Sunday, July 26, 2009

Janet Groene’s Freeze-Ahead Farmer’s Market Soup Mix

This takes longer to read than to make, so bear with me. Make a huge soup kettle of this basic mixture and freeze it in batches suitable for your family. Each 3/4 cup of mix makes a two-cup serving of soup after “completers” are added. Enlist the family to peel and chop or just put everything through the food processor.

3 tablespoons canola or olive oil
2 bunches celery, trimmed and chopped
2 pounds carrots, peeled and chopped
6 medium onions, peeled and chopped
3 tablespoons minced garlic
2-pound head cabbage, coarsely chopped
2 pounds diced vegetables*
4 cans, 28 ounces each, diced tomatoes in juice
3 cartons, 1 quart each, broth **
Heat the oil in a big kettle and add vegetables gradually, stir-frying over high heat. When vegetables are limp, add the broth and tomatoes, cover, reduce heat and simmer until everything is tender. Soup will be thick. Freeze in batches to suit your family.

* The more variety, the more colorful the soup.
** Chicken, vegetable or beef broth, store-bought or homemade.

To make each serving of soup in camp:
3/4 cup Farmer’s Market Soup mix, thawed
3/4 cup water, broth or tomato juice
½ cup total add-ons (see below)

Suggested add-ons:
* Protein: canned chunk chicken, ham or turkey. Diced tofu. Diced leftover meat. Canned beans (unseasoned). Sausage crumbles, real or vegetarian.
* Starch: cooked rice, diced potatoes, noodles, broken spaghetti, tortillas cut in strips.
* Flavor makers: Add Italian seasoning to taste and garnish with shaved Parmesan. Add chili powder and diced chiles for a Mex-Tex touch. Pass sherry, hot sauce or Worcestershire. Top soup with showers of minced parsley or cilantro. Top with oyster crackers and pass the sherry. Or, just add salt and pepper.

To see more of Janet's camping-ready recipes go to
http://www.CampAndRVcook.blogspot.com

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Breakfast on the Go

Janet Groene's
Quick Getaway Cake

On mornings when you want to get on the road to be first at a "first come, first served" campground this hearty, wholesome, fiber-rich cake makes a full breakfast. Cut cake in squares, wrap individually, and grab coffee or juice boxes and you're on your way. Bake it the day before and cool before cutting.

1 cup flour
1 cup uncooked oatmeal (not instant)
1 cup graham cracker crumbs
1 cup brown sugar, densely packed
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
Pinch salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ cup canola oil
1 cup milk soured with a splash of lemon juice
3 large eggs

In one bowl whisk together dry ingredients to mix well. In another bowl whisk wet ingredients until well blended. Add wet ingredients to dry just until everything is evenly moistened. Put batter in a sprayed 9 X 13-inch baking pan and bake 35-40 minutes at 350 degrees or until it’s springy, firm to the touch, and edges have slightly pulled away from sides of the pan. Let cool at least 10 minutes before cutting in squares.

You can also bake this cake in camp even if you don’t have an oven.
Campfire method:
Fill clean, sprayed tin cans 2/3 full and bake until firm and springy in an oven or in a heavy, lidded Dutch oven buried in well-started coals. Remove individual cakes and put used cans in the recycle bin. No baking pans to scrub!

Stove Top Method: Put batter in a cold, sprayed, heavy cast aluminum skillet with a tight-fitting lid. Bake over low flame with flame tamer 25-35 minutes or until the cake is firm and pulling away from sides of the skillet. Let cool in the pan at least 10 minutes, then cut cake in wedges.

For more galley-ready recipes go to
http://www.CampAndRVCook.blogspot.com
and
http://www.BoatCook.blogspot.com
and for healthy snacks to eat on the road see
www.CreateAGorp.blogspot.com

Friday, July 3, 2009

Slap Together a Sandwich


Janet Groene's
Chutney Ham Spread
If your market doesn’t sell ground ham, ask the butcher to fine-grind some fully cooked ham for you. (For example, you might buy a 2-pound canned ham). It makes wonderful ham loaf or sandwich spreads like this one.

2 pounds ground ham
1 cup mango chutney
1 teaspoon curry powder, or more to taste
1 cup mayonnaise, or more to taste

Mix everything together well and keep cold to spread on bread , crackers or tortilla wraps.

For more of Janet's recipes go to
http://www.CampAndRVcook.blogspot.com
and
http://www.BoatCook.blogspot.com
and
http://www.ChurchSupper.blogspot.com
and
http://www.CreateAGorp.blogspot.com