cooking in Quartzsite

[gnarledwolf]

OK, so we can't burn any native wood in Quartzsite... All meals propane? That will get damned expensive! I see camp fire circles set up...what have they been burning?
Matt

 

[Suanne]

Bundles of wood are available in Blythe, and probably at stores in Quartzsite too. For cooking for myself, I've always used butane, which is actually more expensive than propane. I only use a can a week, approx. $3/can. But, I also eat a lot of no-cook foods.

At the RTR, I believe Bob gets cord wood hauled in for our nightly fire ring. Desert plants grow so slow that burning them would soon decimate the landscape and wildlife habitats where folks boondock. And in the dry season, some living desert plants look dead (as a survival mechanism); so, some people could mistakenly burn living cacti.

Suanne ... packing her car up today and tomorrow ... ready to head south

 

[Almost There]

To save on propane until you find employment  you could adopt some of the cooking methods we use when out backcountry.

To rehydrate powdered soup, noodle dishes, mashed potatoes, basically all those so called instant foods including ramen noodles measure the amount of water you need, bring it to a boil, add the dry food and stir. Cook for maybe a minute then turn it off. Wrap the pot in something heavy like a big towel. Give it 15 or 20 minutes, check for thickness, being cooked etc. and eat. We use reflectix pouches made to fit our pots but a heavy towel/blanket will work just as well and is something you likely already have available.

If you're cooking meat, cook a couple of days worth at a time and store in the cooler so that all you have to do is reheat.

 

[highdesertranger]

I saw the title and thought we were going to see a cooking show. lol. buying firewood gets old really fast and expensive. Almost There gave a great tip for saving fuel. unfortunately I don't have any contacts on the area to buy firewood in bulk maybe others here have a good source. highdesertranger

 

[gnarledwolf]

For ramen we usually just crumble it in a bowl and pour in hot water... It is ready in 3 minutes. Glad i'm out of veggies... They would take forever and use up my remaining propane in one or two meals! I understand about the wood, but panic set in since we've done a lot of cooking with wood in our rocket stove
Matt

 

[gnarledwolf]

Bundles of wood are available in Blythe, and probably at stores in Quartzsite too.   For cooking for myself, I've always used butane, which is actually more expensive than propane.  I only use a can a week, approx. $3/can.  But, I also eat a lot of no-cook foods.

At the RTR, I believe Bob gets cord wood hauled in for our nightly fire ring.  Desert plants grow so slow that burning them would soon decimate the landscape and wildlife habitats where folks boondock.  And in the dry season, some living desert plants look dead (as a survival mechanism); so, some people could mistakenly burn living cacti.

Suanne ... packing her car up today and tomorrow ... ready to head south

We have pb&j and i would happily do tuna if I could store mayo... What other no cooks do you do.... But then you may have refrigeration?
Matt

 

[highdesertranger]

oh you have a rocket stove. can't they burn almost anything and use very little fuel? south of Blythe there is a lot of agriculture, around Palo Verde. perhaps you can get some ag waste like chafe, or buffalo chips, corn stalks and the like, make sure you ask unless your picking up chips on public land. might be worth a shot. charcoal too. highdesertranger

 

[cyndi]

No Refrigeration MEALs for One

https://vanlivingforum.com/Thread-No-Refrigeration-MEALs-for-One

 

[gnarledwolf]

oh you have a rocket stove.  can't they burn almost anything and use very little fuel?  south of Blythe there is a lot of agriculture, around Palo Verde.   perhaps you can get some ag waste like chafe,  or buffalo chips,  corn stalks and the like,  make sure you ask unless your picking up chips on public land.  might be worth a shot.  charcoal too.  highdesertranger

Never tried anything but wood, but that IS an idea!
Matt

 

[Suanne]

We have pb&j and i would happily do tuna if I could store mayo... What other no cooks do you do.... But then you may have refrigeration?
Matt

Hi Matt,

I do not have refrigeration, or even a cooler.  If I want to eat something that requires refrigeration, I consume it the day I buy it or the next morning.  BTW, mayonnaise doesn't require refrigeration as long as it stays uncontaminated.  I get a squeeze bottle of Best Foods (Hellmann's) and it lasts me for months.  Eggs store well for several days in a coolish place, as do hard cheeses, or anything with a high sugar or vinegar content (relish, jams/jellys, catsup, mustard, etc.).  I'll often store these things in an insulated bag at the floorboard on the north or northeast corner of my car where it stays coolest during the day.  Then at night, I put them in a storage tent where the temp gets cooler than the inside of the car where I sleep.

Here is more detail on my blog, if interested -- http://suanneonline.blogspot.com/p/nourishment.html

Hope that helps.

 

[gnarledwolf]

No Refrigeration MEALs for One  

https://vanlivingforum.com/Thread-No-Refrigeration-MEALs-for-One

Great post, Cyndi!

 

[TMG51]

We have pb&j and i would happily do tuna if I could store mayo... What other no cooks do you do.... But then you may have refrigeration?
Matt

Common misconception. Mayo does NOT require refrigeration! It's shelf stable. Look it up if you don't believe me.

However if you use a jar and put a dirty knife in it, it will go bad. So it's best to buy a squeeze bottle. Or if you're really cheap and really skeptical you can swipe individual packets of mayo from a gas station when you're feigning hot dog assembly....

About the firewood, I can understand your hesitation to buy it. In the northeast we called those packaged bundles of firewood "flatlander packs" because only the summer home types from Mass etc would buy them. Everyone from the hills knew to just go get wood out back. But it's different in the desert.

 

[highdesertranger]

"But it's different in the desert", dare I say very different. hghdesertranger

 

[gnarledwolf]

Yep. Helps a little. I don't understand about the mayo... Isn't that made with eggs? All I know is this lifestyle is great for weight loss... I have lost 35 pounds since august 31st! No money for much but feel helps too☺!

 

[TMG51]

Yep. Helps a little. I don't understand about the mayo... Isn't that made with eggs? All I know is this lifestyle is great for weight loss... I have lost 35 pounds since august 31st!  No money for much but feel helps too☺!

Welcome to preservatives.

If you notice, many restaurants keep opened squeeze jars of mayo left out on the table/counter.

 

[highdesertranger]

it's the acid content, ie vinegar. anything with vinegar keeps pretty well. highdesertranger

 

[Almost There]

Yep. Helps a little. I don't understand about the mayo... Isn't that made with eggs? All I know is this lifestyle is great for weight loss... I have lost 35 pounds since august 31st!  No money for much but feel helps too☺!

It's made with pasteurized eggs, not the type that you buy in the dairy case - yes there's a difference, particularly in shelf stability.

The only safe container of mayo is one that no one can or has put anything in like a knife. The squeeze bottles are okay because you're not cross contaminating the contents with anything. If you're using a jar of mayo then it needs to be kept refrigerated.

Did you need to lose the 35 lbs?

 

[gnarledwolf]

It's made with pasteurized eggs, not the type that you buy in the dairy case - yes there's a difference, particularly in shelf stability.

The only safe container of mayo is one that no one can or has put anything in like a knife. The squeeze bottles are okay because you're not cross contaminating the contents with anything. If you're using a jar of mayo then it needs to be kept refrigerated.

Did you need to lose the 35 lbs?

Lol, god, yes! Another 35 and I will be happier... More than that and I'll start looking sickly... I will look into getting mayo in a squeeze container... That helps a lo to know!
Matt

 

[TMG51]

Did you need to lose the 35 lbs?

No no, when someone says they've lost weight, the correct response is "Have you looked behind you?"

Just kidding. Congrats gnarledwolf. Just don't let yourself fall into a spot where you're not eating at all.

 

[gnarledwolf]

No no, when someone says they've lost weight, the correct response is "Have you looked behind you?"

Just kidding. Congrats gnarledwolf. Just don't let yourself fall into a spot where you're not eating at all.

Lol. Me? I love food... Just gotta get a job and buy more?