Cooking Adventures and Culinary Creations

We lived full-time in our Alpine 3651RL for almost four years.  During that time, we used the Alpine’s kitchen to cook a large variety of meals and other items.  Some were healthy, and some were not so healthy.  While we are no longer full-timers, we are now part-timers and love going camping.  Currently, we are in central Florida, enjoying the nice winter weather.  It really doesn’t matter how we camp; our use of the kitchen is the same.

What do we cook?  We cook it all.  Our kitchen, while not as big as the one in our house, has plenty of room for cooking and preparing food.  We cook common campout foods like sliders and rollers (Navy talk for burgers and hot dogs) and all the items that go with them, like baked beans.  Beth has made lasagna, baked ziti, and spaghetti with garlic bread.  FYI, I had spaghetti leftovers for lunch today. An easy favorite of Beth’s is chicken and green beans.  Looking for an easy evening snack?  Last night we made nachos. Sometimes we just have cheese on them, other times we load them up with beef or chicken, salsa, and other toppings.  Beth loves to bake; her cookies are often considered favorites by our camping friends. In addition to cookies, we bake homemade bread, angel food, cakes, muffins, biscuits, and more.  The list of items you can cook is endless. 

Our Alpine’s kitchen has a large 3-burner propane stove and oven.  The stove and oven can be used just like the ones in a house.  However, we very seldom use the oven.  The reason why is one of Beth’s favorite features of our Alpine’s kitchen.  It is a must-have, as far as we are concerned, for any RV.  It is the microwave/convection oven.  The key part of that device’s name is convection.  The convection oven is a game changer and makes baking items so easy.  While at a large RV show, someone mentioned they didn’t know how to use their convection oven.  That was the inspiration for one of our most popular videos.  In addition to the appliances that came with our Alpine, we have added a toaster, an air fryer, and an instant pot that doubles as a slow cooker.

When we use the instant pot, we put one of the sinks’ covers on the stove to provide a stable platform for the instant pot.  That way, when we vent the pressure, it gets exhausted outside via the fan in the stove hood and not into the RV.  When you vent that instant pot, make sure your hands and face aren’t near the stream of steam.  No one needs an unplanned trip to the emergency room.

What are some of the lessons we’ve learned cooking in the Alpine?  Altitude can make a difference.  Sometimes you need to adjust your cooking times due to the altitude or humidity.  Be patient; let the convection oven preheat before you put your cookies, biscuits, or rolls in it.  If you can use the convection oven rack that allows the food to rotate, it will cook more evenly.  Sometimes a round pizza pan is the best pan to use.  If the cake recipe says to mix it in a metal bowl, use one.  The only cake fail we have ever had was an angel food cake we didn’t mix in a metal bowl. 

Thank you for joining us on our RVenture Awaits culinary journey, where we've explored the art of cooking all things delicious in our Alpine RV kitchen. For more tips, tricks, and safety guidelines, don't forget to consult your manufacturer's manual. Until next time, happy cooking and happy travels!

Beth's Chocolate Chip Cookies—Oh, so good!

• 1 stick butter (softened and room temperature)
• 2 cups flour
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• pinch of salt
• 1 bag of Toll House Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips

1. Mix the first 7 ingredients together, and then add the chocolate chips.
2. Scoop and put cookies on an ungreased cookie sheet, and bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes.
3. Check cookies at 10 minutes if they are cooking in a convection oven; you want them to be golden brown. (I usually pat down the cookies a little when they come out.)
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Instant Pot Recipe:

• Boneless chicken, your choice of white or dark meat.
• Low-sodium chicken broth and fresh green beans.
• (Optional) Little new potatoes.
• Add all ingredients to the instant pot, then add seasonings to taste, depending on what is available in the RV.
• The instant pot has a chicken setting, and it will notify you when its done. Usually about a half hour.  This is a delicious meal that is really easy!

Family Favorite: BBQ Sweet Chili A family favorite, but not one I still enjoy making, is my BBQ Sweet Chili.  Years ago, I entered a chili contest and won.  After that, my family requests it a couple times a year.  Some people think it’s too sweet and don’t like it.  That’s what's nice about food.  If you don’t like something, you can cook something else.

Here’s that recipe:

• 1lb ea. of Lean Ground Beef, Chicken, & Steak
• 1 can each of Dark Red & Light Red Kidney Beans
• 1 or 2 cans of tomato sauce
• 2 small cans of tomato paste
• 2 cans diced tomatoes
• 2-3 bottles of honey BBQ sauce
• honey to taste
• brown sugar to taste
• cocoa to taste
• orange peel
• dried, diced onions
• oregano
• basil
• cinnamon
• chili powder
• lemon pepper, and whatever other spices you want.

1. Slice the steak into small pieces or chunks and brown in a skillet.  Brown the ground beef and drain any grease. Boil or sauté the chicken and shred it.
2. Drain and rinse the kidney beans.
3. Put all the meat in a slow cooker. Add the honey BBQ sauce, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, kidney beans, and tomato paste.
4. Add the spices, cocoa, and honey to taste. 
5. Cook on high for several hours. Add/adjust spices as needed to adjust for your personal taste.  If the chili needs to be thickened up, add more tomato paste. You can also leave the lid open a little to help thicken it up.