[captain jack]

[seawallrunner]

cheap, super-fast, good and filling INGREDIENTS two packages of Idahoan instant mashed potatoes* ($1 each at Fred Meyer) one pouch of tuna ($1 at Fred Meyer) INSTRUCTIONS boil water. drop in mashed potato flakes. mix well. let stand one minute. add tuna. eat. mmm** total meal price: $3 *so far I've tried four flavours, and they were all good ** some meals are best enjoyed outdoors. I wouldn't think of eating this unless I was out for a hike for a whole day beforehand.

[jenjen]

Kleet introduced me to the mashed potato / tuna concoction. I agree, that's mighty good eating. But nothing I would have come up with on my own.

[ActionBetty]

Or mashed potatoes with a can/pouch of chicken added.

[sarbar]

[seawallrunner]

mmm, chicken sounds good too I was eating Lipton Sides (also known as Sidekicks in Canada) for years during camping backpacking trips, and just got tired of eating that stuff (although they have well over 20 flavours by now) the mashed potatoes cook up very quick, and offer instant energy. Lipton sides also has quick rice, which is also a welcome change from the usual pasta that I've been eating. Keep the ideas coming, please! A good meal at the end of the hiking day is just as morale-boosting as a lovely sunset or a warm sleeping bag

[sarbar]

[justybug]

i am sold on those idahoan potatoes. they seem to mix really thoroughly, and work great with one of those packs of chicken, or whatever else..

[Allison]

[billiam]

Ramen goodness...I enjoy the Mi Goreng. Indonesian instant noodles with 5, yes 5, flavoring packets (chile, oil, peanut paste, and ubiquitous powder). And, praise Allah, it's halal! uwajimaya has it.

[Spotly]

Tater flakes with the soy bacon, pepper and butter flakes premixed. Just add hot water and mmmmm! Light weight and very tastey! Eat em right from the baggie too.

[Ed the Biped]

Instant mashed potatoes rock! They're infinitely versatile. I like mixing it with dehydrated milk, butter buds, seasonsing salt, instant sweet corn chowder and a big dollop of hot sauce. Another good one is mixing hot chocolate mix with oatmeal. Ramen packets are great too. Line the outside of your food bag with ramen and they work as shock absorbers to protect more fragile foods on the inside.

[seawallrunner]

mmm, I love the ideas in this thread. No more Sides for me (ok, as soon as the five remaining packages in my cupboard get used up) Here's another quick food idea. I bought some instant couscous at my local grocery this weekend, we tried this at the beach last night (with salmon steaks) Couscous recipe on the box: boil 2 cups of water. Drop contents of the couscous package into boiling water, turn off heat. Let stand 5 minutes. Eat. There are several flavors available - plain, lemon and garlic, oil and garlic, and a few others. Couscous is just cracked wheat (or bulghur). Tastes great, it's filling, and just like the Sides, or the rice, or the mashed potatoes, it goes great with fish, or chicken, or pan-fried spam

[polecatjoe]

Breakfast from my last hike: Idahoan cheddar spuds Margarine pack from KFC Pack of pre-cooked bacon (I love this stuff!) Cook the taters, then fry them in the margarine until they brown on the bottom. Flip them, then add bacon on top to warm while the other side browns. Good eatin'. Not a big fan of cous cous...

[seawallrunner]

mmm tortillas! great lunch fare, but a bit heavy to carry. We like to take a couple of flavored tuna tins with us for lunch, and roll the tuna into wraps for a nice tasty lunch. flour tortillas - plain, sundried tomato or spinach - and flavored tuna are a great match.