Raw key lime energy bites and more backpacking adventures

A high mountain lake is chicken soup for the soul.

The mountains were calling my name last weekend. It was my way of celebrating being done with 10 days of antibiotics to kill off a bad bacteria, normally picked up from raw shellfish or other contaminated food or water. Taking the antibiotics was pure torture because of side effects. That's why I needed my high mountain chicken soup for the soul.

Brian and Nika head to Marten Lake in the Idaho Sawtooth Range.



 

My son, Brian, and I set out for some backpacking adventure with our two furry pals, Misha and Nika, setting the pace. We anticipated hordes of mosquitoes but we didn't anticipate "swarms" of deer coming into our camp.

 

Daylight finally arrived after a sleepless night with numerous deer visitors.



 

Once darkness fell upon the forest, one deer after another strolled through our campsite. They were completely oblivious to our presence, the barking dogs, the campfire, etc. They continued making their visits into the wee hours of the night which made sleeping with two predatory dogs all but impossible. 

 

Misha uses a pile of rocks for his headrest.

Misha looks so innocent and relaxed here but trust me, he was not when Bambi and all his friends were paying their respects at our campsite.

 

Backpacking cooking equipment

 Night seemed to last forever with limited sleep but finally morning arrived. It was time to break out the cookstove and get breakfast started, backpacking style. Backpacking cooking is all about boiling water to add to pre-packaged meals which are rehydrated.

 

Breakfast: rehydrated pudding of butternut squash/carrot/granny smith apples

In my case, I prepare all my own meals at home from freeze-dried veggies and fruit. The butternut squash pudding wasn't bad with some sunbutter stirred in and coconut butter drizzled on top.

 

Raw key lime energy bites

 I also packed along some Key Lime Energy Bites that I prepared at home. They were a yummy taste treat for a sleepless backpacker, thanks to the deer visitors and energetic pups. Another plus, the key lime energy bites packed well.

Here's what you need:

3/4 cup raw sunflower seeds, ground into a flour
3 T. fine coconut flakes
2 T. coconut oil
1 T. coconut flour
Juice and zest of one lime
1/2 cup freeze-dried pear chips (You can try freeze-dried apples or bananas instead if candida is not an issue.)
1 T. sunbutter
1 T. coconut butter
Optional: stevia or other sweetener, to taste

Here's what you do:

Use a food processor or nutri-bullet device to prepare the dough from start to finish. First, grind your sunflower seeds into a flour. Add the pear chips or other optional freeze-dried fruit and continue grinding into a flour. Repeat with coconut flakes and coconut flour. Add the juice and zest of one lime and blend. Finally, add the coconut oil, coconut butter and sunbutter to create a thick dough.(Note: if needed, add more coconut flakes to thicken the dough or conversely, add a bit of coconut milk to thin the dough.) Shape the dough into approximately six balls. Store the energy bites in the fridge or freezer until ready to eat or pack along for a hike or camping trip.

Recipe contributed to:

http://allergyfreecookery.blogspot.com/2013/07/allergy-friendly-lunchbox-love-71213.html

http://dietdessertndogs.com/2013/07/11/wellness-weekend-july-11-15-2013/

http://siftstirandsavour.com/2013/07/15/5-ingredient-mondays-perfect-pear-juice-sunrise-smoothie-and-strawberry-banana-ice-cream/