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Harvest
Foodworks
Food full of flavour
©
Outdoor Adventure Canada
 As
a bit of a backpacking gourmet, I look for foods that have a great
deal of flavor. One brand you will often find in my backpack is
Harvest Foodworks, a Canadian manufacturer of packable cuisine
for self-propelled outdoor activities. The company is located
near Ottawa, Ontario.
The selections
are mainly vegetarian but meat eaters can purchase dehydrated
meats from the company to add in during cooking. One of the things
I like most about the Harvest Foodworks products is the way in
which the products are packaged. The products generally come in
two, four and six serving sizes. The ingredients are housed in
a zipper style bag with a convenient water measuring system on
the side. The bag contains all of the dried vegetables and soy
ingredients plus the rice or pasta. There are usually one or two
other pouches in the bag that contain your sauce and spice. The
nice thing about the packaging is that you can control the serving
size and the bag can be resealed. The packages are tough and I
pack them out to reuse at home.
The meals
have to be cooked for up to fifteen minutes but I found that these
stay warmer longer and the vegetables re-hydrate better than the
instant meals. I liked the fact that there are no added colors,
preservatives or additives. Because it is packaged separately,
spice can be added to taste. I tend to like my food spicy therefore
I usually use the whole packet. Even though the meals are vegetarian
the use of textured vegetable protein provides the feeling that
you are eating meat. The instructions are easy to follow and the
full ingredient list is included on the package. We found the
servings to be quite large. The two serving size is perfect for
two people with a healthy appetite.
I have several
main course favorites in the Harvest Foodworks line. For breakfast
the Multigrain Flapjacks with the real maple syrup are especially
good. I use powdered shortening, also available from Harvest Foodworks,
so that the flapjacks don't stick to the pan. For a pan I use
the lid of my pot which works very well for this. Sometimes I
carry Pita Bread on a trip and I fill it with the Chicken Salad
which does not require cooking. Just add cold water and wait about
10 minutes.
Dinner selections
include Mulligan Stew which is delicious and warming on a cold
day. It reminds me of a goulash. I also recommend the Stroganoff
with a red wine and sour cream sauce. You would swear that there
is beef in this one, but there isn't. The Garden Vegetable Stew
is very hearty. For those of you who enjoy curries try the Tandoori
Curry or the Dal Delight. These two are top on my list with their
intense flavors. Chilli Mex and Cajun Beans and Rice are great
choices for those of you who love Mexican fare.
Now to satisfy
your sweet tooth! The Chocolate Almond Fudge Cake is simply amazing,
great for a trail birthday celebration. The No-Bake Chocolate
Chew Cookies and No-cook Coconut Snackaroons are yummy. Long Life
Cakes come in five flavors but my favorites are the Orange and
Chocolate. With Harvest you can even have bread on the trail.
The Long Life Bread tastes good and the Bannock Bread provides
a nice break on an extended trip. There is nothing better than
the smell of freshly baked Bannock when you are in the middle
of the wilderness.
I give Harvest
Foodworks a five out of five for taste, preparation ease and variety.
For product and ordering information please go to www.harvestfoodworks.com
For more cooking
themed articles and recipes please view the backcountry
kitchen archive or visit www.wildernesscooking.com.
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