Cooking
Cooking in Your RV Kitchen
2008//
We're on the road again! The thrill and excitement of a RV camping trip always fills me with excitement. I look forward to relaxing and enjoying the beauty of natural surroundings, and I also eagerly anticipate the pleasure of leisurely breakfasts and dinners. Because I believe that the quality of a trip is often greatly influenced by the quality of the food, I've been determined since my first trip to prepare camper meals that are just as delicious as what I prepare at home. But who wants to spend all their vacation time in a RV galley?
ADVANCED FOOD PREPARATION
The secret to easy RV cooking is to be prepared. Planning ahead simplifies campground
When deciding what to eat on your vacation, consider cooking some meals at home before your trip. Foods such as stews, soups, sauces, and meatballs can be prepared at home and frozen. Beef and chicken can be precooked and cut into bitesize pieces to aid in the preparation of stews and casseroles at camp.
The amount of food that you precook depends, of course, on the capacity of your freezer and refrigerator. Even if available space is limited, try to include at least one precooked meal. I've found that the first-night dinner practically ready to eat when you pull into camp is especially appreciated after a long day's drive.
Another time- and energy-saving tip is to premix dry ingredients for meat rubs, brownies, and corn bread and place them in reclosable bags for easy use. When at camp, you can stir in the wet ingredients. I also premix breading for fish and chicken and store these mixtures in reclosable bags in the refrigerator.
Save additional time at mealtime by letting someone else do the work for you. Keep prepared ingredients on hand for quick-and-easy preparation. Shortcut products provide variety without sacrificing flavor.
Stocking favorite seasonings, prepared sauces, and packaged casserole mixes reduces your time in the kitchen. Consider including these shortcut products: pre-cut fruits and vegetables, packaged coleslaw and salad mixtures, deli salads, jarred/canned salads, pre-shredded cheese, bread and cake mixes, store-bought cookies, frozen pies and cakes, frozen hamburger patties, and canned chicken.
EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT AND FOOD
Be advised that some camping locations will not have electricity. If you don't have a generator or solar powered batteries, you will need to plan for those occasions by including additional equipment. For example, if you rely on an electric can opener and an electric coffeemaker, include a manual can opener and an espresso coffeepot.
On the other hand, I've also had the misfortune of running out of propane at inopportune times, usually in the midst of preparing a meal. At these times, an electric skillet or an extra burner has saved the day.
Although at most camping locations you have access to a wide variety of fresh foods, be prepared for unusual circumstances. Out-of-the-way stores are not restocked as efficiently as urban stores; they frequently run out of milk, bread, and produce. Stock non-dairy creamer, extra crackers, and dried or canned fruit in your RV pantry.
MORE INFORMATION
For additional RV cooking tips, information on how to select basic supplies and equipment plus 381 delicious RV-tested recipes and 108 menus, see AMERICA'S BEST RV COOKBOOK by Joyce Ryan, $16.95, paperback. The cookbook is available from RVbookstore.com
ADVANCED FOOD PREPARATION
The secret to easy RV cooking is to be prepared. Planning ahead simplifies campground
When deciding what to eat on your vacation, consider cooking some meals at home before your trip. Foods such as stews, soups, sauces, and meatballs can be prepared at home and frozen. Beef and chicken can be precooked and cut into bitesize pieces to aid in the preparation of stews and casseroles at camp.
The amount of food that you precook depends, of course, on the capacity of your freezer and refrigerator. Even if available space is limited, try to include at least one precooked meal. I've found that the first-night dinner practically ready to eat when you pull into camp is especially appreciated after a long day's drive.
Another time- and energy-saving tip is to premix dry ingredients for meat rubs, brownies, and corn bread and place them in reclosable bags for easy use. When at camp, you can stir in the wet ingredients. I also premix breading for fish and chicken and store these mixtures in reclosable bags in the refrigerator.
Save additional time at mealtime by letting someone else do the work for you. Keep prepared ingredients on hand for quick-and-easy preparation. Shortcut products provide variety without sacrificing flavor.
Stocking favorite seasonings, prepared sauces, and packaged casserole mixes reduces your time in the kitchen. Consider including these shortcut products: pre-cut fruits and vegetables, packaged coleslaw and salad mixtures, deli salads, jarred/canned salads, pre-shredded cheese, bread and cake mixes, store-bought cookies, frozen pies and cakes, frozen hamburger patties, and canned chicken.
EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT AND FOOD
Be advised that some camping locations will not have electricity. If you don't have a generator or solar powered batteries, you will need to plan for those occasions by including additional equipment. For example, if you rely on an electric can opener and an electric coffeemaker, include a manual can opener and an espresso coffeepot.
On the other hand, I've also had the misfortune of running out of propane at inopportune times, usually in the midst of preparing a meal. At these times, an electric skillet or an extra burner has saved the day.
Although at most camping locations you have access to a wide variety of fresh foods, be prepared for unusual circumstances. Out-of-the-way stores are not restocked as efficiently as urban stores; they frequently run out of milk, bread, and produce. Stock non-dairy creamer, extra crackers, and dried or canned fruit in your RV pantry.
MORE INFORMATION
For additional RV cooking tips, information on how to select basic supplies and equipment plus 381 delicious RV-tested recipes and 108 menus, see AMERICA'S BEST RV COOKBOOK by Joyce Ryan, $16.95, paperback. The cookbook is available from RVbookstore.com
Cooking While Camping
2008//
While we were kids, my brother and I, had the opportunity of traveling around the countryside with our father and explore everything our home country had to offer to the three musketeers, which was our code name. Unfortunately, in most of these trips our mother was left behind as she had to work and we were given the chance to spend time with our father who as a nature lover took as almost anywhere our car and feet could lead us. These trips were our time together with our beloved father, who while we were young did everything in his power to spend as much time with us as possible. If time was not the issue back then, we tried to keep the budget under logical limits, so all these trips were made with our car that was carrying on its roof our specially designed and hand-made (by my father) tend.
During those camping times and since our mother was not near by to feed us, our father was apart from the designated driver and the leader of our group, also the cook that served us some of the best meals we have ever tasted; probably because we were really hungry by the time we eat. The truth is that I still remember the taste of his pasta and if I could go back in time, I would love to experience again the thrill of singing with my brother while our dad was smiling cooking his amazing pasta on our carry on kitchen supplies.
Other campers tend to agree with my remark as they support that camping cooking can be some of the best cooking there is. Close to the environment and while being able to smell all that wonderful tasty food coming out of the fire, many agree that there is nothing better. If you are a beginner in camping, you should know that there are several different methods that can be used when cooking while camping, like wood fires, camp charcoal, stoves, foil cooking and more. The type of cooking method is directly related to the food you will decide to make and how you like it cooked sometimes decides what method you should be using. But then again there are several camping cooking tips to consider before cooking and camping out.
Consider freezing the meat for instance. Freezing it ahead of time can keep the meat fresh and other foods cool as well. My father used to be proactive like that and plan ahead of time. He also used plastic bags or containers to keep measured portions of the food that was about to consumed, safely contained. I think it is also best if you want to avoid food from sticking to the pans to apply oil on the grill. Finally, put matches somewhere safe to keep them dry as many camping cookbook recipes require the use of natural fire and there is no better way to start a fire than with matches. You can also keep your drinks in a separate cooler from food as it can helps keep foods colder longer avoiding any kind of spoilage. Finally, a great tip is to keep water bottles when they are empty because they can become great camping cooking containers to put the salad dressing, oils, or any other liquid substance.
Kadence Buchanan writes articles on many topics including the outdoors, recreation, and traveling.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kadence_Buchanan
During those camping times and since our mother was not near by to feed us, our father was apart from the designated driver and the leader of our group, also the cook that served us some of the best meals we have ever tasted; probably because we were really hungry by the time we eat. The truth is that I still remember the taste of his pasta and if I could go back in time, I would love to experience again the thrill of singing with my brother while our dad was smiling cooking his amazing pasta on our carry on kitchen supplies.
Other campers tend to agree with my remark as they support that camping cooking can be some of the best cooking there is. Close to the environment and while being able to smell all that wonderful tasty food coming out of the fire, many agree that there is nothing better. If you are a beginner in camping, you should know that there are several different methods that can be used when cooking while camping, like wood fires, camp charcoal, stoves, foil cooking and more. The type of cooking method is directly related to the food you will decide to make and how you like it cooked sometimes decides what method you should be using. But then again there are several camping cooking tips to consider before cooking and camping out.
Consider freezing the meat for instance. Freezing it ahead of time can keep the meat fresh and other foods cool as well. My father used to be proactive like that and plan ahead of time. He also used plastic bags or containers to keep measured portions of the food that was about to consumed, safely contained. I think it is also best if you want to avoid food from sticking to the pans to apply oil on the grill. Finally, put matches somewhere safe to keep them dry as many camping cookbook recipes require the use of natural fire and there is no better way to start a fire than with matches. You can also keep your drinks in a separate cooler from food as it can helps keep foods colder longer avoiding any kind of spoilage. Finally, a great tip is to keep water bottles when they are empty because they can become great camping cooking containers to put the salad dressing, oils, or any other liquid substance.
Kadence Buchanan writes articles on many topics including the outdoors, recreation, and traveling.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kadence_Buchanan
7 Camping Cooking Strategies
2008//
Are you sick and tired of not knowing what to bring or what to cook when you go camping? Do you either pack the entire kitchen (including the sink) or you bring the absolute minimum and then have to use a fork as a spatula or two spoons as tongs?
If that sounds even the slightest bit familiar then you are in the right place. Over the past decade or so I have refined a list of 7 things that I use every single time I prepare for my next camping trip.
These strategies are relevant whether you are car camping, primitive camping, RV camping, scout camping or large group camping. You can very easily apply them across any type of trip, which is what really makes them worthwhile.
So here they are:
1. Plan the Meals – Okay common sense right? Well If I didn’t include this as the first and most important item I would get hollered at! But seriously, if you don’t plan the meals ahead of time not only do you not know what you’re going to eat you also have no idea what to pack as far as cooking gear is concerned. Do you need a spatula or tongs? Do you need a strainer or a frying pan?
2. Plan the Gear – This follows directly from number 1. Now that you know what you are going to eat for the trip you can now figure out exactly what utensils, pots, pans, containers and other miscellaneous cooking gear you need. And more importantly what gear you don’t need! My family and I do a lot of tent camping which means that we take my wife’s SUV, so we have a very limited amount of room that we must pack all of our “stuff” into. If I only need a 2 quart pot and a small frying pan well guess what, the 9 other pots and 4 other frying pans stay at home!
3. Plan the Condiments – Have you ever went camping and once you get there you realize that you don’t have ketchup, mustard or relish for your nice, hot and juicy steakburger you just cooked for yourself? Have you ever went camping and it took you 10 minutes to find the garlic powder because it found it’s own way to the bottom of the box you keep all your spices in? There is a fine line between having too many spices/condiments and not having enough but you have to walk that line. Even if you have a 40 foot Class A Mega Super Duper Motor home, you only have so much space. Sit down and look at the recipe’s you are going to use and then figure out what spices/condiments you can bring and which ones to leave at home.
4. 10% Above – Get 10% more food then you think you should take. If your family usually eats 4 hamburgers, take 5 or 6. If they usually eat 6 pieces of Corn on the Cob take 8. I don’t know for sure what it is but whenever you go camping everybody seems to be HUNGRY all the time. It might be because they are running around doing more stuff or it might be something in the air, I don’t know.
5. KIS – Keep It Simple. Realize that you are going to be in the middle of the woods. Is it possible to cook a Rack of Lamb with Herb-Dijon Nut Crust, Parisienne Potatoes, Green Beans Wrapped In Carrot Ring and Pureed Sweet Potato Basket? Yes it is technically possible. Should you attempt it? Heck NO! Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying to plan 3 square of milk and cereal. I am saying to remember where you are going to be and the mostly primitive cooking tools you will have at your disposal. 6. Test Runs- If you are planning on cooking on a campfire, or using a new grill, or cooking in your RV for the first time on your next trip…Don’t Do It! Always, always, always do a test run at home before you get out there. Build a little fire in your backyard and figure out if you need some charcoal to bolster the wood fire and make it cook more evenly. Make sure you know how to hook up that new grill and where the hot spots are. It is really not a lot of fun to get out into the woods somewhere and burn your dinner to a crisp or have it sitting in the bottom of the campfire because of a “equipment malfunction”. So always do a test run.
7. Try a new Treat – Remembering strategy number 6, my family always tries a new treat whenever we go camping. Whether it be a new recipe for our green bean casserole or a naughty little after dinner snack, we try something new every time. This doesn’t have to mean something exotic that you’re not sure the animals would even like. Just look around on the internet, there are a ton of campfire / Dutch oven recipes out there for you to try.
Well that’s it, that’s my list of 7 Need to Know Campsite Cooking Strategies. This is not a wish-list or a group of things I pulled out of thin air. I use this list each and every time I plan a trip for my family, my friends and my troop. This list if used properly will keep you in good stead for your trips. You won’t run out of food, you won’t eat bland food, you won’t bring home a ton of unused and possibly spoiled food and most importantly dinner won’t be a chore while camping.
Eric Stephenson is an avid camper and publisher of http://www.NJCampingInfo.com where you will get all the information you will ever need about camping in New Jersey as well as information about camping and the latest technologies and products related to camping. This article is copyrighted. It may be reproduced only if the hyperlinks here are left intact.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eric_Stephenson
If that sounds even the slightest bit familiar then you are in the right place. Over the past decade or so I have refined a list of 7 things that I use every single time I prepare for my next camping trip.
These strategies are relevant whether you are car camping, primitive camping, RV camping, scout camping or large group camping. You can very easily apply them across any type of trip, which is what really makes them worthwhile.
So here they are:
1. Plan the Meals – Okay common sense right? Well If I didn’t include this as the first and most important item I would get hollered at! But seriously, if you don’t plan the meals ahead of time not only do you not know what you’re going to eat you also have no idea what to pack as far as cooking gear is concerned. Do you need a spatula or tongs? Do you need a strainer or a frying pan?
2. Plan the Gear – This follows directly from number 1. Now that you know what you are going to eat for the trip you can now figure out exactly what utensils, pots, pans, containers and other miscellaneous cooking gear you need. And more importantly what gear you don’t need! My family and I do a lot of tent camping which means that we take my wife’s SUV, so we have a very limited amount of room that we must pack all of our “stuff” into. If I only need a 2 quart pot and a small frying pan well guess what, the 9 other pots and 4 other frying pans stay at home!
3. Plan the Condiments – Have you ever went camping and once you get there you realize that you don’t have ketchup, mustard or relish for your nice, hot and juicy steakburger you just cooked for yourself? Have you ever went camping and it took you 10 minutes to find the garlic powder because it found it’s own way to the bottom of the box you keep all your spices in? There is a fine line between having too many spices/condiments and not having enough but you have to walk that line. Even if you have a 40 foot Class A Mega Super Duper Motor home, you only have so much space. Sit down and look at the recipe’s you are going to use and then figure out what spices/condiments you can bring and which ones to leave at home.
4. 10% Above – Get 10% more food then you think you should take. If your family usually eats 4 hamburgers, take 5 or 6. If they usually eat 6 pieces of Corn on the Cob take 8. I don’t know for sure what it is but whenever you go camping everybody seems to be HUNGRY all the time. It might be because they are running around doing more stuff or it might be something in the air, I don’t know.
5. KIS – Keep It Simple. Realize that you are going to be in the middle of the woods. Is it possible to cook a Rack of Lamb with Herb-Dijon Nut Crust, Parisienne Potatoes, Green Beans Wrapped In Carrot Ring and Pureed Sweet Potato Basket? Yes it is technically possible. Should you attempt it? Heck NO! Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying to plan 3 square of milk and cereal. I am saying to remember where you are going to be and the mostly primitive cooking tools you will have at your disposal. 6. Test Runs- If you are planning on cooking on a campfire, or using a new grill, or cooking in your RV for the first time on your next trip…Don’t Do It! Always, always, always do a test run at home before you get out there. Build a little fire in your backyard and figure out if you need some charcoal to bolster the wood fire and make it cook more evenly. Make sure you know how to hook up that new grill and where the hot spots are. It is really not a lot of fun to get out into the woods somewhere and burn your dinner to a crisp or have it sitting in the bottom of the campfire because of a “equipment malfunction”. So always do a test run.
7. Try a new Treat – Remembering strategy number 6, my family always tries a new treat whenever we go camping. Whether it be a new recipe for our green bean casserole or a naughty little after dinner snack, we try something new every time. This doesn’t have to mean something exotic that you’re not sure the animals would even like. Just look around on the internet, there are a ton of campfire / Dutch oven recipes out there for you to try.
Well that’s it, that’s my list of 7 Need to Know Campsite Cooking Strategies. This is not a wish-list or a group of things I pulled out of thin air. I use this list each and every time I plan a trip for my family, my friends and my troop. This list if used properly will keep you in good stead for your trips. You won’t run out of food, you won’t eat bland food, you won’t bring home a ton of unused and possibly spoiled food and most importantly dinner won’t be a chore while camping.
Eric Stephenson is an avid camper and publisher of http://www.NJCampingInfo.com where you will get all the information you will ever need about camping in New Jersey as well as information about camping and the latest technologies and products related to camping. This article is copyrighted. It may be reproduced only if the hyperlinks here are left intact.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eric_Stephenson