On and Off the Road Cookbook [Paperback]

Carl Franz (Author), Lorena Haven (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 264 pages
• Publisher: W W Norton & Co Inc; 1st edition (August 1982)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0912528273
• ISBN-13: 978-0912528274
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,410,745 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Probably the best camp cookbook out there!, May 10, 2008

By 

M. Alana Bell "Aiethabell" (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: On and Off the Road Cookbook (Paperback)

Okay, I own LOTS of books, especially cookbooks. I've been camping most of my life. This book, bar none, is the best I've ever read on camping cookery. Whether you camp in a tent or RV, travel by foot, bike, boat, or motor, this book will be a worthwhile expense.

It talks about what you need for camp cooking, and more importantly, what you DON'T. Anyone thinking about buying any kind of RV or live-aboard boat needs to read this book first. You will never look at a galley the same way once you read this book! How to pack, why to pack it, and what you need for different types of travel are all covered. Backpackers take note: many of the recipes are especially geared for lightweight, safe meals which don't require all the comforts of an RV or designated campground. The authors are well-known for their Mexico guides and mention several ways to keep food from spoiling without power or ice.

Don't expect a full-blown discussion of stoves or the latest titanium doodads in here, that's not the focus of this book. It's a cookbook with enough how and why to ease even cook-shy people into preparing a wonderful wilderness meal. The emphasis is on fresh foods, with a good dose of common sense. You won't find recipes which require an Internet search to find all the ingredients, or ones which require you go to the specialty food store and spend a gazillion dollars on the ingredients. This is food you'll WANT to eat when you're done.

It's funny, truthful, and useful, but it's also a darn good collection of food for traveling! This stuff's so good I eat it at home. Their cooking methods make a lot of sense, and so do the equipment lists. You may take their lists of what you need in a kitchen and decide to redo your home kitchen, not just the one in your pack, panniers, or galley. You'll take a lot less with you, do a lot more, and save money by eliminating purchases you just don't need.

I really love this book. It's the only cookbook I own 3 copies of - there's one at home, one in the car kitchen box, and one with the bike panniers. If I'm on the road, it's with me (or at least portions of it, sliced up for weight).

Get one and you'll never be consigned to a camp dinner of canned pork and beans with cold hotdogs, or expensive freeze-dried foods again!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars senior reader, August 8, 2007

By 

senior citizen "avid reader" (crystal lake , ill) - See all my reviews

This review is from: On and Off the Road Cookbook (Paperback)

do you want a fun cook book to read? i got mine at a library sale and it is a hilarious book to read but also a serious book on what not to eat cooking in the wild. extremely handy for what to take and what to leave at home. great recipes for home or "out in the wild" even if it's only your backyard. for example-- frisbee. this can be used for a plate, lid, soup and/or mixing bowl, cutting board, sand shovel, fire fan, serving dish, emergency kayak paddle,, hat[ drill two holes and lash with shoelace], and last of all a toy. know a camper, well get this book for them and then borrow it for the recipes.
hairdryers are best left home for there are no plugins on trees.
this book is written in plain ol' english with no nonscence about dangerous mushrooms and other wild foods. enjoy just reading it.

5.0 out of 5 stars Author's real world experience shows through, December 31, 2010

By 

Indiana traveler - See all my reviews

This review is from: On and Off the Road Cookbook (Paperback)

I found this book 15 years ago at a used book store. It has since become my favorite cookbook for anything except standing at a kitchen stove. In a world of so-so cookbooks this one tells it like at is. The recipes are generally simple and easy to adapt and the author's experience comes through loud and clear. Worth the price? YES!! For the right person this makes a wonderful gift. It's also a nice size and easy and fun to read.