Two words RVers like to hear when it comes to gadgets

Two words RVers like to hear when it comes to gadgets are "portable" and "rechargeable." Take my cordless drill for instance - I use it at least twice a week mostly for RV repair and maintenance. My cordless electric razor, tooth brush, camera, GPS, cell phone and a host of other small appliances are all "portable" and "rechargeable." Keeping with the theme Coleman, maker of fine camping products, has introduced a cordless blender. It's true, you can now blend up drinks, deserts and scramble up a dozen eggs with this "portable" and "rechargeable" blender. It costs around $65 and is available at sporting good stores and online. Who thinks up these things? Whoever it is, if you're reading this, I want you to start working on a "portable" and "rechargeable" icemaker right away. Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Consider Multifunction When Choosing Items You Carry In The RV

Every serious RVer must be concerned about storage space and weight. When you take an extended RV trip consider how to best utilize your storage space because if you're not careful you'll fill it up and not have enough room for more important stuff. The other problem RVers face is weight restrictions. I know many of you don't think much about the weight of your RV, but it really does matter. The more stuff you cram into your RV the more it weighs and the less safe it becomes with each additional pound. This is why I'm a cheerleader for items that can do multiple jobs and are light weight. "Multifunction" is the name of the game when it comes to reducing weight and saving space in your RV. Almost all RVs come with a microwave and many have the microwave/convection oven option. This cooking tray is a good example of the "multifunction" concept. This product has been around for a long time but consider how many items it replaces. First it is a great way to cook bacon and it conveniently removes the bacon grease into the built in trap. Place the bacon on the tray. Cover the bacon with a paper towel and put it in the microwave until the bacon is cooked to your specifications. Remove the paper towel and enjoy your bacon. The grease can easily be poured into a container. It is also a good way to thaw steaks, fish, hamburger or anything else. The grooves keep the thawing item dry while the condensation and meat juices drain away. This tray can also be used to cook the steak, fish or hamburger in your microwave/convection oven. It acts like a famous boxer grill and drains away the fat while cooking. The "Nordic Ware" company makes these and they are good in a convection oven up to 400 degrees but are not to be used for broiling in a conventional oven. These can be purchased anywhere cookware is sold. So this cooking tray acts as a thawing tray, famous boxer grill, bacon cooker and washboard. It's light weight and does more than one job. Many items fit the "multifunction" description and some do a better job than others but the idea is to try and cut back the number of items you take with you in your RV. I have entirely too many duplicate screwdrivers in my toolbox, in fact I have a bunch of duplicate stuff loitering around in my RV. I think it's time to have a yard sale - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

RVer Uses Solar For His Dining Pleasure

This week I caught up with RVer Robert Toby from Cave Junction, Oregon. I was attracted to his campsite because he was using a solar oven. Robert was dry camping or “boondocking” in the Southern California desert. He’s been using a solar oven to make dinner for six years and loves the results. He likes riding his bicycle and exploring and while he’s out for the day, his evening meal is being prepared by the sun. Today he was cooking a pot full of beans. When he opened the tempered glass door a small cloud of steam emerged from the box. He pulled the lid off the pot to revealing a boiling pot of yummy smelling beans. This is a commercially made solar oven that he modified by adding wheels and an elevation locking gimbal box so he can more efficiently point the oven at the sun. To get the sun’s rays lined up on the pot he holds his arm across the plane of the collapsible stainless steel reflectors and adjusts the position of the oven until the shadow of his hand falls directly on the pot. Since the sun moves during the day it’s a good idea to adjust the oven several times for optimum performance, but Robert is frequently gone during the day so he leaves the oven aimed at the path the sun takes across the sky which is sufficient to cook his meals. You can use the commercial version without any modification and it works even when it’s cold outside. Typical operation temperatures are between 300 and 400 degrees depending on how well it’s aimed. These ovens work best on cloudless days and can save you money on propane. This unit is available from Sun Oven for $279.00 including a black round covered enamelware cooking pot and thermometer. You can learn more about this product here Sun Oven. Robert likes this oven because the one piece collapsible reflectors allow for easy storage. He made his own solar oven one time, but likes this model best. He can place two pots on the gimbal platform if he wants a two course meal. You can cook anything in these ovens and they are easy to use and maintain. The best part is they don’t cost anything to operate and are environmentally friendly. And no, they don’t work in moonlight! Lighting up your day - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Cutting Up In Your RV

Food preparation in your RV requires a flat surface where you can cut and prepare food. You know I'm a big fan of multipurpose tools for the RV and these chopping mats are great for RV food prep. Once you have chopped your food, just fold it up like a taco and dump it into the skillet. These mats protect the surface where you're cutting and also help keep your knives sharp. They are light weight and store easily. They're also great for roiling out dough for pies and pastries. They're cheap (I picked this two pack for a buck at the swap meet) and they can be used for craft projects as well as many other useful applications. They can also be used as friction buffers on tripod mounts, in fact, they have many uses. Please double click on the blue "comments" section and tell us the unique uses you've discovered for these chopping mats. Cutting a wide swath across America - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Grill Cleaning While RVing

RVers love to BBQ whether they use a grill from home or one supplied by the campground. There are many ways to clean a grill like using a big wad of tin foil or a long handled wire brush. Linda and Andrew Martin from Ramer, Tennessee were displaying their invention the “Grill Gadget” at the recent Qurtzsite RV show. In 1981 Andrew needed a tool to better clean his grill. He designed this using a long bolt inserted into a wood handle with a brass head. The brass head fit over the grates of his grill and easily removed the gunk. He used it for 20 years before he realized he had a tool that every BBQ enthusiast needs hanging off their grill. There are three models to handle multiple grill types. Simply scrape the grates with the Grill Gadget and wipe off the brass cleaning head with a paper towel and you’re ready to make smoke. You can order these off the internet for for $19.95 plus S&H. Visit their website here Grill Gadget. They are light weight and will handle the dirtiest grill in the campground. Keeping it clean - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

RVers Enjoy Eggceptionally Cooked Eggs

Eggs are a big part of the RV lifestyle, how do I know? I asked you and sure enough, you like eggs. You like them cooked dozens of ways. My brother-in-law has been using these Eggsact Eggtimers for a couple years with great success, so I decided to get one to use in our RV. It’s very simple to use, just put it in a pot of warm water along with your eggs and cook. The timer begins to change color as the eggs cook. The color ring starts at the outside and works its way into the middle. The indicator has several degrees of “doneness” to let you know when your eggs are just how you like them. Here it shows they are completely hard cooked. Once it cools down it changes back to its red color and it’s ready to use again. You can pick these up at Amazon.com, ACE Hardware or practically any cooking store. Use it with any quantity of eggs and at any altitude. You could just use the microwave clock timer, but if you’re like me, you’ve ruined many eggs because you forgot to set the timer. It's made from a hard resin and will take the rough and tumble ride in your RV’s utensil drawer. Serving it up how you like it - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing.

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Combo RV Meal Reduces Chill

RVers enjoy warm hearty meals after a day of exploring. Crock-pot cooking is the way to go if you want a hot meal already prepared when you finally return to the RV. However, when you didn’t plan for dinner, and you don’t want to go out to eat here's an alternative. Chili dogs are an American favorite and this is a way to cook both the chili and the dogs at the same time. This is the RV way because it only uses one pan for easier cleanup. Just make your chili however you like it and throw in the dogs until they are both done. Pile on cheese and onions and you're in business. Perfect fare for a cold autumn night. If you have any combo-meal ideas like this please share them with us by double clicking on the “comments” section below. Helping you keep it simple - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Take the Odor Outside your RV With a Portable Propane Stove

I grew up camping and some of my earliest memories are waking up inside a tent and hearing voices outside. The smell of coffee and bacon hanging thick in the morning air as I rubbed my eyes and crawled out of my sleeping bag. I would unzip that enormous tent flap zipper and emerge to see my mom busy cooking on that faithful old Coleman white gas camp stove. If I shut my eyes I can still hear her pumping air into that red canister to make the fire burn more intensely. There’s nothing like bacon, eggs and pancakes off a camp stove griddle. It’s a taste sensation that just can’t be duplicated indoors. Besides, cooking those big breakfasts for a bunch of hungry campers inside your RV creates unwanted odor and a big mess. So, on those occasions when you have a crowd, take it outside with a portable propane stove. Coleman still makes the old school stoves, but it also makes some nice compact portables that use liquid propane gas. This one folds up like a waffle iron for storage and when open it becomes a two burner stove. Very handy for RVing because it’s small and light weight and therefor easy to store. Here is an even smaller grill, but it only has one burner. This model has the old school design that works well in a windy environment because the lid and sides act to block the wind from degrading the burner flame. These are small and practical stoves designed for occasional use. If you plan on doing more you’ll need a heavy duty stove and many models and styles are available. The “Weekender” comes with legs to make it a stand alone stove with a hefty 60,000 BTU capacity. It’s still in the portable class but clearly the big brother of these portables. If you're going to get really serious, there are even larger multi-burner stoves available, but you’ll need a small crane for setting them up. Helping you satisfy those hungry campers in the great outdoors - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

This is Not your Typical RV Bumper Junk

I’ve seen all kinds of paraphernalia strapped on the backs of RVs. Everything from boats to wash tubs. This is important stuff and what could be more important than a barbecue? The problem with most BBQ’s that RVers use is that they're just too small for a full fledged tail gate party. For that you need a Big Daddy BBQ and there really isn’t a convenient place to store one on the typical RV. So, for those of you thinking about building a “rack on the back” for such a purpose, let me show you what a fellow RVer has done. He has a heavy BBQ so he purchased a Blue Ox carrying rack and attached it to the back of his motorhome. You can also set this up so you’ll still be able to tow a car. The rack comes with a slide out ramp which he uses to roll the BBQ into position. A 12 volt electric wench attaches to the BBQ frame which was beefed up and equipped with larger wheels. He uses ratchet tie down straps to secure the the unit to the frame. I like how he uses his BBQ cover with the “spider web” truck bed elastic chord. This is a great way to bring your BBQ appliance with you on the road. Nothing beats good BBQ especially when you're RVing. Keeping the ideas rolling your way - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

RV Instant Fare Doesn't Need To Be Bland

RVing is fun for many reasons, but one one the great things about RVing out in the sticks is the yummy chow you can prepare. There is nothing like a hearty meal after a day of hiking or sightseeing. The only problem is that you are usually too pooped-out to fix a big meal for that huge appetite so most of us resort to leftovers or something out of a can. Not the best, but it gets the job done. Fortunately you don't always have to resort to the can opener when you're in a hurry. I want to pass along a side dish that is sure to please and is quick and easy to fix. I'm talking about yummy mashed potatoes. I've never liked instant mashed potatoes until I tasted the Paradise Valley brand. These are, no kidding, the best instant mashed potatoes I've ever eaten. These All Natural Creamy Mash Potatoes are 100% pure russet potatoes with no chemical additives. The box comes stashed full of these little pouches that make enough to serve four hungry people a one and a half cup serving each. However long it takes you to boil water is how long it takes to make this delicious side dish. I buy mine at Costco stores and they are also available at some Safeway and Vons grocery stores. So, when you need to throw together a fast and nutritious meal, reach for these all natural mashed potatoes. Helping you with all aspects of RVing - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing, Dr. of RVology and Road Scholar

RVers Make More Time for Fun

The RV lifestyle is one of fun and leisure. Who wants to spend hours cooking when you can have a quick meal? I enjoy cooking, but I have to be in the mood to do it and I also have to be willing to clean up the mess. On driving days and when you just need a fast meal, prepared food items are the answer. When I was a kid you choices for fast weren’t that many because the microwave hadn’t come to our neck of the woods. Today you have thousands of ready made food choices. These are easy to fix and usually quick to prepare. I usually take these items out of their boxes and repackage them in an air tight plastic zip bag for more compact RV freezer storage. RVers are now free to spend more time doing what they like to do instead of cooking. Helping you get the most out of your RV lifestyle - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing, Dr. of RVology and ROAD Scholar

An Old School BBQ With a New Twist

I love to BBQ as much as you do, but I haven't found a BBQ I like until now. My problem is cleaning it for storage. My portable porpane Webber is almost impossible to get clean because you can't get all the BBQ drippings off. The heat element is in the way and you can't get a brush or anything else in there to clean off all the plaque. I deep sixed it (that's Navy lingo which means I threw it overboard). Check out this new BBQ called Pit-2-Go.
You can get more information here: Pit-2-Go

Keeping you abreast of hot RVing ideas - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing, Doctor of RVology!

RVers Can Harness the Sun for Cooking

Most everyone knows that RVers use solar panels to recharge their RV battery systems but did you know that you can cook with solar power as well? There are many designs for solar powered cookers – just do a web search and you’ll turn up do-it-yourself models that are cheap to make and RV friendly. Mark & Jacee Gerbozy started a company that makes solar cookers called appropriately, “Sol-Food.” This is a solar oven/BBQ that is 92% efficient. Depending on weather conditions, this cooker maintains a cooking temperature between 250 and 450 degrees. In optimal conditions, this cooker has reached a temperature of 675 degrees. This cooker is 100% environmentally friendly because it doesn’t use any fossil fuel, wood or charcoal. This unit weighs about 45 lbs. and sells for $300.00. They are working on a more portable unit that will be ideal for RV use. I’ll let you know when they have the product out of the testing phase. Check out their website here:
Sol-Food Keeping you informed – Jim Twamley

Lemon Cubes

Lemons are abundant this time of year and sometimes your friends bring you a bag full of the yellow fruit. What are you going to do with all those lemons? They won’t keep forever so you need to preserve them – after all your parents and grandparents lived through the Great Depression and it wouldn’t do to just throw them away!

First you need to prepare them for squeezing by rolling them on a hard surface. This softens up the inside so you can easily squeeze out the juice by hand - no need to carry a juicer. Put the juice into ice trays and freeze them overnight. After you have frozen the cubes take them out of the ice trays. I release the cubes onto a Styrofoam plate then use it like a funnel to get them into the resealable freezer bags. Now just put them back in your RV freezer for future use. This allows you to have more compact storage space in your RV freezer and it keeps frost from accumulating on the cubes. Now you can enjoy a nice cold lemonade on one of those hot and toasty Arizona February afternoons. Jim

Eggstra Refrigerator Space

Refrigerator space is at a premium in an RV and anything you can do to condense your storage will help. Let me lay this eggsample on you. When you only have a few eggs left in the carton take out your scissors and cut the carton in half or wherever you have eggstra empty space in the carton. This little trick gives you more storage space in just a few seconds.
If you have any other space saving ideas like this, please leave a comment below. Thanks Jim

Crock Pot Liners - No Mess

Reynolds Company (of aluminum foil fame) reaches out to RVers for the first time at the Quartzsite Sports, Vacation & RV show with their new product “Slow Cooker Liners.”Reynolds representative Julie Mossler told me that you can purchase this new item in WalMart or grocery stores, BUT you must look for them where you normally find other Reynolds products such as aluminum foil. Julie says these crock-pot liners are great for RVers because they are a disposable one use product. Just throw them away after use and the pot is still clean. She says there is no need to soak the pot after your finished cooking. Less mess means more time to enjoy the RV lifestyle.

She says you can use these in slow-cookers up to 6 ½ quarts. The oblong bag designed to fit the elliptical shaped cookers fits just as well in the round cookers. Here I am preparing to use one of these new liners in my own RV home test. I decided to cook up some potato and ham soup for supper and Julie was correct – no mess (except for the lid – but that is no problem to clean).
DO NOT lift the bag out of the pot with the contents in it (especially when it is hot) otherwise it might break, spill and possibly burn you. Just dish out the contents like you normally would then after it cools down, pour the left-overs into a container for future enjoyment.

Want to win an RV kitchen makeover worth $1000? Go to the Reynolds website at http://www.noscrubrvclub.com/ and register. The first 2000 to register will receive a free gift.

Sniff, sniff… Ahhhhhh the soup is ready to eat!