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!