Gourmet Adventure Stew Episode Three - Onions

Gourmet Adventure Stew

1/4 pound bacon

2 T olive oil

1 clove garlic, lightly crushed

2 1/2 pounds stew meat

Salt and pepper

3 medium onions cut into eights

3 T flour

2 cups chicken stock

1 c red wine

1 small can shopped tomatoes

1 bay leaf

1 t fresh thyme

4 medium to large potatoes

4 large carrots, peeled and cut

1 c frozen peas

1 T minced garlic

Prep - 

The secret to cutting onions -- "Sharp knife, sharp knife, sharp knife...".  The dicing and slicing of onions made simple.  Tracy demonstrates with ease the proper way to dice an onion.  The result is a neat pile of uniform onion pieces.

Epiphany:  If I need a large amount of onions diced -- Call Tracy!

Pack -  

The onions do not need to be placed in water.  Once sliced, they are set aside and wait patiently to be packed into their own resealable bag.

Play -  

Photo by KC Thomas
Vanilla25cent.com

Seven Tea Cups is a canyon located in Kern County, California on the southern end of the Sierra Nevada Mountain range. The name Seven Tea Cups refers to the shape of this canyon created by a river that plunges over seven steps of granite creating a series of closely spaced waterfalls with deep pools located at each base. Our group of adventurers will bring along their wetsuits to wear as they rappel down the middle of these seven waterfalls. The wetsuits will help protect the crew from hypothermia while they spend most of the day trying to negotiate the unpredictable currents of this section of river.  

See you on the road, 

Kaylene 

oxoxox 

Gourmet Adventure Stew Episode Two - Potatoes

Gourmet Adventure Stew

1/4 pound bacon

2 T olive oil

1 clove garlic, lightly crushed

2 1/2 pounds stew meat

Salt and pepper

3 medium onions cut into eights

3 T flour

2 cups chicken stock

1 c red wine

1 small can shopped tomatoes

1 bay leaf

1 t fresh thyme

4 medium to large potatoes

4 large carrots, peeled and cut

1 c frozen peas

1 T minced garlic

Prep - 

Tracy explains to Kaylene the reason waxy potatoes are used in the stew.  It’s to avoid the grittiness that mealy potatoes can leave behind.  

EPIPHANY:  Not that I make soups well, but they always have a starchy grainy texture.  Finally I know why; wrong potatoes!

Pack -  

Placing the newly cut potatoes into water with the freshly cut carrots will help to keep them crisp when packed into resealable bags. The carrots and potatoes can be packed together keeping with our space saving agenda. 

Photo by KC Thomas

vanilla25cent.com

Play -  

Seven Tea Cups is a canyon located in Kern County, California on the southern end of the Sierra Nevada Mountain range. The name Seven Tea Cups refers to the shape of this canyon created by a river that plunges over seven steps of granite creating a series of closely spaced waterfalls with deep pools located at each base. Our group of adventurers will bring along their wetsuits to wear as they rappel down the middle of these seven waterfalls. The wetsuits will help protect the crew from hypothermia while they spend most of the day trying to negotiate the unpredictable currents of this section of river.  

See you on the road, 

Kaylene 

oxoxox 

Gourmet Adventure Stew - Episode One - Carrots

Gourmet Adventure Stew

1/4 pound bacon

2 T olive oil

1 clove garlic, lightly crushed

2 1/2 pounds stew meat

Salt and pepper

3 medium onions cut into eights

3 T flour

2 cups chicken stock

1 c red wine

1 small can shopped tomatoes

1 bay leaf

1 t fresh thyme

4 medium to large potatoes

4 large carrots, peeled and cut

1 c frozen peas

1 T minced garlic

Prep - 

Tracy shows Kaylene s a chef's trick for an easy way to peel carrots by running the swivel peeler back and forth along the length of the carrot.  This greatly reduces the time and effort spent preparing the carrots for the stew.  Then Tracy makes sure Kaylene understands the proper technique for cutting round objects by placing a flat side against the cutting board.

Pack -  

Placing the newly cut carrots into water will help to keep them crisp when packed into resealable bags.

Photo by KC Thomas
vanilla25cent.com

Play -  

Seven Tea Cups is a canyon located in Kern County, California on the southern end of the Sierra Nevada Mountain range. The name Seven Tea Cups refers to the shape of this canyon created by a river that plunges over seven steps of granite creating a series of closely spaced waterfalls with deep pools located at each base. Our group of adventurers will bring along their wetsuits to wear as they rappel down the middle of these seven waterfalls. The wetsuits will help protect the crew from hypothermia while they spend most of the day trying to negotiate the unpredictable currents of this section of river.  

See you on the road, 

Kaylene 

oxoxox 

Prep Pack Play Video

Then I found Tracy.....

Base Camp at a remote RV Park can be great.  It’s never very 

crowded, your neighbors are typically friendly and the Camp 

Store always has ice cream!  

One element tragically missing from my Base Camp is the hearty 

home cooked dinner that would be welcomed by starving 

adventurers.  My talents lie in just about any other arena of RV 

camping that doesn’t involve food. I Realized my cooking 

limitation one day and went on-line to look for “great ways to 

cook in your RV”.  Most of what I found involved food out of a 

box. Yes, the food has a long shelf life.  Yes, the boxes 

usually fit well in the Airstream pantry. But let’s face it, 

boxed food just doesn’t taste as good as home made. Something 

else to consider concerning prepackaged food. It does create a 

lot of packaging waste and although many RV Parks now have 

recycle bins, store bought heat and serve food still creates a 

lot of trash. 

Dilemma:  How to cook a great tasting meal that does not involve 

hot dogs, hamburgers or other meals that come straight out of a 

box? 

Solution:  Tracy. 

Tracy is a chef who loves camping, hiking and sea kayaking.  

Tracy and I have a similar ideology:  Reuse, repurpose and 

recycle.  Tracy is an expert in adventure cooking and has agreed 

to teach me how to cook in my Airstream. 

Prep – 

The first step in preparing food for an adventure is to create a 

menu that fits the expedition.  We are taking Freedom to the 

Kern River to do a little rappelling.  It’s a short overnight 

trip.  Because the gang will be in water all day and come back 

to base camp pretty cold, Tracy suggests comfort food – Beef 

Stew.  

Second, we need to make sure I have the right cooking gear for 

our menu.  Tracy asks if I have a Dutch Oven.  I reply with, 

“What’s a Dutch Oven?”  Turns out a Dutch Oven is a heavy iron 

pot that you can cook with over an open flame.  I’ve seen one, I just didn’t know its proper name.  My Mom and Grandmother own 

one.  

Pack-  

Tracy is going to teach me how to prep and pack our food into reusable resealing bags.  She seems to think we are cutting potatoes the day before we leave.  I’m interested to see how she keeps them from turning brown.  I’m also very curious about what foods can be packed together and which foods need their own little baggies. 

Play- 

Seven Tea Cups is a canyon located in Kern County, California on the southern end of the Sierra Nevada Mountain range. The name Seven Tea Cups refers to the shape of this canyon created by a river that plunges over seven steps of granite creating a series of closely spaced waterfalls with deep pools located at each base. Our group of adventurers will bring along their wetsuits to wear as they rappel down the middle of these seven waterfalls. The wetsuits will help protect the crew from hypothermia while they spend most of the day trying to negotiate the unpredictable currents of this section of river.  

See you on the road, 

Kaylene 

oxoxox 

Meet Freedom

Freedom and Snowball

Freedom is my 19 foot long Airstream trailer. Although it’s dimensions creates some close quarters for a camping family of four, it’s tiny size and maneuverability means we can take it just about anywhere. 

We have discovered that there are three essential ingredients required for a successful expedition with Freedom - thoughtful preparation, proper packing and lots of playing. 

Prep - 

Preparation consists of three steps.  

1. Preparing the RV: Anything that will make your trip more enjoyable because you don’t have to worry about a mechanical breakdown. Double check all systems to make sure they are in proper working order. Before you leave make sure to clean the water tanks, check tire pressure, refill propane tanks, etc. 

2. Finding a spot to park the RV that is near your objective.  Amazingly, there is usually an RV park just about everywhere you can think of going and if you’re lucky it’s one with a pool and spa.  But the beauty of an RV is that it is a self contained unit. It doesn’t require hook-ups as long as you don’t want to run the air conditioner or heater.  If you desire more comfort while camping then bring along a generator and camp on the side of a dirt road with all the amenities of a five star Motel 6. 

3. Carefully planning a menu.  Your refrigerator space is minimal.  Your cupboard space is limited.  The menu must satisfy ravenous adventurers after a long day (and sometimes night) of physical activity. 

Pack - 

A novice will keep the same kitchen/cookware in their RV at all times for each and every trip.  You wouldn’t keep your winter coat packed if you were headed to the desert in summer.  Likewise, you wouldn’t pack your PFD (life vest) if you were headed off to the ski resort.  Keep the essentials packed; plates, cups, utensils, bottle openers... but rotate the bigger items.  Don’t keep the waffle iron, if you’re planning on oat meal for breakfast! 

Play - 

Play, play, play.  Play hard.  Play safe.  Play often.  The real fun in owning an RV is the variety of adventures you will encounter.  Day trips, weekend trip, week long vacations and cross country expeditions.  It’s all fun! It’s Adventure. 

See you on the road, 

Kaylene   

oxoxox