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Recipes

We camped for years using only “trail-side” recipes that included things like pasta, tuna, lentils, couscous, rice, dried soup, tofu, wraps, nuts, granola, pancakes, oatmeal. We still take some of these things, but as we got older and our trips got longer we wanted – needed – lighter food barrels.

It was time to start dehydrating. 

Who would have thought you could eat a gourmet meal on the last night of a 13 day trip. “Portobello Curry”, “Thai Noodles”, “Moroccan Stew”, “Flank Steak” …..  Why did we wait so long to start dehydrating?

You don’t need to camp to make these amazing meals – so if your mouth is watering check out our recipes. We also share camp cooking tips and recommendations.

Real Fruit

Do you like juice for breakfast or lemon in your water on the trail?  For years we used dehydrated fruit in our water. This year we discovered True fruit crystals. These very tiny individual packets contain crystals of the fruit – no sugar or other additives.  The flavour is very strong, very real and very . . . Read More about Real Fruit

Not Home Made

Store Bought Items Yes I know, homemade is always best – but not always realistic. Don’t judge yourself if you are rushing to get out on a trip and grab a tube of Pringles rather than packing fresh veggies or you pick up chocolate bars rather than packing homemade cookies. Tip: camp with someone who . . . Read More about Not Home Made

Peanut Butter Cookies

After a couple of long portages, my brother-in-law said “Anyone want a peanut butter cookie?”.  I had just pulled out a bar of very yummy Lindt chocolate to offer as well. Someone in our group wanted both, so she made a cookie sandwich.  The best discovery yet!  I have introduced many people to this amazing . . . Read More about Peanut Butter Cookies

Plank Salmon

If you will be arriving early to your first site, and think you will have time to cook dinner over a campfire, then consider plank salmon – a true  dream dinner! Tuck a cedar plank into your pack.  The cedar will only need to be portaged to your first site because after you use it . . . Read More about Plank Salmon

Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta

We have cooked this Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta recipe for years.  It is from an old book “Simple Foods for the Pack” by Axcell, Kath and Cooke.  It is such an easy and delicious recipe.  It isn’t dehydrated so we tend to cook it early on in a trip. The pasta takes up a bit more . . . Read More about Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta

Portobello Curry

So why on earth would you cook spaghetti, then dehydrate it?  I clearly remember saying that a few years ago.  Then I saw the amazing meals my brother-in-law was making in camp, in just minutes.  So we gave it a try and would never do it any other way now.  You make the sauce, cook . . . Read More about Portobello Curry

Meat Chilli

A friend was going on a hiking trip in BC and emailed to ask me about dehydrating chili.  I realized that we tend to do vegetarian meals.  We were vegetarians for years so it is not surprising.  Not to mention I do worry about meat on a canoe trip.  That being said, I will be . . . Read More about Meat Chilli

Thai Noodles

When I tell people we have Thai Noodles on the last night of a 2 week trip, they think I am crazy or assume it is a Sidekick meal.  Nope, homemade, very yummy Thai Noodles.  This is another great meal from the Backpack Gourmet cookbook.  We thank Linda Frederick Yaffe often on our trips. Ingredients . . . Read More about Thai Noodles

Camping Menu

Several people have asked what a menu for a two week trip looks like so I have attached an example Menu Plan.  I usually include the date, the site number and also note when it is a “move day”.  We always have a cold cereal on a day we are moving and lunch is often . . . Read More about Camping Menu

Granola

For breakfast on “move days” we have granola.  It is fast and filling and leaves time and energy for packing up camp.  The granola I make is an old recipe I received years ago.  It is full of fruit and it is very, very yummy.  It is a bit heavy in a pack, but worth . . . Read More about Granola

Burritos

This is a recipe that was inspired by one of our long time camping friends.  We were camped on Crab Lake several years ago when she made this amazing Burrito.  We have adapted the recipe for longer trips by making a dehydrated bean mix.  We found the perfect recipe in the ‘Backpack Gourmet’ cookbook.  It’s . . . Read More about Burritos

Pumpkin Chili

Every time we make something at home we are thinking, “would this be good camping?”  We made Pumpkin Chili this winter and the answer was a unanimous YES!  We made a very slight adjustment to the recipe – we cut the veggies very, very small.  You may also want to slightly mash or cut the . . . Read More about Pumpkin Chili

Breakfast Casserole

Sitting beside a lake, eating “Breakfast Casserole” with chili sauce, bacon and coffee (with a little Baileys) is the absolute best way to start a day in the back-country. Everyone in our group does their own breakfast – and everyone brings the breakfast casserole.  This is a recipe we found in the Backpack Gourmet cookbook.  . . . Read More about Breakfast Casserole

Backpack Biscotti

Biscotti for breakfast, or for a treat at lunch, or for a snack in the afternoon, or in the evening… truth be told, this is a welcome treat anytime – at home or on a camping trip. Biscotti was first introduced to our camping menu by my brother-in-law.  He had been making biscotti at home . . . Read More about Backpack Biscotti

Moroccan Stew

This is one of our favorite camping meals. Simple to make, easy to dehydrate and gives you a restaurant quality meal in the forest.  We had two short trips planned this summer so we made this “meal for 4” and vacuum sealed it into two packages.  It is so yummy you don’t mind eating it . . . Read More about Moroccan Stew

Sangria

New discovery this year – Sangria.  I never would have thought that we would be drinking Sangria on the 11th day of a back-country trip – but we were this year. The taste was amazing and it was fun putting it together. Recipe: Wine: White or Red Dehydrated Fruit: Any combination will do.  Our favorite . . . Read More about Sangria

Fruit

Back-country camping doesn’t mean putting yourself at risk of getting Scurvy.  OK no one is at risk of that, but fresh fruit on a canoe trip is such a treat. On short trips apples, oranges and grapefruit travel well. On long trips fresh fruit isn’t really an option because it’s heavy, it takes up a . . . Read More about Fruit

SMORES

My “niece-in-law” (is that a real thing?) is someone I think of as the “Queen of the Back Country”.  She is a vegetarian and eats some pretty healthy meals, but she is also an expert at making back-country treats. She knows her sugar! Her SMORE making technique was such an improvement over the way I . . . Read More about SMORES

Pasta with Chickpeas

Healthy, hearty and delicious, what more could you ask for in a camping meal?  I can’t eat this meal slowly at home or on the trail – which makes it the best kind of fast food. This recipe will feed 4 hungry campers. Ingredients 1-2 tbsp vegetable oil 1 onion, chopped 1 clove garlic cut . . . Read More about Pasta with Chickpeas

Flank Steak Jerky

You know you have strayed far from your days as a vegetarian when you look forward to having Beef Jerky for lunch.  We were vegetarians for years and when we camp 95% of the meals are vegetarian.  However, a few years ago one of our camping partners introduced us to home made Flank Steak Jerky . . . Read More about Flank Steak Jerky

Fruit Crisp

My sister-in-law makes this amazing fruit crisp over a campfire.  She got the idea from a Kevin Callan Apple Crisp recipe found in his book “Gone Canoeing”.  She uses a number of different fruits so it has become a fruit crisp. You can use your own dehydrated fruit or buy dried fruit at the store.  . . . Read More about Fruit Crisp

Sprouts

A number of years ago we met a couple on a portage and noticed this weird bottle hanging from their backpack. Turns out they were growing their own sprouts and had the bottle attached to their pack so it was getting lots of light during their travels. Simply Brilliant! We asked them a bunch of . . . Read More about Sprouts

Hot Cereal

You will be glad you decided to pack this breakfast when you are sitting huddled out of the wind on a cool September morning.  We pack it for summer trips as well because it is delicious and filling.  It will add a bit of weight to your pack but it is well worth the effort. . . . Read More about Hot Cereal

Sausage Soup

A friend gave me this recipe years ago but we never thought to take it camping until this year. It is an excellent soup but we have just discovered that it is also good over pasta.   We have some dehydrated and ready for camping this year with the label “for soup or pasta”.  We are . . . Read More about Sausage Soup

Avocado Pita

For something a little different for lunch these avocado pitas are delicious and nutritious. They can be served hot or cold so they can be quickly adapted to the travel demands of your day and the weather. Avocados are heavy but they are perfect for camping because of their packability and nutritional value (75% of . . . Read More about Avocado Pita

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