[Bryan K]

What types of things do you all usually take with for dinner when backpacking? I'm new to this and I really want to bring the turkey dinner with all the trimmings but......... I saw a good breakfast idea of oatmeal, malt o meal type things.

[Dayhike Mike]

Also discussed previously... Here are a couple threads where we discussed different types of freezedried foods: https://www.nwhikers.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=3444 https://www.nwhikers.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=5880 https://www.nwhikers.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=10376 Here's one where sarbar's talking about her website and cookbook: https://www.nwhikers.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=8015&highlight=meal The search feature is your friend. Google is as well. I use both on a regular basis to avoid buggin' my friends with the same topics again and again.

[Foist]

I'm new, I wasn't around for those other discussions, so I'll tell you my answer: Mary Jane's Farm. They happen to be all vegetarian and organic. I care about neither, but I buy them because they are DELICIOUS. The food just doesn't even compare to the other brands I've tasted. REI sells them.

[Dayhike Mike]

I'll have to check into the Mary Jane's Farm...didn't realize she was a farmer.

[Dayhike Mike]

[Foist]

Oh my lord, the weight! Ahhh! My back and feet hurt from just reading those posts.

[Dayhike Mike]

<grin> the idea is that we'd go in Friday night, expecting to start late and only hoof the heavy meal up the trail 2-3 miles tops. We'd eat like kings the first night and then have more meager meals the subsequent days. These days, the freeze dried stuff really does well, though, IMHO.

[Allison]

[Quark]

When you're outdoors, things you would scoff at in town don't taste the same; you may like them. Don't judge backcountry pre-packaged food or receipes solely by your experience with it in town (unless it's liver - chances are if you hate it in town, you'll hate it outdoors). Pre-packages stuff has ingredients for strenuous activity and replaces vitamins lost - you wouldn't eat that stuff at home, and wouldn't expect it to taste as good at home. Same with receipes in books created specifically for the outdoors. (Note: the exception is the Phad Thai that Putz-in-Boots speaks of. That's good anywhere you make it ) For instance, I love eggs, but I hate the taste of eggs outdoors. I eat Lipton Noodle mixes outdoors, but wouldn't dream of eating that stuff at home. Sure you can experiment with cooking them at home and identifying things you'd like to improvise, but when you're in the back country you crave different things than you do at home. And you eat more, too - don't underpack. If you think you have enough food, toss about 1/2 that much more in. It's trial and error for the most part. I started experimenting with instant rice, dehydrated vegetables, gravy mixes, etc.

[Brain]

I really like the Idahoan mashed potatoes. I also like Couscous and it's really easy and quick to make. Both just require boiling water and nothing else.

[Brain]

On trips when weight is not an issue and fires are legal (like an Olympic Coast hike) I like to buy a couple of pounds of stew beef (cut into cubes) and I put them in a Nalgene bottle with Yoshida's Gourmet Sauce and marinate them while I hike. In another bottle, I put pre-chopped veggies and have kebobs cooked over a fire...add some couscous and it's an outstanding meal.

[sarbar]

I have two sites: http://www.freezerbagcooking.com/ http://www.freewebs.com/healthytrailfood/ The second is my site for low sodium, vegetarian and vegan cooking styles

[Hiker Boy]

Take food that looks and tastes good. On short or easy trips, you can aften afford to spoil yourself with real food ie...beach trips where you can grill steaks, roast cornish hens, and bake potatoes and onions in/over driftwood fires. On longer and harder trips where food weight and bulk become a concern, I go with Lipton Sidekicks dishes augmented with rehydrated meats and veggies. Two other favs...Idahoan Mash is great with beef stew and Stovetop stuffing mix with some flaked chicken and veg is also good.

[Nisquaww]

Yes...the idahoan spuds are the ill money. Most dehydrated spuds are bland as all hell and need additional spice (weight). These are delicious alone, come in like 6 styles, and are only like a buck a piece. I typically dont finish the whole packet in a meal...theres usually a good next day snack left over. The lipton noodle packs are rad too. If you carry spices...a good dinner I bust out with nebiw hikers is friing refular top ramen noodles with brownsugar, soysauce and spices. Add cashews and tuna, voila....oriental yakisoba protein blast in the middle of the alpine. Wahoo for pasta.

[Dayhike Mike]

Ditto the Idahoan suggestion. Mix in bacon bits for an extra tasty treat. Nice thing is that you can easily make as little or as much as you want, depending on exertion. Never any waste.