Canoe Trip

[Simple Vegan1]

I am going on a canoe trip and I think I can come up with food for sitting around the campfire, but I don't know what to bring with us when we are on the river.  Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[catnip]

One of our favorite simple camping meal/snacks is dried apricots stuffed with roasted almonds. For a rafting trip, I don't think you can go wrong with nutbutter quesadillas for lunch - sprouted tortillas are resistant to damage from crushing and packing, nut butter and jam are high-energy and non-perishable. Apples and carrots are my favorite fresh foods to take camping, both are awesome dipped in almond or PB.

I also make a yummy nutella-like spread by combining equal measures of almonds and chocolate chips in my food processor and processing for about 5 minutes. It's great on bread for breakfast, especially sourdough rolls.

I know you said you were set for dinner ideas, but I wanted to mention my favorite camping dinner- 1 can Amy's or TJ's veggie chili, 1 can water, 1 can brown minute rice. Bring the chili and water to a boil, add rice (that's half of the smallest box), simmer for 5 minutes, cover and let stand another 5. Even better topped with (pepperjack!) Daiya and a handful of Tings.

Hummus veggies and crackers (or better, pitas) are always a hit here. Fantastic foods makes an instant hummus mix. I don't care for it, but you might.

[Simple Vegan1]

Those are fantastic ideas!  Thank you and I will definately use them.  I love the almond and choc chip spread!  I will use that at home too.  I need to run to the store for Amy's as I was looking for a chili or baked beans from a can and Amy's is perfect.  Thanks so much!

[Simple Vegan1]

Oh and I really like the chili idea too.  I may have to change a dinner menu for that one.  Sounds fantastic over a fire!

[Comtessa]

I mostly love camping because I get to make all sorts of fun food!!!  Campfire and otherwise...

A few years ago, I was doing a long-distance solo bike camping trip and had to get creative about the weight of things I was packing -- probably an issue that concerns you, too, b/c a canoe only has so much space. :)

So here are my fav camping foods for over a campfire:

- Roasted garlic on whatever -- garlic is easy to carry and easy to roast in a campfire.  It makes for "easy gourmet." 

- 1 cup lentils, 1 cup brown rice, 1 vegan bouillon cube, a healthy dollop of olive oil (I keep mine in an old film canister knotted inside an old sock -- the sock absorbs any excess oil so it doesn't get all over the place), and a handful of dried veggies and hot peppers (you can buy these in bulk at some natural-foods stores) -- throw in a pot of hot water over a campfire, put a lid on top, and let it sit and simmer for an hour or so while you go do something else. 

- Requires processed foods, but makes a simple meal/dessert: Bisquick mixed with a bit of water into a thick dough, then wrapped in a thin layer around the end of a clean stick and roasted over a fire until it puffs up into a kind of roll -- you pull it off the stick and stuff the middle with whatever you like.  Butter, roasted garlic, cheese, tomato sauce, lentils & rice (see above), pie filling or jam, nut butter, sky's the limit! 

- I always make sure I bring a good, effective camping coffeepot and really high-quality coffee.  (I've even been known to travel with my own hand-powered antique coffee mill so I can grind it fresh )  There's nothing better than good, strong, hot coffee on a wet, cold morning outdoors.

- Roasted corn on the cob.  Just soak corn in the husk in cold water for an hour or more, then stick the wet corn right into the coals.  You could wrap in aluminum foil, too, if you want it a bit less charred.  (I like to open the husk, rub with lime juice and sprinkle with chili powder, then close it back up and roast it.)  Yum! 

For easy, protein-rich meals 'on the go', I like:

- dehydrated cooked black beans, sprinkled w/ seasonings

- fruit leather

- cheese & crackers

- granola bars

- olives (again, easy to pack and high-fat, a simple 'gourmet' snack)

- raw mixed nuts (Target actually sells a really excellent raw-nut mix in their Archer Farms line - expensive, but good)

- cut veggies and hummus or peanut butter

Happy canoeing!  

[Simple Vegan1]

Love the dough on a stick.  I will have to do that one next trip.  You gave me plenty of ideas in fact so I will use several.  I'm packing as I speak (type).  Thanks so much for your help and I just love talking to people who share the same passion as me for good vegan food and can help when needed!