When our oldest son was young, his favorite trail recipe was Cheesy Rice. Kid wanted that every dinner, no matter the trip.
The benefit was I never had to argue or beg him to eat. I figured as long as he was eating, that was all that mattered. I could usually talk him into adding in a 3-ounce can of chicken for extra protein.
This is our updated version of cheesy rice. Hemp seeds add a buttery pack of nutrients, and I find most kids will eat them.
As for the cheese sauce powder, ours is from the eternally hippy company, Frontier Co-Op. You can use what you can find (often found in bulk bins) or even packets from mac and cheese boxes. The link in the recipe is for a gluten-free version. By updating the recipe, and removing the bread crumbs, the meal is gluten-free.
- 1 cup instant rice
- 2 Tbsp dry milk
- 2 Tbsp cheese sauce powder
- 1 Tbsp hemp seeds
- 1 Tbsp or 1 packet avocado or olive oil
- 1 snack bag Cheetos*
At home:
Pack rice in a quart freezer or sandwich bag. Mark bag “Add 1 1/8 cups water”. Put the cheese powder and dry milk in a snack bag. Pack the hemp seeds in a small bag and tuck in with the oil/Cheetos.
One pan method:
Add the water, and dry milk/cheese sauce powder. Add in oil. Bring to a boil, stirring well. Add in rice, stir, and cover tightly. Take off stove and let sit for 15 minutes. In colder weather, or at higher altitude, insulate with a pot cozy.
Stir well, top with hemp seeds and Cheetos.
Freezer bag method:
Shake the milk bag over the rice, and add the oil. Add near boiling water. Stir well, seal tightly, and put in a cozy for 15 minutes.Stir well.
Top with toppings. Cuff bag to eat out of.
Insulated mug method:
Add the boiling water to ingredients in a large mug. Stir well, seal tightly, and let sit for 15 minutes.
Stir well, add toppings.
Serves 1.
Notes:
You may want to add a pinch of salt, to taste.