trail-grub

Ok, I rarely use dedicated, freeze-dried backpacking food, it just seems too expensive and unappealing. I'm sure its pretty good nowadays, but I like discovering items while browsing the shelves at local markets. Don't forget the ethnic markets, I especially like Asian markets, but there are also the Mexican markets and various European markets in most large cities. The prices are usually lower at the ethnic markets than in the ethnic food isles at large supermarkets, and certainly more varied. Be sure, when hunting for new items, to read the instructions carefully before purchasing, some dishes will require the addition of extra ingredients, like milk, eggs, etc. that you can't take with you, or letting it set for a period of time before using, or excessive cooking times, maybe it will require baking only, pick dishes that will be easy to cook with as little preparation as possible. Keeping-it-simple also means you won't need as many pots and pans to include (or wash) in your mess-kit.
I usually try to oversupply myself a bit, just in case. You can always find room for an extra pack or two of Top-Ramen, instant oatmeal or soup mix. If the weather unexpectedly turns cold, or weather delays keep you out an extra day or two (a good excuse for missing work) you'll need that extra grub. I also like to take a few fresh veggies with me, like: a potato, carrot, onion, etc., they add substance to instant, packaged dishes. Wrap these in a plain paper bag, the bag breathes, but also keeps them from drying out.
Of course you'll want to make or buy a stuff-sack to keep all your food in, if you want you can use smaller stuff-sacks for individual meals and put them all into the main sack. Its a good idea to re-package most boxed dried foods you purchase into ziploc baggies, be sure to cut-out or copy down any special preparation instructions and put that into the bag also. Make sure your grub is packable, you can pack a lot of baggies into your food stuff-sack if they conform well with the other baggies. Don't forget about a small ditty-bag for spices and one for drink mixes (coffee, tea, juices, etc). Its also a good idea to make (or buy) your ditty-bags in different colors, so they're contents are easy to identify...

--------------- BREAKFAST ---------------

The easiest breakfast is to just munch down some granola or a breakfast bar with a cup of tea or coffee while your packing up, but I like something a little bit more substantial.
For sure instant cereal mixes are the quickest and easiest hot breakfast for the trail, you can just add boiling water to it and scarf it down after a minute or so of rehydration. I like instant oatmeal and for me its 2 packs, plus, I usually add a few things to it, like: raisins or other chopped, dried fruit, chopped nuts (walnuts, pecans, hazelnuts, etc), granola and of course a squeeze or two of "Squeeze Parkay" margarine (I used to use Bare-Naked brand oatmeal, but I think its been discontinued, anyone know of another good tasting one?). Don't forget about fresh berries found along the trail, if in season. If time isn't a big deal a real down-home style breakfast can be cooked. Besides instant packets there is quick-cooking oatmeal and other cereals...

:: Quick Hot Breakfast ::

Instant Hot Cereal / Dry Milk / Sugar (if needed) / Hot Water

Simply mix the dry ingredients together, add hot water, let set for a minute and eat. You can mix the dry ingredients at home and package as individual servings if you wish. Of course you'll want to add any your favorite extras, like chopped fruit or nuts, I sometimes glean a few tidbits from my Gorp bag. Don't forget that squeeze of margarine as a topping...

:: Quick Cold Breakfast ::

1 cup Grapenuts / 1 cup Dry Milk (or more) / Sugar, brown or white, to taste
1 cup Cold Water (or more)

Mix the dry ingredients together, at camp or at home (seal in Ziploc bags as individual servings). You can add dried fruit here too, try raisins, cranberries, strawberries,etc.

:: Pancakes ::

Instant Pancake or Biscuit Mix / Water / Powdered Egg or Milk (if called for)

Mix as to the instructions on the box (cut or copy from box, at home and stuff in baggie), adding powdered milk or eggs if needed. I like to add a little self-rising cornmeal also (adjust liquid if adding). Cook in a little margarine in a Teflon skillet and flip with a mini-cut-down plastic spatula. You can use your regular pot or pan if you don't have Teflon and use your fork or knife if you don't have a plastic spatula, the result won't be very pretty, but its going to get chewed-up anyway. I save those small, individual packs of jam found at restaurants to use as a topping, they can be thinned with a little water or margarine if you like syrup.
You can add foraged berries found along the way, if in season, or even a pack of instant oatmeal for a chewier version. Pancakes are really fluffy at higher altitudes...

:: Scrambled Eggs or Omelettes ::

Powdered Egg / Water / Salt & Pepper / Dried Veggie Flakes (if desired)

Mix the eggs with water as directed on the package adding seasonings and/or dried veggie flakes as desired, individual searvings can be packaged in baggies at home and mixed with water when the time comes. Try adding chopped meat (salami sticks, bacon-bits, etc) to your eggs.
For omelettes, pour your egg mixture out like a pancake and fold over when nearly done with any cheese, veggie or meat pieces in the middle and cook till done...

:: Breakfast Burrito ::

Scrambled Eggs (above) / Flour Tortillas

A pack of flour tortillas, doesn't weigh much and can even be rolled up (if you need to) for packing, I like whole-wheat flour tortillas.
Simply roll camp-cooked scrambled eggs up int the tortilla with a little cheese (or not) and eat. If you want they can be heated a bit first in a pan or on a hot rock if you have a fire going...

--------------- LUNCH ---------------

There are really 2 kinds of lunches when backpacking, Camp-Lunches and Trail-Lunches...
Trail lunches are short stops along the trail where one might just munch down some gorp, jerky or sausage, cheese, crackers, etc, or maybe a hot cup of instant soup (if its cold out). I usually have a bag of munchies at hand while hiking, and munch throughout the day.
Camp lunches can be a cross between breakfast and dinner, seeing as your stove is probably already out, or maybe some sausage, cheese and crackers...

:: GORP - Trail Mix ::

To me, this popular trail food stands for "Good Old Raisins and Peanuts" (GORP), some say it means "Granola, Oats, Raisins and Peanuts". Most people use more than just raisins and peanuts though. Its basically just another word for Trail Mix.
Its easy, and sometimes cheaper to make your own GORP and you can use the goodies you like best. I like to use a mix of salty and sweet ingredients in mine (and sometimes spicy, too).

Popular Ingredients...

Salted, toasted nuts and seeds like: peanuts, pine nuts, walnuts, sunflower seeds, almonds, corn-nuts, beer-nuts, cashews, hazlenuts, pumpkin seeds, pineapple, etc.
Dried fruit like: raisins, cinna-raisins, mangoes, dates, apples, cranberries, coconut, blueberries, cherries, bananas, wheat germ, rolled oats, etc.
Baked items like: pretzel pieces, Chex cereals, Rice Crispies, Cheerios, Fritos, Alpen, vanilla wafers, goldfish crackers, any broken snack chips, rice crackers, etc.
Sweets like: M&M's (different kinds), chocolate baking chips (try different flavors), jelly beans, licorice bits, peanut butter chips, candy corn, etc.
Other Good Stuff Like: beef jerky, dried fish, smoked salmon, etc. Oriental food shops offer some interesting ingredients, everything from rice crackers to dried fish.
Spices like: cinnamon, curry powder, chili powder, cayenne pepper, sugar, brown sugar, etc.

This list can grow and grow. Its best not to use too many different ingredients in one mix. You can keep a baggie handy in camp for everyone to munch on. But, keep your eye on it as the wilderness critters like it just as much as camp-folk...