ao's Profile

How about a list of the most useful camp cooking gadgets? I’d carry all these 20 miles rather than go without: pot grabber, collapsible bucket, potholder, plastic scrubbee, 8-oz ladle, stove windscreen, pocket knife, squeeze bottles (for oil or margarine, and dish soap). The ones I don't have at home are: grabber, bucket, 8-oz ladle, windscreen of course, and oil squeeze bottle.

Be sure to try both rolled oats (I prefer 5-minute to 1-minute) and steelcut. If you decide you prefer the mushy texture of rolled oats, be sure to try the overnight soak for an even thicker and softer texture: per serving, add a half cup of oats to 1 cup boiling water, cover and let stand until morning, then simmer 5 minutes and let stand covered a minute or two longer. My favorite toppings are whole milk yogurt with or without a tablespoon of maple syrup. My grandfather’s favorites were golden syrup and stewed prunes.

There’s an even easier way to cook rice on the stove. Cook it like pasta, in a large quantity of boiling water, for about 13 minutes (how long depends on the rice, but this way is a little quicker than the traditional way), and then use a strainer to drain it. You’ll never scorch the pan again.

pea soup, made either with carrots, onion, celery, and a hambone or just peas and a garlic clove