Whether you’re strolling along a cliff top trail, hiking the soft sands of a beautiful beach, or feeling frazzled as you realise you might be lost, there’s nothing quite as revitalising and restorative as a fruity, nutty, chocolatey, melt-in-your-mouth handful of Di’s Never Fail Trail Mix.
Trail mix, otherwise known as Scroggin, is a classic bushwalking treat designed to delight and nourish. It’s the perfect blend of protein, healthy fat and fibre with crunch and melt-in-your-mouth-magic that tastes so damn good. It nourishes, fulfils, sustains, energises, and might even save your life if disaster strikes. It truly is the ultimate hiking medicine!
Scroggin stands for Sultanas, Currants, Raisins, and Other Good Goodies Including Nuts. It’s also known as GORP (Good Old Raisins and Peanuts) or trail mix, which is a commercially produced packet of sultanas, raisins and nuts. But the home-made stuff is far superior and well worth the effort.
Start by selecting the freshest nuts and dried fruits, preferably organic or from the farmers market, and free of sulphates, preservatives, and stabilisers.
How to make Scroggin: The Ultimate Hiking Snack
Ingredients:
Nutty: Roast Brazil nuts, macadamia nuts, almonds, cashews, shaved coconut.
Fruity: Pitted dates (preferably Medjool), Goji berries, caramelised ginger, dried peaches, dried apricots, dried nectarines, cranberries, sultanas, raisins, freeze-dried strawberries, dried mango, dried sour cherries and/or dried plums.
Chocolate: 100% dark chocolate buttons, 85% dark Lindt chocolate, Dark Chocolate-coated coffee beans, dark chocolate ginger, dark chocolate roast macadamias and/or chocolate coated strawberries.
Method:
Ratio: Aim for about 50% nuts, 25% fruit and 25% chocolate.
Nut roasting tips: Place nuts on separate trays into a moderate (180 – 220 degrees C) oven. Turn every 5 minutes until they’re golden brown. If you’re not sure they’re ready, pop a nut in the freezer for one minute and taste! It should be super crunchy. Most nuts take 10 – 20 minutes, depending on fat content and size. Brazil nuts take longer than macadamias and almonds.
Dried fruit selection tips: The best dried fruits come from the bulk natural food stores. They’re usually fresher and less packaged than the supermarket packet ones.
Chocolate selection tips: If you want maximum nutritional benefits, choose dark chocolate and check the label to ensure its not made with seed oils.
Remember, quality beats quantity so aim for 100g per person for a full-day hike.
There you have it, Di’s Never Fail Trail Mix!
