Camp Pantry:

The camp pantry is actually the kitchen cupboards at home with a special shelf usually set aside for select purchases from the local grocery store.

Many everyday pre-packaged food items lend themselves to the selection process.

• Granola bars for snacks.

• Cereal bars for snacks.

• Oatmeal single-serving-pouches ... three with a big glob of honey to make a quick breakfast.

• Instant soup single-serving-pouches ... two making a hot mini-lunch.

• Hearty dried soup mixes ... one pouch serving as a base for 2 rather than actually serving 4.

• Dried pasta-dish mixes ... one pouch serving as dinner for 1 or as a base for 2.

Many everyday bulk-packaged food items also lend themselves to the selection process. With a box of medium-sized freezer-bags & twist-ties, zip-lock bags or other containers you can break down large quantities into many smaller servings.

• Break a 1 pound bag of granola breakfast cereal into 4 hearty single-serving bags, fortifying each bag with 2 tablespoons of raisins and 1 tablespoon of brown sugar.

• Divide a box of instant mashed potatos into 4 single serving bags, with which to fortify soup just a few minutes before it's finished simmering.

• Bag 1 inch diameter bunches of 4 inch long uncooked spaghetti, to add pasta content to soup mixes.

• Divide bulk unsalted peanuts or cashews into small bags, for nibbling while cooking the meals.

• Divide a large bag of easy-to-dissolve gum candies into very small bags, for energy boosts while on those long portages or wind-swept lakes.

• A half-dozen medium-sized fresh eggs can be carried in a special plastic carton, with added cushioning from a few paper towels. In the shady side of your pack, they'll keep for a few days.

• Wrap up frozen "brown-n-serve" sausages in a swath of newspaper just before you hit the road and keep them in the shady side of your pack. They'll probably still need thawing out for the first breakfast.

• Special non-refrigerated pre-cooked bacon is sold in two plastic bags per box. Trash the box and stow the bags in the shady side of your pack (not recommended for hot summer trips).

• Small quantities of powdered dried goods can be conveniently stored in old plastic vitamin jars ... instant coffee, milk powder, drink powder, sugar, etc.

• Small quantities of syrups can also be stored in old plastic vitamin jars which should in turn be kept within small freezer-bags to control the "sticky factor" ... jam, honey, peanut butter, maple syrup, etc.

Prepackaged Menus

Here are some typical senarios ...

• Dehydrated and freeze-dried pasta, beef and vegetables in tomato sauce (pasta, diced beef, tomato powder, corn, whey powder, spices, starch, milk powder, mushrooms, salt and red peppers), packed in a foil/plastic pouch and weighing 185grams / 6.5 ounces. Add 2 1/2 cups of boiling water, stir well and cover. Let it stand 8-10 minutes. It serves 2.
  

• Dehydrated and freeze-dried stew with goulash sauce (vegetable pasta, wheat flour, vegetable powders, spices, corn starch, onion, salt, seasoning, dextrose, mushroom, carrot, wheat flour, corn, red bell pepper, peas, garlic, soybean oil), packed in a foil/plastic pouch and weighing 190grams / 6.7 ounces. Add 4 cups of water, bring to boil and simmer for 10 minutes. Let it stand 6-10 minutes. It serves 2.
  

• Dehydrated and freeze-dried macaroni and cheese with garden vegetables (pasta, cheddar cheese, Romano cheese, buttermilk, carrots, peas, corn, potato starch, Parmesan cheese, spices, onion), packed in a foil/plastic pouch and weighing 200 grams / 7 ounces. Add 2 1/4 cups of boiling water, stir well and cover. Let it stand 10 minutes. It serves 2.
  

• Dehydrated and freeze-dried barley & lentil stew (green lentils, whole barley, barley miso, celery, carrots, garlic, onion, summer savoury, salt), packed in a foil/plastic pouch and weighing 320 grams / 11 ounces. Add 4 cups of water, boil and simmer for 15 minutes. It serves 3.
  

• Dehydrated and freeze-dried beef stroganoff with noodles (pasta, sour cream powder, diced beef, spices, whey powder, parmesan cheese, starch, mushrooms, tomato flakes, skim milk powder, salt, chives.) packed in a foil/plastic pouch and weighing 160 grams / 5.5 ounces. Add 2 1/4 cups of boiling water, stir well and cover. Let it stand 8-10 minutes. It serves 2.