UKC

It's been so long.  My mind is blank.

Criteria:

- fairly non-perishable (10 days say)

- dry ingredients (I've got to carry it x ~10days worth)

- two pans available

- not a washing up nightmare (so not fried - it spoils the tea; I carry a strainer)

- filling at the end of a long, cold, wet, day

- tasty, tasty, very, very tasty

I'm ok with a bit of finesse (I have made egg custard on an MSR running diesel)

I'm fairly budget insensitive for this sort of trip, but would prefer to cook rather than "add hot water to a pouch"

So imagine you have just met the partner of your dreams and you wish to impress.  What's the menu, Kenneth?

In reply to Removed UserBilberry:

Vesta curry and a four pack of special brew

In reply to ianstevens:

This. x10 if you're out for 10 days. Why over complicate it?  

In reply to Removed UserBilberry:

Pack of flavoured cous-cous (Ainsley Harriot ones are quite good) with some of the following mixed into it - chunks of cheese, salami, olives, nuts.  First night out, hard boiled eggs and vacuum packed smoked mackerel with rice.

Instant custard with cake bars for pudding

In reply to DaveHK:

20 litres of special brew?? Hope you’re fit!

In reply to Removed UserBilberry:  All of this can be ( and was a few weeks ago )  purchased in a super market : 

1. Curry , try kohinoor pouches of tadka dhal  , Dhal makahni And various curry sauces from booths or Morrisons  .( weirdly cheaper in booths )  I found them a bit bland on their own ( but they would be ok ) I fried onion garlic and chilli ( small amount of each for each day )first then added a pouch , Ready in a couple of minutes . Serve with Rice from those flavoured tilda packs . Not sure if you're meant to , but boil in the bag . 

2. Tuna pasta . Small pots of flavoured tuna . Smallest pasta shapes they have in the supermarket . Sauce : Packet of tomato soup , add garlic onion  chilli . OR If you're in a rush in the shop : packets of pasta n sauce .  Again a bit bland but add a few bits and bobs . 

3. Couscous . Ainsely herriot packs are ( as above ) cheap and tasty . Just  Need fried peppers , onionand  garlic to turn to real food , also  goes well with tuna . 

Day 4 see  step 1. Etc etc 

breakfast : variety pack of  sachets of quaker flavoured   instant porridge + dried milk . 2 sachets per person per breakfast . These are very sweet so don't need owt adding . 

In reply to Removed UserBilberry:

Porridge, PB and dark chocolate. Fuels you for ages. 

I also enjoy taking sachets of stuffing, super light but makes a lot of food and it's real comforting in the cold. 

In reply to Removed UserBilberry:

First night: some dried tortellini with smoked salmon and cream and tarragon and splash wine  and a baguette and salad.  Then for next four days the usual couscous and special brew., then buckfast and special brew for remaining days. 

In reply to ianstevens:

Cask strength whisky 🥃 is necessary for ultralight trips.

In reply to Removed UserBilberry:

Hmmmm.

You folk aren't necessarily good at operating within given constraints, are you?

Thanks for the suggestions so far. Presumably I can substitute any low-grade liver rot for the special brew?

I'm thinking:

- a couscous one (dried onions/peppers/tomato plus herbs and paprika)

- a rice one (plus chorizo bits and onions/peppers)

- a lentil one (dhal/curry/garlic granules)

- a bulgur wheat one (lemon zest, chopped apricot)

- a noodle one (dried shrimp; soy)

- a pasta one (dried tomatoes/garlic/onions, basil, grated parmesan)

Twice.

And a catering pack of SB, obviously.

Good plan?

In reply to Removed UserBilberry:

Dried mushrooms and sun dried toms to pep things up a tad. And heroin is lighter than special brew.

Do it Gangnam style:  Nicotine, Valium, Vicodin, marijuana, ecstasy and alcohol (Cocaine!)

In reply to Removed UserBilberry:

Kimchi instant noodles (Nong Shim are easily available in supermarkets)

If you're wanting a meat boost, take some beef jerky and chop it up and soak it for 20 minutes in hot water, then add it to the noodles as you start to cook them; for a veg boost, dried mushrooms on the same rule

Spicy, tasty, and quick.  Do not forget to wash up, though, as kimchi tea would be a bracing experience!

In reply to Niall_H:

Thanks - that looks good.

Anyone tried these? https://www.buywholefoodsonline.co.uk/dried-vegetables-mixed-1kg.html?gclid...

In reply to Removed UserBilberry:

You may have a better digestive system than me, but personally I wouldn't risk dhal away from facilities!

In reply to Removed UserBilberry:

Personally I'd add a frying pan and make flatbread. Just flour baking powder oil and water.  

But as you say that isn't within constraints.  

In reply to mick taylor:

I think I'll stick to whisky.  

In reply to marsbar:

Subsituting chick-peas for dhal, there is a story in _Happy Climbing Tells No Tales_ on very much that subject

In reply to Removed UserBilberry:

https://tentmeals.co.uk/

In reply to Justsomeclimber:

Almond Jalfrezi?
That doesn't sound that appealing to me to be honest.
 

In reply to FactorXXX:

Nor I, while we’re being honest. The breakfasts are good though  

In reply to Justsomeclimber:

Second quibble.
The cost. Are they really over £4 for the breakfast meals?

In reply to ianstevens:

Vary it by alternating with Vesta Chow Mein. By the end of the trip you will be able shallow fry the crispy noodles perfectly....!!

In reply to Niall_H:

Sounds great, and thanks, but I wouldn't like to be halfway up Great Wall (E4 6a) when the after-effects suddenly kick in......

In reply to Removed UserBilberry:

couscous + dried onion + red peppers + cashew nuts + dried fruits (apricots, plums...) + black pepper (+ olive oil )

on the first days, add some feta

In reply to Removed UserBilberry:

To be super clear, my answer was the opposite of serious 

In reply to Removed UserBilberry:

Some great ideas on this thread! Thanks

I feel I've been pretty unimaginative so far with those dehydrated packets. As always the weight of dragging it all up the hill tends to decide things. 

In reply to Removed UserBilberry:

What does God tier mean? 

In reply to marsbar:

Don’t need baking powder either and oil makes it softer but not essential. Chapattis / rotis FTW!

In reply to aln:

So good it's imaginary