I’ve recently concocted a new favorite meal to eat when camping: Spicy Raisin Couscous. Couscous is an amazing camping food. It requires a lot less energy to make than other pastas or rice, packs well, and I love how it absorbs the flavors of other ingredients.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• 1/2 cup couscous
• 1 tablespoon raisins
• 1 tablespoon sliced almonds
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 or 2 dashes of cayenne pepper

Put all of this into a plastic baggy for easy use later. It stores extremely well. I’ve used this bagged meal two weeks from mixing. When you’re ready to eat it simply combine the ingredients in a bowl (or cup) with 1 cup boiling water, stir, and seal the bowl with a lid. The couscous expands from the steam. I also pour about a tablespoon of olive oil into the mixture for the added calories and taste.

Wait ten minutes for the couscous to expand, and you’ll have a sweet and spicy meal ready to eat.