Posts filed under 'Food'
We’ve teamed up with Lipton to bring you guys and gals this great contest. It’s just like most of our contests here on Outdoorzy, in that it’s easy to sign-up. But the stakes are much higher this time folks, we’re giving away this Fuji Crosstown 2.0.
Lipton is no front-porch sippin tea. They are promoting an active lifestyle, and they have the products to go along with that lifestyle. They recently sponsored a video contest where people showed their active lifestyle off by submitting a video to win prizes. There are some crazy ones and some hilarious ones toos. Check out the Free Your Y Contest. You can vote on your favorite video to ensure an “outdoor” activity wins the field of submissions. 
Voting begins tomorrow.
Check out the new White Tea products while you’re there as well. White Tea has Antioxidants, Theanine, Caffeine, and H20, which are all good for the activities we love most.
How to Enter:
There are 3 Ways to enter… Pick one! The winner will be announced in 2 weeks on this blog.
1. Leave your Full Name in a comment on this blog post (your email is entered when you comment but is private)
2. Shoot us an Email at Info@Outdoorzy.com with your full name (we’ll get your email from the From line)
3. Comment on the Forum Post we have going on at the Outdoorzy Forum and since Members can only post we’ll get in touch with your through your Profile if you win.
And here’s the legal lingo…
The contest is open to US residents only, 18 and older to win. The Pepsi/Lipton Partnership will provide a check for $75.00 to be used for professional assembly of the Lipton Fuji bicycle awarded. Neither Pepsi Co., Outdoorzy, nor Unilever is liable for any injuries, damages or accidents that may result from the receipt, assembly or use of this bicycle.
May 16th, 2008
I used to hate coffee. I loved the smell, but just couldn’t understand how people drank it like it was going out of style. Enter marriage. My wife absolutetly loves her java. So I began experimenting with foo-foo coffee at Charbucks and other coffee shops. Now I actually like coffee, and drink it most days. Granted, it is about 20% sugar and cream when I partake.
So I’m planning a solo backpacking trip for a week this summer and got to thinking, can I have coffee? Is there such a thing as ultralight coffee? After a little research I found that there are several methods for camp coffee. These include bringing a small percolator, using brewing bags, or making cowboy coffee. The percolator isn’t exactly ultralight. I read some bad reviews on the brewing bags, saying they were pretty crappy when it comes to taste. Then cowboy coffee is where you bring some water to a boil, drop your grounds in, wait til they settle, and try not to get a mouth full of sludge toward the end. This isn’t exactly what I had in mind.
So I went into my kitchen and started playing. The solution I came up with worked pretty well. I’m sure this has been done plenty of times before, but I didn’t find anything about this method, so I’ll just pretend like I’m the first person to think of this. 
Wade’s Ultralight Coffee
Equipment Needed
- Coffee Filter
- Coffee
- Nalgene or other heat resistant bottle
- Nalgene sipper
- Boiling Pot
- Camp Stove
Step 1 - Put your coffee grounds into a coffee filter.
Step 2 - Place the filter into the top of the bottle.
Step 3 - While holding the filter in place just inside the bottle, slip the sipper into the opening to secure the bag.
Step 4 - Slightly tilt the sipper so the drinking side is lower (causes a slide for the hot water to fall down)
Step 5 - Slowly pour your boiled water into the bottle. It will drip down over the grounds making the coffee.
Okay, so this isn’t rocket science. And BlowSnow will most likely point out that I’m nowhere as great as his hero Eli Whitney. But, this is an effective way to make coffee and the only extra items you probably wouldn’t have had with you in the first place are the filter and coffee. Weighing in at practically nothing.
Just be sure to put the sipper in snuggly. If it falls… you get cowboy coffee anyway.
April 8th, 2008
That is the question.
Well it is when you go trekking in Nepal. This kingdom in the clouds has been on my adventure travel list for quite some time now. I have literally had vivid dreams about trekking through the monstrous peaks of the Himalayan highlands.
One decision that people are often faced with when booking a trip is whether or not to stay in teahouses along their trek or to lean more toward the old-faithful tent. The advantages of the teahouse trek are many. One important difference is the opportunities for cultural interaction. Teahouse trekkers can get to know the daily lives of the Nepalese villagers.
Another advantage to teahouse treks is the comfort factor. Teahouses have been notorious with bug-ridden mattresses and showerless mornings. But these rough spots are increasingly a thing of the past. Many trekking companies offer fluffy mattresses, big meals, and even hot showers. The Everest region is best for the comfort factor, but can be more crowded.
If this might be your dream destination then the flight will be the killer. Pushing the $2,000 neighborhood can really hit the pocketbook hard. But once there, things can be cheap. Especially if you are willing to travel independently and research all the pricing options.
Image from Nepaltrekking.com
March 13th, 2008
Okay–its February and we are all wishing we were working out more . . . outside. But the facts are the facts and most of us can’t (we don’t want to hear about it FL or CA).
Photo by Noor
I hate diets and I don’t like to deny myself (leads to binging) so I come up with healthy alternatives to my favorite indulgences. An easy way at do this, is to use a great web site called AllRecipes.
I type in the food I want and I get tons of great recipes, but the best is the review section under the recipe. There are many people who use healthy substitutes and report back about how the recipe turned out and that saves me research and time.
One of my favorite healthy recipes is a Whole-Wheat Chocolate chip cookie mix.
Here is the original cookie recipe.
Here is the recipe with my substitutions:
INGREDIENTS
* 1 1/2 sticks
* 3/4 cup white sugar (You can also use Splenda but as you know watch how much you put in so it is not too sweet.)
* 1/2 cup instant Nonfat dry milk (powder)
* 3/4 cup light brown sugar
* 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
* 2 eggs
* Flour: 1 cup whole wheat / 1/2 cup oats / 1 1/2 cup white flour (substitute flax seed for oats or a bit of the white flour if desired)
* 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1 bag of dark (60% cacao) chocolate chips
* 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
* 1/4 cup ground Raisins (food processed)
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Generously grease cookie sheets.
2. In a medium bowl, cream together the margarine, white sugar and brown sugar until smooth. Stir in the vanilla and eggs. Combine the whole wheat flour, all purpose flour, baking soda and salt, gradually blend into the creamed mixture. Fold in chocolate chips and walnuts if desired. Drop by rounded spoonfuls onto the prepared cookie sheet.
3. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely. For bar cookies, press dough into a 10×15 inch jelly roll pan and bake for 12 to 15 minutes.
February 8th, 2008
MSR Miox Purifier
Dwell times (how long you wait)
Viruses, bacteria — 15 min.
Giardia — 30 min.
Cryptosporidium — 4 hrs.
Weight
Pen — 3.5 oz./99 g
Kit — 8 oz./227 g
Price
Retails for $139.95
I’ve had this water filter in my possession for several months but haven’t had the opportunity to test it. I’ve finally gotten around to taking a good look at it and here’s my assessment.
The Miox wins the prize for being ultralight as far as purifiers and pumps go. It is light, just 3.5 ounces. It jams down into your pack nicely. You literally won’t know it’s there. It also provide some of the best protection you can get. It kills all viruses, bacteria, Giardia, and Cryptosporidium. The other great feature about the Miox is NO PUMPING! Now some of us love to pump water in a traditional filter pump. Oh yes, there’s nothing like spending 20 minutes hunkered by a stream until your knees seize up in that position and you can’t stand again. Then cleaning the filter when it gets clogged, and pumping some more. Okay, so we don’t love it… Well with the Miox you just put the salt in the cap along with some water, then press the button and zap it. After it’s been zapped you pour it back in your container and let it works its magic.
The downsides to the Miox are that it is dependent on batteries, and you have to wait for your water. From 15 minutes to 4 hours depending on what you’re trying to kill. And lastly, the price is quite high compared to your standard pumps.
My conclusion is that if you’re trying to kill some nasty stuff, hate pumping, trying to purify large amounts of water, or are buying for ultralight reasons, then this is your purifier.
January 24th, 2008
According to legend (and wikipedia), Tapas began when Castile’s King Alfonso the Wise recovered from an illness by drinking wine and nibbling small dishes between meals. After regaining his health, the king ordered taverns to serve their guests food along with wine and the tapas became a good excuse for people to drink and eat alot… cough… I mean “heal.”
This is also a great way to do camp meals. We did this on The Great Float this past year. There were roughly 20 tents set up along a sandy island in the river. We all made our own dishes and then shared them. We didn’t really plan it that way, but everyone ended up eating a little of each persons food. That night I ended up eating spicy tiger shrimp, a little juicy steak, some chicken, a brat, a wrap, and the list goes on. It was a great way for everyone to share a recipe, try something new, and not have to bring a ton of stuff to cook. I think we might try this again it was such a blast.
Image compliments of Flickr.com user “deramaenrama”
January 15th, 2008
We’re wrapping up the list of trailhead grub spots today with 5 places you can’t go wrong with. I’m getting HUNGRY!
5. Miguel’s - Red River Gorge, KY
Why? Endercore says “Best pizzia in the world, amazing topping selection, and run by a great family who are nothing but supportive to the climbing community, and the community in general. Miguel employees a staff of climbers who are always really nice. Miguels IS the outdoorzy spot in the red, so proximity is no issue, price is good, and he rarely runs out. Don’t forget to admire his woodcarvings while you’re there. Plus you can camp in the back for 2 bucks a night.”
4. The Pizza Factory - Lone Pine, CA
Why? Summiting Mt Whitney, the highest peak in the lower 48, is no easy chore. But getting down a big greasy peperoni laden pie with a tall pitcher of whatever beer you like IS an easy chore. After the Whitney adventure, stop here for some great food and lots of pictures of all the old western movie stars that used to film in the area. It’s right at the end of Whitney Portal Road, can’t miss it.
3. Ocoee Dam Deli - Ocoee, TN
Why? According to Endercore “It is about 5 miles from the takeout for the middle ocoee river in TN. Its this little shack of a place with a gravel parking lot, a lovely porch, and a bunch of TV’s on the inside that are constantly playing boating videos. Its awesome because they have 2 or 3 diffrent videos playing at once, and one is almost always a rafting carnage video from the ocoee, so you can sit and reminisce on getting your ass kicked in the very same hole earlier that day, or freak your self out about getting caught in this keeper hole, getting run over by a raft, and being recirculated while some stoned raft guide misses you with his throw bag 10 times before finally rescuing you.”
2. K’s Dairy Delight - Buena Vista, CO
Why? Well it sits in the shadow of the Collegiate 14ers in Colorado, has a whitewater river at its back door and plenty of rock climbing all around. Then there’s the food. Burgers, fries, onion rings, and ice cream cap off your adventure. They also give you the name of a movie star when you show up and when they call out your name, say… “Robert Redford”, you go get your food. Feeling like crap, but treated like a star.
AND #1 (at least on this list…)
Calamity Jane’s - Mt Hood, OR
Why? After skiing all day at Timbeline Lodge, hiking the 45 mile Timbeline Trail, or summiting Mt Hood… a 1 lb burger as big as your head is the only thing you need. That and some neosporin… Serving giant burgers just a few miles down the road from Mt Hood and doing it all with a smile. This rustic building has the charm and the calories to get you back on your sore feet again.
And for all the detail Endercore went into, he wins the MSR Alpine Kitchen Set compliments of MSR! Just message me Endercore to claim your prize.
Thanks for the help of all the Outdoorzies that put their two cents in on the forum!
January 10th, 2008
After a difficult summit, run, hike, mtb ride, or day on the slopes there’s nothing like a big fat-filled, cheese-covered meal to satisfy your calorie deficit. Many of you probably have your favorite spot to eat after a tough day. I’ve compiled a list of some of the best trailhead grub spots (with the help of some of our members). Atmosphere, food quality, food quantity, and proximity to the trailhead all went into the hat to help us decide on these. These are all in the US and Canada. We may do an international list down the road.
Below are #s 10-6…. #s 5-1 to come tomorrow.
10. Pig Diner - Pig, Ky
Why? Any place with named “Pig” in a town named “Pig” has to at least get a nod. Not to mention the amazing greasy breakfast selection and the killer Beef Manhattan. Wash it all down with a glass of sweet tea that your spoon could stand up in it’s so thick and you’re ready to re-enter society. This place is about 5 minutes outside of the south entrance to Mammoth Cave National Park.
9. Adair’s Wilderness Lodge - Waterford, NB (Canada)
Why? Fundyguy25 says - “Great spot to eat with homemade desserts, soups, and all the standards. Friendly knowledgable staff that know the area and some even do some guiding. There is on-site tenting as well as a couple of cottages. They offer a shuttle service to and from many trail heads and often serve as headquarters when S&R teams are needed. The building sits next to a pond and is on a dirt road (may be chipsealed soon though), and is a log building.”
8. Nate’s Grille - Skagway, AK
Why? JoshuatheNomad says “The guy who own’s the place is uber-groovy. The place has a coffee shop/mom & pop greasy spoon atmosphere with constant great tunes, amazing deep fried deserts: oreos, snickers, reeses cups, twinkies…
And Nate makes by far the best fries in Skagway, maybe in the world! accompany that with his black and bleu HUGE burger and a PBR from around the corner at Moe’s Frontier Bar and you’ve got an Alaskan delight. I’ve never met a nicer, more genuine restaurant owner anywhere. And there was movies, by theme, every Friday and Saturday night this summer.”
7. The Blue Spruce - Frisco, CO
Why? Grensap says “I like the blue spruce its got a old time feel. Close to all the ski slopes, trails, the blue river, and lake dillon. It great for a nice sit down dinner, but the bar has great prices and there Colorado wings are awesome. I know the price look high but its some of the best food around. Also I guess I really like it because it is right infront of my house.”
6. Pies & Pints - Fayettville, WV
Why? JoshuatheNomad says “The name answers the why. Pizza and Beer. Parking isn’t great but the food and beer selection counters that issue. Also, on a nice spring or fall day, they have a porch and other outside seating [i think], not the greatest view but I personally love to sit outSiDe and down some beer and pizza after a long day of calorie burning fun. And you can basically make your own work of art with the plethora of toppings they have to offer.”
January 9th, 2008
Okay guys and gals, who wants to win an MSR Alpine Kitchen Set?
I need your expertise to help me finish my next Top 10 list to put here on the blog. Check this forum post out to contribute and enter yourself to win the kitchen set.
*If you’re not an Outdoorzy member you’ll need to sign up for free to post on the forum. Its painless, quit whining.
*The Kitchen Set was a Gear Test we did. It was only used once, and it’s been cleaned. Again, quit whining.
December 21st, 2007
I have been trying to find some good recipes for outdoor cooking for Thanksgiving and haven’t been able to find much. There was this recipe for the Backpacker’s Thanksgiving Dinner which is ridiculously easy, but I was hoping for something more. Many places warn about not trying to cook turkey over a campfire, so the search has come up pretty empty.
Do any of you guys have any suggestions for an outdoor Thanksgiving meal?
Also a few years back Wade and I did a Thanksgiving day bike ride and that was a lot of fun. This year I may run in a 5k turkey trot Thanksgiving morning.
Any other outdoorzies have outdoor Thanksgiving traditions?
November 9th, 2007
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