FOOD
TRAMPING RECIPES BUSH QUESADILLAS
Last year on the final day of a seven day tramp in Fiordland I made my two tramping mates my signature quesadillas with the remaining scraps of food I had in my pack. Not only did this prompt both of them to forgive me for the previous seven full days and nights of snoring but they both commented that the quesadillas we shared at a cafe in Queenstown once back in civilization the next day were not a patch on the ones I had prepared in the shelter beside the Shotover River. This illustrates rather well that any real food (particularly if it features melted cheese) tastes fantastic after you’ve eaten freeze-dried meals for a full week in the wilderness.
INGREDIENTS • • • • •
Wraps Cheese Tomato chutney Salami Anything you can find that goes with the above, but I often take some boiled eggs.
To make quesadillas whilst tramping you’ll need a skillet/ frying pan. I have one that is specially made for one of my most prized items of tramping kit, my MSR Windburner gas-cooker. This skillet is made of some kind of composite alloy that is also used on alien space-craft. That makes it so light I don’t mind carrying it in my pack. I also carry a small container of olive oil and another with dishwashing liquid to clean the skillet. Lay the wrap in the skillet, and put the other bits in the middle. Fold the wrap and gently brown both sides and wait until the cheese has melted. Smile modestly when your fellow trampers pour on the praise at your culinary genius.
ENERGY BARS This muesli slice is the perfect energy food for tramping. It is also known within our family as ‘Breast-feeding Slice’ because my mother made it for both of her daughter-in-laws when they were breastfeeding her grandchildren! That’s how much energy and goodness is packed into this incredibly simple recipe!
INGREDIENTS • • • • • • • • •
48
125g butter 2 Tbs golden syrup 1 tsp baking powder 1 egg 1 ¼ c toasted muesli or 5 crushed bran biscuits or weetbix 1 c sugar 1 c flour 1 c coconut 1 c dried fruit
Melt butter, sugar and golden syrup in a large bowl in the microwave. Add the other ingredients, mixing thoroughly. Press into a greased baking dish. Bake at 180C for 20 minutes. Cut while still warm.
