One Pan Wonders

Backpacking food making season has begun!

I was out of a few key ingredients (powdered milk, tomato powder, cheese powder...) so the other day I hit up my local natural foods store. Manna Mills. I love this place! Not only do they have an excellent bulk bins section, they have two whole aisles of gluten-free products. (I've had a lot of questions about gluten and dairy free items lately).

Here's just one side of one aisle of gluten free items - cookie mixes, breads mixes, crackers, pastas, snack foods...

I bought: powdered whole milk, white cheddar cheese powder, tomato powder, potato dices, TVP, some juice and snacks for the kidling and some gluten/dairy free cheese sauce mix.

I always take some time and check out what all is available in the bulk bins. They had several types of powdered milk (buttermilk, whole, non-fat, soy - in various flavors). I also discovered powdered rose hips! I didn't buy any this time around, but I will next time I am there. I am thinking they will be great for trail teas.

One thing I did buy, and I've already started playing with was powdered orange zest. I was thinking that it could be a good substitute for the True Orange packets I'm always raving about that can be hard to find.  I put a tablespoon of the powder in a cup of hot chocolate yesterday. It tastes good, and smells wonderful, but it gave the hot chocolate a slightly strange texture. A tad grainy. I think the powdered zest will be better in actual meals versus drinks... Cranberry Orange Chicken and Rice anyone? Or the Orange Tabbouleh recipe that is in the book.

Like most of the other herbs and spices I found, It is made by Frontier Foods. There was also a lemon zest powder. In theory, you could also make the same thing at home by drying zest and then running it though a food processor or coffee grinder. I love having options! You'll be seeing more orange flavored recipes in the near future!