned food. We do not
like to carry out empty cans or leave them in the bush. Dehydrated food
is the only choice, it is light to carry and with a little effort it can
be made appetizing and nourishing enough.
Packet soups are generally good but it pays to read the list of
contents. Some of them like Oxtail soup have wheat flour as the main
ingredient and better buys have more vegetables, like Spring vegetable
or Tomato soup. |
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SAMPLE MENU FOR
FOUR DAYS |
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Day 1
Soup
Noodles
Instant pudding |
Day 2
Soup
Spuds
Stewed fruit |
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Day 3
Soup
Rice
Custard pudding |
Day 4
Soup
Couscous
Stewed fruit |
Basic
Recipes for Two
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RICE: For
speed, and consequently fuel economy, choose parboiled rice. Bring to boil
two cups of water, add salt or stock cube for flavor and one cup of rice.
When the water boils again turn off the heat and cover the pot with lid and
towel. The rice will be cooked nearly as fast as if it would have been
boiled vigorously while saving energy.
Dried vegetables and/or a soup packet added in the cold water (add one more
cup of water) makes a good meal. Use rich soups with a lot of vegetable.
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NOODLES: The
fastest cooking, of course, are the two minutes noodles but any kind could
be used and cooked as described for rice. Two packets of two minutes or 200
g of noodles should feed two people. As for rice, a rich soup packet will
make it look like an oriental meal.
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MASHED SPUDS:
Bring to the boil one and a half cup of water, add salt or stock cube for flavor. Meanwhile make a sort of cream with a 1/4 cup powdered milk and a
1/4 cup of water. When the water boils turn off heat, empty 250g of potato
flakes in the water, add the cream and mix slightly. A sort of gravy made
with a soup packet using half of the suggested water quantity, make the
mashed potatoes appetizing. Tomato, onion, mushroom soup are suitable.
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PEAS: Dried
peas with corn or carrots, mixed vegetables cook faster when left soaking in
hot water for an hour or more. Use two cups of water for one packet of
vegetables, add salt or stock cube and garlic and/or onion for flavour.
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COUSCOUS:
Prepare a tasty soup including vegetables (in France, Chorba is ideal,
elsewhere beef or chicken and vegetables) When near ready add a cup of
couscous semolina and let it absorb the liquid until tender
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CUSTARD PUDDING:
Bring to the boil one and a half cups of water and half a cup of powdered
milk. Meanwhile mix in half a cup of water three heaped table spoons of
custard powder and three table spoons of sugar or drinking chocolate powder.
when the milk boils pour the mixture in and simmer until thickened. Eat when
still warm with a lace of brandy or rum if you dared bringing some of it.
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