Breakfast recipes

To start your day off right, there’s nothing like stocking up on vitamin C. Did you know that cranberries are an excellent source of this vitamin? Add a few of them to your favourite breakfasts, or experiment with one of our breakfast recipes made with fresh cranberries.

1. Cranberry jam

An essential on the table in the morning, jam is naturally our first choice when it comes to preparing a fruity breakfast! With our cranberry jam recipe, enjoy waking up sweetly with new flavours. To be enjoyed without moderation on bread, in your breakfast bowls, or in any other jam-based dish.

2. Cranberry and caramel brioche

Baking with cranberries is possible! Brioche is always welcome on the breakfast table. You weren’t thinking of adding a little fruit to it, were you? However, we can assure you: it’s a real treat!

With this caramel brioche recipe made with fresh or frozen cranberries, add a touch of novelty to your breakfasts or during brunch with this secret ingredient!

Appetizer and main course recipes made with fresh cranberries

The cranberry is a very surprising berry. It goes just as well with sweet and savoury dishes! Thanks to its sweet yet tangy taste, this fresh fruit pairs wonderfully with your meats, fish, vegetables or even soups.

1. Orange zest and cranberry bruschetta

An appetizer enjoyed by all, bruschetta constantly reinvents itself to vary the pleasures and delight your guests. In this delicious bruschetta recipe with fresh cranberries, treat yourself to a unique and delicate blend of flavours. Start your meals off right with this colourful dish!

2. Melted brie with cranberries and walnuts

To heat up winter days or enjoy as an appetizer to be shared with friends, here’s an original recipe for melted brie with fresh cranberries! A few simple base ingredients, a few minutes in the oven at medium heat, and you’re all set.

3. Butternut squash curry with fresh cranberries

Don’t know how to prepare your butternut squash? We have the ideal fresh cranberry and squash recipe for you! Enjoy a gentle sweet-savoury blend of festive flavours and—above all—a hefty helping of comfort with our vegetarian curry recipe with cranberries.

Prepare juices and desserts with your fresh cranberries

Finally, to enhance your dishes made with raw cranberries, a multitude of cranberry juice and dessert recipes should be tried at home. Here are two ideas for enjoying sweet flavours with just a few simple, healthy ingredients.

1. Chocolate bark

Feel like a dessert that’s as delicious as it is simple to make? This delicious blend of chocolate, fresh cranberries, nuts, and spices is a little bit of happiness in every bite-size piece. A fresh cranberry and chocolate recipe that will satisfy both young and old!

2. Cranberry kombucha

Are you a fan of fermented beverages? This homemade kombucha recipe is for you! Create your favourite drink yourself with a brand-new fresh flavour.

This recipe with fresh cranberries enhances the taste of kombucha. It will also allow you to take advantage of its benefits in an original beverage. Happy tasting!

Your favourite berries from Quebec in all kinds of sauces

Now you know what to do with fresh cranberries! From September to December, head to your grocery store to take advantage of them. Try one of our recipes made with fresh cranberries.

Fans of these little red berries, stay tuned: we regularly offer you new dishes to try at home. Sign up for our newsletter to be informed about our latest culinary discoveries.

Cet article How to cook fresh cranberries: 7 recipes to try est apparu en premier sur Patience Fruit & Co.

Indeed, the consumption of the little tart berry has taken off in the past decade in Quebec. Although we might be familiar with how strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries are grown, how do cranberries grow? Here is a little guide to help you understand how cranberries grow and what the misconceptions are about this berry!

The myth of the aquatic plant

Despite the well-known images of flooded fields, cranberries are falsely believed to be an aquatic plant. They actually grow on land and require no more water than your lawn! So why do we so often see cranberry farmers wading in pools of ruby fruits up to their knees? Because cranberries have a characteristic unlike any other small berry: they float!

This detail doesn’t influence the growth of the cranberry, but changes everything when harvest time comes.

Flooding the cranberry fields for a better harvest

Cranberries are not picked manually. There’s a much more efficient method to harvest the fruit: flooding the fields. After submerging the cranberry bushes, a machine comes around to detach all the berries, which then float to the surface. Next, the water level is increased further, which allows the floating berries to be pushed to one end of the basin using tools called booms. 

The cranberries are then sucked into a pump and onto trucks to be transported to the sorting and cleaning centre, where they are packaged or processed. At Patience Fruit & Co, all the steps of this typical cranberry harvest method are done right here, in the Centre-du-Québec region. 

Remember that water is used only for harvesting, not ripening, so the cranberry fields are flooded only for a few days during the cranberry harvest period. This is a completely brilliant trick used by our farmers!

How do cranberries grow? Characteristics and conditions

To better understand cranberry cultivation, let’s start at the beginning. Did you know that there are several varieties of cranberries?

• The one that is common in North America, vaccinium macrocarpon in latin, is the cultivated cranberry, which produces large berries.
• The other, Vaccinium oxycoccos, which is found in Europe (particularly in northern France), is known as the wild cranberry.

The North American cranberry tree is a fruit-bearing shrub that usually does not exceed 30 cm. It has small, green evergreen leaves and produces pink flowers as soon as spring arrives. Grown in cold temperature areas, it requires careful water management and meticulous monitoring each season to allow it to bear its beautiful berries in the fall.

During the winter, the plants are immersed under inches of water to protect them from frost. They are submerged again in the spring to protect the plants from pests, then again in the fall to facilitate the harvest.

During the flowering period, the pollination of the cranberry flowers begins. Honeybees and bumblebees also take part in the effort. Pollination allows the current season’s fruit to be tied. The better the flowers are pollinated, the larger and more seed-filled the fruit will be.

Where do cranberries grow?

Cranberries thrive in bogs with damp, acidic peat soils. They can primarily be found in Canada, the United States, and certain parts of Europe.

The cranberry is a perennial plant that is highly resistant to cold (even harsh winter months), which is why it can be found particularly in Quebec, a pioneer and leading producer of organic cranberry cultivation!

Simple cranberry growing conditions

So, if cranberries don’t grow in the water, how do they grow? To allow them to grow to their full potential, cranberries need sandy soil with low pH. Also, they just love the sun! If cranberries are given the light they need in the ideal environment, they will thank you with a nice, flavourful berry harvest.

It’s preferable to plant this plant rather early in the spring, when the temperature is still cool, because it should not be subject to heat stress while it’s taking root. So, since cranberry crops don’t need tons of water, why not make them a part of your garden?

When to harvest the cranberries

The cranberry harvest usually takes place in the fall, from September to October. As soon as the berries turn red, and their colour becomes bright, they are ready to be harvested! However, it’s necessary to monitor the outdoor temperature, because cranberries cannot withstand temperatures below -4 °C.

The fresh cranberries can then be added to your favourite dishes and juices, or frozen to be eaten later.

Since the cranberry isn’t very fickle, why don’t you try to grow your own crimson berries? You can plant a new cranberry plant in the spring!

How to grow your own cranberries: 6 steps

Now that you know how cranberries grow, you’re ready to grow them yourself!

There are a few simple steps you should follow to start your own individual cranberry farm. First, note that fruit won’t appear before the third or fourth year of the plant’s life. Also, the cranberry bush grows more easily in acidic soil, but you can also plant it in a pot for pretty foliage.

1. Mark out a 60 x 60 cm square in your garden and dig a hole 20 to 30 cm deep.
2. Amend your patch with a mixture of equal parts peat moss and sand.
3. In the early spring, plant your seedlings, which should be between 1 and 3 years old.
4. Water your garden when necessary: the soil should always be damp (without bogging, of course).
5. For the harvest, pick the berries in the fall once they’ve turned bright red!
6. A 60 x 60 cm plot should allow you to harvest one kilo of cranberries if you take good care of the plant.

You can find cranberry plants in most nurseries. It’s an easy challenge for the gardener within you, or the one you hope to become!

Berries from Quebec, grown with patience

Now you know how cranberries grow! This plant takes root well in the soil, not in the water as one might think. Strong and resistant, it gives us beautiful, tart red berries that are ready to complement our drinks, dishes, and breakfasts in the fall. 

Patience Fruit & Co offers you a range of delicious cranberry-based products to let you discover all the versatility of this berry! Coated in chocolate, mixed with other nuts and dried fruit, or juiced, enjoy your favourite little berry in all its flavours.

Cet article Cranberries don’t grow underwater est apparu en premier sur Patience Fruit & Co.

To better separate these little red berries, Patience Fruit & Co explains the difference between the cranberry and the bilberry. 

Two similar yet distinct berries!

These two red berries are confused for a reason: they both originate from the Vaccinioideae subfamily of the Ericaceae family. They grow on small shrubs that produce red berries. Both are perennial.

Although they look alike, the cranberry and the bilberry are distinguished by their leaves, their fruits, and their taste!

Cranberries and bilberries: 4 differences

To learn to distinguish the two plants, here are the primary features that differ between them: 

1. Origin 

While the cranberry is mainly grown in North America, the bilberry can be found mostly in the mountainous regions of Europe.

In its wild state, the cranberry, Vaccinium oxycoccos or Vaccinium macrocarpon, grows in marshy, acidic soil. It can be found in peat bogs in cold regions. Indeed, the northern regions in America are more favorable to the cranberry cultivation because of the cold winter which allows the plants to rest (dormancy) and to reduce the presence of insects and diseases which are more prolific in southern regions.

The bilberry, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, can be found in the tundra, plains, and mountains. In its wild state, it grows in leafy and coniferous underbrush, and sometimes in peat bogs. This bush requires a dry and cold climate, which is why it is mainly found in Scandinavian countries.

2. Shrubs and leaves 

The bilberry can be recognized by its bushes measuring around 5 to 40 centimetres. The leaves have a waxy appearance and are thick, rounded, and pointed at the tip. They are dark green on the front and light green on the inside. 

The cranberry grows as a ligneous plant up to 30 cm. Its small leaves are long and pointy. They are green on the outside and white on the inside.

3. Flowers and fruits

The flowering period of the cranberry runs from end of June to July. Its flowers can be recognized by their oval shapes and pinkish colours. The bilberry shrub flowers from May to June, and its flowers are white and red and come in bunches. 

With respect to the fruit, cranberries and bilberries are distinguished first of all by their size. In effect, the cranberry is twice as large as the bilberry. In addition, the fruits don’t grow in the same way. The bilberry grows in bunches, while the cranberry fruits are single, numbering from 1 to 4 on the fruiting stems.

Bilberries ripen from August to September, and the fruits are round, shiny, and juicy. The berry has a sweet-and-sour, slightly bitter taste.

For its part, the cranberry harvest generally takes place from late September to late October. The fruit is bright red and can be recognized by its firm texture. Its taste is tart and tangy.

4. Conservation and consumption

Fresh bilberries keep for several weeks in the fridge as is, pureed, or in water. For longer conservation, you can dry them, freeze them, or turn them into jam.

In cooking, the bilberry can be used as an accompaniment to meat or in sweet dishes (in oatmeal, pastries, juice, or syrup). 

Fresh cranberries keep very well in the fridge (several weeks or even several months), or they can be frozen. They can be enjoyed fresh, dried, pureed, or juiced, and there are many ways to prepare them! Check out our cranberry recipes to explore their multiple uses in cooking.

Discover organic cranberries grown with Patience

Now you know the major differences between the cranberry and the bilberry. As you can see, the local version is the cranberry! Patience Fruit & Co lets you discover these delicious, versatile berries grown in Quebec. Explore our selection of fresh or dried cranberries and cranberry juices to enjoy them in all their forms.

Cet article Cranberry vs. Bilberry: What Is the Difference? est apparu en premier sur Patience Fruit & Co.

Flowering and pollination 

The flowering period of the cranberry plant runs from May to September. This is when pollination occurs. This step is crucial for the development of the fruit, because without pollination, there are no berries!

This is made possible through the work of the honey bees, as well as that of the bumblebees, which also participate in blueberry cultivation. To allow for the pollination of the cranberry flowers, we rely on beekeepers who provide hives. These are placed near bodies of water so that the precious bees can easily quench their thirst.

In addition, to offer the bees a varied diet, islands with flowers are present on the organic farms run by Patience Fruit & Co. These also attract natural pollinators. Some farmers also leave their field dykes in their wild state. Natural flowers grow there and offer the bees a variety of pollen, which ensures healthier hives. 

Meticulous water management throughout the year

When it comes to cranberry cultivation, water is of the utmost importance. In addition to the flooding during harvest, the fields must also be submerged in the winter to protect the buds from frost. All this work requires intensive water management.

As pioneers in cranberry production, Fruit d’Or farmers have carried out advanced research to optimize water management as much as possible. They mostly have tension sensors in the ground. That way, they can better manage the amount of water needed for irrigation.

In addition, Organic farms all function as closed circuits. Growers recover water from rain or snowmelt. This water is contained in lakes near the fields. Irrigation allows the water to be redirected to the fields to water the plants in case of drought, to ward off insects, or during the harvest.

Cranberry cultivation is one of the few to have so much water management monitoring and technology!

Intensive monitoring of the insects in the fields

As you can see, cranberry growing takes a great deal of attention. In addition to water management, it requires enhanced insect monitoring, especially for organic fields!

The flooding will intervene again in the spring to remove an insect that has the nasty habit of ravaging the crops: the blackheaded fireworm.

Thanks to the flooding of the fields, the harmful larvae are neutralized. However, it does not harm other insects such as spiders, which are useful for cranberry cultivation!

The flooding of the fields for the harvest

Contrary to popular belief, cranberries don’t grow underwater! The iconic images of submerged cranberry fields come from the fact that the fields are flooded at harvest time.

As soon as the fruits have ripened, flooding is used to make the harvest easier. In fact, since cranberries have the unique characteristic of floating, farmers use a thresher to shake up the water, which causes the berries to come loose. They then naturally rise to the surface and are gathered.

This technique helps growers save a considerable amount of time and labour. 

Berries harvested with love, devotion, and patience

Patience Fruit & Co is proud to produce organic Quebec cranberries grown with gentleness, patience, and respect. From September to December, it’s cranberry season! Enjoy our fresh cranberries or try our dried cranberries in your favourite recipes the rest of the year.

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Discover Patience Fruit & Co’s unique method for providing you with delicious fresh and dried cranberries!

A fruit native to our land

Did you know that Quebec is the world leader in organic cranberry production? 

What makes it special: its climate and soils conducive to berry growing. Its winters protect the fields from fungal invasion, and its acidic soils promote cranberry cultivation. Since the start of their cultivation in the province, they have mainly been grown in the Centre-du-Québec region.

How does the cranberry growing process work?

A cranberry’s journey from field to plate follows specific steps according to the season. The fields require constant work to preserve the plant, protect it from external aggression, and allow it to withstand Quebec’s weather conditions. 

The work varies according to the season:

• Winter: We cover the fields with a layer of water, which will freeze. This ice helps protect the buds of the plants from frost.
• Spring: After removing the water from the fields, the work of weeding, fertilizing, and monitoring for insect pests takes place. 
• Summer: Start of the flowering of the plants and therefore the fertilization period. The pollinators will allow for optimal fruit setting of the flowers, which will turn into berries.
• Fall: The cranberries start to show up! We regularly water the fields to protect them from frost. First white, then red, the berries will soon be ready for harvest.

The cranberry harvest in Quebec

When the cranberry turns bright red, the harvest can begin. In Quebec, this period generally takes place from late September to late October.

To do this, we flood the fields using water from the lakes located on the farm. The plants are shaken using a thresher. This will naturally loosen the berries, which then float to the surface. This is what makes this crop so charming!

We then collect the berries and load them onto a truck, which takes them to the next stage of their adventures.

Patience: slow and gentle cultivation, at the rhythm of nature 

Since 2015, Patience Fruit & Co has stood out as an organic cranberry grower with a one-of-a-kind harvest process.

Out of a desire to get closer to the rhythm of nature, we’ve developed a slower and longer drying method. That way, the cranberries continue to follow a gentle rhythm and preserve their flavors and benefits while maintaining a softer texture!

Members of the Fruit d’Or group, we follow strict organic farming rules and meet the highest food safety standards. Our cranberry growing and harvesting is therefore guaranteed to be free of pesticide residues, chemical fertilizers, and genetically modified organisms.

In addition, we’re constantly looking for solutions to reduce our ecological footprint. That’s why our cranberry cultivation favors: 

• Pollination;
• Fields close to the factory;
• Using natural processes and fertilizers to promote the cultivation of the plant;
• Innovation to ward off the insects and weeds that can affect the cranberry harvest;
• Closed-circuit water management to limit the impacts on the environment and optimize water supplies.

Patience, local, organic, and berries 

Explore our different products to savor our cranberry harvest! Whether they’re fresh, dried, or juiced, our cranberries are prepared with care, patience, and attention.

And stay tuned! Late September to December is the season for fresh cranberries. This is the time to stock up on fresh berries for your favorite preparations! For more inspiration, take a look at our recipes.

Cet article Cranberry Harvest Process in Quebec est apparu en premier sur Patience Fruit & Co.

Discover 3 healthy snack ideas for young and old that will keep you fueled throughout the day.

Cranberry energy balls

Quick to prepare and delicious to taste, energy balls are a perfect homemade snack for back to school! In addition, a multitude of combinations are possible, and they can be prepared with very few ingredients. Just rummage through your pantry and create your own variety of homemade energy bites. Here’s our favorite recipe:

Ingredients: 

• ½ cup almond butter
• 2 to 3 Tbsp. raw honey
• 1 dash sea salt
• 1 Tbsp. chia seeds
• ¼ cup roasted sesame seeds
• ½ cup oats
• ⅓ cup pecans, chopped
• ⅓ cup whole dried cranberries sweetened with apple juice
• ⅓ cup chocolate chips

Preparation: 

1. Mix the honey, almond butter, and sea salt in a bowl.
2. Add the chia seeds, sesame seeds, oats, pecans, cranberries, and chocolate. Stir until a uniform mixture is obtained.
3. Let rest for an hour in the refrigerator.
4. Using a spoon, form small, compact balls and enjoy during your snack times!

Nut, seed, and dried fruit blends

To satisfy your little daily cravings with healthy, energizing snacks, consider creating a mixture of your favorite nuts, seeds, and fruits! Sources of healthy fats, these blends help satisfy hunger while providing beneficial nutrients for the body.

Stock up on fiber and the bounties of nature by whipping up a healthy homemade blend in just a few minutes with cranberries and your favorite nuts.

Are you a fan of these delicious ruby-colored fruits? Our dried cranberries with no added sugar offer you 20 g of fiber for ¼ cup, in addition to being soft and organic and containing only the natural sugar of the fruit. They make a great healthy snack just by themselves!

Blueberry oatmeal cookies

Simply delicious, cookies remain must-have snacks for both young and old. And there’s no shortage of alternatives to continue preparing healthy and nutritious versions! 

Discover our recipe for healthy and quick cookies in a low-fat version with no peanuts or nuts. A perfectly suitable snack that will please the whole family!

Ingredients: 

• 1/2 cup date paste
• 1/2 cup 0% plain Greek yogurt
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 Tbsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• Pinch of salt
• 1 cup oat flour
• 3/4 cup quick-cooking rolled oats (old-fashioned oatmeal)
• 1/4 cup flax seeds, ground
• 40 g dried wild blueberries

Preparation: 

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C).
2. In a bowl, mix the dates, Greek yogurt, egg, and vanilla extract. Then, add the baking soda, salt, and baking powder.
3. Add the flour, oats, flax seeds, and dried blueberries.
4. With a tablespoon, form about a dozen cookies, then place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
5. Bake for about fifteen minutes or until a toothpick comes out without any dough. Let cool before tasting.

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After months of development, we’re delighted to present the fruit of our labours. Many people don’t know that sugar is added to dried cranberries to offset the natural bitterness of the berries and produce that velvety soft mouthfeel. For a few years now, we’ve offered dried cranberries gently sweetened with apple juice to meet the needs of consumers who’re looking for an alternative to refined sugar. Now we wanted to offer an option for those who’ve decided to reduce their overall sugar consumption. So we created our organic cranberries with no added sugar, which contain only 2 g of sugar per 40-g serving – sugar that’s naturally present in cranberries.

This meant finding alternatives that would preserve the soft texture and prevent the berries from drying out. And so we turned to plant-based ingredients: tapioca dextrin fiber and edible glycerin from flaxseed.

We’re incredibly proud of this product – the very first organic cranberries with no added sugar on the market! They’re great as is at snack time or as a tasty addition to your salads, cookies and other recipes. We know you’ll enjoy their soft side – and their tanginess.

While we were launching this great new product, we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to revisit the visuals on the packaging for our sliced dried fruit range. So don’t be surprised if you see your favourite products sporting a whole new look. We decided to change the visual branding so you can spot them easily at the store – and so you won’t confuse them with our whole dried fruit products, which offer a different taste and mouthfeel.

Cet article Everything you need to know about our no added sugar dried cranberries est apparu en premier sur Patience Fruit & Co.

The littlest ones can help measure the dry ingredients and stand on a stool stirring while the big kids chop fruit and vegetables. It’s a great way to get them to try “new” foods. And kids are more likely to taste a dish they’ve had a hand in preparing (literally!).

Oatmeal Scones with Dried Wild Blueberries

Nut-free and peanut-free, these scones are naturally sweetened with our dried wild blueberries and date purée.  So you can safely send them in the kids’ lunchboxes when they head back to school!

Home-made Fruit Squares (Roll-up Style)

Fruit squares with the same yummy taste as store-bought fruit roll-ups – your kids will love the square version, with ingredients you know and love. Let them do the decorating, adding the toppings of their choice.

Cranberry, Wild Blueberry, Goldenberry and Tart Cherry Chocolate Bark

A simple and delicious treat. Chocolate bark topped with our whole fruit mix – yum!

Energy Balls with Almonds, Chocolate and Dried Wild Blueberries

Planning to hit the ski hill or the skating rink this week? You’ll be happy you thought ahead and made our energy balls with the kids. No food processor needed, and the little guys will have fun rolling them up.

Chicken Salad Sandwiches with Pecans and Cranberries

A great way to get the kids involved in making meals is to start with a no-cook recipe. Our chicken salad requires a little chopping but comes together in just one bowl.

Remember: the whole point is to spend time with the kids while you teach them the rudiments of cooking. So be sure to choose a time when you’re in no hurry and you can stand by with an encouraging smile as they discover the wonderful world of food. Happy spring break!

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So listen to your body and do these poses whenever you feel the need. Namaste!

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It just so happens that I’m both a camper and a dietitian. Wearing both my hats, let me share some of my favourite tips for eating well on your next camping trip.

Preparation:

• Make the most of the space in your cooler and in the car (sure fills up fast!).
• Choose food that keeps well.
• Plan to cook with as few ingredients and pieces of equipment as possible.

Meal planning:

This is the most important step and the simplest way to eat well once you get to your campsite.

I start my meal planning by assembling all the ingredients, including cooking oil, spices, condiments, maple syrup and so on. I transfer them to smaller jars – no point in carrying big containers.

It makes me really happy when I manage to cook several dishes ahead of time. I freeze my favourites, spaghetti sauce, chili and lentil soup, and pop the frozen dishes into the cooler. They stay cold for several days, and that way I don’t need to use so much ice – which leaves more room for food.

When you cook in advance, you can make dishes that would take too long to prepare at the campground. It also means you don’t have to bring a long list of ingredients. Best of all, it means fewer dishes to wash!

If you make your own jam and preserves, don’t forget to pack a jar or two.

Balanced meals for camping:

It’s just like balancing meals at home, really. Good eating habits don’t take a break in the summer. But there’s no problem when everything’s in season and tastes so good. And of course, marshmallows on the fire are a whole food group!

I make sure that every meal (well, almost every meal) includes three food groups:

• Fruit and veggies (more than one)
• Some kind of grain or starch
• Meat, fish, tofu, legumes or some other kind of protein.

Here are my tips on organizing the cooler to make cooking at the campsite easier and reduce waste. I’ve arranged them by food group.

Vegetables

My choices

• A variety of fresh local veggies
• A few canned vegetables, such as corn, tomatoes, tomato sauce and mushrooms

My tips

• Wash and chop veggies ahead of time and package in “green” (eco-friendly) bags or Ziploc containers in the cooler. Now you’ve got crudités plus veggies that are ready to cook or add to salads, stir-fries, soups, etc.

Fruit

My choices

• Apples, grapes and other fruit that travels well. Pears, peaches and bananas bruise easily unless you protect them en route.
• Dried fruit
• Compotes, such as applesauce

My tips

• Find a U-pick farm and enjoy the best local fruit in season — yum!
• Cut up fruit (melon, pineapples, mangoes) ahead of time and stash them in a plastic container.

Protein sources

My choices

• Cans of legumes, tuna, salmon or sardines
• Eggs or liquid eggs
• Nuts and seeds… but don’t let the squirrels steal them!
• Cheese
• Powdered milk for making oatmeal and hot chocolate

My tips

• Store eggs in a plastic container designed for camping. No use crying over broken eggs!
• Slice meat or tofu, marinate if you like, then pop in the freezer till you’re ready to go.
• Grate cheese at home for dishes that call for grated cheese.

Grains and starches

My choices

• Flatbreads (naan, pitas, tortillas) – sliced bread will get squashed in transit anyway!
• Couscous
• Quinoa
• Pasta
• Oatmeal (to make porridge)

My tips

• To save time and energy, put quick-cooking choices at the top of your list (couscous, pasta, instant brown rice, instant oatmeal, etc.)

Snacks

My choices

• Dried fruit and nut blends
• Soft bars and cookies (homemade if possible)
• Homemade yogurt drinks (plain yogurt + fruit + maple syrup)

My tips

• Bake bars and cookies a few days or even a few weeks ahead and stash them in the freezer till you’re ready to go. Don’t leave anything to the last minute if you can help it.

Avoiding waste on your camping trip:

• Use the most perishable foods first (meat, fish and some veggies, for example).
• Toward the end of your trip, plan “use-it-up” meals, such as omelettes, sandwiches, salads or stir-fries with whatever’s left.
• When the cooler’s almost empty, dream up meals made with non-perishable ingredients, such as:

                        Couscous + black beans + canned corn

                        Pasta + tomato sauce + canned tuna

I could still write volumes about dishes, equipment, hygiene and so much more, but I’d rather be sitting by the campfire! So here’s a reading suggestion: The Family Camping Cookbook, by Tiff & Jim Easton, complete with recipes.

Have a great summer!

Cet article Cooking, camping style est apparu en premier sur Patience Fruit & Co.