Simple Meal Ideas

[deerfly]

I'm more like big Al I guess, for the main course I usually bring steak, venison, wild pig, venison sausage, etc or catch it along the way. When I get time to spend outdoors I try not to integrate processed foods into an otherwise organic experience if I can help it. Naturally the longer the trip the more difficult it is to eat fresh whole foods. Generally though for over nighter and weekend trips, a few simple implements and I can eat pretty well without too much fuss. A bit more than boiling water and soaking dehydrated ingredients for sure, but not that much more effort and the difference in the meal is substantial, well to me anyway. Here's a sampling of my typical canoe outing meals, you will definitely see a pattern here. Making me hungry just posting the pics...

 

[Alan Gage]

Simple and dehydrated doesn't always mean highly processed junk. Peanut butter and a little candy are the only processed foods I bring along. The only thing I dehydrate are veggies. Everything else is simple dry ingredients (oatmeal, lentils, quinoa, flour for bannock, etc).

We all have different preferences and tastes, and that's great. My preference is for simple, healthy, easy to prepare meals that are lightweight and low bulk. I don't get any enjoyment from prepping and cooking my food so I try and keep that to a minimum. I do get plenty of enjoyment from eating it though.

 Alan

 

[billconner]

I like lightweight; like to bake - bread, muffins, cakes; enjoy the prep and cooking; and always plan dessert.

 

[JohnSand]

Not canoeing, but on a sailboat delivery a couple of years back we ran out of cooking propane at sea. Every day I ate cereal for breakfast, a peanut butter sandwich for lunch, and a turkey sandwich for dinner. It was good enough and filling enough.

 

[Rubbaboo]

My go to recipe for a quick dinner:
Beef flavoured ramen noodles
Scoop of peanut butter
Hot sauce
For more calories I will sometimes add extra protein like fish or freeze dried eggs

 

[CaptainOllieWest]

Raided the pantry before a trip a couple of years ago. One of the meals I came up with was a small package of potato pearls with a pouch of non dehydrated gravy with beef chunks. It was better than eating Mountain House for every meal.

 

[ppine]

I like Mexican food in the outdoors. Taco salad, stacked enchiladas, tacos anytime, breakfast, lunch or dinner.

 

[Paddlinhal]

Seems like dinnertime is well covered. I confess I didn't read all the replies but for breakfast, I'm a cold-soak fan. 1/2 cup oatmeal, spoonful each of flax & chia seeds, scoop of vanilla protein powder, and pecans and raisins etc. for flavor and texture. Put it in a jar with a screwtop lid in the evening. Also fill my thermos with boiling water from the camp kettle for instant coffee in the morning. I'm an early riser and there's nothing like that first cup of hot coffee without waking the whole camp up with a stove and percolator. Those are the most precious moments for me. Did you know Tim Hortons makes instant coffee?

(Obviously the breakfast gruel is premixed in bulk ahead of time).

 

[Blukanu]

Only recently discovered they sell this in cans. Not lightweight but cook up some Bisquit biscuits and this makes a delicious, hearty breakfast.

 

[yknpdlr]

Better yet, I like McCormack County gravy mix. Lightweight and tastes just as good. I like it with frozen home dehydrated hash brown patties, which I break up into small pieces before dehydrating. Weighs almiost nothing when dry. It rehydrates fully in only a couple. of minutes. top with county gravy, yum. Even better with real dehydrated sausage bits rehydrated (but that takes a bit more time).

 

[yknpdlr]

I like Mexican food in the outdoors. Taco salad, stacked enchiladas, tacos anytime, breakfast, lunch or dinner.

I like to dehydrate my favorite home made spanish rice recipe, also separeately dehydrate refried beans, and also a good salsa. separately dehydrate mexican seasoned ground beef. Bring along some fresh onion to chop up, and some aged cheddar or other hard cheese that keeps well. Rehydrate each item and roll in a flour or corn tortilla. Makes a good group meal.

 

[TXRiverRunner]

Who has a favorite recipe that is super simple? Most of my trips are quick over-nighters and weekend trips, since I still work full time and many are thought of on the morning I'm leaving. I don't want to spend days dehydrating gourmet meals and I'm not really picky when it comes to camp food, I prefer to just add boiling water.

Quite often it's store bought freeze dried meals, many times I'll cut those in half since they are meals for 2 people. Of course there's cereal with dry milk in a bag or instant oatmeal with fruits and nuts for breakfast. For lunch or dinner I've found instant mashed potatoes with bacon bits and spices to not only be good there's really no prep time and I'm eating in the time it takes to boil water.

Who has a simple favorite they'd care to add? Thanks!!

For short trips I always bring a cooler with perishable food. I like to grill burgers. For a quick boil water I like Tony Chachere's Jambalaya. I normally bring sausage and cut it up in the pot. But if you don't want to bring a cooler, you could use canned chicken or some other protein. Frito-Pie is a good quick meal to, but again I like to grated cheese on it.

 

[TXRiverRunner]

Here is a food prep video I did. I got a bit silly with it, but it will give you some other ideas.