Test Report:
Cache Lake Camping Foods
Leesa Joiner
41 years old
Female
5'7" 1.7 m
150 lbs. (68.03 kg)
ljo@midmaine.com
Background:
My camping, hiking and backpacking experience has included trips varying
in length
from one day hikes, to 2 week trips. My hiking trips have
increased in length, and I
have been tackling rougher terrain. My experience hiking began
with my father,
when I was about 6 years old. We hiked along the river pathways
in Northeastern
Ohio and Western Pennsylvania. I currently hike with my husband and
three
children in Maine and New Hampshire. I am a scout leader and
my children are all in Scouts and I accompany them on most of their
hikes, camping
trips and canoeing. Part of my enjoyment of hiking comes
from my interest in
identifying wild plants and cooking outdoors.
Product information:
Manufacturer: Cache Lake - Quality Camping Foods
Mailing address:
NPO FOODS
506 Beltrami Avenue
Bemidji, Minnesota 56601
Tel: 1-800-442-0852
E-Mail: npopt@npoptical.com
Year of Manufacture: 2002
http://www.cachelake.com/
Items Tested:
Breakfast Fryin' Pan Breads - Cinnamon Raisin
Preparation time: 5 minutes
Package weight: 9 oz (255 g)
4 servings
Total calories for the packet: 263
Total carbohydrates for the packet: 41g
Total fat: 12g
Smoky Turkey Dogs
Preparation time: 5 minutes
Package weight: 4.5 oz
Three hot dogs
Total calories for the packet: 210
Total carbohydrates for the packet: 3 g
Total fat: 18g
Pizza Fryin' Pan Bread
Preparation time: 6-9 minutes
Package weight: 8 oz (208 g)
4 servings
Total calories for the packet: 660
Total carbohydrates for the packet: 84g
Total fat: 16g
Cheesy Vegetable Chowder
Preparation time: 15-20 minutes
Package weight: 5.2 oz (118 g)
2 servings
Total calories for the packet: 350
Total carbohydrates for the packet: 31 g
Total fat:7g.
Minnesota Minestrone Soup
Preparation time: 20 minutes
Package weight: 5.5 oz (156 g)
2 servings
Total calories for the packet: 556
Total carbohydrates for the packet: 104 g
Total fat: 2.5 g
Product info:
Food arrived in good condition, each item in a sealed plastic pouch,
except for the
turkey dogs. The turkey dogs were in a plastic pouch, inside
of a lightweight
cardboard box. Shipping took approximately 8 days.
Each item had the
directions for preparation on its label. No food aromas
were detected before
opening. All products weighed as stated on packaging according
to my scale.
Testing:
Food was tested over a two-day period. The Minnesota Minestrone,
Turkey dogs
and Breakfast Fryin' Pan Bread was made over a fire using a cast iron
skillet while
the Cheesy Vegetable Chowder and Pizza Fryin' Pan Bread was made using
a homemade
stove in an old metal pan from a camp set. This was
done over a two day camping trip
that included a five mile hike and a two and a half mile hike that
covered some climbing.
We stayed below 2500' (762M) elevation. Temperatures ranged from
a daytime high of
52 (11.11C), down to 28 (-2C) at night. It was rainy during our
return from our 2.5 (4.02K)
mile hike.
Meal #1
Minnesota Minestrone and Turkey dogs: It was easy enough
to boil the water and
add the soup. Keeping it at a low boil required a vigilant eye.
I added cut up pieces
of Turkey dog to the soup after about 15 minutes, and then cooked for
about 7 more
minutes. I let the soup sit, keeping it warm for about 10 minutes,
which softened the
rice and vegetables, while I took care of some other things.
I found the soup to be
flavorful and filling. I don't think it would have been as good
without the dogs.
They have a nice smoked flavor. The package claims 2 servings,
which is about right
if you are adding the dogs, or having other things with your meal.
The soup alone
didn't appear very filling. The fat content is very low, I prefer
a higher fat content
while hiking. Personally, I find I end up tired, hungry and cold
more with a high
carb. diet, as opposed to a higher fat/ low carb. diet.
The inclusion of the turkey dogs
made for a filling dinner, which allowed me to sleep comfortably and
wake up with out
feeling that "gotta find something right away" feeling.
Meal #2
Breakfast Fryin' Pan Bread: While I probably wouldn't carry this
on a minimalist
hike, it was great while camping. Because preparation requires
bowls and frying pan,
the Fryin' Pan Bread wouldn't be something to carry long distances.
Preparation was
easy, cooking time was under 10 minutes. I found that heating
the pan, and removing it from the
hottest part of the fire worked well. A heavy skillet helps distribute
the heat evenly,
allowing for even cooking. Very good taste. I don't see
this as a 'meal', although it
was a great accompaniment. Others who tasted the bread
liked the taste, but agreed that it
would be good as a side to the meal, or as dessert. The
smell of the bread cooking
woke up everyone in the area!
Meal #3
Preparing the Cheesy Vegetable Chowder was easy enough- boil water,
add
ingredients, stir and serve. I was looking forward to this Chowder
after a long, cold
hike. Unfortunately, it had little taste. I didn't
find it cheesy tasting, more of a taste
of thickeners maybe. It seemed to need some spices.
It was filling, and warming.
This was eaten at lunch time and kept me going until supper.
I was able to eat about
3/4 of the prepared chowder.
Meal #4
The Pizza Fryin' Pan Bread was very good- I prepared it after a night
hike, where
temperatures dipped to about 28 degrees F (-2C). I found it very
satisfying and tasty. It
had a pizza taste, and was spicier than expected. I shared the
Pizza bread with two
others, who also found it very good. It would make a filling
lunch, or part of a
supper. This was prepared in an old lightweight camp pan,
over a home made fuel stove.
The pan was well oiled and the pizza bread did not stick to badly and
when done was a nice
golden brown.
Conclusion:
All meals were filling and easy enough to prepare. Some I would
not take on long
trips where the necessary equipment wouldn't be available.
Since I wanted to test
these as delivered, I didn't 'doctor' them up at all. If
I were doing this on my own, I
would have added chicken and spices to the Chowder and cheese to the
pizza bread.
I did feel that the carb. and fat contents were accurate. I went
to sleep feeling
comfortable and woke up feeling rested and not starving.
I would recommend
these products. I realize not everyone has the same preferences
when it comes to foods.
One recommendation might be to spice things up a little, maybe by offering
a spice
packet that can be added.
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