Rice Cakes on the Road

I've really had good results cooking and preparing ride food from the Feed Zone Cookbook and Feed Zone Portables Cookbook.  I've liked it so much that I've actually had issues going back to using packaged ride food when I'm doing a race or event on the road.  I also have had people ask me what I do for ride food when I'm on the road to a cycling event. 

Last month I decided to try to make Skratch Labs rice cakes from the Feed Zone Cookbook in a hotel room with what is easily available in a hotel.    They turned out pretty good. I'm sure Allen and Biju can talk to some of the substitutions that I made.  These are NOT nutritionally ideal, but for me they're a better choice than packaged alternatives like Power Bars or Clif Bars. 

Ingredients


   * Steamed rice from a Chinese restaurant,

   * Peanut Butter -- little, single-serving tubs from the Breakfast Bar in the hotel (replaces egg)  You could use egg from the breakfast bar if you have a fridge in your hotel room to keep them cold until you're able to procure rice.

   * Soy sauce packets from the Chinese restaurant

   * Brown Sugar from the oatmeal section of the breakfast bar.

   * Pre-cooked bacon or beef jerky.  Beef jerky is a bit chewy, but it works. Pre-cooked bacon is EXPENSIVE in the grocery store.

   * Parmesan cheese packets from a take-out pizza place.  Ask at the front desk if you don't want to order a pizza… My hotel had them.  Check the expiration date on them… One of mine expired in 2009.

   * Salt packets
   * 1 gallon-sized ziplock bag to mix stuff up in.  I thought about using the ice bucket, but I know what those have been used for in the past... Trust me, you don't want to do that.  You could use the plastic liner bag that they usually give you for the ice bucket.  I just usually have a ziplock or two with me.
    * small sandwhich baggies in which to carry individual rice cakes.


I dumped the ingredients into a gallon zip lock bag and squished it all up instead of using a mixing bowl.  I then used sandwich bags instead of fancy parchment paper to portion things out.  Made them into portions about the size of a racquetball.   They stuffed into jersey pockets or Revelate Feed Bags nicely.  I usually have a sharp knife with me all the time.  It is kind of weird dicing up beef jerky with a hunting knife while sitting on a hotel bed, but it worked.

Your hotel cleaning people will appreciate it if you're either VERY careful not to make a huge mess and/or you leave them a huge tip to clean up after you.

Hugs and Kisses,

Pete