[Philmont]: philmont meals

While I agree that generally all of the "courses" for the supper meal are cooked together in the same pot,, this need not be the case for the mashed potatoes. A few years back, Philmont took to adding mashed potatoes to some of its menues as a simple way to increase the caloric content of the supper meal. This led to a few somewhat incongruous combinations.

On Autumn Adventure 2003, our guide, Dave Kofski, introduced us to the concept of the "Mashed Potato Appetizer". Enough boiling water is prepared for both the entree and the mashed potatoes.

However, rather than adding the potato mix to the entree, each member of the crew pours some of the mashed potato powder on his plate or in his cup and rehydrates it individually with boiling water scooped from the pot. After all have scooped out whatever water they need, the entree is prepared in the pot, while the crew enjoys the potato "appetizer".

I have adapted this "appetizer" to my menus for weekend backpacking trips as well as for longer treks in the summer. Each dinner revolves around a freeze dried entree from a supplier such as Mountain House (available quickly and easily from Campmor or other suppliers).

Unlike Philfood, the directions for these entrees involve scooping boiling water into the bag containing the food. Some or all of the time, I have found that when one of these entrees says "feeds two" or "feeds four", you're still hungry after consuming the same, especially after a long day of canoeing or a long backpack.

I therefore bring a large Ziplock bag of instant mashed potatoes (I buy Idahoan brand from Sam's Club-supermarkets have various "flavors" available), so that each crew member can supplement the entree with as much or as little of the "mashed potato appetizer" as they wish. I also have a selection of Cup of Soups (available in quantity by mail order from Lipton), one quart packets of Gatorade powder (available in quantity from the Gatorade website) and a cookie or individually wrapped brownie type dessert.

(I use Tang for breakfasts, because it has vitamin C, which Gatorade does not, repackaging the bulk mix myself)

That's it for each supper meal. The variety in the entree and in the soup flavors keeps it from being boring. I also mix some powdered milk into the potato mix before leaving home as the instructions call for part water and part milk. I use cup of soup instead of ramen because you prepare it in your cup, with scooped boiling water.

That way, the only thing that gets in the pot is water, easing cleanup (particularly in the Adirondack Wilderness where soap of any kind-even Campsuds-is not allowed).

Some members of my crews have returned home requesting that Mom add instant mashed potatoes to the dinner menu. Who'd a thunk?

Give the "mashed potato appetizer" a try.

YIS

Bill Sheehan, ASM
Troop 55, Pitman, NJ
Philmont '70,'72,Autumn Adventure '01,'03,'05 and hopefully '06

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Received on Tue Mar 21 23:06:12 2006