A few weeks back, I promised a column on how to dry your own spaghetti sauce, which is a fantastic and easy way to bring some home-cooked flavor to the woods. You either can make your own sauce from scratch (see my favorite recipe below), or use your favorite jarred sauce -- just choose a brand that doesn't have chunks of veggies or meats in it. Smooth marinara works best.
By Kristin Hostetter | July 22, 2004
I recently had the privilege of judging the first nationwide REI/Backpacker Camp Cook-Off outside Denver. Two days of chowing down on gooey s'mores, fruit-infused pancakes, crazy trail mix concoctions, even backpackable sushi and more pasta dishes than I could count. So much for my low-carb lifestyle.
The grand prize winner was Chris Gilliam, a 32-year-old Denverite, whose hearty, spicy lentil stew stole the show (and it's really a show; the competition will be featured on a one-hour special next spring on the Food Network).
By Kristin Hostetter | July 8, 2004
Ask most folks what they're craving after a few days in the wilderness and the answer is almost always "a burger (or steak) and a beer." That's because it's so hard to pack perishable meats on multiday trips. Instead, we tend to subsist on carbs and fats (Dr. Atkins would have never made it as a backpacker).
By Kristin Hostetter | June 3, 2004
Once upon a time, I could not take a backpacking or camping trip without forgetting some critical item. Once it was my headlamp. Another time it was the water filter. But the worst was when I forgot my sleeping pad on a five-day trip into Wisconsin's Porcupine Mountains.
My back still hurts when I think about that trip.
By Kristin Hostetter | May 20, 2004
Last time, it was coffee talk. And while I've never met a soul who did not appreciate the deep, dark aroma of a freshly brewed cup of coffee, there are lots of folks out there who would rather sniff the stuff than drink it.
So, for those of you who do not partake in the ebony nectar, I offer you some recipes for equally delicious hot drinks that don't involve those little black beans.
The first is a thick, yummy drink with almost a pudding consistency, so it makes a great dessert as well as a cold afternoon pick-me-up.
Hot Chocolate Smoothie
By Kristin Hostetter | February 12, 2004
