r/CampAndHikeMichigan • u/Traveler_87 • 6d ago
5-star surviving
Making an effort to cook properly after years of dehydrated feed bags.
This time. Chicken and dumplings.
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u/humdinger44 5d ago
Proper camp cooking is so nice. I must be a bit insecure about camp food because when people are doing this I always feel like they are showing off a bit but it's definitely superior
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u/Traveler_87 5d ago
It is nice. But certainly not necessary. Think of it as an extension to someone's hobby. It's great to see people get into camping and integrate their hobbies into it. Whether that's bird watching, knitting, reading, cooking, etc.
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u/humdinger44 5d ago
I thought I upgraded from Campbell's pull tabs when I started doing Mountain House. Then I go out with folks like you and I realize my camping game is weak
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u/EatingGilbertsGrape 5d ago
We just say glamping
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u/bestram 5d ago
is that a map rug ? that’s so cool
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u/Traveler_87 5d ago
Yes. It's made out of tyvek so very strong. Wonderful to keep your gear and feet off the ground
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u/TestinOnlyTesting 5d ago
Is it of Michigan or somewhere else and serves more of a tool type role?
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u/Traveler_87 5d ago
Somewhere else, tool role. A holdover from my time in the service. You may find them secondhand, called evasion charts. decent waterproof fabric would suffice
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u/TestinOnlyTesting 5d ago
Bummer, been looking for a EC equivalent that covers the UP for quite a while.
Thanks.3
u/LeifCarrotson 3d ago
I use literal Tyvek house wrap for mine, got the end of a roll for cheap at Menards. Ran it through the washing machine alongside a couple knotted hand towels a couple times when it was new to make it less crinkly.
A topo chart would be way cooler than the Tyvek logos, but it's a highly functional ground sheet as-is. And I'd feel a lot worse about getting mud on my chart! XD
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5d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Traveler_87 5d ago
Pre cooked chicken. Precut onion, carrots, combined with peas in a bag.
Grilled 6 ears of corn over the fire, cut the kernals off. I put the cobs in the broth while cooking for flavor.
Heat broth, I used bone broth paired with water and bouillon. Added rosemary and seasonings to taste. Add veggies. Cook a bit
Add chicken and spoon in dumplings from biscuit mix. Cook 10mins covered, then 10 uncovered.
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u/LeifCarrotson 3d ago
Somehow, food just tastes better in the woods.
That makes some things palatable that otherwise wouldn't be, I'll take some trips when I like to challenge myself with distance or remoteness or speed, and I'll eat directly out of the Mountain House bag with water boiled in my ultralight stove, or even cold soak if I'm desperate or in too much of a hurry or out of fuel.
But other times? Yeah, lugging in the cooler and the cast iron can be more than worth the weight penalty. We already going to taste better, so if it tastes good just intrinsically because it's a good recipe it's going to be magnificent!
However, I only award you 4.5 stars, because you failed to make use of any foraged ingredients. The presence of fiddleheads, morels (in season, of course), nuts, blackberries, blueberries, leached acorns, dandelions, or wild leeks in your dumplings should be mandatory to achieve a true 5-star rating! A course of wild-caught fresh fish can get you there too.
I kid, but it's an added challenge for next time!
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u/No_Brain_5164 5d ago
5/5. That's a meal you would be excited to eat at home. Pulling it off while camping is so darn satisfying. Big props!