UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- You've just finagled a month off work and rented a quiet cabin in the mountains. You think it might be fun to bake your favorite wild berry pie, but suspect the rustic kitchen may lack -- to say the least -- a pastry blender and measuring spoons.

How will you squeeze a well-stocked kitchen in with the clothes and sleeping bags? A home economist in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences may have the solution.

The Portable Kitchen Assembly Guide describes how to pack a kitchen, from vegetable brush to wire whisk, into a package the size of a tote bag, says Jan Scholl, associate professor of agricultural and extension education.

"You might be interested in the Portable Kitchen if you're heading to a cabin this summer, or out on the road in an RV," Scholl says. "It also could be useful for people spending time overseas, where familiar items might be expensive or hard to come by."

Scholl developed the Portable Kitchen for Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) volunteers, who often travel through cities by bus to teach nutrition at low-income housing developments. But after attending a sabbatical workshop where people discussed packing for overseas stays, she realized the Portable Kitchen might have wider applications.

"People who do childrens' or youth programs in parks might be interested, or anyone who wants to cook in remote places -- like at a family reunion," says Scholl.

The Portable Kitchen contains more than 50 common kitchen items, packed into an 11 1/2-by-15-inch plastic dishpan. The dishpan doubles as an on-site sink. A second dishpan, which is slipped inside the first, can be filled with rinse water. "All items are standard-sized except for the cookie sheet, which is the size used in toaster ovens," says Scholl.

Besides basic utensils, the kitchen includes such items as aluminum foil, trash bags, an apron, detergent, and a cutting board. Some cooks may forgo the egg timer for their favorite garlic press, or the biscuit cutter for a small saucepan -- the kitchen is customizable.

"By visiting discount stores, you can put together a portable kitchen for under $100, or even less by going to garage sales," says Scholl.

The 4-page assembly guide comes on card stock and opens like a menu. It lists step-by-step visual instructions on how to pack the kitchen, with drawings of each item. It also includes a shopping checksheet.

To order the Portable Kitchen Assembly Guide, send a check for $1.00 (for printing and mailing) payable to Penn State University to Jan Scholl, 323 Agricultural Administration Building, University Park, PA 16802. For more information, call Jan Scholl at 814-863-7869.

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EDITORS: For more information, contact Jan Scholl at 814-863-7869.

Contacts: Kim Dionis KDionis@psu.edu 814-863-2703 814-865-1068 fax