cooking in Quartzsite

[TMG51]

Also while we're on the mayo topic: Mayo works well for frying things like eggs, toast, etc, and is cheaper than buying butter. You can put a swipe of mayo on a piece of bread and throw it on a hot pan to give a quick toast without a toaster. And no doesn't taste weird after. Although if you use too much the bread will feel oily.

 

[Queen]

Unless I'm eating meat that needs cooking almost everything I consume is raw, or shelf stable. Mostly because I don't enjoy cooking, but I can live a long time on a combo of raw nuts, some fruit and veggies, and jerky or sliced meats.

 

[B and C]

Where I work, they are afraid they will have to pay someone to haul them away.  Right not there is an older gentleman (older than me at least) picking them up with his pickup and trailer.  When he stops coming, they will probably have to pay to get them hauled off.

 

[ZoNiE]

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

Packets of mayo are the best way to do this. One packet per can is about right. Like someone said, get them from the quickie mart when you get a hot dog or something.

I wouldn't go the squeeze bottle route regardless of the preservatives. Too many airborne things can contaminate food. What's that squeeze bottle doing when you let go? Sucking in whatever's in the air. Minimal, for sure, but out in the desert, there are a lot of bacteria and microbes in the dirt, and the air...

 

[akrvbob]

Burning construction waste or pallets is illegal in most public land. Mainly because people leave the nails/screws and they get scattered everywhere. Very bad stuff!!

I'm not telling you not to do it, just be careful not to get caught and if you do burn it be very careful to clean up ALL the nails and screws. Also, if the wood was treated the smoke can be toxic.

I've never found a source of bulk firewood, the nearest Walmart is in Parker and the bundles will be much cheaper there.
Bob

 

[ZoNiE]

Burning construction waste or pallets is illegal in most public land. Mainly because people leave the nails/screws and they get scattered everywhere. Very bad stuff!!

I'm not telling you not to do it, just be careful not to get caught and if you do burn it be very careful to clean up ALL the nails and screws. Also, if the wood was treated the smoke can be toxic.

I've never found a source of bulk firewood, the nearest Walmart is in Parker and the bundles will be much cheaper there.
Bob

Some folks will deliver bulk firewood. You have to call around, but may be worth the effort, especially if a group of folks can split the delivery fee.

If burning pallets, have a magnet handy if the BLM folks come around. The Magnet is for collecting the nails. They will usually trust you are cleaning that up if you have a big magnet. Use it to clean the nails...

 

[WheelEstate USA]

Bob...I wasn't aware of the pallet rule. Only time I have used them they were already knocked down and clean oak.
Thanks for the correction

 

[highdesertranger]

a magnet will not help you in kali the simple passion in the desert is worthy of a ticket. they don't have to catch you burning them just having them in camp is enough. highdesertranger

 

[BigT]

So long as we're talking about mayonnaise packets, it should be mentioned that you can purchase them from Amazon.com and various big-box stores.  
I even found that Staples (office products) sells a 200 count box for $20 :s , so there's no need to steal them from the local 7-11 or gas station.  
http://www.staples.com/Mayonnaise-Single-Serve-Packets-200-Box/product_369834

 

[ZoNiE]

you buy a hot dog you get one with it!

 

[highdesertranger]

of course you do. I think they were referring to shoving a bunch in your pockets. now if you were to lay them on the counter so the cashier could see them it wouldn't be stealing. I see people doing this with those little coffee creamers all the time and they never get charged. of course be reasonable with how many you want them to give you. highdesertranger

 

[WriterMs]

I was going to suggest using dung but HDR beat me to it!!!!

You would want it to be VERY dry.. but in the desert I'm sure that does not take long. If your rocket stove is quite efficient, it should burn it completely with little or no smoke to worry about. Might be worth trying a small bit with no food over the stove at first.

I'm guessing you have a hatchet since you've been using wood in the forests? If you found a free pallet (and you'd want one heat treated and not an old chemically treated one.. can't remember off hand the letters that designate the old chemicals), maybe you could chop it into kindling pieces while in town. Bundle the kindling like maybe you bought it somewhere that way?

And finally, may I suggest making a solar "oven" from a box and some foil? At some places I've camped, the front window of my van got quite hot in the sun. I would make a cone with my silver folding sunshade, put that in the hot window and then set my pot of soup (or whatever simply needs to be heated up) in the middle of the cone. Doesn't take all that long to heat. (I often warmed shower water that way, too.)

 

[gnarledwolf]

The rocket stove is very efficient, but have never tried dung, but wouldn't even know where to look out here. We' have been in plenty of forests that had cow patties, but... Shrug... Today we do recon and look this area over to see what is here, plus start looking for a job. The job will be fun since my tracfone keeps telling me the service is busy and won't refill my service.
I was planning on trying the solar oven as soon as I run across the resources to build it. I can't really try the windshield method, the Eclipse dash is set up a bit narrow for that☺, but I am hoping I can scrounge what I need. Hardly the first time I've been a bit strapped and in unfamiliar surroundings.
Matt

 

[WheelEstate USA]

Matt...You'll be fine. Q is an easy place to get around. Most folks are frendly.
Check the ad boards in front of the stores and at the laundry...might see some work or something of interest.
I'll bet you feel a lot more grounded by this evening

 

[highdesertranger]

I know across the river around Palo Verde there are quite a few cattle and north of Blythe but I think those are on the reservation. don't do anything on the reservation without written permission. like WriterMs said get the dry stuff it's grey colored and weighs almost nothing you can almost pick up a pie and throw it like a Frisbee. highdesertranger

 

[Sameer]

A propane stove sells for around 49 bucks...sometimes at the thrift store I see them also. Cooking uses very little propane. I used the double burner Coleman propane stove for my first two years and then switched to butane, a little more expensive. On average for the last year that I have used butane, it runs around 3 bucks a week. You would be hard pressed to use two green bottles of propane a month for cooking. At 6 bucks for the two...that is about 20 cents a day for cooking. You have to think about the wind and rain and weather when cooking. Make things easy on your self. 20 cents a day for cooking is cheap.

 

[WheelEstate USA]

Sameer...it costs even less with a bulk bottle and hose, but like a stove and greenies, its about having the bucks in pocket.

 

[SoulRaven]

Why not just buy a bag of BBQ charcoal for the rocket stove?

 

[Sameer]

Jay, you are absolutely correct about bulk bottle. My Buddy heater is not hooked to a 20# bottle and I have saved a freaking fortune. I am keeping an eye out for a single propane burner like you have and hook it up the the bulk bottle. I think cooking should be easy is all circumstances. 40 mile an hour winds with 60 mph gusts, three days of monsoon rains, fire restrictions in the forest...and the Walmart parking lot in Cortez, Colorado. Cooking is the easiest thing we do. That has to be part of the budget.

 

[WheelEstate USA]

Sameer...If you're still in Flag, Peace Surplus has the single burner stove for under 30 bucks. You will love browsing their store too.