Peas and mash on the trail

I am gradually getting organised for another hike, doing a complete review of the weight, trying to get it down.

Apart from that, I want to experiment with new food recipes. A post by "Eremophila" on the Bushwalk forum inspired me:
http://bushwalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=20234

His peas and potato mash is basic, but should be appetising. I decided to give it a go. Here are all of the items that a hiker would need:


The stove is an Alocs alcohol burner (methylated spirits) that I bought from Deal Extreme awhile back (dx.com).
On the left is the fuel, in a Selleys wood-glue plastic bottle -- chosen because the spout has a screw-on cap, so fuel won't leak inside the backpack.
The other items are small scissors to open the packets, bag-closers, a folding scoop (that came with a saucepan-set from DX), water, and a spoon (my all-time favourite, a plastic spoon from Sea to Summit).

The pot is titanium, 700ml, 115mm diameter, 700mm high, 700ml capacity, very light, sold by Toak (USA).

Some means of lighting the stove is required. I have shown a cigarette-lighter in the photo, however matches are better as it is required to reach down into the stove to ignite the fuel.

I put in two scoops of water, one scoop of dehydrated peas. Lit the stove, brought the pot to a boil. Actually, this Alocs stove boils the water quite fast, and that is where this particular alcohol stove has an advantage over some others -- it has a "simmer ring" to adjust the flame down.


Wait several minutes, until the peas look like they have become soft. Take the pot off the stove, and stir in 1 scoop of potato powder, then half-a-scoop of cheese. The result:


It tastes OK. Not gourmet cooking, but passable when on the trail.

Next time, I will probably adjust it to a bit less peas, and maybe a bit more water. The cheese is a problem, as it would have to be consumed fairly quickly after opening the packet. Apparently, there are dehydrated cheese powders available, but I just bought what I found on the shelves at Coles.

After a days hiking, I would probably double the quantities, for a reasonable meal. Note, I don't have a measuring cup, but I think my scoop holds about 70ml.

Just an extra note: I am currently going through the exercise of reducing the weight of everything, and the Alocs stove is likely to be retired. It weighs, with its stand/shelter, 143gm. I have ordered another that is about 1/3 the weight, also has an adjustable flame. I'll write about that another day.

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Comments

I was thinking that my peas-and-mash needs something to give it more flavour.

Of course, what do I eat just about everything with -- tomato sauce!

For the hiker, there are sachets available. I know there are those little ones that you buy at food shops, but in Coles there is this:
http://shop.coles.com.au/online/national/leggos-tomato-paste-sachet

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