Food: Desert Grain

I have been making a spreadsheet of my calorie intake for each resupply box. Sectioning off what I am going to bring on which leg, keepin track of each items calories, figuring how many calories I need to send myself, figuring how many calories I need to buy in towns, and strategizing my food based off of my reliable water sources.

The question I answered today is what will be my dry grain. Meaning when every drop of water counts, what will I use to bulk up my dinners. The contenders where instant rice, instant mashed potatoes, and couscous. 

Instant mashed potatoes was ruled out quickly. It takes 2 cups of water and 2 cups dry potatoes and makes 2 cups of food. So that will be for areas when water sources are not in short supply. 

Instant rice is a one to one ratio; 1 cup water to 1 cup dry rice and makes 2 cups of food. It doubles to that is pretty good.

Now couscous was a surprise winner. It also has a one to one ratio; 1 cup water to 1 cup dry couscous. But is triples and makes 3 cups of couscous. This will be my grain through the desert. Whole wheat because it has more calories, and lucky for me couscous tastes amazing.

Only a month and a week left!!

Food: Aussie Bite, first attempt

I am a supporter of homemade goods. If I can make it at the skill that I need then I will. Homemade chalk bag, homemade purses, patching clothes, homemade blankets, homemade moccasins; you get the idea. So I am going to make as much of my food from scratch as possible. This morning that meant making my first batch of Aussie bites. Sure, you can buy these calorie packed snacks in bulk at Costco, but at home I can control the flavor and the ingredients.
Recipe I loosely used. Loosely because they seemed too dry so I added 3 tbs of milk. Next time I am going to try adding some coconut milk and use coconut oil and butter (1/2 and 1/2) instead of just butter. I just guessed how much coconut to put in because we don't have cans of dried coconut and I don't have anything to measure oz accurately. I think I put in about 1/3 of a cup. For dried fruit I put in cranberries and raisins. It's what I had in the cabinet.
The results? They turned out rather well.  A little crumbly but rather delicious. I think they make my stomach a bit sore though. I will have to confirm this later.