Hello friends, old and new!
I am thrilled to present my husband’s new Youtube series on my channel: Ranger Rations! After years of watching me develop RPG-based recipes for an immersive experience at the adventuring game table, he wanted to test my work in the field.
And honestly? He can better explain this than I can, so I’ll turn it over to him. The recipes featured in this episode are at the end of this post. Or, if you’ve already watched the video, you can jump to them by clicking below:
Out From the Door Where it Began
Welcome to Ranger Rations, presented by The Gluttonous Geek. I’m your host, Carter Eastis.
A while ago, I had an idea to explore the food and equipment of a Fantasy RPG adventurer to feature on my wife’s geeky food blog. Never wanting to do things by halves, I couldn’t simply try recipes over a backyard fire pit. I decided to create a Ranger persona and head out into the woods to bring fantasy to reality.
My idea started as a classic D&D Ranger, but in researching for this adventure, I discovered the Middle Earth Ranger Society. This global group of like-minded, real-world adventurers has been an amazing source of inspiration and support. I encourage anyone interested in getting out into the woods in style to visit the group here or check out the YouTube channels of some of its dedicated members:
- @middleearthreenactmentsoc
- @IodoDwarvenRanger
- @cortharynvinthorian4450
- and many others!
This is my first adventure as a Ranger, and it clearly shows I have a lot to learn. Join me as I venture into the wilderness for a primitive camping experience and learn a lot about my own limits. In this episode, we head out on a journey into the Cohutta Wilderness and cook up some tasty rabbit stew.
Special thanks and shout-out to other channels that have been a great source of inspiration:
- @SkillTree for the “TRANSFORMING Camp Stool,” “Creating LARP Ranger Gloves,” and many others.
- @LivingAnachronism for medieval camping inspirations.
- @cimbrerbushcraft-vikingheritag for extraordinary period bushcraft.
Ranger Rations, October 2022: Part 1
Stew, Salt, and Brew
Catherine here. So before Carter left on his trek, he tasked me with creating recipes for two stews, ration bars, a seasoning blend, and two tea blends for this trip. This post features half of these recipes: Briarpatch Stewpot, Strider Seasoning, and Duskbrew Draught.
These recipes will always be on the blog to cook along for free, but if you would like a printable PDF to bring with you, the folio of all six recipes can be purchased at my Ko-Fi store for at least $5. If you are on my Patreon community, you have already received them based on your membership tier (In the Cards = Stews and Seasoning, Kitchen Twitch = Bars, Breakfast, and Teas, Moar Food = All).
First, I created this herb and salt blend with the idea that a Ranger would supplement their salt supply with locally foraged herbs like thyme, mustard, sage, and fennel seed. Pepper, granted, is more likely to be farmed. But I figured a Ranger could trade some game for a bag of spices here and there.
Strider Seasoning
Equipment: Bowl and air-tight container.
Ingredients:
- 3 tsp dried thyme leaves
- 1 tsp ground white pepper
- 1 tsp fennel seed
- 1 tsp brown mustard seed
- 2 tsp rubbed sage
- 3 tsp garlic powder
- 3 tsp kosher salt
Instructions:
Blend all ingredients in a bowl.
Transfer the mixture to an air-tight container for storage.
Next, we make a dish I’m calling Briarpatch Stewpot. Carter butchers and cooks up a store-bought rabbit in the video. If your local market lacks lagomorphs, chicken thigh meat is a more than ample substitute.
Briarpatch Stewpot
Equipment: Stovetop and large saucepan with lid.
Ingredients:
- 1 lb rabbit or chicken thigh meat, chunked
- 1 small gold or 2-3 fingerling potatoes, sliced thin
- 1 small onion, sliced thin
- 1-2 carrots, sliced thin
- 1/4 cup port wine
- 1 Tb Strider Seasoning
- 2 Tb olive oil
- 1 square hardtack, crumbled or 1/4 cup bread crumbs
- kosher salt
Instructions:
- Preheat the pot over medium heat for 3 minutes, then add half of the oil. Add the rabbit and a pinch of kosher salt and brown on all sides. Transfer to a plate.
- Add the remaining oil and then the onion once hot. Cook 7-10 minutes until soft and deglaze with port, scraping up the browned bits.
- Stir in all ingredients (including the rabbit) and cover with water. Bring to a boil, cover with the lid, and lower the heat to simmer for 45 minutes to an hour until thoroughly cooked and tender.
- Add the crumbs and simmer until thickened. Stir in kosher salt to taste and serve.
After a hearty stew, I figured a hot cup of tea would be the perfect nightcap. It’s a little spicy, fruity, and floral — but each part plays its purpose. Cinnamon and candied ginger aid digestion. Calendula has anti-inflammatory properties — excellent for muscle fatigue. Consuming wild game on the regular can also increase one’s risk of gout, but tart cherries help break down uric acid crystals. And finally, that touch of lavender can ease one into a more restful sleep.
Duskbrew Draught
Equipment: Teakettle, tea strainer or bag.
Ingredients:
- 2 tsp chopped candied ginger
- 2 tsp broken cinnamon pieces
- 2 tsp chopped dried tart cherries
- 2 tsp dried lavender
- 2 tsp dried calendula petals
Directions:
- Mix all ingredients together and store them in an air-tight container.
- To brew, add 1-2 teaspoons of tea to a teabag or strainer for each 8 oz. serving of water. Brew in boiling water and steep for 15 minutes before serving.
Enjoy this episode of The Gluttonous Geek presents: Ranger Rations? Like, subscribe, and stay tuned for part two!
