Scoutcraft DIY

This post is about how to make a pot cozy for backpacking.  The point of a pot cozy is to insulate your cooking pot so the food will keep cooking even after you take it off the stove.  This saves on fuel, which is better for the environment and your wallet.  Also, you don't want to run out of fuel on a trek.  Using a pot cozy is also easier.  You can let your dinner sit and cook without having to watch it or worry about burning it.   Reflectix is a type of insulation that works well for this purpose.  It is basically mylar (think space blanket) bubble wrap.  A roll of Reflectix at the hardware store can be expensive. The thriftiest way to get your hands on some Reflectix is to buy a car windshield sunshade at your local auto parts store or big box store.  You can find them in the $7 range.   Cut a piece that matches the height of your pot x the circumference.  Cut it so the border on the sunshade will make a nice border on your cozy.  Cut another strip 2" wide x the circumfere

 This post is about how to make backwoods K cup coffee brewer.  I wanted a way to make coffee with a K cup when there is no Keurig machine or electricity available.  There are commercial devices available for this, but they are bulky and expensive.  I wanted something simple and compact and this is what I came up with.   I got a 1-1/2" - 3" schedule 40 PVC coupling from Lowes.  A K cup fits in this perfectly snug.  The brand is Charlotte pipe.  I don't know if this will work with other brands.  If you want to try this, bring a K cup with you to the hardware store.   Carefully cut a little square in the bottom of the K cup.  If you cut too deep, you might cut into the filter and end up with grounds in your coffee.  Then make a cut in the top.  Put it in the coupler and place onto your cup.  Fill it with boiling water.  It holds slightly over a cup of water.  Let it drain into your cup.  I timed it and it took 4 min 50 sec.  A little slow, but the perfect temperature for dr

Remember the old Scout mess kit?  There are a lot of better options these days, but one thing I liked about that kit was that the cup was exactly 1 cup and had marks at 1/2 cup, 1/4 cup, etc.  If you wanted to make up a batch of Bisquick, there was always a measuring cup handy, because each Scout had one. Those days are gone, but I still wanted to have a measuring cup for camp cooking.  I found that the cup that comes with my laundry detergent is exactly 1/2 cup. I used my home measuring cup to fill it to 1/3 cup and make a mark with a Sharpie.  Then I filled it to 1/4 cup and made another mark.  I used an engraver to make marks for 1/2, 1/3, and 1/4 cup.  If you don't have an engraver, you should get one.  They are essential for marking all your camping gear and valuables. I used vinegar to get the detergent taste and smell out of the cup.  Tide has changed its cup a little since I made mine, so you may have to modify these instructions a bit, or keep your eyes peeled for a differ