RE: [Philmont] - cooking at Philmont

> Great question on the mug approach. This is how new techniques
> are developed
> and is how the turkey bag concept developed back
> in 1998 when I thought of trying this method and shared my
> results with the
> listserve.

I want to reiterate that we used bowls, not cups. I don't think you will
find a cup large enough, even if you are eating by course (some people chose
to mix several things together -- the veggies work well for this).

>
> I find the concept interesting and a possible time saver for the trail.
> However, with a group of teenagers I don't know if it will
> reinforce eating
> as a social experience <snip>

I think I noted this but it might have been overlooked. We were introduced
to this technique by our RANGER. I'd have to say that when he first
mentioned it, we were skeptical, especially the adults. The crew decided to
give it a try, and there was no going back. In fact, if a dish couldn't be
satisfactorily prepared this way, it didn't get eaten.

I might also mention that this was my second crew. The first time out I'm
somewhat proud to say that the only time our yum-yum bag was used was when
the Ranger showed the crew how to use it. We were so diligent about making
sure that every scrap of food was cleaned out of the pots that it was never
needed. The second time around, there were crew members from the first
trip. They had the same intentions of cleaning everything up and not having
anything left. Needless to say, one try of preparing the meals in bowls
sold them on both the preparation and cleanup. The yum-yum bag was never
used on the second trip.

The moral here is that this was a new technique, it was introduced by a
Ranger, and the crew decided to adopt it, not the advisors. BTW, Jeff Knoll
and I we in separate crews and both of our Rangers introduced the method.

> response. However, as it developed, I came to realize that it is the
> logical extension of how oatmeal is prepared by everyone, and is also
> exactly the same procedure our Autumn Adventure guide showed our crew for
> mashed potatoes. It works great for potatoes, and I now think it would be
> just as great for the other components of the dinners.

Now you're getting it. Comparing the preparation to that of oatmeal is
right on target. The only difference is that with oatmeal, you get one or
two packets of your own. With the other meals, you share with a buddy.

>
> Regarding "eating as a social experience", it may in fact enhance it.
> Instead of the cooking crew adding the ingredients to the boiling water,
> waiting for re-hydration, and then calling the rest of the crew
> when ready,
> the entire crew is gathered, each holding their bowl, waiting for the meal
> to re-hydrate.

And, you have to work with your buddy to get your meal prepared. It does
take a little teamwork and social interaction. After the first round of
food items (I hesitate to call it a course), there was often the talk of
"here's another package of X. Who wants to split it with me?" (Note in my
early post that if you couldn't find anyone to split it with, you had to eat
it all yourself.) (Note for an exception....last summer we had freeze dried
veggies that we didn't have the first time we went. The boys didn't go for
these too well. I and another advisor did. We kept the leftovers in a
ziplock to use for another meal without a problem.)

>
> I will not be surprised if the Rangers are advocating "no-pot" cooking by
> the time our crew arrives for our trek at the end of July. The biggest
> problem I see is that it doesn't work for the few meals
> (macaroni/spaghetti
> entrees, blueberry cobbler) where the instructions are to leave the pot on
> the stove after the ingredients are added - and unfortunately, those are
> usually the worst to clean-up!

We used this method for the macaroni and spaghetti. The blueberry cobbler
didn't get eaten.......

I don't know if no-pot is a good name. You still use pots to boil the water
and sterilize the dishes, and somewhat for cleanup. But, I also can't come
up with any good, short alternatives.

David DeLano
Phoenix, AZ
Troop 5
Crew 124

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Received on Fri Apr 25 01:13:47 2003