One site suggested using a Sterno folding stove with a Trangia burner. They said the ideal burner-to-pot-bottom distance for just boiling water is 1.75", and about 1" for real cooking (frying and simmering). They used two empty tuna cans under the Trangia to raise it high enough to do the job.

In your particular case, if you had these things stashed in your desk and someone found them, most people probably wouldn't even know what they were. Sterno, yes.

Trying to find out if you can actually cook with Sterno (apparently not), I ran across an entry on the ZenStoves website about Sterno-like stoves that sounded interesting: making your own gelled alcohol. They use ground eggshells, vinegar and alcohol.

They use the eggshells for their calcium carbonate, but Tums (or generics) are just calcium carbonate + flavor & color, so that would probably be more simple, right? Follow the directions and add some denatured alcohol, and you're ready to burn.

Sue