Bacon, Shelf Stable Dried bacon bits may be substituted, but the flavor will not be the same. Look for shelf stable bacon in salad dressing aisle, usually with the croutons and other salad toppers. Most packages recommend refrigerating the opened package.
Barley -
Beans, Dried Look for soup or dip mixes in the bulk bins. Also available from Harmony House Foods.
Bulgur A cereal, made from parboiled wheat. It is the traditional main ingredient in Tabbouleh. It has a nice nutty flavor and chewier texture. Look for it in bulk bins and natural food aisles. Substitute rice or couscous in most instances.
Coconut Crème Powder Available at Asian markets, freezerbagcooking.com and other online sources. Some brands use milk products in their processing, so if you are on a vegan diet, check the labels.
Coffee, Instant There are so many choices for coffee on the trail now. Some are a lot better than others. Pick a good brand of instant coffee and you wont be sorry. You will have to experiment to find one you like. I use Trader Joes freeze dried instant coffee for my mixes. I usually use the tea bag style coffee for my morning trail coffee though.
Couscous Look for it in bulk bins or natural foods aisles. It is often found with rice mixes. I only use plain (not flavored or seasoned). Bulgur or instant rice make good substitutes, but cooking time may need to be adjusted.
Cozy - AKA freezerbag cozy. A cozy is something that will insulate your meal and keep it warm while it cooks and/or rehydrates. There are several commercial ones available, but a fleece or wool hat will also work. This method of cooking utilizes zip locking plastic bags and is generally called Freezer Bag Cooking. For any of the meals listed in the book, if it is a just-add-water type of recipe, you may want to use a cozy in cold temperatures, even if the recipe doesnt specifically call for one. Cozies are also nice in the summer heat for keeping foods (like chocolate!) cool. If you are hiking in bear country do not use clothing as a cozy unless you store it in your bear bag (canister) at night. Using a sleeping bag as a cozy would work, but I dont recommend it for the off chance you might spill food.
Curry Powder A blend of spices used in Indian cooking. Brands vary and may be mild or hot. Available in well stocked grocery stores and in bulk bins. Experiment until you find a blend that you like.
Gnocchi Potato dumplings. These are made from a mashed potato like mixture. Great in soups and with sauces. They are very dense and filling. Look for the shelf stable version in the upper shelves of the pasta aisle. One fourth to one third of a package feeds one person easily. Pasta may be substituted, but you will have to adjust the cooking time.
Five Spice Powder A combination of spices, usually star anise, ginger, cloves, cinnamon, and either peppercorns or fennel seeds. Recipes vary. It is available in bulk spice bins, in the spice or Asian food aisles of larger supermarkets, Asian grocery stores or online. You can also make your own blend from the individual spices.
Freezerbag Cooking - basically rehydrating pre-assembled meals in a zip locking freezer bag.
Fruit, Dried There are a lot of choices available; dried, freeze-dried, chocolate coated, yogurt covered. Trader Joes is my favorite place to buy dried fruit. If that isnt an option for you, try the bulk bins or baking aisle. You can also find freeze-dried fruit online at Harmony House Foods or Just Tomatoes.
Meats and Seafood In foil pouches or cans. Try the tuna and/or canned meats aisles of your grocery store. Chicken may not be in the same aisle as tuna. Different stores often carry different choices of canned and packaged meats, so shop around. Prices can vary widely as well.
Milk, Powdered I almost exclusively use Nido brand of powdered milk. It is a full fat powdered milk, and in my opinion, tastes a lot better than low fat powdered milk. It is available online at a variety of places or in the Hispanic food aisles of larger grocery stores. Milkman is another brand that I sometimes use, but it does not dissolve well in hot liquids.
Millet - This is most commonly associated with bird seed, but it is a cereal grain that humans can eat as well. The nutritional value of millet is very close to that of wheat, but it is also high in B vitamins. However, because it is not related to wheat, it is appropriate for a coeliac diet.
Mushrooms, Dried There are several varieties available, ranging in price from ridiculously priced to very affordable. Shiitakes are available at Asian markets, larger grocery stores (Asian foods aisle) and online. Gourmet mushrooms (boletus, chanterelles, oysters etc) are available in larger grocery stores or online at Fungus Among Us and other online sources.
Nutella Chocolate hazelnut spread, the consistency of peanut butter, which it makes a good substitute for. Peanut butter is an adequate substitute in some cases. It is found in larger grocery stores, usually with the peanut butter. Trader Joes and some import stores also carry it.
Nuts and Seeds There are a lot of choices available. I like to get mine either in bulk bins or at Trader Joe's. They are also found in the baking aisle of most supermarkets. Seasoned/flavored varieties are appearing on the market now too. They add fat and protein to your meals without adding a whole lot of extra weight. Try different nuts than my recipes call for to add variety to your menus; pecans instead of walnuts, pine nuts in place of almonds. Your choices are virtually endless.
Polenta - A dish made from boiled cornmeal. It can be firm or soft (like mashed potatoes). It can also be sweet and served for breakfast, or savory.
Potato Slices Found in bulk bins or from a box of AuGratin potato mix (use the sauce for something else). Also available online from Harmony House Foods.
Quinoa - A grain from Peru. It is high in protein and has a nice nutty flavor. It is a good choice for gluten free diets.
Salmon, Smoked see also, meats. There are two kinds. I use both for different things. The flat, sheet kind is great for wraps and sandwiches. The filet kind is fantastic crumbled into pasta or rice dishes. Look for it in the seafood department. I dont recommend either type for hiking in bear country. A good substitution is a foil pouch of salmon.
Tofu There are many types available. Experiment with tofu before you take it on the trail. Know how to cook it, and if you like it. I like the shelf-stable kind (Mori-Nu brand) or the extra firm, refrigerated types usually found in the produce section. It depends on what the recipe calls for, but I dont buy the type swimming in a lot of water. For dinner dishes, I use the firmer tofu. For desserts, such as puddings, I will use the softer, shelf stable variety. Baked tofu is excellent too. Try adding it to wraps or instant rice.
Tomatoes, Dried See also, vegetables. There are two kinds of dried tomatoes; sun dried and freeze dried. Sun dried tomatoes are easier to find in grocery stores. Usually they are in the pasta aisle with the sauces. They also have a more complex flavor. Buy the kinds that are NOT packed in oil. They can be expensive, so shop around.
Tomato, Powder available from Harmony House Foods. Knorr soups also makes a version. It has a lot of flavor so a little bit goes a long way.
Tortillas Readily found in most supermarkets. Try some of the gourmet flavors that are available now. Substitutions include pita bread, Flat Out Wraps and Mountain Bread.
