Category: Menu Planning & Cooking
Coffee On The Go…
February 3, 2012 by Melissa A. Trainer · 4 Comments
So, what is your favorite way to crank out a hot cup of coffee while traveling, camping or RVing? I have used various methods and tools over the years. Yes, simply poking the button on my electric coffee maker in the kitchen of my travel trailer is my favorite way to brew when we are camping. It’s simple and convenient. And, I can do it without having to start a fire in the campsite fire ring! When we have camped at more remote locations or at sites that didn’t have full hookup, I often boil water on my gas stove and then use my insulated French press coffee pot purchased at REI. This method was really useful when we camped at Madison Campground at Yellowstone National Park. I am considering another option now that I have discovered the collapsible coffee filter cone. Made by Classic Kitchen Basics, the silicone filter is compact and holds a paper filter. You simply place the cone over a cup, add the filter and the coffee and the pour boiling water over the coffee. The... [Read more...]
Soup Is Good (Camping) Food!
January 15, 2012 by Diane Berry · 8 Comments
I’ve written before about meals to make for your family while camping. I want to add a segment today about hot meals that are easy and quick to make: soups. To be honest, I have made these soups more when we’ve been at home than when we’ve been staying in our camper. This is mostly because we hadn’t discovered them until last fall, after our camping was finished for the year. But knowing what I know now, I am planning to buy some for the camper and to incorporate them in many of our camping adventures. Gumbo Ingredients I am speaking of the commercially made soup mixes carried in every grocery store. The brand we started buying, chiefly because they were on sale at the time we found them, is the Bear Creek brand. However, I know there are several different brands on the shelves of the grocery store, even in our city of 33,000 people. The variety is endless. They have Creamy Wild Rice, Cheddar Potato, Chili, Cheddar Broccoli among others. A favorite of our family members is Gumbo.... [Read more...]
Harvest Salmon Chowder for Chilly Winter Days
January 13, 2012 by Melissa A. Trainer · 2 Comments
If you travel and camp throughout the chillier months of the year, then you might find yourself craving foods such as chili, stew, soups and chowder. Last fall, I created a round of recipes for the Bristol Bay Regional Seafood Development Association. Their consumer website, Bristol Bay Sockeye, features numerous salmon recipes. One of the recipes I tested, tweaked, and photographed was Harvest Salmon Chowder. The recipe comes from Rose Fisher who is married to a Bristol Bay fisherman and lives in Dillingham, Alaska. When Rose gave me the recipe she quietly told me that the secret to the recipe was…canned salmon and all the juices!! She told me that she had made it with cooked salmon, but it just wasn’t the same. Aha! I am not afraid to use canned salmon, so I was pleased to try the recipe. Indeed, it is a simple awesome recipe that is satisfying and warming. I think this recipe is particularly relevant for our Woodall’s readers because it uses many basic pantry items,... [Read more...]
A Little Aeration for The Great Outdoors
December 12, 2011 by Melissa A. Trainer · 2 Comments
Once you have parked the RV or set up your tent for the night, do you like to sit down and indulge in a great dinner and nice glass of red wine? If so, then you might be interested in the new Vinturi Travel Aerator. Like its big sibling, The Original Vinturi Essential Wine Aerator, the travel aerator is designed to enhance the bouquet and aroma of the red wine at hand. The benefit for RVers and campers, however, is that the new product comes with its own swivel case and is remarkably compact in size. We own and use the original aerator, but when we received a sample of the new Vinturi Travel we were immediately impressed with the design and the compact size. In essence, the aerator will easily fit in our compact travel trailer kitchen and will take up less space than a can opener or a corkscrew. I think this is a great way to add some elegance to a delightful evening in the great outdoors. How many times have you been traveling to and camping in a remote location and found yourself... [Read more...]
Patti’s Saga of an RV Rookie: Christmas Eve Salad, Tlaquepaque style…
November 28, 2011 by Patti F. · 2 Comments
Mexico is enduring its share of challenges; the border conflicts are terrible , and it may seem at times as if the bad guys are winning down there. I pray this all changes, for I love Mexico. I have been there over 25 times, mostly alone, always safe, always cared for, always adopted by the people (I once toured the mainland with my parents in a huge Class C: it almost spelled the death of familial love but that’s for another blog). While I can’t fix Mexico’s problems (or our own country’s, for that matter), I can tell you about a Christmas salad I had in Tlaquepaque, Mexico, and why I loved it even though it was nowhere near Christmas, as in June. First, you have to be able to say Tlaquepaque. Work with me people: Tah- lah -kay -pah kay. See, wasn’t that easy? Tlaquepaque is a little artists’ enclave about 10 kilometers from Mexico’s second largest city, Guadalajara. It has a cool “vibe” and a wonderful market-style center with a Spanish colonial feel: we’re... [Read more...]
It Doesn’t Get Much Better than This
November 14, 2011 by Professor95 · 2 Comments
This has been an absolutely fabulous camping week! We left Virginia last Sunday (November 6th) and meandered down I-95 and 301 into North Carolina, crossed the border into South Carolina just outside of Tabor City, and parked the RV at Willow Tree RV Resort in Longs, SC. Longs is relatively close to Myrtle Beach – by close I mean you can drive there in 20 minutes or so but it is still far enough away that you can enjoy a low traffic, relaxed atmosphere. The off-season rates at Willow Tree are extremely reasonable and the beauty of the turning trees, reflections on the 40 acre lake, Swans and Canada Geese swimming gracefully across the water, warm daytime temperatures and the fellowship of friends belonging to the Cedar Creek RV Owner’s Club all come together to make everything feel perfect. We were part of about 30 Cedar Creek RV owners assembled at Willow Tree for our end-of-season annual rally. This is a great group of folks with Christian values and fellowship dedicated... [Read more...]
Patti’s Saga of an RV Rookie: Montana’s Soup Nazi: If you hate spicy curry, stop reading and look for a recipe that features pablum.
November 3, 2011 by Patti F. · 5 Comments
Did you see the Seinfeld episode about the Soup Nazi? It was about some maniac nut who made the best soup in Manhattan. They mentioned Mulligatawny stew (soup) in that episode, but I didn’t know what it was until last week (some of us are late bloomers). Nor did I know it is so terrific! I tasted my first Mulligatawny, made by a friend of mine recently returned from India. It won’t be my last. I loved it! Mulligatawny looks like our Montana autumn and heats like the wood stoves firing up around here. Recipe for Indian Mulligatawny ( as stolen from my buddy): Prep Time: about ten minutes or less Cook Time: 20 minutes or less. Servings: 6-8 Ingredients • 1 whole chicken breast, cut into little pieces • Salt And pepper To Taste • 4 Tablespoons butter • 1 whole onion, diced. • 3 cloves minced garlic. • 1/4 cup All-purpose flour • 1 Tablespoon curry powder (or less, if you’re heat sensitive. I add more!) • 32 ounces, fluid chicken broth • 2 cups half-and-half • 1... [Read more...]
A Compact Efficient Dish Drying Mat For Camping
September 21, 2011 by Melissa A. Trainer · 1 Comment
If you cook when you are camping, then you most likely begrudge washing and drying those dishes. I know that I do. I often find it a hassle to dry the dishes and then deal with the damp kitchen towels. Getting those kitchen towels to dry here in the maritime Pacific Northwest can be a challenge on a cold rainy day by the Pacific Ocean! Well, just this weekend, I discovered a lightweight, compact, and affordable drying mat that seems to fit the bill for campground cookery. I purchased one on Saturday night and have been using it in my home kitchen, but I now intend to get one for my camper. The Dish Drying Mat is made from absorbent microfiber and easily folds for storage. It is cushiony, absorbent, and fast drying. And, it is machine washable in cold water. I haven’t washed mine yet, but I have found that the mat is priceless for drying pots, pans, knives, wine glasses, and miscellaneous kitchen items. The mat absorbs the water beautifully and thereby minimizes the use of kitchen... [Read more...]
Practical Glassware For Camping
August 29, 2011 by Melissa A. Trainer · Leave a Comment
Do you have a favorite type of wine or pilsner glass for camping? If not, then check out the non breakable portable wine and spirit glasses from GSI. The collection features stemless wine glasses, nesting wine glasses, pilsner glasses, and others. All of the products are BPA-free and are made to survive rough and tumble service for campers and outdoor enthusiasts. Of course, they don’t have the same luxurious feels of other wine glasses, but they get the job done and are easily stashed in a camper cupboard or a loaded backpack. We have had a set of the nesting wine glasses in our camper for many years. They’ve endured bumpy trips throughout Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula, up to Denali National Park, and down the Alaska Canada Highway through Yukon Territory and British Columbia. They store beautifully and are easy to clean. Basically, they are a simple item that can add a little bit of luxury to an outdoor excursion. –Melissa A. Trainer
Consider The Lodge Cast Iron Biscuit Pan!
August 27, 2011 by Melissa A. Trainer · 3 Comments
We have a vast collection of cast iron cookware. We find it priceless for campground cookery. We have multiple Dutch ovens, an array of skillets, basic griddles, and a biscuit pan. I have purchased many of these items at thrift stores and garage sales over the years. Last year, right before we left for our family camping trip to Yellowstone National Park, I found a Lodge cast iron biscuit pan at the thrift store. I think I paid about $3 for it. While we were camping at the Madison Campground in Yellowstone, I spontaneously decided to use the pan for some mini pizzas. I had some Pillsbury biscuit dough that I separated into layers and placed in the greased pan. I then added some tomato sauce and cheese and placed the pan on the grill rack over a moderate campfire. I don’t recall how long they cooked, but I do remember that they were fabulous–smokey with a nicely browned bottom. My children loved them and they were a wonderfully simple snack food to serve around the campfire... [Read more...]
