Realistic non-cooler based menu planning

[The Hustler]

I think you meant:

I'm like an 8-year-old in that I run around screaming and yelling until it's sleep time, then fal asle--

Oh yes, totally, I zzzzzzzzz

[Charlie Parker]

I work in a sandwich/pizza place and one thing we sell is giant kosher pickles. I asked my boss if they would allow me to buy a bucket (40-50 pickles) from them at the wholesale price, and she said yes. I think I know what I'm gifting.

Also, there will be plenty of pickle juice if anybody needs some for their bloody marys.

[Sunkix4]

[quote="Dork"]
cheap bread (you want the stuff with preservatives)
[/quote]

Good call! I'm anti preservatives, but I never thought of their benefits at Burning Man.

[MisterSaunders]

Quick note on Tasty Bites, or similar boil-in-the-bag "Indian" stuff... I find a can of garbanzo beans dumped into them (you can warm them in the water you're heating the sachet in, or just tip them in cold) hearty's things up quite nicely if it otherwise feels a bit too much like a bowl of hot, oily sauce. Yes, even the ones that already have garbanzo beans in them ... but equally the spinach/paneer &/or lentil packs.

Likewise, a can of garbanzo beans added to a pot of flavored cous cous has often served as a good one-pot meal for two at playa-appetite levels.

[Savannah]

cheap bread (you want the stuff with preservatives)

Good call! I'm anti preservatives, but I never thought of their benefits at Burning Man.

It doesn't have to be Wonder Bread or anything. It just can't be fresh artisan bakery bread that bills itself proudly as "no preservatives" and is meant to be consumed in 2-3 days tops.

You can still get whole grain commercially made bread. Just store it in a cool, dry place (not in the car or a hot tent) and open it daily for up to 30 minutes to air it out, preferably facing away from wherever the wind is coming from. This is counter-intuitive, leaving bread open, but it can keep bread nice for 5+ days. Last year I never did get mold at all, actually.

But concentrate it in your early meals, just in case.

[junglesmacks]

Quick note on Tasty Bites, or similar boil-in-the-bag "Indian" stuff... I find a can of garbanzo beans dumped into them (you can warm them in the water you're heating the sachet in, or just tip them in cold) hearty's things up quite nicely if it otherwise feels a bit too much like a bowl of hot, oily sauce. Yes, even the ones that already have garbanzo beans in them ... but equally the spinach/paneer &/or lentil packs.

Likewise, a can of garbanzo beans added to a pot of flavored cous cous has often served as a good one-pot meal for two at playa-appetite levels.

Interesting.. and true how you can think to mix canned veggies/items with pre-cooked things to make them stretch a little...

Flavah' savah'..

[moonrise]

bump

[MyDearFriend]

cheap bread (you want the stuff with preservatives)

Good call! I'm anti preservatives, but I never thought of their benefits at Burning Man.

It doesn't have to be Wonder Bread or anything. It just can't be fresh artisan bakery bread that bills itself proudly as "no preservatives" and is meant to be consumed in 2-3 days tops.

You can still get whole grain commercially made bread. Just store it in a cool, dry place (not in the car or a hot tent) and open it daily for up to 30 minutes to air it out, preferably facing away from wherever the wind is coming from. This is counter-intuitive, leaving bread open, but it can keep bread nice for 5+ days. Last year I never did get mold at all, actually.

But concentrate it in your early meals, just in case.

Savannah you Goddess I followed your instructions and had fresh sandwich rolls for 8 days.

[mudpuppy000]

Quick note on Tasty Bites, or similar boil-in-the-bag "Indian" stuff... I find a can of garbanzo beans dumped into them (you can warm them in the water you're heating the sachet in, or just tip them in cold) hearty's things up quite nicely if it otherwise feels a bit too much like a bowl of hot, oily sauce. Yes, even the ones that already have garbanzo beans in them ... but equally the spinach/paneer &/or lentil packs.

Likewise, a can of garbanzo beans added to a pot of flavored cous cous has often served as a good one-pot meal for two at playa-appetite levels.

Interesting.. and true how you can think to mix canned veggies/items with pre-cooked things to make them stretch a little...

Flavah' savah'..

Rice works well too.

[junglesmacks]

FWIW, this year was the last year that I'll go without a cooler.

The girl and I were craving fresh fruits and veggies all week, and having to intrude on friends' cooler space every day for cold drinks got old quick. The vow for next year is to stay way healthier and eat much better out there, as there is a direct correlation to how well you treat your body out there and your overall fun level. If you're zapped for energy each night from lack of proper nutrition.. you're not having as much fun.

Up on the "want" list for next year is a gas powered blender for daily smoothies..

[Drawingablank]

Although we did bring a cooler for the beverages, we pretty much planned to do without cooking the entire burn and brought mostly canned stuff, granola bars, and cereal. Due to greatly reduced appetites, we barely ate any of it.

Although I generally eat the same way whenever camping, I must say the few times I had fresh cooked food that week were heavenly. This included a cheesburger, chicken drumstick, and maple glazed bacon (the most delicious thing I've ever tasted).

Next year we plan to do more cooking, or at least plan to have that option should we get ambitious enough to fire up a grill or stove.

[Raymaker]

in the alternate world I eat pretty well, I do not eat pot-noodle type food, but we bought some for BM, I so glad I did, it was quick and easy and filled a hole when needed.

[skibear]

cheap bread (you want the stuff with preservatives)

My cheap bread (Sara Lee lo cal/lo carb wheat bread from Wallyworld) stayed fine
all week. It was still fine Wednesday afterward when I threw it out.

I only ate about 1/3 of my food and continued trying to finish canned stuff in hotel (with electric hotpot)
the 3 days after I left. Took lightweight dried stuff on plane.

I drank so much at others bars I hardly touched my beer. Ending up gifting a 30 pack of Tecate to
the Party Naked Tiki Bar on Thurs and a 12 pack of Fat Tire to BMIR on Monday. still left about 20 cans
of beer & a good cooler at 2am in courtyard of a Sacramento motel. It was GONE by 4am

[skibear]

Up on the "want" list for next year is a gas powered blender for daily smoothies..

I saw a chainsaw gas blender serving Margaritas in 2007. One of the most awesome things I've seen yet.
They literally took a gas chainsaw apart and jury rigged a bracket holding the blender.

It made the most gawd awful noise as if it was about to saw your leg off then poured out great Margaritas !!


sorry no pictures.

[junglesmacks]

It made the most gawd awful noise as if it was about to saw your leg off then poured out great Margaritas !!

Lol.. yeah this was the first year that I'd seen one. It was at the Euro camp at the 9 o'clock portal. They let the girl come around the counter and try it. It was pretty much all kinds of awesome.

[Savannah]

It made the most gawd awful noise as if it was about to saw your leg off then poured out great Margaritas !!

Lol.. yeah this was the first year that I'd seen one. It was at the Euro camp at the 9 o'clock portal. They let the girl come around the counter and try it. It was pretty much all kinds of awesome.

Annnnnnnd I'm back in love with the human race.

[junglesmacks]

Annnnnnnd I'm back in love with the human race.

Don't ever leave us again!

[NessaZee]

Quick note on Tasty Bites, or similar boil-in-the-bag "Indian" stuff... I find a can of garbanzo beans dumped into them (you can warm them in the water you're heating the sachet in, or just tip them in cold) hearty's things up quite nicely if it otherwise feels a bit too much like a bowl of hot, oily sauce. Yes, even the ones that already have garbanzo beans in them ... but equally the spinach/paneer &/or lentil packs.

Likewise, a can of garbanzo beans added to a pot of flavored cous cous has often served as a good one-pot meal for two at playa-appetite levels.

this plus a half avocado to even out the heat is so tasty!! even some croutons

avocados are great OTP, just make sure to get some that are really green and un-ripe.
eggs are great as long as they are stored in a shady dry place (like under the vehicle where no sun hits)
OLIVES!! especially garlic stuffed olives in white wine OMG

the OP mentioned no hassle/prep, just in and out of the grocery store. dried mung beans and alfalfa seeds sprout great on the playa. you just need a towel/ tinfoil to cover them for the first few days (mung take 2-3 days, alfalfa take 5-6). items you need: cheesecloth, wide-mouth mason jars and elastic bands. it was SO nice to have fresh sprouts on the final saturday! the only responsibility is to rinse them twice every 24 hours until they are ready.

[NessaZee]

another one of my non-cooler faves OTP is spirulina powder (heaping half tsp) and greens powder (heaping tbsp) mixed with water.

the best greens powder that i have come across in the past 8 years is called Nova Greens Superfood from a company called Naturally Nova Scotia. Not sickly sweet and super palatable.

add 5ml of lemon flavored cod liver oil (good for joints and has anti-inflammatory effects) and you're set. store the greens powders and oil with the fresh eggs under the vehicle.

[International Incident]

Bumping this as it has great ideas!

[wh..sh]

There are only so many options for vegetarian canned food. Last year I bought cans food and just couldn't get myself to eat it.
Tortilla and bread worked great. I am normally not a picky eater. But on playa, I just couldn't get myself to eat anything that wasn't enticing. Who would have thought.

This year, I have plans for unrealistic, home-cooked meals on playa.

[junglesmacks]

This year, I'm finally bringing a cooler.

[Simon of the Playa]

this, some pickles, chicken fat and some cel-ray, its all you need.

you live can for 40 years in the desert on this shit.

[theCryptofishist]

this, some pickles, chicken fat and some cel-ray, its all you need.

you live can for 40 years in the desert on this shit.

Coincidentally, you won't shit for those forty years.

[Simon of the Playa]

on the upside, you save a fortune on toilet paper.

[theCryptofishist]

But when it comes you want something so filled with cotton fiber that robbidobbs would have a kniption fit.

[H.G.Crosby]

ach,

two-ply is for goyim.

[seantildawn]

How do onions hold up out there? Red Onion would really make my dish pop. I sure could use a bag if it won't turn to soup by Thursday.

[lemur]

onions ..fine.

just be careful not to moop all over the place with the papery outer layer of onions.. its a real pain inthe ass to dig them out of the playa.

[Sunny D]

A healthy side dish I like to make is quinoa in thai curry sauce with slivered almonds. Add green onions if you do have a cooler. Easy recipe.

1 Cup - organic free range chicken broth
1/4 Cup - thai curry sauce or any curry of your choice
1 Cup - quinoa
1 lime
1/3 Cup - slivered almonds. You can do more or less depending on the texture and flavor you want.
1/4 Cup - green onions

Boil broth and curry, add quinoa, cover, stir occasionally, let simmer until you can fluff it with a fork. Add your almonds, onions, and then lime juice that baby. Makes 4 servings, but since I'm camping with six others, I will not have anything leftover to refrigerate. Perfect.

Delicious, healthy, easy, and VERY filling!