Vagabond Chef

Now most RV’s come with a microwave/convection oven instead of a regular oven.  This gives you more storage and they are more energy efficient and they cook faster.

A convection oven cooks through the process of circulatng hot air around the food.  This special process is from fans and baffles in the oven.

Meaning a convection oven cooks faster there are two ways to determine the cooking times.  Either cook at the same temperature and reduce the cooking time by 25% or lower the temperature by 50 degrees and cook for the regular amount of time.

If a recipe calls for a cooking time of less than 15 minutes, make no adjustments.

Cookie sheets and short sided pans work best in convection ovens.

Angelfood cakes turn out excellent in convection ovens

You should still use a meat rack and a roasting pan for your meats.

GOOD TIMES,GOOD FRIENDS, GOOD FOOD

RV’s are pretty much the same on the outside; meaning there isn’t much you can do about it.  So why not change the interior to be your own.  The main thing to remember anything added also adds weight to the unit.  Remember safety comes first.

With an existing rig there are plenty  of ways to add your own personality.  Add or change furniture: you could remove a sofa and replace with recliners, or a dinette booth with a table and chair set.

Convert an area into an office.  If you have bunkbeds in your unit you don’t use this could be a perfect spot for a desk.

Put up new window treatments.

Add throw rugs, bedding and pillows

Put up personal pictures and paintings.

Replace hardware on cabinets and drawers

Change the faucets

Change paint or add a mural on the outside

Replace carpeting with new or vinyl or wood flooring

Replace the bed mattress

No matter what you do enjoy it

GOOD TIMES, GOOD FRIENDS, GOOD FOOD

here is a nice hearty stew to try.

BEEF AND SAUSAGE STEW

4 slices bacon
1 lb. beef stew meat
3 apples, peeled, cored and shopped
1 large onion, chopped
3 ½ cup beef broth
1 tsp. salt
1 lb. Polish sausage links, cut into bite-sized pieces
6 carrots, sliced
6 cup chopped cabbage
¼ cup flour

In a large Dutch oven cook bacon until crisp.  Drain reserving drippings in pan.  Crumble bacon and set aside.  Brown stew meat in the reserved drippings.  Add apples and onion.  Cover and simmer 5 minutes.  Add cups of beef broth to the Dutch oven and stir in the salt.  Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat and cover; simmer about 1-¼ hours or until meat is nearly tender.

Stir in sausage pieces and carrots.  Cover and simmer for 30minutes.  Stir in cabbage, cover and simmer 10 minutes more.  Blend the remaining beef broth and the flour.  Stir into stew.  Cover and stir until thickened.  Top each serving

A clean RV interior makes your travels more enjoyable.  These tips will help you quicken the job of cleaning it so you can enjoy the experience faster.

You will need three microfiber cloths or dust rags, a two gallon bucket, wet mop, dry mop, vacuum cleaner and stain remover.

This systematic way works well.  To begin with collect the trash throughout the RV.  There shouldn’t be much outside of the trash containers because everybody should pick up immediately after themselves.

Then starting at the rear of the RV, clean that room and move forward.

Clean glass and mirrors with a damp, not wet rag and then follow up with a dry one to dry it off.  Remember to wipe up and down it is harder to see any streaks.  Then dust and vacuum.

In the kitchen you will need to clean the fronts of the cabinets, appliances, wi ndow sill tracks, outside of the trash container, chairs,vent hood and counters.  Move all items and clean under them and replace immediately.  Don’t forget to clean the floor.

In the living area follow all the past steps and then using the correct attachmentsvacuum the furniture with any fabric on it.  If it is leather use a damp cloth and then wipe with a dry one.

Immediately clean your rags so they are ready the next time.

GOOD TIMES, GOOD FRIENDS, GOOD FOOD

Making  the decision to become a full time RVer is a big deal.  It affectswhere you are, what you do, how you do things, who you are  associated with- in shortit is a whole new start to a whole new lifestyle.  Full timing is not for everyone, but anyone could do it but everyone will not be happy doing it.

How do we know if we are suited for full timing?  There are some characteristics of sucessful full timers that are apparent to anyone who observes these people carefully.  These people have asked themselves these basic questions.

Am I dissatisfied with the way I live?  Do you have the feeling you would like to go more, do more, see more?  Do you have the feeling you want to do more with your life?  If you say yes then your off on the right foot.

Do you like excitement and adventure?  It is definitely a trait of fulltimers.

Are you a daring person?  Full timers are people who don’t mind a challenge.

Are you gregarious?  It is a people intensive lifestyle.  RVers talk to each other.

Most importantly do you have a good relationship with your traveling companion?  You will be in very close quarters.  Be honest with yourself.

Good luck.

GOOD TIMES, GOOD FRIENDS, GOOD FOOD

Well it is recipe time again and lets try a nice cool refreshing salad

WALDORF SALAD

3 cups diced apples
½ cup chopped celery
½ cup chopped pecans
¼ raisins
½ tsp. lemon peel
¼ tsp. dry mustard
½ tsp. ginger
1/8 tsp. mace
Dash Cardamom
2 tsp. lemon juice
½ cup salad dressing
1 tbs. light cream

Put apples, celery, pecans and raisins in a bowl.  Combine lemon peel, dry mustard, ginger, mace, Cardamom, lemon juice, salad dressing and light cream; toss with apple mixture.

What’s life without a slide? It still feels roomy but just not as roomy as with a slide depending on the floorplan.

Multi- slide RV’s are awkward when inside if the slides are not out.   They are not the same some are worse than others, usually the more and the deeper the slides, the more cramped they are inside when closed.  The full wall slides is better in this aspect when compared to the double same side slide that you only have two walls to deal with.

Some advantages of the no slide units are that less weight is apparent, where as the walls and drive mechanisms in the slide add quite a bit of weight.  Less weight means you get a better ride, better handling and fuel mileage.  Acess to the storage is easier without a slide and with the mechanisms not being there gives you more storage.  Maintenance is also reduced  and slide less are less expensive.

What about overnight stops in rest areas?  Often the spaces are to small to open the slides and in some cases its not even allowed.  So in this situation multi slide units living area is less than ideal; but nonslide units are perfect for this.

Non slide units are not for everyone but if you travel a lot, urban boondock (walmart, casinos) or just want to save money a non slide RV might be just what you want.

GOOD TIMES,GOOD FRIENDS, GOOD FOOD

 The first thing you have to consider before becoming a fulltimer is to decide if this lifestyle is for you.  Many people have dreamed of this lifestyle for years but then there are those that never even thought about living in a RV.  This could be the lifestyle that gives you the opportunity to persue the passions and dreams that are in the deepness of your mind.

Here are a few questions to help you decide if you fit into this lifestyle:

_ Do you love to travel?

_Do you love nature and the outdoors?

_ Do you love meeting other interesting people?

_Do you love the idea of becoming closer to your loved ones?

_Do you want to simplify your life?

_Do you like the idea of being able to persue your passions?

_If you answered no to more than two of these questions this lifestyle might not be for you.

Let’s look at the negatives toward this lifestyle.

_Do others consider you flexible?

_Do others consider you patient?

_Do you really, really get along with  and like your traveling partner?

_Does your traveling partner share your dreams?

_Does your partner want to live on the road?

_Can you fix things? If not don’t let that stop you.

_ hopefully you answered yes to most of these.  If so enjoy your new lifestyle  and say hi on your way by.

GOOD TIMES, GOOD FRIENDS, GOOD FOOD

Is it about age, money health or what?  How do you know that now is the time to pull up stakes and change to a whole new lifestyle on wheels.

As far as age goes there are a great number of variables.  Do you enjoy your job and your current lifestyle; a lot of people do. Then at this time fulltime RVing might not be for you at this time.  But things have been known to change and so might your situation and you might decide to do it sometime down the road.  Some people are out there full time RVing with their children and some are out there RVing with their walkers.  This is just to show you age doesn’t matter when it comes time to go fulltiming.

Then you get to the fact of money.  Who knowswhat having enough money to fulltime RV itis.  To some having a $1000 to others it is a $100,000.  So waiting to have enough money depends on who you are and what you want .  Also if you don’t have enough money then you can get a job while on the road plenty of RVers do(check out www.workamper.com)Some of the jobs could beworking at a campground, selling christmas trees,pumpkins,or working in state or national parks.  You could even run your own business out of your RV (I have one you might be interested in; contact me at vagabond_chef@yahoo.com).

When it comes to health only you and your doctor can answer that question.  The thing is many people say because of this lifestyle there health has improved.  They have less stress than their old ordinary day, they are more active and usually eat better.  Your pace of life can also be as  slow or as hectic  as you would like.  Thus when it comesto your health only you qand your doctor can decide if this is the right lifestyle for you.

So I guess what I’m saying is there is no wrong time to start full time RVing.  But now I have to convince my wife of that, because Rocky the black labrador and I are ready to go.

GOOD TIMES, GOOD FRIENDS, GOOD FOOD

Buying a RV is partially because of bad weather and wanting to stay dry and warm.  If the skies ever turn black and ugly where your heading you can just turn away from it and try to get out of town.  Sometimes it works but some time you have to remember that you don’t mess with mother nature; she’s like the Canadian Mounted Police and will eventually get you.

Rain is unavoidable, and usually when it rains it gets windy.  Rains problems are two fold: wet roads and bad visibility.  First remember wipers on headlights go on.  Cut your speed and leave a larger space between cars.  Drive in the middle lane so cars pulling off the road aren’t a factor.  Tap your brakes once in a while to dry them off.  Wake up the co-pilot another set of eyes won’t hurt.  The problem with the wind is you can’t see it.  When it’s windy grip the steering wheel with both hand.s.  Stay out of the center lanes.  Steer into the guests; this will help negate the gusts.

Ice can be one of the greatestweather problems.  Patches of ice are hard to see.  The best thing to do is stay out of Wisconsin in the winter and early spring .  Cut your spee, tap your brakes when slowing down.  Slow down sooner than normal.  Don’t tailgate or make excessive lane changes.  Best bet stay off the roads and let the road cleaning crews do their job.

Snow not only is slippery, longer lasting, and could cover ice.  But be careful and you should be just fine.  Remember wipers on headlights go on, reduce speed,leave extra space, if snow is accumulating try to stay in someone elses tracks.  Highways and main thorough fares are plowed first and cul de sacs last.

If it is foggy and your wondering if you should be driving ; if in doubt park it.  But under nocircumstances should you park on the shoulder.  If you are driving have your low beams on.

Natural disasters such as earthquakes, tornadoes or hurricanes arenot so frequent as the othersbut do still exist.  For tornadoes find shelter.  Even a drainage ditch wil do, underpasses are better than nothing.  For earthquakes follow your instincts.  Hurricanes get out oftown or find sturdy shelter.

GOOD TIMES, GOOD FRIENDS, GOOD FOOD