One More Versatile Food

I recently shared a food idea with some of the folks at a "Get To Gether" of Vandwellers in the Cherokee National Forest.

One of the problems facing folk that live in vehicles is food storage and variety.
Yes, I know beans and rice are easy, light and fairly compact.... and boring.
So what can you pack that will last without refrigeration and yet be versatile enough to mix up the menu??
How about tortillas as a bread substitute?  That's right those flat round things made of either flour or corn.  The first thing that always pops into everybody's head is burritos every night, how is that not b-o-r-i-n-g???

Well here's an idea that's quick easy and quite tasty (I had testers in the forest).
                                            "Sloppy Joe Roll Ups"

Start by spreading a couple of tablespoons of the ready-to-eat Sloppy Joe sandwich maker on the tortilla.
(I think I found this in Walmart grocery section. While it is a little bit pricey, the convenience of being able to store this for several months is great!)

Next lay a couple of slices of cheese or even sprinkle Parmesan cheese if you have no fresh cheese.  Of course add any other spices or flavoring you choose, but this is simple and very tasty.

 Then roll it all up...

 And then wrap it up.  I roll mine straight with the foil and twist the ends.  I tried rolling diagonally across the foil and that just leaves a flap for the heat to escape.

It's now ready to put on the grill over a fire!  Turn it frequently and when it gets hot it's ready.
Another beautiful thing... NO DISHES TO WASH.

What else can you do with the tortillas???
How about roll up some salami, pepperoni or other "packaged" meat slices that don't require refrigeration?
OR, spread a little butter and cinnamon, roll up, wrap up, and heat up a home made breakfast.
These also make pretty tasty PBJ sandwiches!

The list is only as short as your imagination.

And, I guess if you insist on rice and beans you could really make burritos.

Thanks for taking the time to read this, if you would please comment on anything you try in a tortilla I would love to hear it.

Reuse an old candle...

Today I'm gonna show you how to get a little extra mileage out of a couple of things you may already have on hand.

 

An old Scented candle in a can that has been burnt up.

Can be used to create a larger and refillable source of light and heat.

  

Cut a scrap of corrugated cardboard a little less wide than the can 

is tall.  Then roll it up and put in like this.  It works ok

if you have to use more than one piece.

Carefully melt and pour wax from from other old candles into

this cardboard wick. 

DISCLAIMER:  If I have to explain the dangers of heating and working with hot wax/paraffin then please go get some "adult" supervision.

There you go.  The cardboard will wick up the wax and eventually the

flame will spread to the entire surface.  This creates much more heat/light than a single candle.  I'll let you use your' own imagination to find uses for this. 

I have cooked over this, used it as reading light in camp, and yes 

even as a heat source. The lid is used to snuff it out.

IF YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE DANGERS OF AN OPEN FLAME PLEASE READ THE DISCLAIMER ABOVE.

 

Refilling is simply drop chunks of other old candles into the burning

can, being careful not to add more than will melt without 

overflowing the can. 

Yes, the can does get hot so be careful ! ! !

While this is an easy project, it is very useful.

It meets my multi-use requirement of things to be carried and

takes very little space.  

If you consider it in your design you can even put a small

"BIC" lighter in the can. 

Please leave a comment or share so I know you stopped by.  

AS ALWAYS... "Get out, go adventure, and be safe."

Cookin' is in the bag !

I decided to share another little trick I use to save time, fuel and energy (mine) among other things.
Using a cheap, Dollar Store, car solar shade build a double thermal bag.

This is the same concept as some of the MRE meals sold with "built-in cooking bag".  But, why pay for a bag you're gonna throw away?  Why not just pay for food and keep a reusable bag handy?  Here's how I do just that...

1)  Go get a really cheap "car solar shield" from somewhere.  Mine I think came from the Dollar Tree or Dollar General,

2)  Now cut it down to the size of whatever size Zipl@k bags you will be using.  I use quart size bags and they seem to work out for a cup or two of cooked food.
Remember since this is basically a re-hydration method you'll start with more fluid than final cooked food.

3)  To make the "cooking bag" make a bag within a bag the size you need.  If you look closely I folded some of the inner bag top bag down on itself so there is no raw edge. 

 

When you make your outer bag make it extend above the top 

of the inner bag by about 6 inches.  Notice I am not measuring

or marking anything, I have to Keep It Simple for Stupid.

Leaving a long outer top allows you to make the "fold lock top".

 

Just like GL@D sandwich bags...

"Fold one flap in, the other flap over", don't you remember?

(Sorry for you kiddos that grew up in the Zip-L@k generation.)

 

4)  In this case I wanted some beef flavored brown rice.  So I measured a cup of rice. (It pays to know the volume of the utensils you cook with) and put that with two bouillon cubes in the Zipl@k bag.

 

Don't forget any salt or other seasoning you add.

5)   Now add about a cup of water that just started to boil.

      Now's a good time to talk about saving fuel, just start the water 

      boiling and then pour it in the bag.  No need to boil for 5 minutes.

      Seal the bag, slide it in the thermal bag, fold lock the top

      and in about 15min you have beef flavored brown rice.

 

Since this is a re-hydration cooking method use "instant" or pre-cooked

base foods to build on.

 Here's your' time savings, no sitting and stirring.

Just put it in the bag and go take care of some other camp chore. Or NOT!

6) Last important step...

             Since there are no cooking utensils involved, please dispose of the

             Zipl@k bag correctly or pack it out.

Hope you enjoyed this little trick.  I'll try and video some eggs in the orange shell the next time I'm out just to show off that neat little bit of cooking.

AS ALWAYS...

       Get outside, go adventure, and be safe!

  

Weekend off from the "normal" blog stuff.(Parental discretion advised: Contains high levels of Testosterone)

Weekend out with some of my tribe...

This adventure started with Layla and I hiking about a mile in the dark to a hidden camp near the top of a ridge.  We were located at.... no wait it was hidden.
We got there set up camp, made some friends and eat some grub.

The next morning held lot's of promise early.  Fall out the rack we're burning daylight...

You talkin' to me ?  ?  ?

W H A T ???  It's already morning?

We need discipline in this camp, don't make me put my foot down, again.



So with everybody up and moving there were a few chores that needed to be done.

There was a chance of rain turning to snow or freezing rain or snot or some other bad weather.

Time to cut more wood and also expand our cover a little bit more.

Tater?  Tater?   Where'd he go...... Aha! Caught ya!  Quit goofin' off we're all ready to go.  Watch out for the thorn bushes!  (note: videos may not play on all mobile platforms, working on editing)

Well since there's a small break in the weather, let's go shoot something. :-)
Carl (AKA Gary) is headed down-range to set up a target, I'm showing Terry the camera and opportunity knocks.

Now that everybody is through just messing around we can get down to business.
Haggan your up, bring that shotgun over here take a shot.

Nice shot for shotgun with a slug.  Next.   Tater step up.

WOW!! Just like the Dukes of Hazard!  Don't care who ya are, that's funny.

 Alright Terry next round.

Well, that was not cool.  In his defense the second detonation was his (camera man blew it ).

Fun had to end, remember the weather?

 

But wait that was not first...
It started as rain, continued most all Saturday up into and through the night, with a little sleet and THEN turned to snow.
There are few pictures because this cameraman was hunkered down trying to stay dry and warm. I failed at staying dry therefore it got a little chilly.

Sunday morning we all started to pack and leave...

Which went like this....  Run to fire, thaw out, go take down, pack, run back to fire, repeat process.

I think I saw a tear in Drew's eye as he had to take apart his bed at the Hilton ;-)

The hike back out since all good things must come to and end.

Thanks for coming along, I'm gonna return the blog back to it's original programming.
But remember kids, do not attempt this on your own, these are trained professionals.

AS ALWAYS,  Get out, go adventure and be safe.

Another product review (no sales pitch)

I had some folks ask me about the small solar charger I used while hiking and even at the RTR in Quartzite, AZ.

So to stay true to my word here's a video I made actually while I was in Mississippi on the Natchez Trace.

I hope this answers some questions and helps with buying decision .
As I promised no sales pitch, they are available at Harbour Freight and probably other "outlet" type stores.

As always...  "Get out, be safe and go adventure"

Food is where you find it - - urban foraging

I started trying to eat oatmeal for breakfast on a regular basis.  The thing is I really like apples in my maple and brown sugar oatmeal.  Now I know you wondering what does this have to do with urban foraging. Well nothing really other than while walking Layla the other day I came upon some apples in a public park.  Thinking these the ornamental variety I started to pass over them.  But I couldn't. I had to know.  So I cut into one and it was very tasty !!
So I gathered up six of the ones that were not obviously damaged and finished walking Layla.
These six little apples provided almost a full cup of diced apples for my oatmeal. 

Yes I did throw away about 20% of the harvest.  But since these were ground harvested I didn't think that too bad a yield.  They cooked down nicely and were very flavorful in the oatmeal.

The lesson here is always be aware of your environment it may hold the things you need at that moment.  Did I already have apples?  Well yes but somehow these that were nature's gift were better.
I really want to make the point that readiness is so much a state of mind that you carry with you daily.  It's not about "gear" and "stuff", it is about knowledge and experience.  If you don't take the time learn and then go put that knowledge to the test all the gear/stuff piled around you is simply something to weigh you down.
Is getting one freebie while walking in the park a big deal, well you tell me.  How many other people tapped into that resource?  How many other people even SAW that as a resource?  Do you think I'll go back in a day or two?

I know some of you are into the whole "prepper, end of time, civil unrest, collapse of government" sort of thinking.  I think that there are so many other things that can change your lives in a moment that really do happen to everyday people.  Loss of job, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, injury, illness, are just a few calamities that every day befall people.  While it is good to build your resources in the form of emergency supplies (we've all seen milk/bread vanish at the mention of snow) let's continue to share knowledge and experiences.

I started the Facebook blog Dan Cordray Readiness Resources to share ideas about being ready in life.  But since Facebook changes they way they act, I'll be posting those ideas here along with the adventures Layla and I find.

So get out, be safe and go adventure!

Tumbling Creek Adventure

This adventure started with a storm,, or least driving through one. But, after hours of storms I found my self in a beautiful setting...

Yes, the boss was watching while I made this post.
Tumbling Creek is in the Cherokee National Forest in TN.  The campground is not that hard to find, if you've gotten good directions.  My purpose for being here was to meet some other nomads and enjoy their company.

One of them turned out to be very knowledgeable in the ways of the forest.  Rita told me being raised in Germany she  had to learn all the "womanly ways".
Now before anyone can protest about sexist remarks, those were her words.  And honestly I'm glad she learned them and is willing to pass along that knowledge.

She stopped by my camp and asked if I would like to go with her to photograph and harvest some mushrooms.  I certainly would!  I've never been one to pass up the chance to learn something new about my forest home..


Little did I realize she had found the mother-lode of mushrooms!  Like all things in the forest these were not given up easily.  She asked me to look, look at the forest and did I see anything out of place?  I thought some brightly colored debris had washed up from them creek.  Look to the left of where she is standing.

We had to duck and turn through the brush and trees and even remove their guardian from our path.
 I must say she spotted before I did...

He was a common Black Racer set to scare off any that would find the mushrooms.  I placed him out of our path so we could continue our quest.
Here is what we found...

THIS QUITE THE FIND!!!

Lobster mushrooms and lots of them.

These are not only edible they are quite delicious.

There is probably three to four pounds in this one place.


She told me that to harvest these you should trim them about and inch or so from where them stem attaches to the tree.  This leaves the mycelium intact so that the mushroom will grow out again next year.

Notice how free and clear of blemishes they are.  Rita pointed out that there were no holes in the stems indicating no bugs had been in them.  When bugs enter the fleshy part of the mushroom they often times are headed for the mycelium and the rest of where the mushroom is attached.



 She was very happy with this find.

 And I had a great time with her cooking up the 'rooms and some fish and a salad of artichokes and black olives.

Doesn't that just look good???

Sauteed in a little butter with onions.

It all met with cuzzin' Dick's approval.

Now that's how it's done in the forest.

I'll be posting some more about the Fall GTG at Tumbling Creek.
Right now the "boss" says it's time for a walk...

Get out, be safe, and go adventure.