Crock Pots, Toaster Ovens, Etc.

[Olive600]

Thanks, everyone. It'll take me some time to digest everything I've learned. In the meantime, I'll be a cook ahead and freeze sort of gal. I'll stock smaller quantities of the things I use at home. And hold off on buying any new gadgets. There is so much to think about. The idea that the traveling I've done was preparation for RVing isn't holding up. This is a whole new thing. I never thought of it as having a second home even though it obviously is. Baby steps.

Nikki

[AlmostThere]

It seems the consensus is to go with the 'add as needed' attitude. You'll figure it out.

[sistert]

I totally understand about a good meal. Have you considered grilling while boondocking? Not just the typical backyard fare of burgers and hot dogs. In a Dutch oven you can braise, stew, and bake. You could make an aluminum foil packet with fish, veggies, some oil spices and a little squirt of citrus. Would cook in a flash. There are options and I'm working on some recipes because mom wants to boondocking too. As a professional cook, I would be slacking in my duties if I didn't make sure she ate well!

TeAntae

[Redetotry]

I totally understand about a good meal. Have you considered grilling while boondocking? Not just the typical backyard fare of burgers and hot dogs. In a Dutch oven you can braise, stew, and bake. You could make an aluminum foil packet with fish, veggies, some oil spices and a little squirt of citrus. Would cook in a flash. There are options and I'm working on some recipes because mom wants to boondocking too. As a professional cook, I would be slacking in my duties if I didn't make sure she ate well!

TeAntae

Sounds like you have some good ideas I would love to see some easy healthy recipes. By Dutch oven do you mean one you cook with over a campfire or on the stove? Has anyone else noticed on Pinterest so many dessert recipes call for 2-3 cups of sugar! Good grief I can't imagine anything needing that much sugar and if it does I don't want to eat it!

[mitch5252]

Sounds like you have some good ideas I would love to see some easy healthy recipes. By Dutch oven do you mean one you cook with over a campfire or on the stove? Has anyone else noticed on Pinterest so many dessert recipes call for 2-3 cups of sugar! Good grief I can't imagine anything needing that much sugar and if it does I don't want to eat it!

Here's a Camp Dutch Oven (the lid has a lip to keep the coals on the top, and legs on the bottom to accommodate coals). You can use the DO with charcoal or a campfire (I've even used my little one on top of my flat top electric stove and on the gas stove in the Mobile Marlin).

For some reason, camp DOs just make food taste better! Speaking of DOs - where's our resident DO-Pro been - Maggie (sandersmr)?

[Bethers]

I don't have or use a DO but I eat very well and usually very healthy while I boondock. And while I don't. It's the dang gtg's that do me in

Editing to say I have nothing against DO's. Just was saying I eat healthy without one! Hope I didn't offend our upset anyone.

[sistert]

Sounds like you have some good ideas I would love to see some easy healthy recipes. By Dutch oven do you mean one you cook with over a campfire or on the stove? Has anyone else noticed on Pinterest so many dessert recipes call for 2-3 cups of sugar! Good grief I can't imagine anything needing that much sugar and if it does I don't want to eat it!

I'll definitely post to the food section as I develop recipes. It's just not necessary to #1 to eat poorly on the road, #2 make food that requires so much effort that it becomes a pain in the butt to cook, and #3 spend a fortune to eat well.

mitch5252 showed what a DO looks like. They are like a non-electric slow cooker with other options. A couple of recipes I've found for the DO that are more than chili, bread, and pork 'n beans:

- Osso Buco http://familyspice.com/recipes/recipe/?recipe_id=80 The list of ingredients looks long but you probably have almost everything except the meat and tomatoes.

- Stuffed Peppers http://www.dirtygourmet.com/dutch-oven-stuffed-peppers Peppers are a good vehicle for leftover veggies, rice, meat, what have you.

- Roasted Garlic Chicken Pizza http://dutchovenmadness.blogspot.com/2011/06/roasted-garlic-chicken-pizza.html This is to show more that anything can be cooked in a DO but it does sound delicious doesn't it!

As for the sugar thing, I wish I knew. Desserts don't need a 5 lbs. bag of sugar just to make them taste good. I personally think it's to make up for low quality ingredients.

[Redetotry]

Thank you for the links, that pizza recipe sounds fantastic! I'll look forward to more of your recipes for sure. I do have some very old cast iron dutch ovens that belonged to my Granny that are over 100 years old and still look good. BUT... they weigh more than I can handle now. I was so happy to find one that is newer but is only 3 1/2 inches tall and 9 inches wide!

[sistert]

I was so happy to find one that is newer but is only 3 1/2 inches tall and 9 inches wide!

That is tiny though it probably is handy for something.

[mitch5252]

That sounds like the 4-qt. size. I have one and its perfect for one or two ppl.

[dpf]

I have one of these and I love it. http://westbend.com/cooking/slow-cooker ... ooker.html It can be used like a crockpot, the base can be used as a small grill which is the perfect size for a grilled sandwich, French toast, small pancakes or fried eggs. The vessel can go in the oven or you can brown meat and then set it to slow cook. If I had to choose between space for my crock pot or this for being versatile I'd take my slow-cooker. You can even use it to hard cook eggs or boil potatoes.

[BirdbyBird]

That looks like something that even I could use! Will have to look one up and consider it.