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Hiking |
Hiking Food and Drink
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Going hiking? Gather the gear, layer on the (appropriate) clothes, fill the water bottles. And above all, even for a short hike, don't forget the food. One must keep the body fueled! And the psyche happy. Good trail food, and drink, is a must. |
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We enjoy our trail food but it is usually simple fare - easy to prepare, quick to get in the packs, enjoyable to look forward to on the hike. It is also mostly food that is common in our kitchen and pantry, and in our everyday lives. Since most of our hiking is day hikes, lunch and snacks are usually all we have to take along. And we never head out without water even for a short near-to-home walk. |
Trail Mix Easy-to-eat healthy snacks are at the top of our hiking food list. And the first is probably the simple "trail mix", sometimes known as GORP - good old raisins and peanuts - though our mixes are made up of any number of, and often experimental combinations of, ingredients that are easy to toss into one's mouth while on the move. There is no one recipe; we each make our own and probably the only constant for both of us is raisins. The other ingredients depend on personal preference and a great deal on what is on hand. Here is a typical mix: Raisins, slivered almonds, chocolate chips, a few peanuts, cheerios, cheddar bunnies or fish crackers, sesame sticks (the skinny ones) We both like a trail mix container that is an easy hand size and, particularly in the winter, one that travels comfortably in a jacket pocket. Many of the ingredients get hard to eat when frozen so an inner pocket helps. It's also nice to have the mix handy when stopping for a quick drink or layer change. Homestead Hiking Cookie I’d been making my basic Homestead Cookies for
over 40 years, the recipe that is in our "Homesteading Adventures" book,
and they served us well all those years. They were sturdy, hearty,
healthful (I think), and they suited. We liked them. But this past year
I decided I wanted a less firm cookie, easier to eat, a cookie with a
few more ingredients, one that would be good energy on the hiking t This is a highly adaptable and variable recipe. What I put in depends on what I have on hand and preferences at the time. No eggs? Leave the eggs out. Have some shredded coconut? Put some in. But this is my latest basic recipe: LIQUID 1 egg DRY 2-3 c whole grain flour 1/4 c chocolate chips Then add liquid. It helps to let it set a bit unless your flour is very fine (mine isn’t). Adjust by adding water or flour for a moderately soft & sticky but not too dry dough. Put spoonfuls on cookie sheet. Flatten somewhat with a wet fork, more if you want a firmer cookie, less if softer. Bake till done. Since I’m mostly using the wood cookstove I don’t have a temperature or time. It takes longer if the fire isn’t too hot, quick when it really gets going, and takes a really long time if you let the fire go out. Sometimes I use an electric "toaster" oven in
the summer, with a temperature of 350 - 400. The "Hiking Cookie" has proven itself on the trail, holding together quite well, unless they migrate to the bottom of the pack and you’ve vigorously stuffed a jacket or something on top of them. Leaving a little air in the ziplock bag they are in helps but mostly they are on top within easy reach for a quick snack. They are easy eating when it’s cold, especially appreciated when your trail mix has turned into hard cold bullets. In the heat of summer you may want to leave out the chocolate chips or substitute mm type candies. But overall they are suited for and welcome in any weather and at any time. (note: the spoon in the photo is for lunch, not for eating the cookies!) Hot (or at least Warm) Food for Lunch
We take wooden spoons to eat with which are much more comfortable in mouth and hand in the cold weather. For us it is our normal "silver"-ware (as is wooden bowls and plates our every-day dishes) but it sure beats a cold metal spoon. * * * * * * Copyright
© 2021 by Susan Robishaw and Stephen Schmeck |
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Have you read "Frost Dancing - Tips from a Northern Gardener"? A fun short read. or "Homesteading Adventures" Creating our backwoods homestead--the first 20 years.
and
"Growing
Berries for Food and Fun"
A journey you can use in your own garden. |
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updated 10/06/2019 |