?Heavy Weight Cooking With Sam?

Ok I "LOVE" food. I've choked back a few dehydrated creations sold at the box stores and have found only a handful of them actually enjoyable! And ill still pack these on longer trips!

But for the mostpart that's not my cup of tea. My wife says that I don't eat to live. I live to eat. Which usually results in my food bag being a pound or two heavier than most people I hike with. But they don't complain and neither do I!

Anyways there are plenty of great liteweight food blogs And Websites with great recipes.

Ive been toying around with making a series of youtube videos. Sharing some of my not so liteweight, gourmet cooking if you will!

Eventually I'd like to cover things like omlets,and trout on alcohol stoves.

Id like to demonstrate uses of different stoves and pots. For some solo and some group cooking.

Overall id really just like to help people realize they could eat good and relatively light. With trip to there local market "Not OutFitter" Without having to dehydrate or really prep anything at home!

I'm really just curios if anyone would be interested as I'd probably post them here!

I don't also backpack when I camp, and I also overnight frequently. So, post away, looking forward to what you have to say.

Honestly? If you have something to share, share away. If I had waited to have a following I'd never have gotten started ;-)
There is always room for new ideas!!

post away! I'd love to hear what you have to say. I am particularly interested in trout preparations without a campfire.

Well I'm working on assembling some materials now. Ie esbit,alcohol, canisters and of course some ingredients.

If I do any trout it will be have to be store bought. As the closest stream or river. That I care to fish. Is about a hundred miles away.

I'll probably start with a few simple dishes. While I work out how I'm going to record the videos. As I've never recorded myself doing anything. Muchless cooking outdoors!

To be fair ill shoot all my videos outside in the elements.

It will probably be a week or so before I can get anything up! As i did a few test videos and I'm kind of camera shy!

Ok who voted no????

I feel like everyone should be entitled a little luxury even while on trail, a little something to keep your food exciting...for me, it's cheese - a little bit of good cheddar goes a long way, and no matter how much I pair down the rest of my victuals, it seems I won't give that up. Do other people do this too, or am I just ridiculous in my refusal to give up something like that?

p.s. - this is not a response to the question of who voted no, it wasn't me I'd be really excited to see cooking ideas Sam has to share!

I definitely bring cheese with me, but I wouldn't call it a lightweight backpacking luxury item. Cheese is a calorie dense easy to pack food. It is right in the mindset of backpacking light.

Now... if you bring a frying pan and fresh eggs to make a nice omelet with that cheese, then your talking luxury!

You need to try gouda. Get it in the special cheese section. They usually have a small chunk wrapped in wax, which makes it perfect for backpacking. Man, I love gouda.

That's exactly what I'm talking about!

And yes I love both cheddar and gouda! The cheese talk is actually making me hungry so I'm making some Bacon wrapd, cheddar stuffed jalopenos .

I've been trying to find a decent video editing app? To alow me to use my phone to record and edit. These videos

Oh how I love cheese! 2 year cheddar! Smoked gouda! I always bring cheese. Another couple of ounces I like on short trips is a good rye whisky, 1-2 oz max.Per night.

Most of my backpacking food, and even car camping because I don't want a lot of cleanup, is boil-water-and-dump. That said, I tested for BGT for several years. I think it was a Brasslite stove that I was testing when my mother needed some long-term help, so I had hubby mail the stove and a couple of pots to me so that I could do some testing in local FL parks,and even on a picnic table in front of the hospital.

Fresh fish, although not caught by me, did well poached over an alcohol stove. I saw an article in BPL.com that included one of their main contributors poaching wild-caught fish in his cup, so this is entirely do-able. Esbit runs to the espensive, so I will likely stick with boiling, maybe just heating, water with them, but alcohol, sometimes trioxane (old-style mil heat tabs), and, ovf course, fire are not as pricey to use. Beef stew from fresh ingredients worked well, by using hamburger and vegetables cut small. Stew beef would have taken a lot longer to cook to tenderness. Of course, any kebobs are tasty over a fire, as are most foil pouch meals. Think beyond a basic fire to steam, and not just hamburger patties, but other boneless meats/fish, vegetables, etc. If you can find Reynolds foil baking cups (like paper cupcake liners, but foil and in large or small), you will be able to steam-bake eggs, cupcakes/muffins, and maybe other foods in the foil cup. If I'm using a cup-sized pot, I just make one at a time and a coiled strip of soda can wall, but with a larger pot, make a steamer from something like a cut-down pie plate. The sides bent down or more soda can strips can support the steamer platform for a cheap, light, and custom-sized platform for your pot. Hubby and I have fond memories of breakfasting on poached eggs and strawberry (mix) muffins cooked this way in Yellowstone years ago. Part of the memory was an Italian woman running into out site asking us about our gear, cooking, and if we were comfortable She was in a pop-up tent-trailer and cooking over a campfire with her son and grandchildren (American), while we were in hammocks and using alcohol stoves. We did a fly-drive-camp vacation, utilizing my backpacking gear to make travel manageable.

Another idea-I was hiking when I was a kid and saw a couple of boys coat some creek fish with clay muc from the bank, build a fire and cook the fish. Supposedly, the scales and skin would stick to the baked mud while the fish steamed perfectly, insulated from the fire by the drying clay. There are some clay pots that modern cooks soak in water before baking food in an oven. Same "technology."

Mud might be fun to play with. I imagine a foil packet or any pot could be coated with mud and set directly onto coals. The soot should stick to the mud and the mud should protect the food from contact burns. I think I'd try it with cheap ingredients and foil or an old coffee can before my nice pots and pans...

Lightweight freaks (including myself) and car-campers can easily share ideas for cross-over areas. Why not?

CamperMom

Yes CM I agree that esbit is a bit pricey! But it does have its following and because id like to give anybody the opportunity to use the same stove and fuel. I picked up one of these!



http://www.campmor.com/ags-labs-esbit-emergency-stove.shtml

My intentions are to have up a video of a solo a breakast and dinner. By the end of the week!

Im thinking green eggs and spam! With Sam
Complete with a cup of Joe.

And could maybe use some suggestions on dinner. I'm thinking chicken tacos with sauted veggies. I have a confession to make I eat 90% of my backcountry meals on tortillas usually whole wheat.

Its been along time sense I've done any cooking on esbit! But I'm really anxious to see if I can pull both meals off with this stove and three tabs.

So I got a chance to test out the little folding ESBIT stove thIs afternoon! And I'm fairly impressed.

For less than $5 with three fuel tabs this is a nice little stove.

I folded the corners around and put a little arch to the pot supporting walls to add a little rigidity. I have no intention on ever unfolding the stove it packs small enough!


On one ESBIT tab I was able to boil 8oz of water and fry a single serve spam packet and an egg.

I made a video but am having a real hard time editing it. With the software avail for my phone.

Very interested in your results!

Ok bare with me this is my first YouTube video ever. As well as the firstime I've ever really tried to record myself doing anything! I also had a real hard time editing the video. But I mainly shot this one for some practice. And to test this little stove out! Hope yoou enjoy!


I really wish I had had a fresh avacodo but my egg, spam burritos were delicious none the less!

Enjoyed watching =)

Thanks

Nice job for your 1st video

Very nice video! Definitely looking forward to more.

Some constructive criticism:

I liked how you framed your shot. It had a very backcountry feel to it. I thought at first you should have framed the stove into the picture, but I don't think it would have added much. Swinging the camera around for the top view showed what needed to be shown. I would think with practice, moving the camera would be a bit smoother.

I wish you would have actually made your coffee. Its a minor thing, but I think it adds to the completeness of the video. I am not a big fan of cooking shows that use "the magic of TV." For that reason, I didn't mind the bad avocado. It shows how you adapt (sometimes bad avocados happen in the backcountry)

I couldn't hear what kind of knife you were using. I've seen other DIY videos that will splash details on the video. Might be something to think about... but you did mention trouble editing your video.

Lastly... holy salt batman. You used a whole package of spam which as you noted has 990 mg of sodium, but then you dumped the seasoning salt on it.

Thanks guys! I originally had no intentions of posting this video. But I was curious of how hard it would be to post and if I'd have any problems while doing so.

I learned a lot while shooting and trying to edit it.

The knife is a made by kbar its a Becker necker bk11

As far salt goes the onion powder and garlic powder both being white and the sun at my face made it show really well. But the dish its self was not salty to the taste! But yes no doubt high in overall sodium content!

Yes I really wish I had made some coffee aswell. I really just never intended on posting the video!

I hadn't cooked on ESBIT in along time much less on that stove. So I figured I give a practice video a shot and well you see what I came up with!

Thanks again everyone!
5AM05ET

Awesome vid! I love it, and must admit never thought of spam. I raise chickens and love eggs when camping. Great job Sam, even though we are across the country we need to camp sometime!

Hello eveyone,
Despite the sputtering on and off again rain and wind today. I headed outside pitchd a tarp and settled in to cook some Delicious chicken and rice tacos on the ESBIT folding emergency stove!

I have to say the more I use this stove the more impressed I am with it. It's amazing to me how something so simple can work so well! I highly recommend one to anyone thinking of giving ESBIT a shot!

With two additional tortillas this dish could probably feed two people. I had some extra tomato and avavodo left over. It was also all I could do to finish it.

I had just eaten breakfast an hour before though. Had it been after along day hiking I'm sure I'd of made short work of all of it even the avacodo and tomato!


As far as this video goes I didn't bother trying to edit it. I also left it in its original format as it seems to be of better picture and sound quality this way. It is a much larger file though so if you find that it lags a lot please let me know. And ill upload a different format.

As always I really hope you enjoy!
Samoset



Ps. I didn't forget the cheese. I just had my fill of it an hour beforehand. On my scrambled eggs and my hashbrowns.

Ok sorry if anyone is or was actually waiting for this video. But I uploaded it the second time for YouTube to reject it do to its length.

Apparently you have to verify your account before you upload videos over 15min.

Ive verified it. And now its uploading for the third time! I don't have the greatest service here so it takes about 2-3 hours to upload!

Hopefully ill have it up by the end of the night!

I was wondering what happened. Can't wait to catch it tomorrow.

My popcorn got cold, I'll pop another batch tomorrow!

Hello eveyone, Despite the sputtering on and off again rain and wind YESTERDAY. I headed outside pitchd a tarp and settled in to cook some Delicious chicken and rice tacos on the ESBIT folding emergency stove!

I have to say the more I use this stove the more impressed I am with it. It's amazing to me how something so simple can work so well! I highly recommend one to anyone thinking of giving ESBIT a shot!

With two additional tortillas this dish could probably feed two people. I had some extra tomato and avavodo left over. It was also all I could do to finish it.

I had just eaten breakfast an hour before though. Had it been after along day hiking I'm sure I'd of made short work of all of it even the avacodo and tomato!

As far as this video goes I didn't bother trying to edit it. I also left it in its original format as it seems to be of better picture and sound quality this way. It is a much larger file though so if you find that it lags a lot please let me know. And ill upload a different format.

As always I really hope you enjoy!



Ps. I didn't forget the cheese. I just had my fill of it an hour beforehand. On my scrambled eggs and my hashbrowns.

Great video!

I really think it is neat that you shoot these videos barefoot. It definitely gives it a backcountry feel (though I'm rarely barefoot in the backcountry).

Have you considered using a shallot instead of a small onion? It seemed like you ended up with too much vegetables. You could get a nice fat shallot that would be about half the size of that onion. I will often do that when I only need a little onion.

In all honesty I usually have three tortillas per dish. And I believe had I had the third the ratio would have been a little more distributed. But I really like a lot of veggies in my tacos aswell as on my pizza! I do use shallots some times but I had a bag of onions already that had a few small ones in it. So I just picked one of those.

As far as being barefoot. If I'm not at work that's how I spend 90% of the time! I had some flipflops while setting up the tarp. I just kicked them off. To avoid getting any mud on my sleeping or sitpad, which is a totally normal practice for me while in the backcountry.

Thanks for the encouragement and insight its really appreciated. I'm thinking ill do a dish or two more on ESBIT. Then maybe discuss some of the things I make for my family on canister stoves.

I've asked the seafood department at my local grocer if he would order some whole dressed Rainbow trout. Well se if he does if not we will be using fillets. I'll probably do them on a large capacity alcohol stove! Think modified Jim Wood Cat Stove! Or something like Tinys from MBD sketti foster can stove.

I'm really open to suggestions and questions if anyone has any thanks again!

Actually, these videos bring up a whole set of ideas:
1. Hmmmm for winter camping, it gets dark early, no bears - why not use some of that dark time to make a nice meal...

2. I'm not a big fan of videos, but after seeing yours maybe there is some merit to them The brain is thinking of other interesting BP stuff to video (snow shelters, ....)

Heather but I doubt ill be getting enough snow down here to make any shelters!

Another great video! So we have breakfast, lunch, what's for dinner Sam? Love it ! I bought some spam lite singles for my next trip!

Honestly solo. I don't do hot lunches.

With the wifey however hot tea or coffee at lunch is almost guaranteed.

Me I usually just snack while I walk even though I love good food. I'm a walker at heart and usually put big miles between breakfast and dinner!

Which is why I also have a Passion for good snacks.

I'm thinking of doing another breakfast.

Blueberry Bannock topped with raw honey.
And to keep the critics at bay this time ill actually make some Cowbow Coffee.

My Basic single serve breakfast bannock recipe!

1/2Cup whole wheat non bleached flour!
1 heavy pinch sea salt
1/2 tsp double acting baking powder
1 heaping Tbsp Nido AKA"powderd milk "
1 tsp raw sugar
1 pinch cinnamon
Feel free to add fresh or dried berries and or chopped nuts.

Top with asmuch honey as you can handle I like a lot.

Well I ordered 2 of those stoves and a couple of packages of esbit, I can't seem to find it locally.

I'm sure you will be happy with them. They are wicked light and super simple to operate!

Just be sure to use a wind screen and pair it up. With a cookset that isn't to large for it!

You've inspired me to try some trail cooking on our trip next weekend. I had been doing freezer bag cooking but I think for the first nights meal I will make your chicken and rice tacos. I know that will taste extra good up on the mountain under the stars!

I think I may try a disposable foil pan for cooking the veggies. I'm not a fan of doing dishes, and I can handle one pot for the rice. I'll have to figure out some sort of heat diffuser for my stove though...shoudn't be too hard to do.

Here's a tip CranMan you can make a foil pouch out of extra duty foil like from oven liners!

Hope they turn out well for you!

On another note was walking around a hard sale to day and the kids of the owners where cooking some grilled PB&J's in pie irons. On a small fire in the yard!

You should have seen the gears turning in my head! It'd been along Time sense I had a nice pie iron!

Actually did my first cooking in one as a young lad!

I'm on the hunt for a good set of AL nonstick pie irons. If anyone has suggestions for a good brand please let me know?

What's a pie iron?

There are literally thousands of recipes for them all over the internet not sure about packing, but I could sure get some good use out of them car camping and at home with the kids.

I'm pretty sure walmart carries a aluminum one. Never thought about it but besides pies(!) and sandwiches it seems like all manner of foods in foil pouches could be cooked over the fire in one of those! Of course you can put foil pouches in/on a fire to some degree, but the pie iron would make it alot easier to get in and out, turn, manage the heat, etc. Something to try next trip!

My experience with the irons are that they close tight enough to cook most foods directly directly in them!

In my original post I ment that you could use the heavy duty packet . To cook directly in.
The pie irons are just something I'm interested in as I'm sure my boys would love the products I could produce cooking over the coals of a fire in our backyard.

I made the tacos this weekend and they were awesome. Really they were as good as many meals I have made at home. The canned chicken blended with the peppers and onions, some cajun seasoning and the spanish rice actually made the chicken taste good.

One idea I had was to pre-wrap the tortillas in foil and use them as the pot lid while cooking the rice so they can warm up that way. Then after I cooked the chicken, peppers and onions I added them to the rice and mixed it all up, and it was easier to build the tacos.

Also my buddy had some pre-chopped peppers and onions in a zip loc baggie, quicker and easier than trying to do it trailside.

This will be something we probably cook alot, it was really good.

I really like the idea of warming the tortilla's on the top of the pot. I live in LA, so I can get pretty picky about Mexican food. A nice warm tortilla is heavenly, but a cold dry tortilla approaches cardboard pretty fast. This has always been an obstacle for me in using tortillas backpacking.

Really glad you enjoyed them.

As far as pre cutting the peppers and onions. Once you cut anything you increase the surface are for bacteria to feed/breed . Increasing the rate of which your food will spoil astronomicaly. You also increase your risk of contracting food born illnesses.

Your probably safe overnight. But I always find it better to cut fresh.

Ok girls and boys! sorry for the delay but I give you my word within the next two days ill have another video up cooking on the ESBIT emergency stove.

I'm planning on shooting tomorrow morning we will c. Sometimes being a husband and a dad gets in the way of my plans.

^ But that's exactly what I'm thankfull for^

But either my wife or one of my two boys has hid my cookset from me. I've looked for it for three days now. I just keep forgetting to ask my wife about it when she Is home in the evening!

Soon as it turns up ill shoot the video!

I hope that's not a comment on your cooking!

Oh come on man, you lost your stove!

Yeah yeah I know.

I left it in the stuff sack on the kitchen counter. And that was not aesthetically pleasing to my wife so she put it up! That's what she told Me last night. Up where I asked. "Umm" was the response I got back.
I'm going to search all of her normal hiding spots today!

Sorry Guys but I landed a new job opening a brand new restaurant. And I've been extremely busy, long days and nights! As soon as I get a few moments to myself ill make you a new video! I found my cook set stuffed in a cabinet! So where good on that,

its just the lack of time that's Ben killing me I've been pulling a lot of overtime :

And spending some time with my kids at the end of the day has taken priority !

There still coming I haven't forgot about you guys!

Just wanted to say THANKS Sam I like your vids.. I go kayak camping 4-5 times a year and will be preparing some "good eats" next year.. Not that I'm getting sick of deer tenderloins but a weekend diet of meat, cheese, chips and beer isn't all that healthy.. Your meals are definitely healthier.. Thanks again..CD