hungry boys

[Hazel in Sk]

In a few weeks time we will be heading out for two weeks with an 11 year old and a 13 year old. Last year they had huge appetites and this year, of course, they are bigger! A 17 year old will be joining us for some of the time with a 10 year old in tow. They too are boys who take eating seriously!

We will be at a northern lake an hour from a small store with a very limited selection (sometimes there is milk, bread. eggs, cans and frozen meat, but not always).

Our tiny fridge doesn't hold much and I'm puzzling over meal provisions.
I'm planning to take a along selection of cans and dried items like oatmeal and rice, Flour for bannock too.

I've never used things like pancake mix - is there a brand that only requires the addition of water?

What are your favourite items for the storage cupboard?

[carlkeigley]

KRUSTEAZ Buttermilk complete pancake mix * Just Add Water.

If there's a Sam's Club up there, they have it in 10 pound bags.
Some of our Walmart's carry smaller bag units.
You can add oil to it and you have Waffle Mix.

There is "GOLDEN GRILL" Hashbrown Potatoes.
Just add water (15 minute preparation).
These are dehydrated and the water is just for hydrating them back.
Then you cook them as usual. [Makes 50 1/2 cup servings]

And also dehydrated "Mashed Potatoes". Some are just add water.

Some don't like them, but I like canned potatoes.
Not as good as fresh, but I keep them when it's just me.

And then there's the boxed non-milk products, but there is also
the boxed real milk that does not need refrigeration until opened.
With hungry boys, a box might last one meal.
Of course there's the powdered milk.

Their is the Bisquick box mix. I think it's just add water.
These make biscuits and other items.
And not to forget the packaged gravy mix - just add water.

Of course, it's important to follow the directions on the packages. LOL

Hope that helps some.

P.S. ------ Then there's always SPAM.........LOL

[Hazel in Sk]

Just the types of things I was dreaming of, thanks, Hubby has said 'No' to canned potatoes but I think hungry boys might go for them.

It seems to ne that a lot of the online camping recipes aren't really meals the way I understand that word (who could fill up a bunch of boys with s'mores?) Many are very high fat which is no good for us adults - fried potato variations, sausage and spuds in foil, bacon rich items and so on.

We have a Walmart a couple of hours from home - i'll definitely check them out next time I'm in the city.

Any further suggestions would be gratefully received.

[carlkeigley]

S'mores?.........REALLY?!........lol.

I'll check out my pantry and see what other items I can come up with.
It's easier for me because I am not a meat eater and wife eats very little meat.

[jwcolby54]

and let's not forget Oatmeal and other dry cereals.

I am watching this thread as well as canned goods are seriously heavy.

[carlkeigley]

Well, guess my pantry is getting a bit vacant...........
Still food to last months, but less on the suggestion side....lol.

We have lots of pastas that of course are dried. But what to do after it's cooked?

If you like Mexican type........there's the rice mixes of all sorts, canned refried beans,
canned nacho cheese. Gallon and small cans.

If a person was desperate, there's always [jerky].
Or you could tell the kids they will have to kill what they eat,
or catch fish from the lake........LOL

I know once you search the shelves you will find all kinds of things
that won't need refrigeration. Walmart carries those back-packer meals.
Packets of Scrambled eggs and ham, etc.

Good luck. If I can think of anything I'll let you know.

[carlkeigley]

Originally Posted by jwcolby54

and let's not forget Oatmeal and other dry cereals.

I am watching this thread as well as canned goods are seriously heavy.

That's true.......LOL But should be a one-way trip for the cans......lol.

There's lots of dried foods if we can find them.
I have cases of instant oatmeal packets but I prefer the whole oats.
You know one minute for instant (just add hot water)
or three minutes (a little cooking) for the real thing.

Would popcorn count for everyone?

[Tonia]

My back up food, meaning food I need if I run out or lack cooler space includes spaghetti sauce and pasta--ramen noodles (when really desperate)---potatoes (raw uncooked)--rice and a can of black beans -- packaged tuna and chicken -- granola bars --barley-- and canned veggies. Although, I've never had to feed a large group for several days ....maybe this sparks some ideas. I also use dehydrated milk (for cooking).

Years ago when my mom used to prepare a full week of meals for a group of 6-10 while boondocking, she would make chili or sloppy joe, freeze it solid and use it the first few days. Adding noodles to the chili made it go further. Seems I remember spam being part of the good 'ok days too. And pancakes as someone else mentioned.

[carlkeigley]

There's also instant cocoa mixes.
Just add to a cup of hot water,
or rip a 1 cup mix bag to a cup of hot water.

When helping our son get through school we bought him tons of ramen noodles.
He loved them for some reason, so it was really more economical for us......lol.

And yep, those packaged tuna and chicken are a good idea.
Although I'd never touch them........LOL

And there's always peanut butter and jelly on crackers.

And I don't know if anyone eats soup while camping, but
I think those can also be had in packets.

I keep "dried" onions and minced garlic in my pantry.

[jwcolby54]

Pinto and other dried beans

[carlkeigley]

You can also get dried eggs.............
or make your own by scrambling them and dehydrating them yourself.

When I was in high school the cooks made a great to me hot dog relish
out of dried eggs..........and I'm thinking that's what the Navy served us.
Dried eggs. But we did have fresh milk........lol

[Gilda]

You can always supplement your fridge with an ol' fashioned cooler. Any gas station with a mini-mart or grocery store has blocks of ice. (Use bags of ice if blocks are not available. The ice cubes can be put in beverages to make them cold rather than wasting fridge space.) I put a wire shelf rackhttp://www.containerstore.com/shop/kitchen/cabinetOrganizers/upperCabinets?productId=10000697&N=185&Nao=20 in my cooler with the ice block below it. On top I store the produce (etc.) that needs to be kept cool.

It's also possible to use dry ice in the cooler to keep frozen stuff cold if it is kept outdoors. Think about this option carefully because dry ice needs special treatment and those teenage boys may get too curious and hurt themselves.

There is a powdered milk with cream in it and tastes decent. Sorry, I don't know the brand name.

Take a cooking tip from backpackers. Combine starch and protein with seasonings/gravy and you have a meal!
spaghetti and meatballs with sauce
rice and chicken with curry sauce
rice and beans with taco sauce
rice and pork with sweet and sour sauce (add canned pineapple)

A fun book to use is Amazon.com: A Man, a Can, a Plan eBook: The Editors of Men's Health, David Joachim: Books.

Check out this website The Boat Galley for recipes and the cookbook for cooking on a boat. All the tips for cooking on a boat apply to trailer cooking!

Of course, do a search in this website in the cooking forum. I'm sure you'll find some great ideas there too!

I'm sure you'll have a great time makin' memories with the younguns!

[papa-t]

Sounds like a fun time ahead. At least for the boys. LOL

[carlkeigley]

Originally Posted by papa-t

Sounds like a fun time ahead. At least for the boys. LOL

ROFL.........that's the way it was with me and my cousins when we
were kids. They had fun fishing while I made camp, built fires, did
the cooking when they caught the fish........yep, "they" had fun.

[ShirleyA]

Mac & cheese (with canned tuna or chicken)
Make and freeze a meatloaf then use for 1 dinner and then sandwiches.
Potatoes; bake 'em, roast 'em, fry 'em, mash 'em
Ham, dinner and then sandwiches or with eggs
Freeze hamburger patties then use for hamburgers, with noodles and seasonings, crumble for spaghetti or tacos.....etc.

[Thomas G.]

50# bag of rice, 50# bag of beans.

[RRJR]

Have you considered a cooler that runs off 12 volts. This could be setup in the trunk or rear of a truck. The vehicle is usually run once a day or so to keep battery up.

[Thomas G.]

Originally Posted by RRJR

Have you considered a cooler that runs off 12 volts. This could be setup in the trunk or rear of a truck. The vehicle is usually run once a day or so to keep battery up.

No need to even do that now that solar is so cheap.

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[Byron Kinnaman]

Look up backpacking recipes on the internet. Sheesh, this is so easy and doesn't require refrigeration.

Our little refrigerator holds very very little that needs refrigeration. A lot of stuff that refrigeration doesn't hurt. There's so much available in the local grocery store.

[Farren and Heather]

We camp with 3 boys. We now have a mobicool 3 way cooler to subsidise the fridge but we used to take along a regular cooler. The fridge in the camper has a tiny freezer unit that can hold an ice pack. I would pack the cooler with premade frozen meals, like chili, and an ice pack. I would put a second ice pack in the freezer and then swap them out when needed. This method could feed the ravenous monkeys for a week. I am also a fan of dried food. Try the tuna helper its really not bad. Its on the same shelf as hamburger helper in Extra Foods.