How To Prepare Great Camping Food

After a hard day of hiking in the woods, everyone is looking forward to some good camping food. It can be demoralizing when camping food is bland freeze-dried dinners and trail mix. The good news is that tasty camping food can be prepared in advance and can be light weight too.

Good camping food requires the right tools. You'll need a good camp stove, a set of cookware, and probably plenty of water. And you'll also need food. Since camping usually means some amount of hiking, the food you pack will have to be light. Any meat that isn't dehydrated tends to be extremely heavy, making most campers vegetarians whether they like it or not. Especially if you're out for more than a couple days, protein gets to be an issue if your diet doesn't contain any meat. Nuts and beans provide the easiest and lightest sources, with peanut butter often filling in a needed kick of protein at lunch or breakfast.

Dried Fruit

Though dinner usually takes up the most time and energy, breakfast and lunch are important meals while camping. Breakfast can easily be a cold meal, though it's often worth breaking out the stove for hot tea or coffee with your dried fruit or granola bar. Pita bread or tortillas make handy bases for lunch, as they allows for sandwiches and dips but still pack easily; they're light but don't crush like regular bread. Trail mix is a stand-by favorite, as is dried fruit as they provide quick energy while on the move.

Finally, once you make it to camp you want a big dinner; something hearty and hot. Instant polenta or couscous, though a bit heavy, provides an excellent base for cheeses, dried vegetables, or other sauces, as both are hot and filling. Dried beans and barley make for hearty camping food, though be sure to find those which don't require much soaking or you'll be eating your beans for breakfast the next day. Black beans and rice make an excellent meal, especially if you can find a ready-made store mix which often packs its own kick. It's helpful to have a stove that can easily simmer food when putting together a camp meal; stoves like MSR's Whisperlight are notorious for having two settings: off and hi. Boiling water is easy, but simmering rice or beans for ten minutes can become a battle between keeping the stove lit and preventing your food from burning. However, it can be done.

Salt, pepper, dried basil, and some garlic powder can really spice up your camping food. Remember to bring a small spice collection for your camping trip. You can get some small containers from most outdoor retailers. With some advance preparation, you do not have to eat those freeze-dried astronaut meals

How To Prepare Great Camping Food

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10 Things You Can Do to Prepare For a Blackout

What are some things you can do before a blackout?

1. Store Food Away

Dried Fruit

Store away a supply of food now. Keep canned meat, bread, nut butter spread, nuts, crackers, dried fruit and other non-perishables in your pantry. Keeping at least 3 days for each person should be adequate for short blackouts. Remember to rotate the food out and keep accurate records of expiration dates.

2. Keep a Source of Water

You will need a gallon of water for each person per day. So if you have a family of four you will need 3 gallons each for a minimum of 3 days. If you have bottled water delivered, you can rotate out a 5 gallon bottle in your pantry every quarter. For a safe clean water supply purchase gallon water bottles and store in your pantry rotating them out as needed.

You may also use 2-liter soda bottles that have been thoroughly washed with soap and water. Sanitize the bottle with a solution of 1 teaspoon of non-scented chlorine bleach to 1 quart of water. Swish this around to make sure it touches all surfaces and then rinse out completely with clean water. Fill with tap water and close with cap making sure not to contaminate the cap by touching the inside. Mark the bottle with the date you stored it and it should last 6 months.

3. Use Alternate Forms of Energy

During a blackout you will need to turn off all appliances. Unplug anything that is connected to outlets. If using a generator do not use it in the house or the garage. Be extra careful when using candles as they pose a high risk for fire. Always keep batteries and flashlights available.

My husband and I found a solar flashlight that can also be wound up in case there is a lack of solar energy. It is small and has a led light but it serves its purpose.

4. Communication

Cell phones and land lines will most likely be available but only use these in case of an emergency. If you have a cordless phone or cable phone you will not be able to use it. Get into the habit of charging your Cell phone regularly. Keep a portable Television and/or radio as well as plenty of batteries or the generator to operate it. Do not call 9-1-1 unless it is a life threatening emergency as these lines need to stay open.

5. Preparing Financially

Remember that ATMs require electricity and will be out-of-service during a blackout. This will also mean no access to credit cards or point of sale purchases. Keep an emergency stash of cash in a home safe.

6. Transportation

During a blackout traffic lights will be out and you will not be able to pump gasoline. This will most likely cause confusion, frustration, and traffic jams. Stay home if possible and if you must go out use a bike or walk instead of using your vehicle.

7. Special Preparations for the Disabled

Before a blackout even begins you will need to contact your local electrical company and register so they know where you are located. They keep records of your address as well as the power operated equipment that you use. Keep an extra battery charged for your scooter or wheel chair. If you are hearing or visually impaired keep a portable television or radio handy.

8. Accessing Your Home

This might seem silly but always keep a key to your house on you. If you normally enter your home via the electric garage, you will need to know how to manually operate the garage door.

9. Safety Considerations

Keep all your emergency preparation supplies in one location. Unplug all appliances and any electrical devices. Keep one light on so you will know when electricity returns. Never attach a generator to the home or the garage. Avoid opening your refrigerator or freezer. Avoid, if possible, using candles. Keep informed by listening to the radio or television.

10. Prepare an Emergency Contact List

Keep a list of contacts available for your family, friends, neighbors, schools, and places of employment. Make sure your children know what to do in a blackout. Prepare in advance who will pick your children up during an emergency. Know your schools policy about non-family members picking up your children. If you care for an elderly relative or a disabled relative know how to get appropriate services for them.

Doing these simple things now will save a lot of stress and confusion during a blackout. Sure, one might not happen but these things will prepare you for other types of emergencies. It will also enable you to assist others during times of emergency.

10 Things You Can Do to Prepare For a Blackout

Sara enjoys spending time with her family, crocheting, and writing her snailmail friends. She shares snippets of her life, craft, and interests by blogging at http://momwithahook.blogspot.com and http://snailmailpals.net

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