Carrying on from Lindlou4 about the cool box, to help it stay cold cover it with a blanket or even wrap in a continental quilt! I would also have suggested freezing your own meals and keeping in the cool box, but if it isn't keeping them cold enough maybe not such a good idea.

I'm a little concerned about the rice if your cool box isn't staying cold. Was it a shop bought one or rice you had cooked yourself? Rice should be cooled quickly then kept refrigerated until reheating or it can be a very nasty source of food poisoning.

Will you be able to use a charcole BBQ in the summer? Having that would help not only cooking some meat or fish but also you could cook fresh veggies, either directly on the grill or wrapped in tin foil.

Also you will be able to use lots of salad stuff too.

In the meantime, how do you feel about tinned food? Vegetables like garden peas, sweetcorn, baby carrots and new potatoes can be heated, once drained and any salted water rinsed off, by covering with boiling water from the kettle.

Serve that with somed cold tinned meat or fish?

What I mean is, you could take frozen stuff with you for day one, and tinned stuff for day two when the cool box has lost it's efficiency.

Glad you had a good time. By the 2nd time you will be a 'seasoned supporter' - may I suggest that if you are carrying hot food in a cool box, stick hot water bottles in the night before you go to heat up the cavity walling and then refill bottles the next morning putting them in top and bottom with the hot food before you leave to keep everything hotter for longer - hope that makes sense!!! LOL

Thanks for all the help, we did the 1st meeting this weekend, and the contents of the cool box were warm by the 2nd day and it was freezing outside! The microwave struggles on the generator too! So much for only organic for my bubby!x I did do some micro rice with squash (in one of those micro plastic bags) which was nice but I can see the summer is gonna be a struggle, and lindylou4 we cant leave the track once were in! eek!

How about preparing and freezing meals before you go, put in microwavable containers. If you arrive and if it hasn't thawed you could do that in the microwave. Store the remainder in a cool box and this will help keep your milk etc cold.

Have you got room for a slow cooker - prepare all the ingredients before you go and pour over a ready prepared sauce mix ie chicken casserole, place in crock pot and leave. You could put it on high when you have electricity and turn down if you still have a supply - meals keep hot for ages if the supply fails as the crock pot is so hot.

PS How far is it to the nearest chippy???? lol Have fun.

i survived in a studio flat with a microwave for a few months
i know it's not brilliant food but microwave rice/pasta & sauces, pesto etc, all keeps in the cupboard & fills you up
instant mash using hot water, microwave some beans, yum!
haha
it's tacky stuff but you've gotta eat!

I often make to much when making pasta dishes. My son loves any type of pasta.I often put the pasta and the sauce in containers for him to have for his packed lunch so as long as you dont over microwave yes you can. Make ahead and just warm Liverbird2.

Can I microwave pasta?

Pasta is a great standby, as is pre-cooked rice. Use the microwave to reheat pre-prepared sauces

Thanks for the suggestions, keep them coming!x

I use do a lot of camping. We carried everything in a ruck sack.The camping shop supply all you need and they all tuck away. So they dont take up a lot of room. I've cooked big pans of stew and fry up on a small camping stove. You can get a two ring stove as well. Most town have a camping shop Good luck Liverbird2

I would buy a portable cartridge gas stove. About £10, which will allow many extra possibilities. Also, some reusable toasted sandwich bags which fit in the toaster.