Camping Oatmeal Mix

Last June, my sister and I took all of our combined kids camping. It was an adventure of no small magnitude and included extreme amounts of planning and organizing. Planning for the feeding of a small basketball team in the primitive campground area with water a half mile away is..... shall we say, interesting.

So everything is made with the idea that it be simple, filling, and that it taste good. The cook in me wants things to be better than hot dogs on the grill or cold cereal in the morning. So we planned and made amazing yumminess for most of the meals.

The biggest food hit with the troops was the Camping Oatmeal Mix. While I was pinning camping recipes like a woman writing a book, I came across this site and was instantly sold on the oatmeal recipe. I wasn't even sure we would use it but with all the hiking and swimming kids get hungry. Really Hungry. All. The. Time. So I thought maybe it would make a great quick snack.

We broke it out after a morning hike that became THE HIKE THAT NEVER ENDED and needed to instantly feed the ornery boys who were literally wasting away from possible starvation and crying toddlers that had been in a child carrier backpack for the last 3 and 1/2 hours. Not to mention, that after 3 and 1/2 hours of carrying a 25 lb toddler on your back, you may never be able to bend over again so having an easy meal in a no microwave zone is a good thing.

Whilst they were wolfing down warm and filling cooked oatmeal decorated with their choice of toppings and a drizzle of maple syrup, I decided we should eat this at home. All year round. Even if we have a microwave.

Helping Mix.

Peek.

My tweaked version:

Camping Oatmeal Mix

6-8 cups of quick cook oats
3 cups powdered milk *
6 Tablespoon brown sugar
Optional mix-ins
Place in a large seal-able container or ice cream pail with a lid. Place lid on top and shake it till it is thoroughly mixed.

Use 1 cup of oatmeal mix to 1/3 -1/2 cup of  boiling water.

We offer toppings separate because there are too many taste buds in my crew to contend with. 
Some topping ideas: Raisins, Coconut, Dried Cranberries, Sunflower Seeds, Walnuts, Chocolate Chips, Maple Syrup, etc.

If you are blessed with less fussy taste buds:) then here are some options for the mix-ins  :

Raisin mix
1 1/2 cups of raisins
1-2 Tablespoons of cinnamon 

Mixed Nuts mix
1 cup chopped mixed nuts

Brotherhood mix
1/2 cup peanuts chopped
1/2 cup yogurt covered raisins    
3/4 cup chocolate chips

Apple Pie mix
1 cup dried apple slices, chopped
1 Tablespoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg
(serve cooked Apple Pie mix with milk or cream)

Tropical Mix
1 cup dried tropical fruit mix
1/4 cup dried shaved coconut   
(serve cooked Tropical mix with a drizzle of coconut milk)   
  

Tell me how it goes!

Always Blessed,
Gretchen :)

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