•Enjoy evening dining. Planning dinner menus for one-pack trips can be challenging, especially without using a Dutch oven. My suggestion: Invest in a food dehydrator, and dry a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. A nutritious evening meal is built on three parts: protein, carbohydrates, and vegetables. Protein ideas include tenderized beef jerky, textured vegetable protein, precooked bacon (very good!), dehydrated sausage patties, dried corned beef, tuna in foil packets, a can of chicken breast, and hopefully, some fresh fish! Easy-to-pack carbs include instant rice, dehydrated hash browns, instant mashed potatoes, dehydrated refried beans, and stuffing. Your vegetable choices are plentiful. For example, toss dehydrated potatoes in with dried onions, peppers, mushrooms, cabbage, and dehydrated sausage bits. Add water and let it soak a while. Sautée in olive oil, and season. (Tip: Store seasonings in little film canisters.)
Along with fresh air, beautiful scenery, and a campfire, you now have a tasty, nutritional meal with minimal time, effort, and cleanup. A one-burner propane stove, one cook pot, and a frying pan will seem more than adequate. Much to Kent's delight, we generally have dessert. Put chocolate instant pudding, dried bananas, and powdered milk in a zip-close bag. Add water, squish it around, and let it set. Yum!
•Don't forget the drinks. A gravity-feed water purifier is a big improvement over a labor-intensive, hand-pump. Take along a variety of powdered beverages. They're lightweight and add a dimension of pleasant decadence. And, if you enjoy a little libation, a plastic flask of whiskey surely beats a suitcase of beer!
Now, as we sit by the fire, Kent will turn to me and say, "This has been your best pack meal yet!" TTR
