S’MORES! Tips, Recipes, and SECRETS

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to our E-mail Digest or RSS Feed. We will then send you the stories that are posted each day in an e-mail digest. We use a service called Feedburner for delivery of these emails. You will receive an e-mail from Feedburner after you subscribe and you must click on that email to activate your subscription. Thanks for visiting and enjoy all the information! RV.Net Blog AdminI’ve been watching my weight lately. In fact, I’ve been on a diet. This means, sadly, a summer with no beer. In the old days, I’d down a couple of 300-calorie pale ales before crawling out of bed. Now I receive my daily mouse-sized serving of low cal, low carb wine from an eye-dropper. My wife just dribbles a few drops onto my tongue to go along with my evening rations. At least she tells me it’s wine. It’s probably just sugar free grape juice, or maybe just purple water. Click the photo to join us around the Facebook campfire! We're roasting marshmallows and talkin' SMORES! In the old days, my “veggies” were breaded, deep fried, and often paired with “veggie based” condiments like tomato ketchup. (What do you mean, a tater tot isn’t a vegetable?) Now my vegetables are green and steamed. Sometimes, if I’m lucky, they get misted with a hint of zero calorie fake butter spray. I can lose weight simply by looking at them. Yes, I’ve made many culinary sacrifices in the pursuit of baggy clothes. But... Read more

Get RV Camping Book FREE on Kindle (Amazon Prime Members)

Earlier this year, we announced my new e-book about RV camping. It’s called “Long Long Honeymoon – Living Large in a Small Tin Can.” (Try saying that phrase three times fast.) It clocks in at 292 pages of content – only slightly shorter than the Lord of the Rings trilogy. The response to this book has been fantastic. Since I am not easily overwhelmed, let me simply say: I am whelmed. You the people, my fellow campers, have gobbled this book down… like a plate of hot smores. Amazon Prime members can borrow the author's book for free. And if you're not a Prime member, it's only $2.99. Especially you Kindle readers. You have made this book one of the top sellers in the Amazon Kindle “Travel Essays & Travelogues” section. Of course, with the free Kindle app you can read many Kindle books on almost any e-device, including iPad, iPhone, any number of Android tablets, and even a Nook. (Don’t tell Barnes & Noble, but I have been known to read Kindle on my rooted Nook Color!) For this deal, however, you need to be using a REAL Kindle device. Hey, those are Amazon’s rules, not mine. “Long Long Honeymoon – Living Large in a Small Tin Can” is now available on the AMAZON KINDLE platform for the rock bottom price of $2.99 – but it’s FREE to borrow for Amazon Prime members via the Kindle Lending Library – on real Kindle devices! Check it out now – before we come to our senses! NOW... Read more

Got a Kindle? Here’s a FREE “RV Cooking” Cookbook!

Fans of our “Long Long Honeymoon” Facebook page already know all about this one. If you have an Amazon Kindle (or one of the FREE Kindle reading apps) you can now enjoy this “RV Cooking” cookbook from Gooseberry Patch as a FREE download! Get it while it lasts, folks. Here’s a link to our post with all the details about the free book: FREE RV COOKING COOKBOOK Be sure to LIKE our Facebook page to stay in the loop for more RV camping freebies. Just click on Sally for more info! Like us! Really like us! Enjoy your free cookbook. We’ll have the grilled cheese and tomato soup, please!  Read More →

Gourmet Italian Guest RV Cooking Show

Italian food has become standard fare here in America. It seems everywhere you visit you’ll find Olive Garden or even a Pizza Hut. But look a little harder and you’ll discover establishments serving delicious, authentic, makes-magic-in-your-mouth Italian with recipes passed down from generation to generation. That’s exactly what I found during my stay at Flying Flags RV Resort in Buellton, CA. In fact, I was looking for a celebrity chef to film a show with me. Luckily for all of us, the resort’s manager, Dan Baumann, is a bona fide foodie and had just the man for me – Chef Giorgio Curti of the famous Santa Ynez eatery Trattoria Grappolo. Upon hearing the news I did what every fun-loving RV Cooking Show host would do – planned a party!! But instead of filming in Studio A (our Jayco 5-er) Dan graciously offered a big, beautiful park model cottage. Nice! In this episode – Gourmet Guests – you’ll enjoy the fruits of our labor. Chef Giorgio prepares 3 absolutely amazing dishes for us: a seafood pasta, grilled sliced beef with arugula and a burrata citronella salad. Amazing! And don’t shy away, they only sound fancy and complex. Chef Giorgio specializes in easy and elegant. He made these terrific dishes “rustic” in honor of our outdoor lifestyle. Served up with some fine Santa Barbara County wine – Mosby Dolcetto for one – it was a fabulous feast that you don’t want to miss out on. Sure enough,... Read more

It’s the little things that make a boondocking lifestyle – Part 2

By Bob Difley Last week’s post (of the same name) triggered the unlikely discussions of electric blankets and the CPAP (sleep apnea) problem for boondockers. But it was more than that, it was a discussion of what is important for our personal enjoyment. So let’s dig some more into how to cope with our individual quirks and idiosyncrasies (Qs & Is) when boondocking and exploring those destinations way off the beaten path. I’ll start with my wife’s Qs & Is (since I don’t have any). As a health and fitness nut enthusiast, a most important requirement for her is access to fresh fruits and vegetables (FFV). Let me emphasize fresh here. It was never a question of whether we would orr would not continue to eat FFV when boondocking, but how would we accomplish it off in the depths of the primeval forest way out in the desert where we liked to camp–miles from the nearest organic food or farmers market. Supermarkets were few and far between in most of the places we explored and they usually left her dissatisfied and the local stores were usually deficient in the FFV category–especially the fresh part–if they had any fruits and veggies at all.  The longest we could eke out the FFV supply before they withered into the inedible class was five days. As a result we had to build into our schedule and finances long trips to the nearest urban center for restocking. So off we would go, driving sometimes as far as 50 miles one way, and... Read more

RV Cooking Show Interviews Two Oil Barons, Creates Two Delicious RV Recipes

Baked Goat Cheese Salad and a Walnut Honey Sauced Brownie featured in this Local and Luscious Food, Fun & Friends at Flying Flags episode Perhaps you’re like me…perfectly paired with my love to travel and my love to eat is my curiosity and love of learning. I suppose that’s why folks like us travel, vacation and explore like we do. Not too long ago I was fortunate enough to be able to visit with two dynamic women that play a major part in the Santa Ynez Valley culinary scene – I call them the ‘oil barons’. For this Food, Fun & Friends at Flying Flags episode called Local and Luscious I was searching for a premier olive oil maker and came across Theo Stephan, founder of Global Gardens, and her amazing gourmet collection of oils, vinegars and more. Long story short, that lead me to the Solvang Farmers Market and Mary Jane Edalatpour of La Nogalera Walnut Oil. Both ladies are a foodie-force to be reckoned with and create some spectacular oils! In this RV Cooking Show episode we’ll learn a bit about their groves and their oils and make two show-stopping dishes…one to start the meal and one to finish it. After visiting with Theo we’ll prepare an easy and elegant Baked Goat Cheese Salad with a simple vinaigrette. We’ll take Mary Jane’s walnut oil for a spin with our Walnut Honey Sauced Brownie after stopping by her organic walnut grove. Watch the Local and Luscious episode and visit my website to print the... Read more

Snowbird destinations: New Mexico

D.H. Lawrence said it best: “I think New Mexico was the greatest experience from the outside world that I ever had. It certainly changed me forever….The moment I saw the brilliant, proud morning sunshine high over the deserts of Santa Fe, something stood still in my soul, and I started to attend….In the magnificent fierce morning of New Mexico one sprang awake, a new part of the soul woke up suddenly, and the world gave way to the new.” Georgia O'Keeffe Museum in Santa Fe. © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved “The Land of Enchantment” is scrawled across the New Mexico license plate. To someone who hasn’t visited New Mexico that may just seem like a phrase produced by Madison Avenue or a chamber of commerce. But a visit to New Mexico will quickly enchant and thoroughly cast a spell over you, and you’ll wonder why it took so long to make that initial visit. Renowned New Mexico artist Georgia O’Keeffe once said, “If you ever go to New Mexico, it will itch you for the rest of your life.” Like millions of folks from all over the world, we came to know exactly what she meant. The people, the culture, the cuisine, the landscape, the climate—New Mexico just gets under your skin and takes hold. Whatever form it takes, the New Mexico mystique is a powerful force to reckon with. The mystique of New Mexico’s American Indian tribes is extremely powerful. The Navajo, Apache, Ute, Hopi, and Pueblo cultures all call New Mexico home. Their unique languages, colorful... Read more

RV Cooking Show – Aunt Lucy’s Thanksgiving Stuffing & 3 Hidden Gem National Parks/Monuments

Happy Thanksgiving RV.net readers!! Growing up, this stuffing permeated my holidays. It’s the one we enjoyed when spending time with Aunt Lucy and her brood and, if we couldn’t be together that year, enjoyed at our house. It’s a staple at my Thanksgiving table all these years and miles later and one I’m not willing to compromise on. But that doesn’t mean you can’t. In fact, if it were up to my chile-lovin’ husband, we’d add roasted green chiles to this year’s batch (but not going to happen). Check out my “Additional Tips” on this episode’s webpage for ways to customize this dish or enjoy it like Aunt Lucy makes it. Either way, it’s delicious! While the stuffing is cooking I’ll take you on a quick tour of something I’m mighty thankful for – three of my favorite lesser known National Parks/Monuments  – and I’ll offer my .02 on what’s not to be missed when visiting the parks. Check it out: Make our Crockpot Turkey Breast – see the video here. And don’t forget Mom’s Famous Thanksgiving Cranberry Sauce…yum! FOR the ADVENTUROUS (or simply curious): Gourmet Trash Can Turkey From all of us at the RV Cooking Show, we wish you and those you care about a memorable Thanksgiving holiday. Evanne RV Cooking Show PS – What do you call the Thanksgiving turkey stuffing? Stuffing or ??? Leave a comment…we’d all like to know :>  Read More →

Reducing Kitchen Clutter

Written By Professor95, courtesy of Woodall’s Campground and Family Camping Blog. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Dana T’s recent blog on RV Kitchen Organization. So much so, that I cannot resist the temptation to slip in behind her excellent ideas and add some of our own. Dana’s family and mine live in significantly different RV environments. First, it is normally just Nancy, me and Oscar in the RV – that is unless we are taking grandkids along too. Second, we are not full-timers and third we have a little more living space since our fifth wheel is not a toy hauler. But, more living space does not necessarily translate to a larger kitchen or more storage space. The only thing we really gain is room for more furniture and dirt. RV kitchens are, well, RV kitchens. They are typically small, use downsized appliances and never have enough cabinet space. They provide a really good reason for cooking outdoors on the grill! Dana’s comment on, “If you don’t use it, toss it” is so true. For years we hauled hundreds of pounds of stuff – stuff like waffle irons, sandwich grills, multiple pots and pans, enough dishes for a 30 piece place setting and enough food to feed us for an entire winter. Then, one day, we decided to get organized. Out went all of the unused stuff – back to the Goodwill thrift store where most of it was purchased to start with. Some kitchen wares were replaced with space saving designs and space was reworked to maximize convenience and... Read more

RV Cooking Show – White Bean Pesto Dip and Central Massachusetts

  We’ve been dedicated tenters, pop-up lovers, travel trailer testers, and 5th wheel dwellers…and made lots of terrific friends along the way. One set of friends recently hit a milestone in their business – Pine Acres Family Camping Resort in Oakham, MA celebrated their 50th year as a family owned/operated park – three generations strong! Randy and Denise invited us out to celebrate (and helped us add “cabin campers” to the list) and graciously agreed to film this episode of the RV Cooking Show.  Read more  Read More →

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