Van Camping!
Ok, so, the bad news: our truck engine died forever, after a long valiant 196,000 mile struggle to live forever... :'(
The good news: to replace it, we bought a conversion van! woot woot! :>
I'll start using it this week, as home base during my travel-therapy work week... trying to develop a functional food plan, vs just pbj's & apples 3x daily! I'll have electrical hookups & a microwave, but not refrigeration. I've set up a small pantry: nooch, herbs/ salt/ pepper, garlic, oil, Bragg's, brown sugar, cinnamon, hot sauce, veg broth powder, agave nectar, tortillas & bagels, walnuts, almonds, peanut butter, canned beans/ refried beans/ chickpeas/ picante sauce/ tomatoes, canned soups ("Amy's" vegan ones! i was excited: thai flavors! woot!), instant brown rice, couscous, oatmeal, & dried dates... plus a couple of pre-packaged vegan 'noodle soup bowls' for especially long days, when I need something quick...
What else?! I feel like there's a lot of stuff i'm not thinking of, that would be good... Suggestions very welcome! Thanks! :)
A jar of tahini and apple cider vinegar. You could mix it into mashed canned beans and make a modified hummus.
My mind is blank for non-refrigerated meal ideas. I'm a bit of a veggie fiend. What about something like firm peaches that will ripen as you go. They're pretty shelf stable.
There are lots of vegan instant soup things you can add hot water to(McDoogal's, Nile, Thai kitchen), microwave popcorn... You really seem to have it goin' on. Oh! Dehydrated veggies for if you want to mix them w/ beans or rice. I'd pro. just eat clif bars and trail mix...
potatos... they microwave.. get a crock pot, you can make super nom things while you are working, then you won't have to worry about whippin' up something when you get "home"
Flour? There are recipes on this site where all you need is flour and liquids to make cake and stuff.
Like this one:
Peanut Butter and Banana Cake in a Mug! (Less than 5 minutes!)
http://vegweb.com/index.php?topic=31248.0
Don't they sell small camper fridges that plug in the cigarette lighter? I know i've seen them before but don't remember how much $$ they cost. You could also bring a cooler with ice for veggies. Sounds like you've got lots of great food ideas. I don't think I could come up with anything else. You should post a picture of the inside of your van! Van camping sounds like a lot of fun.
ETA...what about small cans of veggies?...not the most ideal since fresh obviously taste better but would do in a pinch.
Awesome, everyone... thanks-- somehow i'd never seen the cake-in-a-mug recipe! & hadn't thought of potatoes or the tahini/ vinegar idea for quick hummus, or the crock pot-- duh! Under-ripe pears/peaches, or granny smiths (or similar hard apples) would be good too... hmmmm....
So far, the complicating factor has been pet management... first week of new travel plan: *4* dogs as company! that's my usual 2 old/ calm/ civilized/ travel-acclimated ones PLUS the 2 young rowdy leash-crazed high-energy fellas that usually stay home with dad-&-the-big-yard, during the work week... Gah! i've walked 9 million miles this week! so tired i've only cooked once: microwave noodle bowl. NOT my usual kitchen business!
Camping fast food pretty much exclusively: dates, almonds, walnuts... rolls... multivitamin!!! gotta get through this 4-dog week (just one, thankfully!), then can hopefully incorporate some of these good ideas!