Ah, @galenkp, you couldn't have picked a better Weekend Engagement topic for me as I travel at the moment! Actually, there's sooo much I could write about - I've eaten some amazing food on my travels, particularly in SE Asia. But those were in the days before we photographed our food all the time, so I'm not even entirely sure that these meals even happened. And if I go on a photo search I'll be stuck in my head in Bagan, Burma, or Sapa, Vietnam...I don't really want to relive that experience where we went hiking into the mountains with some random Hmong people we met at the market and ate two minute noodles with tofu out of very dirty plates, resulting in me being so sick they had to go and find motorbikes to get me off the mountain after me limping and crying half way for hours. That's probably my worst experience, to be honest - most have been pretty good, and me and Jamie have a good sixth sense of when to walk out of a restaurant, such as when the chef keeps sniffing and wiping his nose with his sleeve...
So let's digress and go with the Weekend Engagement topic of 'Outside Food', which is a relevent one since I'm on the road anyway! I was going to write about it anyway! I'm the MISTRESS of outdoor cooking. I absolutely love it. There's something special about camp cooking as the sun goes down. It's quite the relaxing thing to do and somehow you are hungrier after a day outdoors!
Usually I cook more elaborate meals when I'm in company. Back when I was in my 20's and travelling around Australia, I used to do grape picking in Western Australia, and the campground was full of international people. I used to collect $2 from everyone and go into town and buy food and come back and cook a huge curry, tomato pasta and so on for everyone. It was awesome as most travellers were eating two minute noodles and beans as they were fresh out of home and had no idea how to cook. All the meals were vegetarian but no one minded - they just appreciated a home cooked meal after picking all day or surfing.
Anyway, back to camp Riverflows, current day! First of all, I can't tell you how stoked I am with my current kitchen set up. It works perfectly. The van door shades me from rain and the cooker is perfectly placed so the drawer itself forms a windbreak. I use metho stove - a spirit stove used in boats. YOu don't have to carry a gas bottle which I like. More space and less fuss.
The stainless steel bench hooks over the end of the drawer and sits on top of it when not in use. It's fantastic - wipes clean and is a great surface for chopping or a table when you're done. It's super easy to set up wherever I am, such as in this carpark having coffee. Yes, @mrprofessor, that's a Landrover mug. Australians will recognise the Kings Adventure branding - we had to adapt it so it fitted on this particular Titan drawer by angle grinding the top.
Okay, first dinner. I have to say I dont do packet food at home. But it's easy when you are camping, and these precooked Indian meals are cheap and delicous. The thing is, I dont JUST do the packet - I have to add healthy vegetables to make it taste even better and be good for me. IN this case, I threw in a handful of cherry tomatoes and some eggplant, and cooked it with a splash of water and some extra chilli til it was cooked down, then stirred through some coriander. You can eat it with rice but I tend to not do many carbs.
It's been such a bummer my 12V fridge isn't working, but I don't mind my coffee black and I am just buying a few veggies every couple of days. However, I was pretty happy to find some stinging nettles at Bay of Fires, which is basically a spinach subsitute and cooks down as such.
I happened to have a big packet of that pre chopped stir fry mix that was in the bargain bin, so I added that to a tin of tomatoes and a tin of lentils, and the nettles as well, and some onion.
Looks healthy, right? It tasted amazing. THe secret? A good splash of stout, a splash of tamari, and some black onion seeds. It made it taste super meaty and amazing. Tinned lentils are the BEST when you're camping. Easy to cook and a good protein source. Again, I didn't bother with pasta, but you could do.
I added some parmesan to this - I had to use it up due to the fridge being broken. Honestly, it was so delicous I had to eat it for breakfast as well. It's such a simple fare. I also like to carry tins of white beans as well, because a white bean stew cooked similiarly is also a good hearty camp feast, and can be even better with some herby dumplings on top! I usually steal fresh rosemary from people's gardens as I walk by - fresh rosemary is wicked in a bean or lentil stew. When I say steal, I actually mean just liberate a twig overhanging the fence - officially everyone's property.
Tonight's dinner is - noodles, ahah! I love udon noodles, they are real comfort food. I'd also been past a farm shop which had spinach and broccoli, so that was added to boiling water with a sprinkle of chilli, a dash of tamari and a bit of stock powder, cooked til the broccoli was crunchy tender, then the noodles added to heat.
I'm sure that the meals will change slightly when I'm cooking for two, but curries and veggie stews are a staple for sure. I also love cooking veggie fajitas as the tortillas keep well in their packet. I also make some nice bean rissoles from tinned beans as well. Jamie certainly appreciates it. And for after dinner? Dark 🍫🍫🍫 chocolate!
But excuse me, I have a sunset to go eat noodles by...
With Love,
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Very cool @riverflows
Absolutely feel special when in nature.
While enjoying nature, you of course also prepare food and cook it for every meal. The results of self-cooking with limited tools and ingredients, although a little charred, but the taste is extraordinary. In fact, at that time you admit that you can beat the taste of a famous restaurant.
Wait a minute, Don't you do cooking and other activities that you do in nature when camping, you also do everyday at home? Then, why does the taste of your food differ between your home and in the open? Even though the cooking utensils and ingredients are much more complete.
I think it's because our minds are completely off the food we eat. But when we are out in nature for camping, we are completely focused on what we are doing. That's because when you're camping, you eat your food attentively. Every bite, every chew and every step you take, you do it with all your heart.
So whatever we do, we must wholeheartedly. If not, then we will never feel the pleasure of something we do.
Oh yes you have got it!! We aren't distracted as much, so things we do are more enjoyable xx
Absolutely cool,
Looks like he's just enjoying the situation there. But, it's very good for refreshing and looking for inspiration.
Is that your regular agenda?
those packet foods do make a good starter, but you always need to add veggies and of course coriander to them, that sunset looked lit, what a place to eat your noodles by.
Wonderful recipes and happy to see a Landrover mug being used.
An awesome entry and thanks for sharing :)
Ha yes well we have two Landrovers, but I can't drive the one that's working! And the van is more comfy though the Landrover gets far more attention.
I have seen one or both in your previous blogs, although I did not know that you can't drive the one that's working! A wee of sods law that is!
It's got far too many gear sticks lol - honestly I would laugh at anyone who tries to steal that thing!!!!
haha I know what you mean about gear sticks
It's got an overdrive so it's complicated.. I CAN drive in an emergency and I did drive on the beach recently. But in traffic and in queue for ferry overheating, no way.
Yes it can be confusing, and there sure is a difference between the beach with nobody around and pile of other vehicles in traffic🤣
Niiiice, put me in the mood for some outdoor cooking 🍳
It's so enjoyable, funny though, at home I just prefer inside away from flies and mosquitos 😂😂😂😂
In South Africa we braai outside all the time. Beer and beef 😂🍺 I'm not a big fan of beer though
You know I can't do more than one these days or I feel crap for days.
Ive heard of the great South African braii!
I just had brunch, but I got hungry again reading this 😅 It looks very appetizing and exquisite in your performance, not to mention the decorations. I envy.
Self-cooked food in the fresh air, after a hard (in a pleasant sense of the word) day, is always tastier than the most exquisite dish from the most expensive restaurant.
except two minute noodles with tofu out of very dirty plates of course.
Ahaha...exactly.
In their defence, they were very poor, and this was the first time they had hosted westerners. We bought them a heap of thing to get started and gave them advice about how westerners need clean plates and hands so need soap, because their stomachs can't handle it. They were keen to make money from tourism like other people they saw, but we were their unlucky first customers. A very funny story NOW. But they were sweet and meant well, and we had quite the mad adventure. That's only part of the story 😂😂
I agree whole heartedly.. a lot better than a restaurant!
Camping food is one if th best things about camping, my opinion, and you've got some legit fare on offer here! I'm possibly doing a similar post myself about a damper I made...Still contemplating that. It might happen.
Thanks for joining in Riv, I appreciate it.
I do try ❤️❤️❤️ when I can.
It's quite mild here but it is going to get colder.. damper sounds like a good one,!!!
Have a great weekend River. ✅
Good to see you promoting Indian food again :) And I like the way, you make it healthy as well. Love the set up that you have, may be one day I will have one.
Haaaaaah 🤢 there was this burger flipper when I was living in the capital that used to kill cockroaches with the same thing he used to flip burgers. Juicy juicy.
I'm not sure if I like the mug more or the food. You know I dreamed with a Land Rover this night, weird. And then I wake up and you tagged me to show that lovely land rover mug. Signs everywhere.
The person in the camp who makes the food is always my hero. What a wonderful post riverflows. Read it, enjoyed it, now I want curry. :)
Haha how ARE you? Long time no talk to! Hope you are smiling well x
¡Disculpa que mi comentario no se deba a las comidas, pero me quedé asombrada con tu última foto, ese atardecer se ve sublime, eres privilegiada! Saludos y sigue disfrutando.😃👋
.
Sorry my comment is not due to meals, but I was amazed with your last photo, that sunset looks sublime, you are privileged! Greetings and keep enjoying.😃👋
Oh haha yes it was so beautiful!!!
It's so cool that your van has its own stove. I can imagine you cooking up a feast in the great outdoors.
I love it. However it does mean I've been eating too much!
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theres something about cooking on a camping stove that makes everything taste twice as nice as it normally would.. i think just being able to cook anything when you are camping is a kind of magic.. and with those views im sure they make up for anything that is missing..
Oh... You never fail to impress me with your entries dear river. I bookmarked this post 3 days ago and thought I'd come back for it later seeing as how I've been too overwhelmed this week to Hive.
Anyway, eating noodles by a breath taking sunset has officially been added into my bucket list now😁
Okay, so this right here was honestly a very sweet and thoughtful thing for you to do. Service like that comes a long way and I'm sure those foreigners appreciated your food and love.
@zeraton thanks for coming back to comment. Hive DOES get overwhelming. I've been trying to keep up and post for 365 days in a row. It's hard when I'm travelling and at times with no reception so I feel bad not commenting on all the people I should!
I love cooking for people, it makes me happy..