Early morning sunrises are best enjoyed with a warm cup of coffee and … oatmeal? Ugh, not again. There are only so many days a person can reasonably wake up and eat brown mush without going crazy. Sometimes, a full meal is worth a little extra weight. Retort cooking is by far the best way to do this during the winter, and below are a few of the simplest meals to satiate your hunger and keep you away from that natural cement.
Breakfast- Boil Bag Eggs
This meal can be as simple or intricate as you like. All that is absolutely required are a few eggs. Crack them straight into the bag and squish around until scrambled. If desired, add your favorite fillings. Personally, I’m a fan of ham, cheese, and jalapeños. Squeeze the air out of the bag and seal tight. Immerse in boiling water and make sure the bag doesn’t touch the side of the pot, or it will melt. After five to ten minutes, remove the bag. The egg will be formed into an omelet shape. Feel free to fork it or go after it like a burrito.
Lunch- Bacon Mac ‘N Cheese
The beauty of retort is that very complex meals can be enjoyed in the wild in almost no time at all. This is certainly one of those instances. At home, cook however much bacon you prefer until very crispy. Crumble and set aside. Melt a couple tablespoons of butter in a pan and add equal parts flour. Stir for roughly five minutes, watching the butter so it doesn’t burn. Slowly add milk and continue whisking. Keep adding until butter-flour mixture is fully incorporated and is just a little thicker than water consistency. Stir in grated mozzarella and cheddar. Season with salt, pepper, and ground mustard, then add bacon and cooked macaroni noodles. Bag into individual portions and then reheat in boiling water when ready to eat.
Dinner– Beef Stroganoff
At home, sauté onion and mushrooms in a large pot until soft, then remove. Cut sirloin steak into inch-sized cubes and coat in flour. Brown in the same pot with a little oil and butter. Add a cup of beef broth, some salt, and Worcestershire sauce. Bring to a boil then simmer for 15 minutes covered. Add the onions and mushrooms back into the pot and add a little more flour and broth. Bring back to a boil and simmer for another 20 minutes to finish cooking beef. Bag into individual portions. Once ready to eat, reheat and stir in a couple spoons of sour cream. Pour over noodles or eat as is.
Dessert- Camp Apple Pie
Buy and individually bag apple pie mixture. Heat in boiling water and pour into a mug. Crumble over graham crackers and brown sugar. Simple as pie!