High Sierra Topix

Instead of trying to make a bland, over-salted packaged meal somehow less unappealing I bring a bunch of appetizers instead and put less emphasis on the main course. Lots of little snacks like japanese crackers, expensive cheeses, oil popped popcorn, chips and salsa, little smoked meats, nut mixes, etc. And of course all washed down with an ample supply of whisky. Then when it comes time for the rice and glop nobody really cares that much since tea and dessert is right around the corner anyways.

But if I had only a package of Mountain House for dinner I'd spice it up with equal parts Sriracha sauce and ranch dressing.

I usually have a small pill box with a mixture of salt, garlic powder, cayenne powder, ground cumin, black pepper, and allspice. Put that in anything bland and that'll do you right!

Some easy ones I take are parmesan cheese packets and crushed red pepper (both from pizza places) along with tabasco or tapatio packets. Minimus sells all these along with other great items.


Ladd

apparently, you should add dehydrated Sriracha powder and avoid adding ranch dressing.

Surprised that nobody has yet mentioned the very best "ingredient";
(BTW, really picks up the taste of those B-n-B dehydrated dinners...)

Add trout!
Couple of red-meated, 12-inch, Goldens works well.

It's been years since I've taken a long enough hike to do it, but there's nothing like fresh sprouts as a topper. You can sprout a new batch on the trail if you have a proper container and 2-4 days to do it.

Great suggestion Roo. I've been wanting to bring a sprout jar for a while now. Seems like a great way to get extra nutrition and energy. After about a week out I definitely crave veggies and feel tired.

What mark said!

Just about anything you like can be dehydrated then added. "off the shelf" stuff I use are tubes of tomato paste (nice addition to freeze dryed stroganoff), tubes of pesto for pasta, crushed red pepper, garlic (nice to have markskor around to mince it before sauteing and adding to everything), and precooked bacon with freeze dryed mixed veggies can be added to instant mashed potatoes for a sort of shepards pie.

check out the bulk freeze dryed stuff at Walmart--The blueberries are to die for and are incredible when added to my morning oatmeal. Any left over blueberries at the end of the summer can be fall or winter snacks!

Mike

oldranger wrote:What mark said!

... "off the shelf" stuff I use are tubes of tomato paste (nice addition to freeze dryed stroganoff), tubes of pesto for pasta, crushed red pepper, garlic (nice to have markskor around to mince it before sauteing and adding to everything)...

"I use" my ass?
FYI, Mike and I made a pact a few years back...after sampling his cooking.
We agreed that I would do all the dinner cooking on our trips if he wouldn't...worked out way better.
He only handles the bar-tending/ cheese course duties pre-dinner.

BTW, On our last trip, acquired the trail name "Hop Sing" (old Bonanza reference).