Effortless Meals While Vacationing in an RV
Let’s Get Meal Prep Down While Vacationing in an RV
Your RV vacation doesn’t have to mean that you’ll dine only on boring fare such as sandwiches, chips, and canned soups or that you have to spend all your vacation money on expensive restaurants. The menu can include pre-frozen recipes that’ll utilize your family’s favorite comfort foods, and many other quick & easy meals that are nutritious, healthy, and most importantly full of flavor. Part of the joy of vacationing is having delectable meals to savor after a day of entertaining activities. These dinners are also helpful in saving you time and money that’s reserved for other more important endeavors — such as exploring our great country!
Frozen Entrees Are A Time Saver
Space is at a minimum in most RVs, therefore it’s important to plan your menus so that you can utilize fresh produce and bakery items that can be purchased along your travel route. It’s wise to include a couple of pre-frozen entrees that your family adores. Simply place the dish in the refrigerator the night before you’ll be eating it, and warm it in the microwave or oven. This allows you to enjoy dishes that typically take a lot of ingredients and space to prepare. If Grandma’s lasagna recipe is a favorite and only prepared on special occasions, whip one up for the road and freeze it. By adding a tossed salad and garlic bread to the meal, you’ll be able to enjoy comfort foods from home and feel nurtured and content at the same time.
Other dishes that freeze well include macaroni and cheese, Chicken Tetrazzini, and spaghetti. A fun idea is to make individual meat loaves in a muffin pan by using your tried and true recipe. They typically take around 15 to 20 minutes to bake in a 375 degree oven. Allow them to cool and pop them in an airtight freezer container. Top them with a tangy sauce after re-heating them. An additional vegetable or salad and some crusty rolls will make dining on-the-road a culinary delight with these pre-frozen entrees.
Slow Cooker Ideas Offer Great Tasting Options
Prepare a delicious Creamy Italian Chicken dinner by placing 1 1/2 pounds of frozen boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs into a slow cooker. Cut an 8 oz package of cream cheese into cubes and place them on top of the chicken. Drizzle a 16 oz bottle of your favorite Italian dressing over all. Cook on ‘high’ for 4 hours or on ‘low’ for 6 hours. Top with Parmesan cheese as desired. Serve this tasty chicken over cooked spaghetti noodles, fettucine, or your favorite pasta. A side vegetable or salad helps round out your meal.
Vegan & Vegetarian Selections Are Just As Tasty
Sweet Potato Fajitas are a nutritious and tasty choice for vegans. Add your favorite fajita seasoning packet to about a 1/4 cup of vegetable oil. Thinly slice a large sweet potato into a stir fry pan or large skillet. Add other sliced vegetables that you enjoy, such as bell pepper, Vidalia onion, mushrooms or squash. Pour the oil mixture over all the veggies and sauté them over medium heat. Once the vegetables are tender, remove the skillet from the heat and squeeze half a lime over the vegetables. Add a few sprigs of cilantro, mix all, and then pour into a serving dish. Serve the fajitas in warmed flour tortillas and top with a spicy salsa, if you desire.
Another variation to tacos that may surprise you at how delicious it is, is a sweet potato and black bean taco in a soft . If you are a fan of Mexican foods like enchiladas or chile rejenos, Also consider filling them with mushrooms, nopalitos (flat stems, called pads, of prickly pear cactus), zucchini and corn.
A good vegetarian dish for RV meals is a Mediterranean Omelet. Whisk together six eggs with a quarter cup of water. Add about a 1/2 cup of chopped fresh spinach, one chopped green onion, and salt and pepper to the egg mixture. Pour one tablespoon of vegetable oil into a skillet over medium-high heat. Once the skillet is hot, add the egg mixture and cook until most of the egg is set. Add fresh chopped tomatoes, a few slices of black olive, and about a quarter cup of feta cheese to one side of the omelet. Fold the omelet over and slide it onto a plate. This is a versatile entrée for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
Lighter Fare For When You’re Not That Hungry
A cool, tasty homemade chicken salad is so refreshing after spending the day on the water, hiking, or enjoying other outdoor activities. Depending on the amount of people you are feeding empty two or three (12.5 oz) cans of drained, cooked chicken into a large bowl. Add enough mayonnaise or non-fat plain Greek yogurt to moisten the chicken. Add chopped red onions and celery, sliced seedless grapes, and walnuts to taste. Mix well and serve on flaky croissants that you purchased at a roadside bakery, or serve it on whole- grain crackers, or your favorite bread.
Another type of sandwich that helps make your vacation dining feel special is to add a few slices of your favorite deli-sliced lunchmeat to a crunchy French baguette. Add a slice of Swiss cheese, a few sliced black olives, sliced banana peppers, and some crispy Romaine lettuce to the sandwich. Drizzle the toppings with some Italian or Creamy Herb salad dressing and you’ll have a gourmet sandwich suitable for any guests. Serve some mixed fruit or salty chips with this delectable meal that only takes a few minutes to prepare.
