It must have been 1972 when the manufacturer stopped making Ovaltino ice-creams, an incredibly enticing swirl of Ovaltine powder mixed thru Icecream.
What a disaster, it was then that I first realized that the path of human progress isn't always upward and onward.
So its now 2012 and it looks like one of the great quick camping meals , Leggo's meal in a minute, has passed away and then just isn't a replacement.
The Leggo's meal was a true 1 pot pasta type meal which even came in its own bowl so there was no washing up and the pasta sauce was actually real not dried food.
So my mission was to come up with some meal base which ticked all the boxes when really out bush.
1/ No fridge required for any ingredients
2/ True simple 1 pot meal
3/ Maximum time to go from start to actually eating - 3 minutes.
4/ Fill you up quickly .
5/ Warm and hearty - easy to consume.
6/ Leave no messy greasy dishes to wash up.
7/ No chance of going off.
8/ Able to make in multiple flavours.
9/ Easy to build apon.
10/ Suitable for Vegetarians or meat eaters.
11/ Cheap - easy to replenish supplies in outback towns.
12/ Not Fragile- Able to be carried in rough conditions.
So what is this meal which has proved such a hit in a highly critical camping family ?
Can of Soup , into which is mixed some deb mashed potato.
We use chunky vegetable, from a pull top can, you pour it into a billy/saucepan etc then swirl a little water in the can to wash it and dump it in the pot.
When the soup boils , you turn off the heat and mix in deb until you get the required consistency.
We like it relatively stiff and with chunky vegetables it really eats like a proper meal.
The ability to make this so fast - means you can make up some - then make up
another flavour for some - non complaint family member.
Being a water based meal, clean up is easy and usually a paper towel to wipe
bowl is all thats needed , so saving water etc.
Padding it out - a simple way to give the above more kick is to slice an onion
and brown it in the saucepan first with a little oil etc which is taken up by the
soup/mash mix.
The only drama with this whole thing is that you have a clean can as a left over
but if flattened and your only out for a week then this is to much of an issue.
Try it - You might be surprized.