How to Make Quick Cooking Boba Bubble Tea

1.   Boil water. (Measure 2 cups of water for every 1/4 cup(one serving) of boba)
2.  Add boba and stir until they float.
3. When they float, reduce heat to medium and cover with a lid for 4 minutes.
4.  Remove boba and run under cold water.
5.   Put in bowl with simple syrup. (Equal Parts sugar and water and heat in microwave until sugar is dissolved. 1/4cup each)

2TBSP of Passion Fruit Syrup per cup of Tea

Tofu Poke Bowl & Limeade

Servings 2

Dressing:
1.5 Tablespoons Water
1.5 Tablespoons Sugar
3 Tablespoons Soy Sauce (used Kikkoman)
3 Tablespoons Rice Vinegar (used Nakano Natural)
.5 Tablespoon Sesame Seed Oil

Toppings:
Dashes of Furikake (Japanese Seaweed Seasoning) found in Asian Section of Grocery Store
Avocado- sliced or cubed
Seaweed Salad
Edamame
Kani Salad

1 Block Tofu- Cubed (will have leftover tofu)
Marinade in 2 Tbsp Soy sauce, 2 Tbsp Water and 1.5 tbsp Rice Vinegar

Ahi Tuna Poke:
-1 tuna fillets, diced in small cubes
-1 Tablespoons Soy Sauce
-.5 Tablespoon Rice Vinegar
-1 Teaspoon Sugar (optional)
-1 Teaspoon Sesame Oil
- Sesame Seeds
-1 Green Onions
-1/4 tsp Sriracha or pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)
Mix all the ingredients together. Mix in tuna last. Put in fridge.

Pickled Cucumber & Carrots:
-1/4 of Cucumber Thinly Cut
-1 Carrot Thinly Sliced with a Peeler
-2 Tablespoons Rice Vinegar
-2 Tablespoons Cup Water
-2 heaping teaspoons Sugar
-1/4 Teaspoon Salt
-1/2 Teaspoons Red Pepper Flakes

Kani Salad:
-4 Sticks Crab Meat (use kind from asian market)
-1 Tablespoon Mayo
-1 Tablespoon Sriracha
- 1/4 tsp Sesame Oil

Rice: (will make some extra rice)
1.5 Cups Rice
2.25 Cups Water(if tight fitting lid) ( 2.75cups if loose fitting lid)

Directions:
1. Drain Tofu. Dry with paper towels. Cut into cubes. Mix some soy sauce, water, & rice vinegar.(Add sugar if you want it sweeter). Then add the cubes of tofu. Let marinade for 20 minutes. Or make Tuna poke. Mix all ingredients except Tuna. Then add tuna in at the end.
2. Put all pickled cucumber & carrot ingredients in a bowl and let sit.
3.  Combine Rice & Water in a pot, put on High and bring to a boil. Once it comes to a boil reduce to low heat and cover with a lid for 20 minutes.
4. Cook Edamame (in microwave).
5. Mix up dressing ingredients in a bowl.
7. Using a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat, add olive oil to coat the bottom of the pan. Add the tofu (but not the juice its marinading in). May need to do in two batches. Fry in the pan until all sides are cooked. Remove from pan.
8. I refrigerated my rice for a minute because it was still hot. Put rice in a bowl. Top with all the toppings. Add as much dressing as you like. Enjoy! There are pieces of dried seaweed snacks pictured in my bowl but they are not necessary.

A Refreshing Drink to go along side the Poke Bowl
Limeade: Per Glass

• 1/2 Lime
• 1.5 Tablespoon Sugar
• 8 oz Water
• A Few Ice Cubes

Add sugar and water in glass & microwave till sugar is dissolved in water. Squeeze half a lime in a glass. Stir. Add ice cubes. Stir.

My Beginner Female Backpacking Gear List

I decided to give backpacking a try. As a first time female backpacker, I tried to do a lot of research before buying things. I am budget conscious but I also wanted good gear. I was also interested in lighter gear since I am a petite women. This is what I ended up with. At first I even bought some cheap stuff and soon replaced it because you start you learn how you like to do things on the trail. For example, I decided I'd wanted to do freezer bag cooking, so I soon ditched my spork for a long handle spoon to reach the food at the bottom of the bag. I also had bought a cheap cooking pot which was anodized aluminum but soon replaced with an even cheaper plain aluminum cup from Wal-mart which is lighter. Currently I'm trying to figure out the best way of carrying water for me. It's definitely trial and error. So REI is nice with their 1 year return policy or buying some cheap things first that you don't mine replacing when you figure out what you really like. I provided links but most products can be found elsewhere on the internet (amazon, ebay, etc). I'm still learning and trying so I'm sure this list is a work in progress.


BACKPACK
Deuter ACT Lite 45 + 10 SL Pack - Women's $150-199
3lbs 12 oz
REI Women's ACT Lite Pack

I felt like I didn't have very many backpack options as I am 5' 3" and about 105lbs. I am a skinny female. My waist is about 25". At first I tried the Osprey Kid's Ace 50 pack. I did not like how that pack fit. I thought the hipbelt was very hard and I didn't like the way it fit my shoulders. The Deuter pack was the second pack I tried and I do like it. A lot more back cushion than the Osprey and the hip belt was nicer and softer. It fit me much better than the Osprey. The Deuter pack gets small enough the fit my waist. This seemed like the limiting factor on most packs. I'm still interested in trying out a Northface Terra 55 or 40. But I have yet to find it in the small size to try on in person.

SLEEPING PAD
Therm-a-rest Neoair XLite Sleeping Pad- Women's $120-$160
12 oz with stuff sack
REI Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite Sleeping Pad - Women's


I splurged on this and I am sooo glad I did. A sleeping pad is a game changer for camping. I am 5' 3" and I fit on this pad just perfectly. So if you are more than 3" taller than me or a man interested in a light weight option your legs or feet might hang off this pad. It is 66" long 20" wide and 2.5" thick. It is not very wide. If any of the measurements concern you, I would definitely try it out in the store. The R-Value for this sleeping pad is 3.9. It keeps me warm at night. I sleep on my back and side and this pad is comfy for both. I definitely recommend this sleeping pad.

SLEEPING BAG
AEGISMAX G700 Medium Goose Down Sleeping Bag  $134
2lbs 4oz with stuff sack
I bought mine off of Aliexpress (If you haven't used Aliexpress, these items are usually made and shipped from China so it may take a month to get to you)

This bag's comfort rating is basically good for 32 Fahrenheit. It's a 15 degree bag. I've used this bag twice. Once was in the summer with a normal coleman inflatable twin size mattress and it was pretty good. Then I used it again with my Therm-a-rest Neoair Women's XLite, which has a R-Value of 3.9 and I was roasting in this bag, that night the low was 50 degrees Fahrenheit. I think the Aegismax G400 would be a good summertime bag if you have a good R-Value sleeping pad. Overall my thoughts on this bag is it's pretty good. It's cheaper than the big name brands. I feel like I should waterproof mine though. It's filled with goose down and compresses down small. It weighs only 2lbs 4 oz. and a stuff sack comes included. The newer version for 2017 has been upgraded and that looks even nicer than the one I have for the same price. Mine does stag a little when I zipper it. But I think the new model has an anti-snag zipper.

KELTY SB 35 800 Fill DriDown Sleeping Bag- Women's $240 ( I got mine off Ebay for $130)
1lb 8oz (1lb 12oz in stuff sack)
REI Kelty SB35

After realizing my other sleeping bag was too hot for summer camping, I was on the search for a new lighter sleeping bag. I came across this Kelty bag. I'm not sure what the actual name of this bag is SB35 or SB41. I believe 41 degrees Fahrenheit is the comfort value.  I used this on a 45 degree Fahrenheit night with my Therm-a-rest Neoair Xlite sleeping pad while wearing a light long pant and long sleeve base layer and I thought it was perfect. I probably wouldn't want to use it much colder than that. Note: I'm usually always cold. So if you run warm you could definitely go down to 41 and probably even lower. I like this bag.

TENT
REI Co-op Quarter Dome 2 $260-$350
3lb 9oz (additional 9 oz Footprint)
REI Quarter Dome 2
 
I wanted a good backpacking tent. I bought this Quarter Dome 2. I trust the REI brand. My tent is the 2016 model. They now have the 2017 model. I had bought the footprint for this tent, but I'm honestly thinking about making a footprint out of polycro (that window insulating plastic that you put on the windows in the winter with a blowdrying) because it will be lighter. Light weight tents get expensive. If you want a cheaper lightweight tent, the Naturehike tents on Aliexpress or Amazon and Ebay really interest me, but I already have this one so I haven't bought a Naturehike one. I used this when I backpacked to Havasu Falls. My friend and I both fit in it comfortably.

Mountainsmith Genesee 4 Person 3 Season Tent $144
6lbs 9oz (not including footprint)
Amazon MountainSmith Genesse 4 Person

I wanted a good size tent for car camping that two people could fit in comfortably. This is the one I decided on. 96" long by  84" wide by  52" tall. It is not the biggest 4 person tent you could get. I was also looking at the ALP Mountaineering Lynx. But this one is lighter and I thought if I had to fly with it that would be good and if I was going backpacking with another person or two we could split it up and take this backpacking.

BOOTS
Salewa Women's Alps Trainer Mid GTX $94 (prices vary)
2lbs 3oz
Amazon Salewa Alp Trainer Mid GTX


I had a hard time finding a hiking boot that fit me perfectly. If you have skinny feet or narrow feet these maybe the hiking boots for you. I feel like the most important fit of a boot is how it fits when you are hiking downhill. You don't want your big toe hitting the front of the boot. You also don't want too much room that your foot sides around, this is how you get blisters.  I hear that European brand hiking boots usually run more narrow than American brands. I've had these boots for about a year now and I really love them. I usually wear a women's 6.5 and sometimes a 6 in sandals or dress shoes and sometimes a 7 in an athletic shoes. But for these I wore a size 6. I would definitely buy these again.

SANDAL
Teva Tirra $50-$80
15 oz for the pair
REI Teva Tirra
 
I got my sandals off Amazon at the time they were around $54 and then I have an amazon credit card so I had points and got them for $34. Always wait for sales and coupons to get a good deal. I wanted a pair of sandals that I could hike in or play in water. I really do like these sandals. They were really convenient when hiking in warmer weather with water crossings. They are comfortable. Also make good camp shoes, you can just wear sock with them. I'd also liked to try a pair of Chaco's sometime, they seem to have good arch support.

FREEZER BAG COOKING KITCHEN

STOVE
Etekcity Stove with Ignition $9.99
4 oz.
Amazon Etekcity Stove
 
I didn't know much about stoves when I bought this. I just knew it was pretty cheap and had good reviews. There are lighter stove options out there. But this one is really nice. It has an ignition button which makes lighting the stove very easy. You just push the button. All in all this is a great little stove. You can have to buy fuel canisters to use with it.

COOKING MUG
IMUSA Aluminum Mugs $2-$3
     12 cm- 1.25 qt- 1180ml- 3.6 oz
     10 cm- 650ml- 2.5 oz

Walmart- Aluminum Mug
Walmart- Grease Dispenser A bigger option
     1.5 qt - 1400ml

At first I bought an anodized aluminum pot set but I soon realized it weighed more than it needed to. Then I was thinking about buying a Toaks titanium pot off of Aliexpress but I wasn't sure what size I wanted. So I found out Wal-mart had these IMUSA cooking mugs, they are located in the aisle with the frying pans at Wal-mart. They are made out of Aluminum and are very lightweight. There are two size mugs and then Walmart also has a grease dispenser which is even larger in size and a great lightweight option. I figure when I decide I like a certain size better than the other maybe I'll get a titanium cup.  I have to mark the inside of my cup with measurement lines. I just used a sharpie then scraped it with a razor blade.
Aliexpress Aluminum Pot Option - Some other aluminum options I found, but don't own.

STAND
Fire Maple Gas Canister Stand $4
1 oz
Aliexpress- Fire Maple Stand



I bought this. I don't know if its necessary, but it does make the gas canister more stable on the ground.

FOOD COZY
Big Sky International Food Cozy $13
1oz
Amazon Big Sky International Food Cozy

Since I wanted to do Freezer Bag Cooking, I bought this food cozy. So after I boil the water and pour it on my food in a ziplock quart size freezer bag, I just put it in this food cozy for 15-20 mins. This is the only one I've used and it seems to do its job. There are DIY food cozy instructions on the internet if you want to make your own.

LONG SPOON
Sea to Summit Alpha Long Spoon $9
0.4oz
 REI Long Spoon

A long handle spoon is great for eating out of freezer bags to get to the bottom without getting your hands messy.

PARACORD for hanging food $7
4 oz about 50 ft
Amazon Paracord




Not a very exciting thing but something you need to hang your food if you are around bears.

WATER FILTER $19
3 oz
Amazon Etekcity Water Filter

I got this filter when it was a lighting deal on Amazon so it was a little cheaper than it is now. I have used this filter. It's not the fastest filter in the world.  My next filter will probably be a Sawyer Squeeze. I hear good things about them and they will filter water much faster than the one I have now.

WATER PURIFICATION TABLETS 
Coleman Potable Aqua with PA Plus $8
Walmart Purfication Tablets

This is just a backup water purification method.

HYDRATION PACK
Naturehike 3L Hydration Bladder $14-20
9oz
Aliexpress Naturehike 3L Hydration Bladder
 
So far this is a really good hydration bladder. I've used it on many occasions and have never had a problem. It's not the most lightweight option. I like it for day hiking, but I might try looking into a different setup for backpacking and when cooking is necessary.
I just ordered this Smartube. It allows you to turn normal bottles into hands free drinking systems. I use this with Smartwater bottles and it makes get water out for cooking at your campsite easy and it's easy to add your filtered water back into the bottle. Much less hassle than using the hydration bladder.

PEE FUNNEL
Female Urinal $1
Aliexpress Pee Funnel
 
This thing is only 79 cents and if you are a female it is worth every penny!

HEADLAMP
Rayvenge T1A Compact CREE XP-E LED Light $13-$17
3.5oz (in the bag with 2 AA batteries)
Amazon- TA1 Headlamp 

 I think this is a good head lamp. It has a high, medium, low setting. A strobing setting and a red light. It says it 115 lumens. It only takes 1 AA battery. I'd suggest always taking the battery out of it after a trip because my battery corroded, but the headlamp still works fine. I think you can find it as low as $12.99 on Amazon.

LANTERN
Naturehike 130 Lumen Tent Lantern/ Flashlight $7
3.5oz
Aliexpress Naturehike Lantern Flashlight

This is a great little lantern. It's not super bright but it's very useful. Even though my headlight says it has less lumens. My headlamp is brighter. So if this lamp was a little brighter that would be even better. This lantern makes it easy to find your tent in the dark. This lantern also can be a flashlight so that is helpful. One time my friend didn't have a headlamp so she used this as a flashlight to find her way to the bathroom at night when car camping. I actually forgot batteries for my headlamp once and this got me up a trail in the dark. It takes 3 AAA batteries. The Black Diamond Apollo Lantern looks like it would be brighter than this, but it's also $50. 
 

POOP SHOVEL
2 oz
Amazon Trowel
 
Not much to say about this one, when you have to go, you have to go. I wrapped duct tape around the handle in case at some point you needed duct tape.   

BAGS
3 pcs Waterproof Bag Set $ 5-8
Aliexpress Bag Set
Walmart Dry Bag Set $10

I have the set from walmart and a set from aliexpress. These are not waterproof bags I'd take in the water. They are good lightweight bags to separate your stuff and keep you organized. The bags are not huge. Make sure you read the size dimensions before buying to make sure they suit your needs. Aliexpress sells a lot of bags like this in all different sizes if this set doesn't have the size you are looking for.