At last night’s meeting, members took part in a timed cooking challenge designed to develop expedition skills.
The session began with a 15-minute quick fire quiz. Explorers were then split into groups of five or six and assigned roles.
Three members from each group went to Tesco to purchase ingredients. They were required to shop sensibly, return with a receipt, prioritise quick-cook options, and consider reduced items as the meal was being prepared the same evening.
The remaining group members set up tables and Trangia stoves, beginning preparation of any base ingredients requiring longer cooking times. A total of 20 minutes was allocated for shopping and setup, including contingency time.
Each group prepared a meal using:
- One base ingredient from the larder
- Up to three additional ingredients
- A source of protein
- An appropriate liquid such as stock or broth
Meals were required to:
- Be suitable for scaling up for an expedition or Duke of Edinburgh’s Award
- Cater for dietary requirements within the group (e.g. vegetarian, gluten free)
- Be completed within 50 minutes (40 minutes if contingency time was used earlier)
The activity focused on budgeting, time management, dietary awareness, teamwork, and safe use of expedition cooking equipment. All groups produced a completed meal within the allocated time.
