Tired of carrying heavy food packs on your wilderness hikes?
When 17th Ottawa Venturers were planning their Amory Award winning hike through Auyuittuq National Park on Baffin Island, they had to solve the problem of carrying a lot of food.
What a challenge!
Their arctic food needed to be easy to prepare, light-weight, and satisfying. No one liked the idea of living on tasteless, commercially-bought, dehydrated rations.
After careful study and preparation, they developed their own high-energy recipes that provided twice a normal person's daily calorie intake. Here are some of their most delicious, field- tested recipes. Prepare as many as possible before you leave; pack them in convenient plastic pouches.
Why not dehydrate your own vegetables (onions, carrots, celery, peppers, turnip)? Simply grate them in a cheese grater, then lay them out on a cookie sheet in the oven overnight at a temperature of 140 degrees F.
This summer treat your hiking youth to these light-weight yet tasty, culinary delights.
Stew is an easy, popular meal with all campers. Before your trip, mix together the ingredients in convenient plastic bags so you just need to add water and cook over a fire on the trail. An excellent tasting meal, Erie Stew serves five people.
Mix 1 lb. lean, dehydrated hamburger meat, 1 cup dried vegetable flakes, 1 batch of Basic Tomato Sauce (see recipe below), and one cup tiny pasta shapes. Add additional dehydrated vegetables if you wish.
Cook over medium heat for fifteen minutes. (Calories per serving: 518; shelf life: 14 days; weight per serving: 4.4 oz.)
This tomato sauce recipe makes an excellent base for pasta, stews, soups or even Kraft dinner. Prepare it before your camping or hiking trip.
Thoroughly mix 2 cans of tomato paste (6 1/3 fl. oz.), 1 tbsp. olive oil, 2 garlic cloves (minced) and 1/3 cup onion (minced).
Extend it's shelf life by spreading the mixture to a thickness of 1/4 inch over a greased cookie sheet. Dry about 18 hours or until the paste has a leathery consistency. Roll in wax paper.
Here's a tasty and nutritious meal that serves three.
Combine 1 lb dried beef, 1 package taco seasoning, 1 package instant refried beans, and 1 tbsp. margarine. (Shelf life: indefinite; calories per serving: 678; weight per serving: 5.4 oz.)
Mix ingredients with water and cook over medium heat for seven minutes, stirring constantly. Yum!
Russian Tea makes a delicious treat either hot or cold. Remember to drink plenty of fluids when hiking, especially in hot weather. Avoid dehydration.
To make nine servings you need 1 cup Tang (orange), 1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 cup instant tea, 1 quart lemonade mix, ground cinnamon and cloves. Mix ingredients together, then add water to taste (some might like it sweeter than others).
Prepare the dry ingredients before your camping trip; it will last indefinitely. (Weight per serving: 2.4 oz; calories per serving: 269)
Nothing re-charges the body and encourages tired hikers faster than a quick snack on the trail. Try these "energy balls".
Mix together 1 cup chopped dates 1/2 cup peanut butter, 1 3/4 cups chopped figs, and 1 cup chopped apricots. Roll into balls. Recipe should make about 33 servings, each weighing 0.9 oz. (Calories per serving: 72; shelf life: 14 days.)
Last edited: February 22, 2004
The NetWoods Virtual Campsite, Steve Tobin, Campmaster