Session 8 Cooking Class Handout

 Mission Viejo Stake Cooking Class

Session #8:  The Great Outdoors II

Alana Kirkham

Gardening:  From Entry-Level to Excellent!

 “We encourage you to grow all the food that you feasibly can on your own property. Berry bushes, grapevines, fruit trees—plant them if your climate is right for their growth. Grow vegetables and eat them from your own yard. Even those residing in apartments or condominiums can generally grow a little food in pots and planters. Study the best methods of providing your own foods. Make your garden … neat and attractive as well as productive. If there are children in your home, involve them in the process with assigned responsibilities”  - President Spencer W. Kimball

Irrigation:  The hardest part of gardening is watering.

1.      Drip Irrigation: 

Water goes directly to plants.  Results in less waste from watering unplanted soil and evaporation and less weeding.  70% less water use!  Any hardware/do-it-yourself store carries inexpensive parts and attachments to easily create a custom watering system.

Tubing, Emitters, Sprinkler attachments. Plugs and Ground Staples

2.      Soaker Hoses  (¼” laser drilled tubing)

Intervals of 6” –  Small plants and seeded areas prior to thinning.  (floods entire planting area)

Intervals of 12” – most plants - most commonly found in stores

Intervals of 18” – larger plants (i.e. bell peppers and zucchini)

Spacing is different for every type of plant…READ THE INSTRUCTIONS!

3.      Existing Sprinklers 

      Easy to adapt existing sprinklers for watering gardens.

 Amount of space:  A “garden” doesn’t have to be a farm – or a major undertaking.

1.      Small – porches, patios, and balconies:

Pots are Wonderful!  Just add water and sun – you can grow anything, including dwarf fruit trees.

Patio boxes can be on the ground, on fence tops, or balcony railings.  Be aware of soil-depth requirements (strawberries can be very shallow, carrots require depth).

Use plastic rain gutters.  10 ft. sections cost less than $5.00.  End caps cost $6.50 for the set.

Plant a variety of different plants in the same container to really take advantage of space.  For example:  Carrots and tomatoes, radishes and bell peppers, String beans and strawberries, etc…

2.      Medium – quality not quantity:

Use undesirable spaces, such as side yards and retained slopes.

Perimeter planting areas can be turned into garden without impacting functioning spaces.

Functional/Ornamental planting combinations make attractive elements in any yard.

Ground cover – strawberries, berry vines, etc…

Shade structures – (arbor, trellis) grapes, berry vines

Border flowers – carrots, herbs, etc…

Fence covers – berry vines

3.      Large – variety is the key:

Any portion of the yard can be separated by attractive and inexpensive fencing.

Gardening is a great use for “unusable” portions of the yard, like severe slopes.  Just terrace the ground and you have instant rows!

Dwarf variety trees have less impact on overall space, but still produce great fruit!

Full size fruit trees can be very functional shade trees or “focal point” trees.  Integrate them into your landscape design!

Planting: 

1.      Seeds

You can’t beat the cost!  More than you could possibly need for pennies.

Fun to watch – great way to teach kids about plants.

Fun/exotic varieties may only available in seeds.

Be sure to follow directions for spacing and thinning.

Our climate allows for starting right in the ground.

2.      Starter packs

Instant gratification!

More expensive than seeds – but well worth the price.

Some plants cannot be found in seeds (strawberries).

Plants can be properly spaced without worry of un-germinated seeds or future thinning.

3.      Proper techniques

–        Dig a hole 2x the size of the dirt on the plant

–        mix 50/50 with soil amendment

(steer manure grows GREAT plants for $0.75/bag vs. Growmulch for $3./bag)

–        break off small hair-like roots and loosen dirt around root ball

–        place in hole so that base of plant sits slightly higher than ground level

–        fill hole loosely with dirt, do not pack down – water excessively to remove air bubbles in soil

–        use remaining dirt to create ring around base of plant (optional, preserves water)

Fruit Trees and roses can be bought “bare root”  - planting is slightly more complicated.

Maintenance:

1.      Fertilizers

Plants need food just like any other living organism. Check out your local nursery.

We love Miracle grow and vitamin B1 (especially for trauma)

2.      Controlling Garden Enemies

Soil bound pathogens:  nematodes and fungi:

-         replace soil, rotate crops, or let ground lay fallow.

Crawlers:  snails, ants, grasshoppers, aphids, etc…

-         organic treatments:

broken glass, sharp objects in soil, chile powder, beneficial insects (ladybugs, praying mantis), dish soap solution

-         chemical treatments:

            snail/slug bait (pellets/powder), ant stakes, Sevin, Malathion (tank sprayer)

Weeds:

-         Landscape fabric has great effect on weed abatement, rip irrigation.

-         Round-Up!  blocks photosynthesis process in any plant it is sprayed on.  Endorsed by the Sierra Club and Autobahn Society because it is neutral in soil, no residue to effect future plants.  Great for seeding areas.

3.      Thinning

-     On some plants, you can remove non-fruit-bearing branches to conserve plant’s energy for fruit. (i.e. tomatoes, zucchini)

Yield/Seasons: Welcome to Paradise!

Zone 10 (5% of U.S.)

-     We have the easiest and longest growing No need for indoor seed starts, but you may have to brave the rain occasionally. 

-     Be aware of “chill-hour” requirements.  Our climate never gets cold enough for cherries or some stone fruits.

-     Generally too much sun/dry heat for blueberries.

More Bang for your Buck: 

-     Home-grown food has far better taste and dramatically bigger veggies. 

-     The majority of the vitamins are lost within hours of harvest – you can pick only what you need.

-     Kids and adults can learn great life skills and get a rewarding confidence boost by learning to garden.

-     The price comparison will blow you away!  Compare the cost of a seed packet vs. cost of grocery store produce.

-         If nothing else, remember that there is no substitute for the blessings of obedience.

EASY

Zucchini – bug resistant

Tomatoes – only need cage

Onions – no problems

Carrots – pick any time

Strawberries – shallow

Grapes – grow anywhere

Radishes – FAST! 27 days

Turnips – eat roots & greens

Leaf lettuce – use as needed

REWARDING/ABUNDANT

Zucchini – WOW!

Tomatoes – WOW!

Carrots – super sweet

Bell Peppers – over a year

Grapes – sweet & juicy

PROBLEM PRODUCE

Cauliflower – soil bound fungi

Broccoli – soil probs & bolting

Corn – no way to do organic

Head Lettuce –slugs. All at once

Peas – cool, constant pick/string

Repeat Information from “Great Outdoors” Class July 16, 2011

Outdoor Cooking Options:

Solar Oven     (sun)

$30 to $300

A solar oven, is a device which concentrates sunlight for use as a heat source. Reflective surfaces can concentrate heat radiation in the central chamber, resulting in temperatures up to 350ºF.  Solar cookers are a form of outdoor cooking and are often used in situations where minimal fuel consumption is important, or the danger of accidental fires is high.   Because they use no fuel and cost nothing to operate, they help reduce fuel costs.  This can help off-set the cost of the initial investment in a solar oven.

Box Oven     (charcoal)

$5 (aluminum foil) + recycled materials

The box oven traps heat from charcoal briquettes inside an insulated cardboard box, placing the food to cook in the box along with the briquettes.  This is the ideal cooking method for someone who'd like to cook meals outdoors a little beyond the usual hot dogs ona stick, but doesn't want to invest much money or take a lot of trouble.  This method makes it easy to cook foods in a baking dish or on a cookie sheet.  The oven can be built to fit specific pans or menus.  Racks can be made easily with coat hangers.

You can easily control the baking temperature of the oven by the number of charcoal briquettes used.  Each briquette supplies 40 degrees of heat (a 360 degree temperature will take 9 briquettes).  Note: since the briquettes are in the same container as the food, it is not recommended to use of any of the self-starting charcoals -- your food could taste/smell like lighter fluid!

Campfire    (wood)

Cost of fuel only

If you have wood and matches, in THEORY, you should be able to build and cook over a fire pit or in a fireplace. If this is your plan, make sure you at least have pots, pans, and utensils to cook over a fire.  A flat metal BBQ grill can also be balanced on top of fire ring rocks.  Once the fire has burned down a bit, many things can be cooked directly in the coals.  Believe it or not, you can use simple paper dishes and aluminum foil to cook many foods on the coals of your campfire.

Find an open area away from low hanging branches, miscellaneous groundcover, and dry vegetation. Clear a ten-foot circle around the area where you will build a fire and then create a fire bed or fire pit.  Fire beds can be made of rocks, silt, clay, sand or any other non-flammable materials available.  A small pit, approximately 4 to 10 inches deep can serve quite well as a fire bed. Surrounding your pit with small rocks can provide an extra layer of protection.

Dutch Oven    (charcoal)

$30 to $300

A Dutch oven is a thick-walled, cast iron, cooking pot with a tight-fitting lid. They have been used as cooking vessels for hundreds of years, and are great for cooking a variety of meals.  They are sturdy, reliable, and very versatile.  Dutch ovens can be placed directly on top of a bed of coals, with additional coals laid on the (flat) lid to even out the heat.  They can be used with a Volcano stove to help conserve and focus the heat of the coals more effectively.  Multiple dutch ovens can be stacked on top of one another to make even more efficient use of your fuel.  They can even be used at home in your conventional oven!

BBQ Grill    (charcoal / propane)

$30 to $????

This simple, low-tech method is probably very familiar to you.  Some type of BBQ grill can be found in just about every backyard or patio.  Whether charcoal, propane, or natural gas is used, cooking with this method will be most efficient if the lid is used to retain the heat during the majority of the cooking time.  Pots and pans can be used to boil water or cook liquids on the grill.  With a bit of heavy-duty foil, many foods can be cooked (not baked goods).

Camp Stove    (propane / butane)

$15 to $150

Anything you can cook on your stove top at home can also be cooked on a camp stove the same way.  They are portable, collapsible, and easy to set up and get started.  Camp stoves come in many different shapes and sizes, with an assortment of available attachments and accessories.  Consider a small, single-burner stove for portability or a large triple-burner with a griddle for full-time cooking needs.   A standard propane camp stove can also be hooked up to a full-sized propane tank with an inexpensive adapter (about $17).

Volcano Grill    (charcoal / propane / wood)

$100 to $150

The Volcano Collapsible Grill is great to have on hand for any emergency. It is the only stove available that can use three different fuels: wood, charcoal, and propane (attachment kit required).  It can also be converted to a convection oven with the heat-resistant “Volcano Lid.”  The Volcano is designed to hold multiple dutch ovens, stacked, so you can cook large portions or variety with ease.

Its patented heat chamber makes the stove extremely fuel efficient.  A 20 lb. bag of charcoal has enough fuel to cook 25 hot meals any time, anywhere. Setup is easy and takes less than a minute. When you are finished, you wait for it to cool, turn it upside down, shake out the ashes, wipe it with paper towels and place in the storage bag.  It is light-weight and collapsible for convenient storage and transportation.

Powerless IN-doors:

Butane Stove

Butane is the only liquid fuel that can be used indoors.  There are many butane or “duel-fuel” camp stoves on the market. 

Thermal Retention Box (“Hay Box” or “Wonder Box”)

This phenomenon is a great way to make your fuel last much longer.  The Wonder Box is not really a box at all, but a beanbag, filled with polystyrene beads, for your stock pot.  You only use enough fuel to boil water, place your pot into the Wonder Box, put the “lid” on, and then the Wonder Box preserves enough heat to keep your food cooking for hours. 

Considerations:

**Use What You Have!**

We have been advised time and time again to be provident providers.  Start slowly, learn to use what you already have, learn to make what you can, and do your research before you purchase.  Carefully consider what you really need, and adjust your budget as much as possible to accommodate those purchases.  Do not purchase equipment and fuel that is outside of your reasonable budget. 

HINT:  Try looking for outdoor cooking equipment on Craig’s List!

Portability

In many post-disaster situations, you may be able to camp on your property.  If not, however, you’ll need to consider the weight and size requirements of the different methods.  Will you be traveling by car, or on foot?  Either situation may arise, so you should be prepared to do either.  Consider what you can safely and realistically take with you.

Fuel Stability/Storability/Dependability

Different types of fuel have different benefits and risks.  Consider the characteristics of the fuel you plan to use to make sure it matches best with your plan.

Fuel Type	Pro	Con
Solar $0	Free, Extremely Stable, No Storage	Not Dependable or Available at Will, Outdoor Only
Wood $5 / fire	Inexpensive, Extremely Stable	Must be Stored DRY, Bulky, Slow to Start, Must be Constantly Tended, Outdoor Only
Charcoal $18 / 36 lbs.	Inexpensive, Extremely Stable, Can be Used in Many Methods, Easy to Handle	Must be Stored Dry/Airtight, Slow to Start, Outdoor Only
Butane $18 / 12 lbs.	Can be Used Indoors, Easy to Handle, Instant Usability	Extremely Combustible, Expensive, Not Useable in High Altitude/Low Temperatures
Propane $17 / 15 lbs.	Can be Used with Many Methods, Easy to Handle, Instant Usability	Extremely Combustible, Expensive, Outdoor Only

Be sure to pack flammable fuels in high quality metal containers and always mark them to keep them separate from drinking water and other liquids. Also, be sure that fuel containers are airtight so that there is no leakage of fuel or fumes. Any leaks might prove disastrous later on. Store extra fuel far away from your cooking area. This will provide extra safety and peace of mind.

Never use a stove in or near a tent. Never open fuel containers on or near a hot stove, and never try to refuel a stove that is hot or still burning.

Efficiency

Consider which types of cooking and fuel are best for what you plan to cook.  A solar oven is very fuel efficient, but not as time efficient as a box oven.  Things that need to cook for a long time (rice, wheat, oats, pasta, etc…) should be done in a dutch oven or box oven as opposed to using a pot on a camp stove.  Some foods can be quickly cooked by frying them on a camp stove, so little fuel is expended. 

Also consider where you plan to cook.  Any method that is enclosed will retain heat and be far more efficient than methods that allow heat to escape into the air.  Dutch oven cooking in the open, for instance uses more charcoal than a box oven or a Dutch oven on a Volcano. 

Accessories/Tools:

Be sure to pack the other things that you will need in a way that it is easily accessible when you need it.  Just a few of the obvious things you will need are:

·                      Pots, pans, and grills to cook in and on.

·                      Heavy Duty Foil to wrap food in to keep it from getting charred.

·                      Cooking Utensils with long handles to keep your distance from the heat.  Be sure to include a tool to lift your dutch oven off the coals.

·                      Heat Protection for your hands and arms.

·                      Cleaning Supplies to clean up dishes and utensils, and to help keep things sanitary.

Weather Protection:

A Cooking Fly can help protect the cooking area from the weather. An old tarp or heavy fire-resistant blanket strung between two trees, poles, or walking sticks can provide protection from the elements for your cooking area. Always face the fly away from the wind. This will provide maximum protection from unexpected wind, rain, sleet or snow. Be sure to dig your fire pit about ten feet in front of the fly, far enough from the fire that sparks won't harm the fabric, but close enough that you can step beneath when weather is bad.

Animals:

It might not be a bad idea to locate your cooking area 30 or 40 yards downwind from any tents or shelters in which you will sleep. Curious animals might be attracted by the smells of your food and you don't want them sniffing around your sleeping area at night.

Rotating Food Storage:

Camping is one of the best ways to use/rotate your food storage.  Taking it camping with you is easy because dry goods are lighter weight, require no refrigeration, and will not spoil.  Of course, this will also help you to be more familiar with how to cook these items in the event of an emergency.

Recipes

Black Forest Dutch Oven Dessert

2 cans (or 1 quart bottle) pitted cherries, drained

1 chocolate cake mix (Devil’s Food, Triple Chocolate Fudge, etc.)

1 can of 7-up or Sprite

1 stick butter, cut into chunks (optional)

24 charcoal briquettes

DIRECTIONS for Dutch Oven Use:

·   Lightly oil your dutch oven, or line with parchment paper, and have your coals ready. 

·   Pour cherries in the dutch oven.

·   Pour cake mix on top of cherries.

·   Pour a can of sprite on top of the cake mix, all over. 

·   Scatter butter chunks on top of all of it. 

·   Place 12 coals under oven, and 12 coals on top of lid. 

·   Cook for 45 minutes to an hour, rotating oven and lid every 15 minutes.

Grilled Zucchini

3-5 medium zucchini squash (green or yellow)

¼ cup olive oil

1 tsp. garlic powder

1 tsp. salt

½ tsp. black pepper

½ tsp. chilli powder

½ tsp. Italian seasoning

DIRECTIONS for Outdoor BBQ Grill:

·   Wash and cut each zucchini in half lengthwise.  Then cut each ½ lengthwise into 3-4 long spears.

·   Combine oil and seasonings in gallon ziplock bag.

·   Add zucchini spears to bag and coat in oil/seasoning mixture.

·   Lay spears in a single layer on heated Grill. 

·   Cook until zucchini is soft (al dente) about 10 minutes. 

Foil-Pack Chicken & Stuffing Dinner

1 pkg. (6 oz.) Stove Top Stuffing Mix

1 ¾ C. Water, divided

8 boneless chicken breast tenders

4 slices bacon or ham

2 C. frozen vegetables (peas, carrots, onions, etc…) or dehydrated vegetables, reconstituted

1 can cream of mushroom/chicken condensed soup

·   Mix stuffing mix with 1 ½ cup water. 

·   Dividing evenly, place stuffing in center of 6 separate sheets of heavy-duty aluminum foil.

·   Layer chicken, ham/bacon, and veggies on top of stuffing. 

·   Mix soup with remaining ¼ cup of water.  Pour equal amounts over each pack.

·   Bring up foil sides.  Double fold top and ends to seal pack, leaving room for heat circulation inside.

·   Cook over ready coals until chicken is cooked thoroughly and veggies are soft.

·   For conventional oven:  Bake at 400 degrees for 30-35 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.  Remove from oven and let stand 5 minutes.

Tips to ensure a successful Foil-Pack meal…

·   First, make sure you use two layers of heavy foil and use tight folds to trap the moisture inside.

·   Make sure that you cook on charcoal or the hot coals of a wood fire, never on flames.

·   Occasionally turn over the foil packet to cook evenly and prevent burnt food.

·   Remember, every foil dinner needs a source of moisture like onion slices, soup or salad dressings, seasoning sauces, butter, vegetable stock, or a spoonful of water.

·   Cooking time depends on the amount of heat in the coals, but a good average is fifteen to twenty minutes for hamburger, at least twenty minutes for chicken, and longer for solid meats like steak. Hard veggies will take longer to cook. 

·   Use caution because cooking too long can burn or char the food, but undercooking can become a health hazard. Check one meal before pulling out the other meals if you are cooking more than one.