Megan's Question:
My husband cooks plain old oatmeal every time we go out backpacking. Isn't there something else we can eat for breakfast?
— Megan OthersenDorcas' Answer:
I know first-hand what you're talking about. After enduring too many years of my oatmeal, one of my canoeing partners said,"No more!" I changed my ways, and here are some of the breakfasts I use now instead of oatmeal:
Granola: I make my own, using lots of nuts, dried fruit, and wheat germ. Mix the powdered milk right in with the granola unless someone can't tolerate lactose.
Cheese grits: Use instant grits, a pinch of garlic, and cheddar cheese or cheese powder.
Seven-grain hot cereal: Buy a mix from the health food store and add lots of dried fruit.
Creamy rice cereal: Creamed rice with powdered milk and finely chopped almonds and dates or pecans and apricots.
Eggs, home fries, refries: Round up the ingredients from the supermarket, reconstitute per directions, and top with salsa and cheddar cheese. Use:
--powdered eggs or, the first morning out, a carton of"fat-free egg product" such as Egg Beaters;
--dehydrated home fries; and
--black bean mix or refries mix.
Pancakes: Get something tasty, like buckwheat or many-grain pancake mix. Splurge with real maple syrup or maple syrup crystals.
Bagel and cream cheese with dried fruit: At home, mix cream cheese with diced dried fruit; on trail, serve on a toasted bagel.
