Campbell’s split pea soup

[Kaylee]

AAR (After Action Report):
Last night was also a bust.
First mistake: mid-day, when I assembled it, forgot to add veggies! #doh#
Also, in retrospect, I should have used the microwave to boil the actual peas! #doh-2#
It was "ok", just nowhere near what I was aiming for.

I'll have access to that microwave & sink again, in about a week, so will try again.
It does seem that "pure" thermos cooking is insufficient to make split pea soup, and that one does have to do some more fuel-consuming cooking.

HDR: are you doing this in the field, or at your homebase?
It sounds like everyone who has had success was doing it in a "less austere" environment.

Next time, I will try to remember to:
- soak them longer (probably start right after waking up, so it's more like 24+ hours)
- remember the veggies
- nuke water with split peas for about 5+ minutes
- bring a funnel (since I'll be at a sink, so can wash it, so no downside, plus... I'm a klutz)
- bring a measuring cup (had forgotten this time, and winged it)


Edit To Add:
That sounds both fuel intensive and yummy, eDJ.

 

[Qxxx]

Kaylee, I don't know how much water you've been adding, but maybe not enough. When I simmered the split peas for 1 hour, after full-on boiling for 15 minutes, I did add water twice over the hour, but in the end I ended up with split-pea "paste" rather than split-pea soup. Not enough water.

 

[Kaylee]

Qxxx: Thanks!
I used a ratio of 4:1 (watereas).
Granted, the 2nd time I just eyeballed it.
Both times, it was more a broth than anything.
I suspect your paste was closer to our goal than my broth.

 

[highdesertranger]

ah Kalee you have never seen my kitchen.  people at the RTR can tell you I don't have a typical kitchen,


because it's snowing outside everyone is crammed into me kitchen.  circa 2005




Klamath River 2009,  last camp without a 12v refrigerator.  we used a combination of ice chests and a Dorm refer.  neither of which worked,  as it was an all day ordeal to get ice and the dorm fridge kept sucking my batteries dry.







two different years at my favorite Oregon gold camp.  in the last shot you can see 2 of my Engel 12v refers.  none of these pictures really do my kitchen justice as they where just casually taken.

highdesertranger

 

[Kaylee]

Best...

Porn...

of...

the...

Day!

Do you have a closeup of the spice/etc "hutch" in the 2nd last one (far left, on top of the barrel)?

HDR, I posit that your success with split pea soup, vs Qxxx & me, has nothing to do with the peas, and everything to do with equipment & fuel & enthusiastic experience!
I commend you.

 

[highdesertranger]

what an eye girl, that box is special. my Dad(RIP) built that box in the early 1950's. we had it on every camping trip I remember as a child. I inherited it in the 1970's and have been using it ever since. if you look close it's in every picture except the pic of the refers. that box is pushing 70. highdesertranger

 

[Kaylee]

Shiny heritage!
When convenient, a closeup pic would be welcome.

 

[Qxxx]

I guess the moral of the story is: a man who lives like that must know how to cook split-peas  yum. Darn, I couldn't even pitch a tent like those, let alone do a decent job on split-peas, :-(. I think it means If(not-A), Then(not-B), if that follows.

Kaylee, I started with the water ratio indicated on the packet, 4:1, and kept adding from there. If you ever do get to AZ, I think you're gonna be welcome in both HDR's and Tex's(tx2sturgis) camp :angel: .

 

[Kaylee]

LOL!
+1
Thanks Qxxx for the ratio & info... and Deep Thought.

I'm still committed to using the rest of the bag, but I'm now thinking I should have vastly diminished expectations.
Split Pea Broth w/SPAM FTW!

SPAM mainly because vanbrat & I now Need To Know what it will look like.

I'll see if the s&b-kitchen nuking everything solves the problem, but I just don't see myself doing prolonged cooking in the van. So far, longest things I've cooked have been hashbrowns, and that easy mac&cheese I've posted porn of.
Each has been under 10 minutes, and a lot of bang-for-the-buck.

 

[highdesertranger]

I have this close up of the corner.



to get the full monty, close up,  fold out you will have to wait my camera is not working.

highdesertranger

 

[B and C]

Nice chuck box.

Good looking old chevy's there too.

 

[highdesertranger]

she would sell either on or both of those the mini bus is set up to live in complete with a beautiful wood burning stove. they both belonged to a full timer who passed. highdesertranger

 

[Kaylee]

HDR: Sympathies on your camera - I can wait.
If you feel like giving us a verbal walkthru, I'm sure nobody would object.

Much is clear, but I'm wondering about the blue canister under the unlabelled tin can & beside the paprika.
Is the Pringles can full of chips or is it for something else?

 

[Firtree]

Blue can looks like Crisco to me. ??
And I really want that blue/green bus. Even if it just sat in the yard

 

[highdesertranger]

Firtree correct on the Crisco. I can put you in contact with the owner of the bus, I even thought about it for a bit. highdesertranger

 

[highdesertranger]

Kaylee did you want me to itemize what's in the box? highdesertranger

 

[Firtree]

Firtree correct on the Crisco.  I can put you in contact with the owner of the bus,  I even thought about it for a bit.  

Sadly no room in the yard and even more sad, no $$ in wallet. 
But one can dream .... while making pea soup

 

[Kaylee]

HDR: Yes, but please take your time, and don't bother with the "obvious" stuff.
It would help even more if you gave a relaxed running commentary of your rationale for non-obvious stuff.
For example, which of that stuff do you use the most, which hardly ever?
Where did you get that large-ish container of onion stuff?
Educate us please, oh Kitchen Guru!

I have my basic kitchen to a state where I"m functional & happy, but am planning a Grand Reorganization before I head South. It helps to look at other people's setups, even when they're a BaseCamp.

No rush, and thanks in advance!


Firtree:
While the forum is sadly lacking a LOL button, my killfile app is not so impaired (today, I also decided to hack in a Browncoat-GeekPoint button (I love almost-open-source!)).
I did LOL your post just above, and will be flinging some Browncoat GPs your way soon.

 

[Kaylee]

Soaking question:
Is it (usually) safe (bacteria growth wise) to soak just split peas (i.e. nothing else in the container) way more than overnight?

I know they can sprout, so, as Sofi suggested, I'm thinking I'd either start with boiling or very hot water, and leave them in the thermos maybe a full day.
Next step would be: drain off water, add spices & SPAM/etc & fresh boiling water, then leave 4-8 hours to "cook".

 

[Qxxx]

Well, Kaylee Serenity, you seem to still be stuck at the algorithm/design phase, when it seems to me you should be at the test phase. Iterative development, you know all about that. Top-down waterfall style design can get stalled in wheel-spin mode. Iterative development is the way to go. Code then test, code then test. It even works for programming, let alone cooking, LOL.