Caravan, camping and holiday cookery

saveabobortwo

through the warmer months stop of at tesco or sainsbury and buy ether sainburiess salad in them 99p pots sausage rolls small quiche crisps and a salsa dip ,fruits packet of ham buffet cooked finger foods put use paper plates and cutlery to save on washing up as noone wants to do it throw away paper cups then we sit and have a nice buffet picnic and play board games and when finished easy clear up no washing up always have a good time, sometimes we do get fish and chips as its no fun if im always having to cook we dolike refreshments no chip shop or refreshments then we dont visit dont mind climbing mount everest as long as refreshments are provided:rotfl:ps not doing well on the pre holiday diet to look good on beach asiv got older i get more famished so all camping trips has to have delicious foods nothing worse than feeling peckish on the road

VJsmum

We go in our caravan alot throughout the summer and tend to use our "cadac" cooker (can't really call it a BBQ) it also means we can make paella for example.

I always take the first meal with me - usually a HM lasagne. It's more difficult in the autumn and winter (we often go for new year) when no-one wants to be outside with the cadac.

We don't eat out much and I don't like ready made supermarket food so it is a bit harder work off season. Although one year we spent christmas in it and I managed full blown christmas dinner.

Rebob

laloopi wrote: »

Hi all,

I'm hoping for some very quick and easy meal ideas please. I know there's tons of recipes on this board but I'm more looking for inspiration. We're off on holiday soon and I'd like to stick to our food budget while not spending too much time cooking. We'll be staying in a static caravan so I imagine appliances will be limited.

Also, we're cooking for a toddler so I prefer to avoid processed stuff as much as possible (I know I'm asking for quite a lot here!).

Thanks x

We camp on temporary holiday sites and rally fields so dont have electric for slow cookers, george formans etc but I do have a double skillet and diffuser plate. This can be used as an oven to cook pizzas etc and we also have a cobb oven. In the cobb, using a few heat beads, I do a joint or full chicken, jacket potatoes and roast veg. I know this kit is expensive but try and find them second hand on ebay or other such site. We like to eat well when away and we are not bothered about the packet stuff all the time.

Another easy meal is cajun kebabs with couscous. Sprinkle cajun seasoning over diced meat (chicken/pork/beef) and thread onto skewers with cherry tomatoes, wedges of courgettes, onions, peppers etc. B-b-q or grill skewers and serve with a pkt of flavoured couscous and some plain yoghurt with some mint sauce stirred through. Yummy home or away.

trixietoes

Great thread I've read most of it and making notes on a word document.

We go camping with friends a few weekends a year as it's a nice cheap get away and nice to be in the fresh air. We always choose campsites that allow fires or fire pits as we think it is a great part of camping.

One or two don't have shower facilities just loos so in these instances we take a big back of baby wipes to have a 'wet wipe fresh up' in the absence of a shower - ok for a couple of nights camping only. I also take the spray on dry shampoo and a hat! LOL Always always take my own loo roll.

I freeze as much of the meat as possible as it keeps it fresher - e.g. some chicken in a ziplock with a marinade ready to chuck on the BBQ. I also freeze juice and water which keeps other chilled food cool too and allows for a nice cool drink.

We use thermos type mugs for our cups of tea/coffee as the hot drinks tend to cool too quickly in the outdoors. This way they are kept nice and hot.

Sometimes I cook up a curry/chilli and freeze it so we have 1 ready cooked meal that can be quickly heated up in a pan - handy if it's a bit chilly - nothing like a hot curry/chilli by the fire at nice with a few tinnies or wine.

Not really MSE but there is very little washing up as we take disposable plates and knives and forks - washing up is tipping into the bin. A collapsible washing up bowl along with one of those sponges that has the handle you can fill with washing liquid for pots and the sharp knives etc.

Windbreaks too are a must - privicy and obviously keeping the wind at bay.

Roll up table for chopping, preparing food and then playing cards etc in the evening. Fold away chairs to keep off the cold ground.

Head torches for trips to the loo, getting changed in a dark tent. you can get good cheap ones and they are good for keeping your hands free at strategic times. Fun for kids too.

cdsmiler

Just bumping this thread!! Fantastic ideas - thank you everyone!! Have my eye on my dream tent - just waiting for a sale, then try to find a way to buy all the stuff we need (ok, WANT!!) to go with it.

Recipes ideas are FAB. Need to adapt for a picky OH, but thank you everyone!

Not sure how it would work while camping, but we always used to fry left over chicken sandwiches when we used to travel through france to a gite. Just stick a bit of butter/spead on the outside of the sandwiches and fry on bothj sides! Yummy. Same with cheese sandwiches - I like to make the fried cheese sandwiches to go with home made soup! That's something that could work well - easily freezable, would probably stay frozzen for quite some time, and heat up relatively quickly on the stove! Mmmmmm.

cakemaker

Here's what we eat. We follow the 'ch' diet: cheese, chocolate & chips!

Seriously, OH does all cooking, the inverse of what happens at home!

We eat:

Spaghetti carbonara
Cheesy potato & tinned spag
all day breakfast.

By far and away the kids favourite is 'Camping Casserole':

Brown packet of ready diced meat (chicken, pork or beef etc)
Add 2 packets of prepared veg, stock cube & water
simmer until cooked
add some cream
serve with cous cous, bread or rice if bothered to cook

We alternate these classics for 15 nights . . . .

Puddings always bought cake & fruit. My children have annual treat of bought cake.

Happy days!

susan42

Cdsmiler - like the fried sandwiches idea, french toast I call it without the filling

vjsmum - whats a cadoc cooker?

trixietoes - I love the windbreaker idea also, alot of sites have banned those now though

I`m thinking of investing in a steamer a s we always have an electric pitch - what you think? I can think of doing meat and two veg but thats about it at the moment

furndire

The double skillet is great. You can heat pastry/pies etc up in it. We went out the other day, and stopped for a picnic used the skillet to warm through bread buns that were passed their best, and they turned out really nice - only took about 5 mins - even oh enjoyed them. You can cook a roast in it as well .
Last year I made some Flapjack sort of thing in it - (you know when you want something sweet, but it was too far/too much effort to go to the shops) - I had flour, museli dried fruit & nuts, sugar & an egg - really ended up tasty.
You can do your meat & two veg in one as well.

Frugalista

I got this recipe from a camping/caravanning cookbook - but make it regularly at home as its so quick and easy .

Sausage & Bean Feast

Serves 4 - Calories per portion 375

1 tbsp sunflower oil
2 onions sliced
14 oz/425g can chick peas
14 oz/425g can mixed beans in spicy sauce
14 oz/425g can tomatoes
1 lb/450g smoked sausage (garlic is best) - sliced or diced (Mattessons or similar)
　
Heat oil in a large pan and add onions, stirring occasionally until golden

Drain and rinse chick peas

Add to pan with remaining ingredients.

Cover and cook for 15 mins.

Serve hot with crusty bread
　
Note: I have found that this tastes even better the next day when the "smokey" flavours have had time to develop

babyblooz

Fantastic thread! I wish I had noticed it earlier when we had just bought our little caravan.

Such inventiveness from all you MSE's :j:beer::j