Camper Van Cooking - Expanding Our Options

As anyone with a camper van knows, cooking is limited by the technology and space available. It is also limited by one's skill.

Our Roadtrek 210P included a two burner propane range and a convection-microwave. Certainly sufficient to do a lot of cooking chores. However, we've expanded our options by adding a portable induction burner and a propane gas grill.

The 210P also has a 5 cu. ft. refrigerator/freezer. That is an important thing because we can only cook what we carry with us, unless we go hunting for game.

We've found that by adding some good Lodge cast iron, we can prepare just about anything. When the weather is good, it is also helpful to be able to cook outdoors. This minimizes water vapor, oils, and heat emissions into the interior of the van.

Here are our cooking accoutrements:

• Microwave/convection oven
• Two burner Range
• Propane Grill
• Inductive portable cooktop
• Lodge reversible griddle grill
• Lodge large cast iron skillet with Cub aluminum cover
• Lodge small cast iron skillet
• Small and one-quart saucepans 

We can and do cook just about anything. For example, here is yesterday's dinner menu:

• Stuffed chicken breast
• Roasted asparagus
• Roasted potatoes
• Apple sauce (unsweetened)
• Vanilla ice cream with fresh raspberries. 

We cooked the potatoes after slicing into wedges in a little olive oil, sea salt and parsley. This was all wrapped in two foil packets and placed in a large, covered cast iron skillet on the inductive burner. I alternated the temperature setting between 360F and 390F for an hour. The asparagus was trimmed, put in foil with olive oil and sea salt. It was cooked on "low" on the grill for about 20 minutes. (Note, grills vary. The Coleman I used runs hot). I also put a large feta cheese and spinach stuffed chicken breast in foil. When the asparagus was done I popped the chicken breast in the grill also at low. It cooked for about 30 minutes. While cooking, I put the asparagus still wrapped in foil on top of the grill to keep it warm. To charcoal dutch oven cooks this will seem familiar.

We had a neighbor over for dinner and they thought it was delicious.

Cooking in progress

Ready to serve

90 days in a Roadtrek

Enjoying the hotel fireplace

We got the Roadtrek because we wanted to explore and we wanted to see the US and beyond. We wanted something that would facilitate the next step.

In a few days we'll pass the milestone for the longest trek to date. 90 continuous days. G gets the credit. I continue to work so I leave the Roadtrek for a few days or whatever, drive and fly other places to do my work while she remains in the sun. When my task is done I return to G and to the Roadtrek.

Now, we didn't purchase it to live full time in it. It is our exploration vehicle. But along the way in our first two years and 16.000 miles we decided we really like trekking. More than we expected. Even more so, we like the mild summers and the warm winters we have encountered. A lot!

Along the way we found some places we'd like to spend a significant amount of time, and use for larger explorations. Milder summers, warm winters and access to all kinds of outdoor places. However, we don't necessarily want to drive 1000 miles to see a National Park. So we decided to "build" some mobile bases. One is a wonderful site upon which we put a travel trailer (TT).  It is the perfect summer location. Adjacent to one of the nicest State Parks in the area and we walk to Lake Michigan. Good dining, craft beers, lots of hikes, things to do and the entire Great Lakes within easy trekking distance.

However, winter is another matter. We decided we'd like to spend winters in warmer climes. So we have been also searching for another mobile base in the Southwest US. It should provide an easy trek north into Colorado, Utah and beyond when it warms. It would be possible to trek east to Florida in the winter if we want lots of water and to visit friends and relatives in that direction. We found such a place. Lots to see and do, National and State Parks and some great bike trails right outside our door. Good food, too. We're currently looking for something larger to put on that site, but meantime we Roadtrek.

Titan Missile Museum

The titan missile museum is a relic of the cold war.

The museum houses the last Titan II rocket in its silo. It has been decommissioned and is now a museum. To keep the Russians happy, certain physical modifications have been made which can be verified via satellites orbiting overhead.

The Titan II was designed to launch a nuclear warhead in 58 seconds, but it was also the vehicle used to propel astronauts into space as part of the Gemini program.

The museum is authentic and includes a tour of the underground launch facility.]

Like me, this museum is a relic. I've been designing and continue to design sophisticated process control systems. The methods and technologies used in constructing this cold war deterrent are the same one's I was using in the 0960s. We've obviously progressed since then. However, I find these museums to be an interesting walk down memory lane. 

Original material:  https://roadtrek210.blogspot.com/

San Xavier del Bac Mission

A Brief History of Mission San Xavier del Bac (from the Mission website):

"A National Historic Landmark, San Xavier Mission was founded as a Catholic mission by Father Eusebio Kino in 1692. Construction of the current church began in 1783.and was completed in 1797.

The oldest intact European structure in Arizona, the church's interior is filled with marvelous original statuary and mural paintings. It is a place where visitors can truly step back in time and enter an authentic 18th Century space.

The church retains its original purpose of ministering to the religious needs of its parishioners. 

Location: The Mission is 9 miles south of downtown Tucson, Arizona just off of Interstate 19. Take exit 92 (San Xavier Road) and follow signs to the Mission.

There is no admission charge to visit Mission San Xavier. Some 200,000 visitors come each year from all over the world to view what is widely considered to be the finest example of Spanish Colonial architecture in the United States."

Tonopah, NV - Mizpah Hotel

Tonopah, NV is one of a number of old mining towns in Nevada. It is a part of Nevada's historic silver mining triangle. Recently I spent a night in the historic Mizpah hotel. This hotel was the first constructed west of the Mississippi with an elevator. It was built in 1907 and opened in 1908. The hotel was restored in 2011. It is in the National Register of Historic Places.

The hotel is one of those unexpected gems which one can come across. It is truly historic. I spent a night here and ate dinner in the hotel restaurant. It was a true pleasure.

One of the ladies in the foyer.  

The hallway leading to my fourth floor room:

About to depart just before dawn:

Lekue Steam Case for Microwave

One of the things about trekking in a 210P is the necessity of cooking. That requires use of the microwave. We have experimented with a Lekue steam case. Tried it first at home on asparagus. It passed the test and so we now carry it in our Roadtrek.

This is a silicone rubber case. It is designed for microwave or oven, it is small and it works really well with vegetables and comes with a nice cookbook. We've only used it in the microwave.

The company has a website with recipes, and I've included the link at the end of this post. Here's a video of the small case. We purchased and use the large one.

Here's the Lekue "large case" that we carry in the Roadtrek:

Here it is partially opened:

Here is a link to the manufacturer's recipes online:

http://www.lekueusa.com/recipe/Recipes.html

More Cooking Gadgets - Microwave Containers for Leftovers

We have two other things we use for cooking which we've found handy.

Here's one. It is a Bento style square box. Actually two, stacked with a handy flexible strap. These are small, have silicone tops with vents and are designed for leftovers and reheating in the microwave. In a 5 cu. ft refrigerator these fit nicely. Pop the vent to microwave, and the manufacturer recommends drying the outside before turning on the microwave. Recommended maximum 500 watts for 1 to 1-1/2 minutes. Thats for leftovers stored in the refrigerator, not the freezer.

On our 1500 watt High Pointe convection/microwave, that would mean a power setting of "PL3" which is about 450 watts. To get to this setting we press the "POWER" button multiple times, First time gives us PL10 which is 100%. Press again for PL9 which is 90% and so on.

Once we are at PL3 we press the number buttons. For example, pressing 1-0-0 in sequence gives one minute of cooking time (1:00). The press the "START" button to begin cooking.

The manufacture of the MB Squares recommends letting the box rest for a minute or so before eating. The food will continue to cook even when out of the microwave.

Next: The Lekue Steam Case

Cast Iron Grilling

We've added another piece of Lodge Cast Iron to our trekking kitchen.

This is our third piece. It is about 10.5 inches square and fits perfectly on our inductive burner.

This cast iron piece has both grilling and griddling surfaces. We are looking forward to using it for pancakes. 

Here is the initiation with a ribeye steak. 

Broke the Ice - First use of convection oven

We were planning on outdoor cooking but the weather turned cold. That's not really a problem and I BBQ in cool to cold conditions all of the time.

However, then we got driving rain and I decided that this was the perfect opportunity to try the convection oven feature of the High Pointe combination convection oven/microwave.

I'd marinated the chicken for about an hour at 45F and decided to proceed.  I had a hard copy of the manual and also a pdf copy on my PC. I wasn't sure about the difference in function between the "CONVEC" and "ROAST" buttons but I decided to begin with the "CONVEC" and sort it out later.

I also used a meat thermometer. I don't like taking chances with raw foods, meat in particular. This would also provide me with an opportunity to determine realistic cooking times.

I determined that the roast feature is 30% microwave and 70% convection. I used that to finish off the chicken after about 20 minutes in the oven. Worked well.

I made a short video:

Whew! Finally Getting Settled in 702 cubic feet

Preamble: The following paragraphs will address the subject matter. But first, it has been a very busy several months. Normal business, trekking, some family in turmoil and so on. I've been extremely hampered in my online activities. Limited wi-fi for a few weeks, the high cost of Verizon hotspots via the jetpack and so on. Also limited time. What time has been available on line has been absorbed in doing tasks remotely. Even the home state updated their business tax filing website and procedures. I've had to go back and forth there finding all of the eccentricities of the updated site and providing the information now necessary, simply so the company can file the necessary tax documents. Apparently providing officer data is no longer sufficient. Early this morning I was filling in yet another online form. Is this the final one? Who knows.

Living in a really tiny house on wheels
Getting settled means working within the amenities of a really tiny home. I enjoy reading the purported travails and concerns of those contemplating a tiny house. Such a house is supposedly 400 square feet or less. Some say it is any house between 400 and 1,000 square feet. The question those contemplating such an existence include "Will it work?" and "How will it work?"

For anyone who wonders about this, I suggest they rent a small class B camper van and live in it for a few weeks. I'm not a van dweller per se. However, my Class B provides a useful 120.25 square feet inside floor area. Inside living space is about 702 cubic feet. The interior useful dimensions are about 18ft  x 6 ft-6 inches x 6 ft. That makes a 30 foot travel trailer seem like a mansion. Our space is larger than some of the alternatives, including 19 ft. Sprinter vans and 19 or 17 ft Chevy van based Class B's. Ours is a "wide body" but that is somewhat misleading. It is not a Class C. That choice was deliberate as we can drive this thing just about anywhere there are good roads and can park it in most parking spaces, with some overhang. We don't go where the roads are poor. I'd never go off road in a 2 WD vehicle. Even a 4 WD has risks. A lot of people find out when they bend the frames of those "offroad" pickup trucks.

Now, small is not necessarily an impediment. Let me provide some perspective. I once lived in a Holiday Inn for 5 months. My personal record for living in a motel is 11 months. I frequently spend 15 to 30 days living in a motel while I perform the final phase of the work required by my clients. My first long term motel experience was in 1969. A small motel room is larger than the B, but it does not provide the kitchen I currently have.

However, figuring out how to make it all work can be both fun and challenging. Making good meals in such a small space is not the easiest thing to do. It requires that one adapt. and adapt I have.

Now, one might ask "Why?"  I have an interest in living well, and in moderation. I also want to see all of the things I drove by for all of those years. Life is short. I have very limited time given to me to do what I intend and to see what I want to see. One can only wait so long and then we discover our physical being is not up to the task.Trekking this way is my version of having it all.

What does "living well" mean? That's a personal question. Let me simply say that one should set goals, have reasonable expectations and then put in place the things necessary to reach them. That's what I've been doing for a couple of decades. Prior to that it was about acquiring the necessary skills, taking reasonable risks, dealing with failures and making choices.

Living in the "Tardis"
If I ever name this Roadtrek it will be the "Tardis" because like Dr. Who's time & space machine, our 210P is larger on the inside than on the outside. It has taken 24 months and 16,000 miles to get to this point with a list of tweaks and improvements. We continue to learn, apply what we learn and make further improvements. Those improvements simply adapt this wonderful machine to our personal lifestyle. This is not a cookie cutter existence.

Living really tiny requires making choices. However, that doesn't mean we are overly restricted. I will say this. Anything smaller than this 210P would not work for us but as a weekend vehicle. We made a good decision with our purchase and are quite satisfied with our choices. What does it take for us to be living "really tiny?"

• We like having two living/work spaces without infringing on the kitchen area.
• We like three seats up front (the captains seats swivel to the rear when stationary). 
• We like the front work area and the rear work/relaxation area. Currently I'm typing this up front and G is practicing the ukulele in the rear. 
• We like a kitchen area which can accommodate the scratch preparation of small gourmet meals; it has ample counter space and we can use the propane range, or an inductive top or both. We like the larger cooking and food preparation area. 
• We like having a larger (5 cu. ft) refrigerator.
• We like having a microwave/convection oven, and it is at eye level. 
• We like having most of the daily stuff above knee level, and that includes the refrigerator and microwave. 
• We like having a heat pump, a propane furnace as well as 750/1500 watt electric ceramic heat. Oops, let's not forget the air conditioner. With an electric dual control blanket we are toasty in cool and cold weather. 
• We like the dual fresh water tanks. We have running water even when the outside temp dips below freezing at night. As recommended we keep the hot water heater on at night when sub freezing nighttime temperatures occur. However, if we are anticipating below freezing day and night then we winterize. 
• We like lots of daylight, but also appreciate our privacy and that hard shell.
• We like the outdoors and do a lot of picnic meals and BBQ, But we also appreciate sufficient insulation and amenities to allow us to enjoy life with outside temps of 0F to 100F. 
• Inside plumbing with hot water is a necessity. 
• The outside storage allows a place for the BBQ, lawn chairs, lubricants, sun sail, decorations and so on. The rear storage and well provide space for the solar panels, electrical stuff, tools, pink antifreeze and so on. 

Getting it all together, Winter 2015
Well, we were delayed again this year. Not a breakdown because this was an El Nino year and it has been both wetter and milder. We were able to head out much later in December than I would be comfortable in doing and yet we avoided nasty weather.

Getting here two days before Christmas required that I set serious priorities, get fully into action, be very effective and make good decisions.

So, today we are about 99% set up. Not bad after arriving 15 days ago and with two holidays. We have DSL internet access, we are wired, we have added the stuff it takes to enjoy the patio, I've got the electronics set up including the wi-fi internet and the land line and even the wireless phones. We've re-arranged things a couple of times as we settle in.

Sitting in one place for a few weeks allows and demands a different approach. We don't have to "batten down the hatches" every other day. We are enjoying our surroundings.

I also have the added challenge of doing the things necessary to run my business. There are always surprises. This year, my 'home state' made it mandatory to online file certain tax documents.  But I didn't have access, so I set that up today and gave the necessary "third party" access codes to my accountant who is 1600 miles away. For anyone with a C corporation, there are mandatory tax filing dates. These are not to be missed. Prior to beginning my trek I completed my calendar year 2015 work early and sent the necessary files to my accountant. He'll be able to file everything as necessary and prior to the due dates.  One thing about electronic filing is that I no longer have to sign each and every document. A few years ago the accountant would send me everything, I'd sign each and every document and then mail it.

To make things a bit more complicated, my company's fiscal year end is not December 31. So I file calendar year end documents (sales tax, state withholding, federal withholding, FICA and Medicare taxes) and then also do the W-2s and W-3s. But the corporate income tax filings don't occur for my business until July. At that time we also must have completed any SEP IRA contributions.

Of course, there are alternates. Barter, use Bitcoin or simply take cash. Income taxes? Who needs income taxes! Well, I think most of us would agree we need infrastructure, a social welfare system and we should each pay for this.

So I am a fully registered and dues (tax) paying corporation.

Settling In
I think this is the first day in 90 that I have finally "arrived" somewhere. I don't have three pages of "to do" lists, all of the identified problems and issues have been resolved. The "gotchas" that I had identified have been resolved. All of the systems, personnel, electronics and so on are working as intended.  I have a few moments of respite. I can sit back at 6:47pm, sip the wine and reflect on the day. Now, isn't this the way life should be?

As for extended family and my volunteer gig, well, the best I'll ever do is manage these and set boundaries. "You can lead a horse to water but you cannot force it to drink."

Meeting the Neighbors
Our neighbors are happy and contented. One of the things about RVing is meeting people who generally are happy to be where they are. If they aren't, then they just up and move on. Unlike the "sticks and bricks" crowd, RVers are not victims of their surroundings. Most decide where and how to live. Of course, we each do that, but some of us pretend we don't. These are the dangerous ones.

<Oops, gotta go turn the bratwurst on the grill>

Now, where was I? Oh, yes. Living in 702 cubic feet is a choice. It is about discovering the opportunity and the joy of minimalistic living.

Bon Appetit!

Refrigerator Thermometer Upgrade

I added a simple bulb-style thermometer to the RT to monitor the inside temperature. It worked well hung over a door shelf edge. But the other day I dropped it on the carpeted floor and the darn bulb cracked.

I had purchased an inside/outside digital thermometer for another purpose but decided to try it in the refrigerator. It works great. Here's a photo of the display unit and the remote sender. I had taken the remote out of the refrigerator about a minute prior to taking the photo. "Out" is the temp on the top door shelf  of the refrigerator.

It is frustrating that the simple bulb type broke. I prefer simple. But the remote does have the advantage of allowing display of the temperature with the refrigerator door closed. 

Here's a photo of the type which broke, before the glass bulb was fractured: