It is two sealed packs inside – one is the hummus, the other is crunch pretzel chips:

The kit weighs 4.56 ounces and the plastic containers are very rugged (recyclable as well – #5). Normally I shy from lumpy containers (since you have to pack it out empty and/or crush it first) but what occurred to me is the pretzel half is a perfect drinking cup! Or rehydration vessel…..the two pieces snap together tightly. I wouldn’t use it for hot drinks but for cold, go for it! As well, if you need a cup for dunking it is small and easy to grab (great for filling hydration bladders). And when you get home? Recycle it! PS: If you have little ones, it would also make a great “leaf-rock-twig” holder!

Now onto the food in said cups – Sabra has long been my favorite hummus to buy. It is creamy and tasty. The red pepper one is my favorite of their varieties (it comes in 3 choices for the To Go Packs). If you are the type who has never cared for hummus – too much garlic, too sour, too whatever, give Sabra a try…it might change your view! I found it was the right amount for a snack.

I found the packs in the ready to grab section of the deli at my local Safeway – I would suggest looking around that area of your grocery store!

~Sarah

One of the best things you can do for your cholesterol levels is to eat oats – often! Kirk and I got addicted to eating various forms of oatmeal in 2011 (from one pot to baked, I made so many types!). It helped us knock our cholesterol levels in half and more so, kept us from getting as hungry. Well made oatmeal will have you desiring it, rather than eating that nutritionally less than stellar breakfast of champions, er backpackers, Pop-Tarts©. Oats are also great for your blood sugar (hence the reason you feel full longer) and are a great source of fiber (beta-glucan fiber, what binds the cholesterol).

The processing done to Old-Fashioned and 1 Minute oats isn’t anything bad – it simply breaks down the tough exterior of the oat making it easier to cook and eat. Ounce for ounce you get similar nutritional stats. The only time it isn’t is the pre-packaged instant packets that are full of sugar, salt and artificial flavorings/colorings. Considering you can make your own DIY packets and avoid all the salt/chemicals, you have no excuses! Most often I go for Old-Fashioned Oats as I enjoy the texture the most – and you can always do a quick grind to make them quicker cooking. And price-wise you just cannot beat them – go to Costco and you will be eating for next to nothing!

The key is that oats are bland, no matter what type you prefer. To taste great you need to be creative. They can be savory or sweet, but just like rice or couscous, you need to add in flavor. Cooking with milk (dairy or non-dairy) adds depth. Add in nuts, seeds, dried fruit, etc for more substance. Use spices! There isn’t much better than a bowl of oats sweetened with maple syrup and topped with just picked Huckleberries in August

So consider tomorrow a new start to a healthier you – learn to love oats and consider having them for meals when you backpack Need some ideas? Well, here ya go!

DIY Instant Oatmeal Packets

Carrot Cake Oatmeal

Sarah’s Fattening Coconut Berry Oatmeal

Trail-Nola, a cold cereal for those days when you don’t want to cook!

And need some ideas to get you going at home?

Baked Oatmeal is great for hiking. Make it at night and in the morning take a big wedge with you to eat on the way to the trailhead. Avoid the pre-hike rut of greasy gut-bombs from fast food places! Or have a bowl of hearty oatmeal before you hit the road. Your stomach (and heart) will thank you!

~Sarah

Breakfast Pistachio Rice Pudding

Rice, milk, cranberries, a little brown sugar and cinnamon and lovely green pistachios – yum!

~Sarah

The packaging is considerably friendlier for kneading the butter before you open it (to get the oils to mix back in), more durable and lets face it…a lot neater looking. The company has also brought the packets out in two sizes, 0.6 ounce and 1.06 ounces. The smaller is the “calorie pack” meaning it is for smaller appetites. The 1.06 ounce packet is perfect for hiking, you can slather the almond butter on heavily. The option though is nice, the smaller packet would be well suited to children as well. The company sells direct on their website in various amounts (and has a “Buy $50 get free shipping deal”). Or look for it in Whole Foods in the nut/peanut butter aisle.

As for the almond butter? It is very tasty and smooth. It works as well on bagels as it does in recipes (you can use almond butter in nearly all recipes that call for peanut butter).

It is also sold on Amazon, if you have Prime Shipping you can get a decent deal on the packets:
Barney Butter Almond Butter 0.6-Ounce
Barney Butter Almond Butter 1.06 Ounce

~Sarah

Rich Drinks -

Trail Mochas

Pudding Cocoa

Breakfast -

Cranberry Pan Biscuits

Sarah’s Fattening Coconut Blueberry Oatmeal

Cheesy Bacon Grits

Lunches -

Pecan Cranberry Ranch Chicken Salad

Savory Tuna Salad

Veghead Couscous Pilaf

Dinner -

Lemon Tuna Spaghetti

Italianish Double Cheese Taters

Dessert -

Pina Colada Mini Pies

Huckleberry Donuts

Snacks/Bars -

Chocolate Energy Balls

Triple Chocolate Cherry Fudge

Peanut Butter Granola Cups

Easy Nut and Chocolate Truffles

~Sarah

Breakfasts:

Carrot Cake In A Bowl

Hazelnut Chocolate Spread

Super Oatmeal

Super Charged Oatmeal

Oatmeal With A Little Extra

Instant DIY Oatmeal Packets (with vegan options)

Trail-Nola

Lunches:

Cranberry Almond Tabouli

Dinners:

‘Cheesy’ Rice and Vegetables

The Health Bowl

Pesto Tomato Pasta

Vegan One Pot Mac n’ ‘Cheese’

Fuel Saver Quinoa

Veghead Couscous Pilaf

Lentil Soft Tacos (an adaptable recipe)

Desserts/Energy Bars/Snacks:

Peanut Butter Granola Cups

Raw Recipes For The Trail (a collection of vegan friendly raw recipes)

Dry Mixes/Dehydrating:

Quick Asian Peanut Sauce

Making Your Own Instant Beans

Dehydrating 101 (A collection of how-to’s to get you started on dehydrating yummies!)

Dry Onion Soup Mix

Vegan ‘Cheese’ Sauce Mix

Classic Bannock Bread

Low Sodium Bouillon Mix #1

Low Sodium Bouillon Mix #2

DIY Instant Salsa Mix

Sport Drink Mix

Dehydrated Pesto Mix

~Sarah

While they look like cookies they are not quite that. A blend of savory and sweet in a cookie shape that is more like a biscuit. Gluten free and vegan, they are packed with the power of quinoa flakes and flaxseed meal. Find the recipe for Quinoa Raisin Drops on my personal blog, Gazing In.

For those of you retching into your wastebasket over the prospects of eating quinoa n’ flaxseed fiber-fest you can go make the piggy worthy Cran-Mac Caramel Bars instead:

Somethin’ fer everyone!

~Sarah

In the last two or so years there have been new choices coming out and they don’t resemble the old stuff!

We were sent packages of Adventure Egg™’s Anywhere Scrambles™ recently to review. The packaging is modern – a re-closeable zip-top flexible bag with a gusseted bottom. Each package has 6 eggs worth of eggs and retails for $5.50, making it comparable to similar brands of pure eggs (nothing extra added), such as Ova Easy Eggs.

The eggs are fresh in appearance and aroma, don’t be put off though with how yellow they are – this is common in dried eggs. The eggs are fully pasteurized for food safety and portability and yes, are fully shelf stable!

While not noted on the package if you are making the entire bag you can easily add in the water (1 cup water for the whole package) and stir it briskly. I let it sit for a couple minutes and then sealed the bag tightly (using the zip-top) and shook it really good to mix up any remaining powder. Then I heated up a Tablespoon (1 packet) worth of canola oil and heated it over a medium flame, in a non-stick pan. Pour the eggs in and start gently scrambling, they cook up quickly.

Ford enjoyed his share with cheese all over the top. Lovely taste, not watery – they resemble a fresh egg cooked up (unlike scary low grade dried egg powder used in buffets……)

They work perfectly in nearly all recipes calling for fresh eggs and all recipes calling for whole dried eggs.

Want to know how to steam eggs and not use any oil or mess up a pan? See the Fauxbaker over on TrailCooking for an easy way!

Recipes? Ideas? Breakfast burritos are one favorite of mine to use dried eggs for. You can cook up a bags worth and spoon them onto flour tortillas with salsa and cheese and whatever else you crave – easy way to feed a large group and stretch out ingredients. Also good in Fried Rice and Spam-Tastic Fried Rice.

~Sarah

Chunky Chickpeas:

The chickpeas are vegetarian (I’d call them vegan as well), Kosher and gluten free for those who have dietary concerns. As you can see from the nutritional stats they are a powerhouse:

Protein, fiber and more – these Indian inspired pre-seasoned legumes will make a rice dish better when hiking. They are not light, one of the only real drawbacks, a package is 8 ounces but is 2 very large servings (and beans FILL you up quicker than meat, 4-ounces is a lot!). It isn’t much worse weight wise over carrying a 7-ounce pouch of chicken.

The other drawback is getting over the color of the beans, due to the seasonings. It is worth overlooking that, the taste/texture is very nice.

~Sarah

One Pot Chickpea Pasta is a delicious vegetarian friendly one pot dish:

Carrot Cake In A Bowl, a twist on oatmeal for breakfast:

The third recipe is for Soft Lentil Tacos, a fun take on trail tacos! For that one you have to go get a copy!

Our other news? Just showing up is the March 2011 issue of Backpacker Magazine to mailboxes and newsstands. Sarah and Cat along with a couple of good friends/hiking partners did a lot of gear testing this past summer/fall. A lot of testing.Thanks go out to Jared, Lynn and Steve (and Cat) for all their help – you peeps are stellar! So what was all that gear testing about? Cookware (not shocking, eh?). A lot of cookware! From hard anodized aluminum, stainless steel to titanium we saw it all. And abused it!

Check out the 2 page article on pages 52 and 53. I can say one thing: I have no desire ever, ever, ever to cook dozens of eggs again over canister stoves. It was quite an honor to be asked to do the article (and an incentive to get others on the trail!) Be sure to read the sidebar for a couple of my favorite items. So go! Get yer copy! I didn’t put my hiking partners into slaveitude for fun (oh wait, yes I did)…it was for your benefit. Research and all that .

~Sarah and Kirk