Rocket Fuel Breakfast (backpacking recipe)
Bound to get you movin' ...
Oatmeal! It's the gloppiest. When it's bad, it's so bad.
The following is my way to make it not bad, even when it's instant oatmeal and you're out in the middle of nowhere with no fresh fruit or pats of butter to smear it with.
I developed this "recipe" (if you can call it that) to feed our group breakfast on a short backpacking trip last weekend (see: previous post). 22 miles of undulating terrain under the weight of heavy packs calls for some serious sustenance that's (in order of priority) lightweight, instant (just add water), filling, and delicious.
I'm not much of a breakfast person (too lazy - toast is about as far as I go), but when I got home I had some leftovers of this stuff. I ate it every day this week (making more when I ran out) because - seriously - it's like rocket fuel. It's in no way low-calorie, but it's instant, delicious, and will get you through the day (whether you're hiking 10 miles or just have back-to-back meetings until 3pm).
Rocket Fuel Oatmeal
(serves four, or one over four days!)
- 2 cups instant oatmeal
- 1/2c hemp hearts
- 1/4c dehydrated milk powder
- 1/4c coconut butter (if you can't find it, use coconut oil)
- 1/4c dried sour cherries (or other dried fruit)
- 1 scant tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon or ginger (optional)
Optional toppings: brown sugar, cacao nibs, roasted almonds, granola, fresh fruit
Instructions:
Melt your coconut butter or oil in the microwave or on the stovetop until liquid.
If you're backpacking, combine all non-topping ingredients in a ziploc gallon bag and shake. If you're pre-making breakfasts for home, combine ingredients in a bowl and portion into ziplocs (less eco-friendly) or small Tupperware containers.
When you're ready to eat, mix oatmeal and boiling water in about equal parts and let sit for at least 5 minutes. Add toppings and enjoy!
Note: I like my oatmeal unsweetened except for fruit and love the textural contrast of topping it with crunchy granola. Try it.
Relaxing in the hot pools before hitting the trail again