Recipes: Camp Classics

by Adrienne Saunders

Sun-Dried Tomato and Pine Nut Orzo

4 tablespoons pine nuts
5 sun-dried tomato halves
1/2 cup orzo
1 teaspoon bouillon powder
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon kosher salt
2 to 2 1/4 cups water

Pack pine nuts in a zip-top bag. Pack other ingredients in a second bag. Put pine nut bag inside orzo bag. To cook, toast pine nuts in a pot for about 2 minutes. Add 2 cups water and bring to a boil. Empty orzo bag into the pot. Stir until liquid is absorbed. If orzo is not fully cooked, add 2 tablespoons of water at a time until it is cooked through. Allow mixture to absorb water, then serve.

Curried Fruit Couscous

2 teaspoons curry powder
1/4 teaspoon powdered ginger
Zest of 1 lemon
1/4 teaspoon cayenne powder
5 slices dried mango, chopped
3 tablespoons dried cranberries
3 tablespoons regular or golden raisins
1/4 cup couscous
1 1/2 tablespoons bouillon powder
2 cups water

Put curry, ginger, zest and cayenne powder in a zip-top bag. Chop mango into 1/2-inch pieces and put with remaining ingredients into a second bag; pack the spice bag in the couscous bag. To cook, empty spice bag into pot over heat. Toast spices for 1 minute until aromatic. Add about 2 cups water and bring to boil. Add contents of couscous bag. Remove pot from heat and cover with tinfoil. Let stand for 5 minutes.

Creamy Mushroom Pasta

1 tablespoon each dried porcini and shiitake mushrooms, chopped
2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
4 tablespoons instant nonfat dried milk
1/4 teaspoon red chile flakes
1/2 cup small elbow macaroni
2 to 2 1/4 cups water

Combine ingredients in zip-top bag. To cook, boil about 2 cups of water. Add contents of bag. Stir constantly until pasta is cooked through; if more water is needed, add 2 tablespoons at a time, allowing liquid to absorb before retesting pasta.. Allow all liquid to absorb. Sauce should heavily coat back of spoon.

All dishes serve 2, and can be prepared on a stove or open fire.