Favorite foods that you miss?

[Iggy]

Living in a van without a fridge, micro, oven, limited space, etc., and only having a single propane stove, means a somewhat limited menu. I don't mind most of the time and I go out to eat occasionally. But I really miss having rice custard and tater tot casserole, a couple of my favs that I can't get in any restaurant. Any favorites that you miss too?

 

[compassrose]

Since I have a full galley, nope. Only food I can't get out here. Worthless state doesn't know what speckled grits are. I have to order off the internet! And they tend to stock the wrong tea for iced tea making.

 

[GrantRobertson]

Are you kidding? I can't wait to have my own kitchen again, no matter how modest. In my current living situation, the kitchen is filthy and piled up with dirty dishes all the time. It is so bad, I don't want to cook there. I have to eat out almost all the time. So, when I finally do get out on the road, THEN I will be able to cook all the things I have missed. Both in fancy. Just cooked by me, the way I like.

 

[Almost There]

Good food is too important to me to deprive myself by trying to use an inadequate kitchen.

It was one of the first things designed for in the van. I chose to go with a twin size bed rather than cut down on kitchen space even though I expect to do most of my cooking outside.

Some may think I'm absolutely nuts by putting in two compressor coolers so that one can be used as a freezer but it will enable me to stay out boondocking for more than a few days at a time. The one thing I disliked from my previous time on the road was having to try to buy 1 chop or chicken piece at a time. The freezer will allow me to buy a package and repack into individual servings. I can also make spaghetti sauce and chili and not have to eat them for days in a row until used up!

Since I travel with my backpacking equipment as well as camping equipment I could conceivably have a total of 3 burners plus the barbecue going if need be.

The only food I contemplate missing while on the road is if I fail to plan properly - we have a chicken place here called Swiss Chalet - I absolutely love their dipping sauce. Fortunately I can buy the mix in the grocery store, I just have to figure out how many packs I have to bring with me to last the winter...

 

[SoulRaven]

Cooking and eating well are two of the things I insist upon. I have 2 burners, a folding Coleman style oven, and a dutch oven, along with a cast iron skillet, skillet w/ grill in bottom, & sauce pan, both with lids.

Between them I can cook anything. My ice chest will last a week on just ice, or two weeks, first as a freezer, second as an ice box, if I start out with dry ice. Combined with smoked or canned meats, I can easily stay out for a month or more.

When cooking something that I can only make in large quantities, I generally have no shortage of neighbors waiting to enjoy my offerings. I just keep enough for me for an extra meal or two. In turn my neighbors frequently invite me to their BBQ's and get togethers. Yesterday, as I was readying for departure, one of my neighbors gifted me with 10 lbs of smoked fish, packaged in 1/2 lb individual packs that need no refrigeration. The night before was a neighbors night out, and I made up a huge batch of Hawaiin BBQ Rigatoni for everyone. It was great and the first time I had made it this year.

Don't let your diet or your tastebuds suffer, if you can cook it in a house, you can cook it in your van or outdoors too. Make room for what little equipment you need, and enjoy your life. It's just too short to just make do...

 

[ilovemyvan]

Until I read Almost There comment "we have a chicken place here called Swiss Chalet - I absolutely love their dipping sauce." I didn't think I missed anything while cooking in the van but then I started to think of food from Canadian stores and restaurants that you can not find in the US. Swiss Chalet is one restaurant I missed since leaving Ontario more than 26 years ago. Their chicken is done to perfection, the sauce is excellent and their cream pies are outstanding. How I miss it all. I seldom eat chocolate but when I do I wish I could reach for a Coffee Crisp or a Caramilk. OOOH! they are so delicious. The pizzas in Quebec are my all time favorites. It is so tempting for me to be rude when I visit my family and turn down their wonderful meals so I could make a quick stop at the pizza place. Oh and their 'fromage en grain'....yum yum!

Ok, I better stop now before I jump in the van and drive to Montreal and come back 25 lbs heavier

Nicole

 

[Almost There]

Hey Nicole, if you're going to be at the RTR, I think I can find room for a surprise box for you!

Let's see - Swiss Chalet sauce mix, Coffee Crisp and Caramilk bars, anything else??

So sorry I won't be including the Quebecois pizzas, I'm headed south and west, not east!!

 

[compassrose]

Having a small kitchen should not stop you from having good food.

http://onepotchefshow.com/ One pot chef cookbooks http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/onepotchef

The "Everything One Pot" cook book is great whether you have a small galley or a large one. My daughter got it because she doesn't like to wash dishes. Neither do I.

I also suggest that you invest in a scale that you can zero out. I like to make a recipe by amount, measuring each item with my digital scale set on grams. Then I write the grams amount down next to the measurement. Next time I make something, I just set the pan on the scale and add my ingredients by weight. Many recipes you find on the internet allows you to get the amounts by weight. Weighing works really well for sticky ingredients.

 

[mockturtle]

I miss my Klondike bars. My little freezer compartment doesn't keep ice cream cold enough.

 

[cyndi]

I don't cook much any more. As soon as I get to my son's he can count on Indian Tacos and Spaghetti with meatballs and sausage (cooked over a two day period) Frybread with sausage gravy the morning after we have Indian Tacos.

Generally, If I eat miss something with the exception of the two meals mentioned above I go out and get it. When I am on the west coast I miss friend clams and beer battered haddock. When I am on the east coast I miss real Mexican food

 

[ilovemyvan]

Almost There

What a tempting proposition, a box with my favorite chocolate bars. My mouth is watering. I really appreciate the fact that you would sacrifice precious space to satisfy a craving of mine. How generous is that. We will not be attending the RTR this year. It falls into the last 2 weeks that my husband will ever work at his job. He retires at the end of Jan. So young lady don't forget to stop at Swiss Chalet on your way out of town and have a few bites of chicken for me

Enjoy your next big adventure.

Nicole

 

[SoulRaven]

I live in a 400 sq ft age 55+ HUD subsidized efficiency apartment spring, summer, and fall in a quaint rural community of just 600 people that contains the only stop light in Sullivan County (pop 6300) Pennsylvania in the area known as the Endless Mountains.

In the winter months, I live in my 45 sq ft rolling aluminum tent in the state of Florida. The climate in Florida is better suited to ease the discomfort of my severe career ending work-related industrial injury to my lumbar area that occurred in April of 2014.

The two 110 volt small appliances I miss while on the road are my commercial bread maker and electric frying pan.

I make two loaves of bread per week and one batch of pizza dough. I use the electric frying pan as my pizza oven set at 250f to make a personal size pizza about 4 times per week. I take a portion of dough and while using a large spoon shape the dough into a thin crust for a New York style Neapolitan pizza.

My bread and dough recipes are much alike but the bread recipe has more sugar and powdered milk is added. The basis is one cup water, one cup white flour, one cup wheat flour and 1/2 cup of rolled oats.

 

[cherterr]

Big mistake on my part. Clicking on this link while I'm on a DIET! lol
Good ideas, you guys.

 

[Queen]

I'm not much of a cook so the only foods I miss while out and about are the regional ones I can't get. When I finally get back to NM I will eat my body weight in green chilis and Indian fry bread. *drool*

 

[Iggy]

I said something on Facebook too about missing certain comfort food at times. A half dozen different women offered to cook a meal for me this month while I'm back in my hometown. I need to complain more often! Lol

 

[Ella1]

Even home, the little cooking I do is very plain. Traveling, it will be more so.
Cans and opener with a packet of mayo, a "just add water" meal or two,
and a fast food place or two is about it for me. I do like cocoa, and carry that and tea.
Single servings of fruits and salad occasionally are good.

 

[highdesertranger]

basically I agree with everyone who said what ever of can cook in a house you can cook on the road. you just need the right gear. also the right gear doesn't need to be some elaborate set up, it can be simple. highdesertranger

 

[mockturtle]

Right! I cook almost every day [leftovers on the others] and have learned to live without my Klondike bars. [Lindt 70% chocolate, instead, for dessert!]