Smoked lunch on the River

[porkaholic]

For the past few years I have been smoking meats and side dishes and them putting them in vacuum packs.  I sometimes freeze them but the main reason for the vacuum pack is to be able to transport the food on river float trips and then have easy meal prep by just boiling the vacuum packed food.  In August we will be doing a wilderness river trip and I want to provide a lunch that can be smoked food that will travel with each boat.  Most of the time lunch is taken when people get hungry and not in a group setting. 

I am looking for ideas for meals that can be prepared ahead of time, smoked of course, vacuum packed and put in boat packs and coolers at the start of the day.  I only have to come up with one day worth of food but am just looking for anything different.  Any great ideas out there?  I am just tired of the usual lunch meat sandwich and chips.  Any help is appreciated.

 

[daveomak]

pork, morning..... At home, we bag beans and flatten and freeze.... nice pkgs, take up little room, and can be reheated in warm water....   frozen, they will add to the cooling of the ice chest......   You could add sausage etc to the beans.....     Or how about a stew....  Same concept of flattening the bags and freezing....  It don't have to be pretty, just healthy...  Dave

 

[diesel]

I bet mac-n-cheese would work well in a vacuum seal bag. And it would probably do well heating in boiling water.

 

[oldschoolbbq]

Great idea, thank you and be careful on your Wild River Trip,be sure to send Q-view or "T-view" I guess, but inquiring people want to see...

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Good luck and...

 

[scarbelly]

Smoke a chucky and shred it - make some salsa. Seal the meat and salsa and cheese in one bag and some tortillas in another bag for tacos or a burrito

Smoked Turkey sandwiches on rolls

Smoked Chicken Salad - seal the lettuce with the salad and give them a fork

Chicken or Turkey Pasta Salad

Chicken Pitas   

Just a few that came to mind

 

[smokinhusker]

My BF just finished up a 2 yr out of town job (only home on weekends). He had the convenience of being in kitchenette type accommodations.

I vacuumed sealed so many foods for him...Pulled Pork with BBQ Sauce, Shrimp Creole, Stews, Spaghetti and Meatballs, Ham and Scalloped Potatoes, Twice Baked Potatoes, Three Bean Casserole, Baked Beans, Bean Soup, etc for him to warm in simmering water.

I flattened as much of the food that could be for heating uniformity. For dishes with a significant amount of liquid, I simply froze the portions in a plastic container, popped the frozen food out and vacuum sealed it. 

He nearly always took frozen food. When reheating in simmering water, frozen takes a bit longer.

 

[porkaholic]

Those are all great suggestions.  I will do a few experiments prior to the trip.  Even if I mess those up I can still eat well.  Thanks for the help.