Veggies, help me and After the Burn advice

Silver 2 · Post by **Silver 2** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 11:23 am

For the first time I am coming out with a campmate (not tent mate, worse luck) and she is a vegetarian (fish OK) I need food advice. Quick and easy would be the watchword here and we (I) need to figure food for Monday (the 28th) thru probably Wednesday the (6th). We will be staying a bit late to help with moving an art project. Since we will be flying in on the 27th there will be no possibility of pre-prep. She has been out before but only for three days, what she ate then is OK for 3 days but we are looking at about 10 days.

Here’s what I have come up with thus far:
Rice and lots of it (I like rice)
Tasty Bites
Oatmeal, yogurt (while it lasts), cereal for breakfast
Cheese tortellini with a butter garlic sauce, excess water worries me BTW
Fish in foil – tuna, salmon (found salmon steaks on the shelf yesterday, expensive)
PBJ (until the bread goes bad), crackers
Trail mix, chips, salsa
misc canned veggies

Suggestions Please.

Also, we have figured that we’ll fly back on Saturday the 9th so we’ll have a couple of days to poke around. I was thinking of heading south to Mono Lake and a day trip over to Yosemite (at least as far as the overlook where you can see half-dome and most of the others from above). I know that there is Bodie ghost town north of Mono and maybe a hot spring or two. After Burning Man the goal here would be peaceful.

Ideas?

phil · Post by **phil** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 11:49 am

Just out of idle curiousity, why th' heck isn't your campmate taking care of her own needs?

Silver 2 · Post by **Silver 2** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 12:16 pm

We are sharing resources and skills, I cook better and am much more used to camp cooking on top of that. She is arranging for the mini-van and airplane tickets, I'm doing the hotel and figuring out the shopping. Hotel and shopping mainly because I know where everything is in Reno. I have no intention of wasting time, space and money with her cooking her meals and and me cooking mine. Expect her to do most of the clean up and picking up and general tidying as well as costume choice and makeup. I'll be doing the manly stuff like killing and cooking the vicious squash.

I also have an ulterior motive for feeding her, want to keep her strength up. She's the best dancer I have found in over two years. Between eating this healthy stuff and dancing a couple hours a night I might leave the Playa down near 200.

Post by **trilobyte** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 2:00 pm

If eggs are okay, then add that for breakfast (scrambled, fried, omelettes, etc). Pancakes work too - instant pancake mix is good.

Seriously, though, I'd just ask her what some of her favorite meals are. Once you've got the clues, you can dig around for ways to pull that together on the playa.

phil · Post by **phil** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 2:16 pm

It makes sense to be splitting stuff, but like trilobyte hints, anyone with special needs (espically food) should be providing significant input for a stay at Burning Man.

MissNev · Post by **MissNev** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 3:55 pm

Cheese enchiladas. Make ahead and freeze, then just reheat.
Quesadillas or grilled cheese sandwiches.
Bean and/or cheese burritos.
Pita bread and hummus.
Bean salad (canned black beans, garbanzo, canneli, butter, and kidney beans with italian dressing and some feta cheese)...my personal favorite. It's always better if it sits a day or so.
Trader Joes will have some easy ideas.

hunter S · Post by **hunter S** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 10:12 pm

Ty peanut sauce, over rice with cashews. yum
pasta, canned spaghetti.
canned fruits, & cream cheese on bagels (bagels hold up well on the desert)
jar of artichoke harts, over pasta with smoked salmon & a touch of garlic

StevenGoodman · Post by **StevenGoodman** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 10:56 pm

From our camp menu:

Friday- Roasted red pepper and Munster cheese sandwiches with pesto sauce, Pasta salad, Fruit salad

Saturday- Spinach Lasagna, Fresh Salad, Icebox Cake

Sunday- Turkish Feast

Monday- Gazpacho, Tuscan White Bean Salad, Lemon Bars

Tuesday- Red Beans and Rice, Cornbread, Peanut butter cookies

Wednesday- Tofu/ Mushroom/Pepper Sweet and Sour over rice, Marble brownies

Thursday- Black Bean and Spanish Rice Burritos, Chips and Salsa, Fruit salad

Friday- Pasta Bolognese, Green beans and almonds, Chocolate chip cookies

Saturday- Chana Masala (chickpeas) with rice, Rice Crispy Bars

Sunday- Chili and cornbread, 3 bean salad, Brownies

Post by **AntiM** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 5:37 am

We keep couscous on hand for a quick hot meal, just put it in a container, add hot water, stir in extras (I like raisins) and you have something simple and filling.

Silver 2 · Post by **Silver 2** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 7:50 am

Thanks for the ideas and that's what I was after. I was going for random input with the hope of new and interesting ideas that were Playa adapted.

Here's one I have made before and made last night for dinner -- very easy:

Scramble eggs, separate into equal piles, place grated cheese on top, scoop up into tortillas, add salsa, roll and eat.

Another,

Raman noodles, boil water, drop in noodles, wait one minute, crack in two eggs, add flavor packet, stir for one minute, remove from heat and eat.

A note, I did ask what she eats normally and some of what I listed came from her; a lot of what she normally eats starts with 'fresh'. Fresh fish out on the Playa; errr, no (she knew that BTW, took smoked salmon last year).

Post by **AntiM** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 9:58 am

I've found a mexican brand of salsa verde in small cans, one can is enough for a meal for several people, no open glass jars to fiddle with. I'd have to go inot the basement pantry to get the brand, if anyone is interested, let me know.

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 10:12 am

I don't eat anything from the barnyard. So I bring what I eat at home. All the simple stuff. Don't want to be bogged down cooking. 6-12 mins max. Tomato products can make you ill. This I bring in cans. Tomato sauce to make other sauces. Dryed Veggies,soy drink, protein drink, hollenday sauce. potatos and gravy. Nut and seeds of all kind. Apples orenges and a few other last in the cooler. One boiling pan, one sauce pan. one large cup, guts of a coffee perk.drinking cup and a small fry pan. The fry pan is for makeing sauces without burning them, also to reheat left overs Less camp = more fun.

mojo · Post by **mojo** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 12:51 pm

I had stomach surgery prior to last year's event and found that some of the canned protein drinks are wonderful on the playa. Keep in mind that you are eating far less than usual, so it's important to EAT PROTEIN FIRST.

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 2:59 pm

mojo wrote:I had stomach surgery prior to last year's event and found that some of the canned protein drinks are wonderful on the playa. Keep in mind that you are eating far less than usual, so it's important to EAT PROTEIN FIRST.

/
/
/ Great, but watch for the sugar. Some companies jake it up extra hi. I use a non sweeten one. Tastes like.... and mix it with dry soy drink. Breakfast makes up 60% of that days protein.

Dork · Post by **Dork** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 3:23 pm

Lol.. I don't bring anything that needs cooking at all anymore. Everything is pre-cooked and ready to eat out of the cooler or set in the sun to warm up. Nothing that will spoil in a couple of days.

Burritos wrapped in foil, hard boiled eggs, canned fruit, nuts, M&Ms, chili, sardines, fruit/veggies, melons, Campbells Chunky soup, etc.

I haven't done it for the playa but when I was under the poverty line I used to bake a whole bunch of potatos at once and keep them in the fridge. Cold with a little salt or other seasoning they're actually tasty and keep for a long time. They're also good for recipes calling for a lengthy potato boiling session before mashing/chopping/whatever.

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 3:32 pm

Soylent Green biscuits are the best take along. JUst wish they would stop useing New Yorkers. They taste like....

virgin · Post by **virgin** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 4:40 pm

I am so all about the tare open, no drain tuna packets! They come in flavors too. Pick up some mayo packets and a squash-free bag of long lasting pita bread... and your set. no ice.. no can opener.. little waste.

Avocados are good with it too. again.. just fine warm.
Don't forget the ready to eat baby carrots.
Banannas
and the greatest thing... the Cliff Bar. (get the ones without the fancy iceing and sh!zit. Unless you like to lick your fingers.
Slim fast and other drinks with all the goods in it are awesome too. The Advantage (i think thats the one) comes in a cardboard pack. So you can squish/burn it. again no ice. .. no ice.
Individual soy boxes and a GOOD cereal. Remember refrig after open.. so unless your gonna drink it all... go individual.

cooking with fire... endless options.
Yes instaint pankakes and potatos are yummy... But I know I'm gonna need some fuel. So don't even bother filling her up on that.

fire AND ice...
your set. cook like your at home.
Veggie stir fry anyone?

Davoid · Post by **Davoid** » Sun Jul 23, 2006 2:41 am

You may want to try tempeh as a meat substitute, allowing you to prepare certain meals that you can add meat to for you and tempeh to for her. Less of a hassle than tofu, fries up nicely with some oil & soy sauce or Bragg's Liquid Aminos.

Tofurkey Jerky was an interesting snack one year.

INSANEPOOKIE · Post by **INSANEPOOKIE** » Sun Jul 23, 2006 8:07 pm

Heya.

http://www.mtnhse.com/miva/merchant.mv? ... _Code=MHVE

That's my primary food source whilst at this coming Burning Man or it will be that is.

I'm gonna test out the: http://www.mtnhse.com/miva/merchant.mv? ... Code=20657
which is a little kit that heats up the meal in theory. It's too bad they don't have a large vegan selection. Perhaps in the future.

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Sun Jul 23, 2006 8:33 pm

Looks like it will generate a bunch of trash. At $4 a plate.

Kinetic IV · Post by **Kinetic IV** » Sun Jul 23, 2006 9:05 pm

INSANEPOOKIE wrote:Heya.

http://www.mtnhse.com/miva/merchant.mv? ... _Code=MHVE

That's my primary food source whilst at this coming Burning Man or it will be that is.

I'm gonna test out the: http://www.mtnhse.com/miva/merchant.mv? ... Code=20657
which is a little kit that heats up the meal in theory. It's too bad they don't have a large vegan selection. Perhaps in the future.

I've tried the MH Heater meals twice and was not too thrilled with them but I love their regular meals. I always keep some on hand as part of my storm supply kit. And the moop factor for the basic meals is not that bad either. (YMMV)

As for hot meals I like MRE's and in past years I had all I ever needed. But the guy that sold them to me is no longer handling any military surplus / camping stuff so I'm looking for a new supplier. If anyone has recommendations on MRE's (the civilian legal version) let me know!

Also some of the other suggestions were real eye openers.

Silver 2 · Post by **Silver 2** » Mon Jul 24, 2006 7:17 am

MRE's, I have recommended them in the past as an easy way to go. They do get old after a while.

Sportsmansguide sells a mixed case (12) for about $70, in '02 cheaperthandirt.com (cannot get to the site right now) sold me a case for $50 and threw in shipping, these things are heavy.

My first time out in '02 I was determined not to spend too much time cooking and MRE's were what I lived on and actually they are generally very good but the next time out I mixed MRE's and fresh food and was much happier. Last year I carried about two for backup meals.

The down side is that there is a lot of waste with MRE's, as I said a couple of years ago, the military is not real big on LNT.

Veggies, help me and After the Burn advice

Veggies, help me and After the Burn advice

Veggie Type Meals...

Re: Veggie Type Meals...