Eating

At the end of a day of hard walking it is a pleasure to drop packs, set up tents and relax with a good meal.

"We found a campsite at Merry Beach, pitched tents, had a swim and thought about preparing dinner" wrote a member in a walk's report published in the Nowra News, 7th March 1987. "The campfire produced some fine cooking. Some of the dishes included chicken noodle soup, marinated beef kebabs with potatoes in foil and surprise peas, chicken breasts served in red Burgundy sauce and a desert of stewed apples and custard, followed by fine English tea, coffee and sweet sherry."

For those interested in simpler camp cooking, here is Margaret King's recipe for 'Bushwalker's Treat'.

2 tablespoons wheat germ or rolled oats
1/3 cup plain wholemeal flour
1/2 cup finely chopped apricots
1/2 cup chopped dates
1 cup sultanas
1/2 cup sesame seeds
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
2 eggs
1/2 cup honey

Beat eggs and honey. Add dry ingredients and mix well. Spread in greased lamington tin. Bake 20 to 25 minutes in a moderate oven. Cut into slices when cool.

Another favourite is Ray Reid's famous Golden Syrup Dumplings.

Dumplings:
1 cup SR flour
1 beaten egg
1 tablespoon butter
1/4 cup milk

Sauce:
1 cup hot water
1/2 cup sugar
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon golden syrup

Rub butter into flour. Beat egg into milk then add to flour mixture to make a dough. Form dumplings without compressing them too much. In a billy, bring sauce ingredients to the boil. Drop in the dumplings and simmer until cooked through (about ten minutes). Serve with custard for a really sumptuous dessert.

And did you know that "if lost in the bush and starving, chew on your leather boots. They contain enough nutrition to help you survive for a period of time."!!