Backpacking/lightweight easy to make pasta dishes

Find Barilla tortellini on your supermarket shelf. It comes in 8 oz and 24 ounce packages in the dry pasta section. Measure out 4 ounces for the trail.

Go to Kentucky Fried Chicken / Taco Bell. Ask to buy 2 packets of Newmans "Family Recipe Italian" or "Parmasean & Roasted Garlic" salad dressing single-serve packets. (Either a buck, or free, if someone is in a good mood.)

On the trail, add about 2 cups of boiling water to the cozied Tortellini.
Fifteen minutes later drink off the excess liquid and add one packet of Dressing.

I augment with Just Vegies mixed vegetables (for color) and pre-measured parmesan cheese (for taste).

There are tubes of tomato paste out there, but I find an oil based dressing is a much better option.

Here are a couple from my site:
http://www.trailcooking.com/recipes/thai-style-peanut-noodles
http://www.trailcooking.com/recipes/hikers-primavera-pasta
http://www.trailcooking.com/recipes/bacon-and-cheese-pasta
http://www.trailcooking.com/recipes/pesto-tomato-pasta
http://www.trailcooking.com/recipes/garden-veggie-couscous
http://www.trailcooking.com/recipes/harvest-pasta
http://www.trailcooking.com/recipes/artichoke-and-mozzarella-pasta
http://www.trailcooking.com/recipes/pasta-and-summer-veggies
http://www.trailcooking.com/recipes/herb-pasta
http://www.trailcooking.com/recipes/summer-veggie-pasta
http://www.trailcooking.com/recipes/pizza-ramen
http://www.trailcooking.com/recipes/spicy-tuna-linguine
http://www.trailcooking.com/recipes/creamy-rosa-chicken-pasta
http://www.trailcooking.com/recipes/bacon-and-pea-alfredo-pasta
http://www.trailcooking.com/recipes/herbed-pasta-de-provence
http://www.trailcooking.com/recipes/vegan-one-pot-mac-and-cheese
http://www.trailcooking.com/recipes/lemon-tuna-spaghetti

I could go on ;-)

That's an amazing list!

Thanks! And if anyone is interested…just let me know what ingredients one likes and I can match up ideas :-)

Sarah, I was lookin' to get me some Squirrel, does you have anythin' fer me?

BTW, Thanks for your above recipes
Tad

First…leave a PB encrusted spoon on a log next to you. The squirrels can't resit it! After luring them in, grab 'em and wrestle them. (Oh wait…that was my fantasy after I lost my spoon while making breakfast….)
Then a gentl pan frying, sliced up on top of linguine! Hehheh……

I am flying across country for an upcoming backpacking trip. I have a question about flying with pre-prepared meals. Do you have any advice about making your meals beforehand and flying with them checked in or carried-on?

I want to prepare some homemade recipes, but not sure if thats a good idea.

Jason

"Do you have any advice about making your meals beforehand and flying with them checked in or carried-on?"

I'm not sure what you are looking for here.

A commerically packaged freeze-dried meal is sealed, so the package blows up like a balloon at the aircraft pressurization. Everybody knows that so nobody gets too concerned. If you want, you can put a tiny pinhole leak in the packaging.

Homemade recipes work fine also.

–B.G.–

I have flown with food, I sent my stuff through as I had a lot of packets of liquids with me. But we have free luggage though, it can be pricey if you don't.