We're wondering what people do for meals while free camping across this big land of ours.
gordon_adl said
07:14 PM Jun 18, 2012
Nothing different. Eat the same food I'd make if I were home or in a caravan park.
Willow said
07:36 PM Jun 18, 2012
Last night we had camp oven stew, baby potatoes, corn on the cob and steamed brocolli. Followed by marshmallows toasted on the fire.
Dougwe said
07:57 PM Jun 18, 2012
Hi KerryandBruce, welcome from me, enjoy here and out there.
Like the others have said, I do pretty much the same when away but I tend to use tin vege as I find it easier, salads are great too.
I have now got a vacuum seal machine and at home because I am solo and I have recently been cooking (steam) a heap of different fresh vege at one time then mush not mash it all together, put a meal size amount in a bag then vacuum seal it and freeze.
I see no reason why I couldn't take the frozen bags away instead of tins. Just heat up in dry fry pan or heat in the bag in boiling water, serve with a steak or similar, YUM.
Happywanderer said
08:46 PM Jun 18, 2012
Some people use the dried veges, peas and beans etc. They don't take up much space and wouldn't go off. Doug, thats a great idea, freezing extra before you go away. There are many ways you can work to your own advantage. I have a very good heavy based fryiing pan with a lid, it's a bit deeper than the normal. Can pop everything in there together for a one cook pot. Can cook anything from bacon and eggs to a stew.
Boroma577 said
08:53 PM Jun 18, 2012
I agree....pretty much the same as home. I do add more dried vegs to the larder and those flavoured pasta mixes.
AmandaJayne said
09:58 PM Jun 18, 2012
we eat about the same as we do at home too, I think you can eat real well while free camping.. sometimes I think too well LOL (the waistline agrees to that comment!)
Hylda&Jon said
10:08 PM Jun 18, 2012
I invested in a Dreampot Thermal Cooker which slow cooks a meal using only it's own heat after just 20minutes on the stove.
Also we used a vacuum sealer a lot in our travels to keep fresh foods fresh and for keeping precooked foods for a long time.
Cheers
Jon
-- Edited by Hylda&Jon on Monday 18th of June 2012 10:08:49 PM
neilnruth said
12:23 AM Jun 19, 2012
The same as any other time basically but tonight I'm reheating some pre-cooked rissoles then cooking some vegies. Other times I make a one pot meal to eat out of one bowl.
Hylda&Jon said
12:27 AM Jun 19, 2012
Chickens, silversides, fish, eggs, vege's (love them roast vege's) and salads (most salad & vege's stay fresh for a couple of weeks so are fine for most areas)
As others have said, we eat much as we do at home.
Bon appétit
Jon
jules47 said
12:31 AM Jun 19, 2012
Same as at home - everyone has different ideas - and methods of cooking -sometimes it all depends on what you have to cook on, in or with.
jimbo said
01:04 AM Jun 19, 2012
Same as Home for me too.....Though I seem to have a lot more fish
Happywanderer said
01:10 AM Jun 19, 2012
I met a couple last year, all they had was frozen dinners and a microwave. Each to their own.
Gerty Dancer said
01:14 AM Jun 19, 2012
Not having an oven, we often have just BBQ'd meat with steamed vegs. Theres also rice with a reheated curry or something saucy. I go mad when we get home cooking all the things I cant make when in the van, especially a roast..
Hylda&Jon said
01:22 AM Jun 19, 2012
Gerty Dancer wrote:
Not having an oven, we often have just BBQ'd meat with steamed vegs. Theres also rice with a reheated curry or something saucy. I go mad when we get home cooking all the things I cant make when in the van, especially a roast..
Silverside is my substitute for a roast & lots cheaper
BohemianGypsy said
01:23 AM Jun 19, 2012
I'm hoping to be able to make the sorts of things I cook at home - like curries, slow cooker meals, Spaghetti Bolegnese, Baked Fish, just to name a few. We have a lot of stir frys too and Steak, baked potato and salad. I am not planning on changing anything too much whilst travelling. I love to cook and that will continue in the van. I am looking forward to purchasing fresh produce from farms etc along the way and visiting seafood co-ops for fresh seafood or whatever we catch along the way lol. That was why I had to insist in what we wanted in a van hehehe it had to have a full oven and a large fridge/freezer. I'm not a plain food eater and much prefer, Thai, Italian and Spanish food lol. Michelle
dazren said
01:40 AM Jun 19, 2012
Gerty dancer wrote
I go mad when we get home cooking all the things I cant make when in the van, especially a roast.. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Before easter our friends and ourselves bought these portable bbq's from Aldi, they have a full roll lid on them [ just like a Baby Q ] we cooked a fantastic roast in them, our friends did chicken, and we did roast beef, we just put the roast in those aluminium disposable oven dishes, surrounded the meat with Potates, carrots, onion, pumpkin, and parsnip,
It took approx 2 and a bit hours to cook, and the juices made the base for a fantastic gravy, I reckon it was the best roast dinner i have ever had, I don't know if Aldi have any left, but they are very good value compared to the Baby Q type, as they only cost $70.00 dazren
dazren said
02:04 AM Jun 19, 2012
Bohemian gypsy wrote
I'm hoping to be able to make the sorts of things I cook at home - like curries, slow cooker meals, Spaghetti Bolegnese, Baked Fish, just to name a few. We have a lot of stir frys too and Steak, baked potato and salad. I am not planning on changing anything too much whilst travelling. I love to cook and that will continue in the van. I am looking forward to purchasing fresh produce from farms etc along the way and visiting seafood co-ops for fresh seafood or whatever we catch along the way lol. That was why I had to insist in what we wanted in a van hehehe it had to have a full oven and a large fridge/freezer. I'm not a plain food eater and much prefer, Thai, Italian and Spanish food lol. Michelle
Michelle, when you hit the road, i need to know your full travel intinery ??
and every time you pullover to cook a meal. you may see a lotus caravan towed by a silver grey Colarado, in the near vicinity. that will be me, so do not be shy ?? i am a willing participant, in having a chat, so please donot hesitate in offering me a meal, it all sounds so yummy ?? dazren
BohemianGypsy said
04:33 AM Jun 19, 2012
dazren wrote:
Bohemian gypsy wrote
I'm hoping to be able to make the sorts of things I cook at home - like curries, slow cooker meals, Spaghetti Bolegnese, Baked Fish, just to name a few. We have a lot of stir frys too and Steak, baked potato and salad. I am not planning on changing anything too much whilst travelling. I love to cook and that will continue in the van. I am looking forward to purchasing fresh produce from farms etc along the way and visiting seafood co-ops for fresh seafood or whatever we catch along the way lol. That was why I had to insist in what we wanted in a van hehehe it had to have a full oven and a large fridge/freezer. I'm not a plain food eater and much prefer, Thai, Italian and Spanish food lol. Michelle
Michelle, when you hit the road, i need to know your full travel intinery ??
and every time you pullover to cook a meal. you may see a lotus caravan towed by a silver grey Colarado, in the near vicinity. that will be me, so do not be shy ?? i am a willing participant, in having a chat, so please donot hesitate in offering me a meal, it all sounds so yummy ?? dazren
ROTFLOL Dazren, okay so if we happen to see a lotus caravan being towed by a silver grey Colarado we will walk up and ask you over for a meal and if perchance it is not you and your wife then we are gonna be in deep . . .very deep dodo!!!! Cause I just asked some geezer to enjoy a meal with us ROTFLMAO and he is going to think we are stalkers hehehe
Michelle
Gerty Dancer said
05:39 AM Jun 19, 2012
Jon, have often wondered about those dreampots, if they are worth taking in the van... you have answered that question, thank you. But.. can they cook a roast???
pricey43 said
06:08 AM Jun 19, 2012
While we're waiting for the new van to arrive, MOTH and I have been cooking up a storm and vacuum sealing and freezing. From soups to spring rolls and pasties. Once we're on the road we won't have to do much cooking at all.
BohemianGypsy said
06:09 AM Jun 19, 2012
Gerty Dancer wrote:
Jon, have often wondered about those dreampots, if they are worth taking in the van... you have answered that question, thank you. But.. can they cook a roast???
Apparently so Gerty according to the website. I just watched the two videos and checked the whole site out and there are some fab recipes there as well.
Michelle
Boroma577 said
01:07 PM Jun 19, 2012
Gerty Dancer wrote:
Jon, have often wondered about those dreampots, if they are worth taking in the van... you have answered that question, thank you. But.. can they cook a roast???
I also have a DP Gerty and yes you can do both pot roast or a regular roast using an oven bag. It will pay for itself in no time at all in energy saved as well as convenience in no time at all. Great for all sorts of things, sweets, cakes, scones, yoghurt and main meals.
In addition to the BabyQ or similar you can use a Camp Oven for roasting or a Turbo Oven. I found the turbo oven to be too big for me but many have them and swear by them.
-- Edited by Boroma577 on Tuesday 19th of June 2012 01:10:45 PM
beiffe said
03:49 PM Jun 19, 2012
I have a 4kg gas bottle converted to a fire pot that sits on a plow dish to stop it from burning the ground, weeds etc and when I want a roast I have another converted to an oven.
Often cook roast etc as I like my food.
Also love asian food and prefer fresh food even though I have a large fridge and freezer.
When travelling and I need a quick meal in my old bus I used the gas stove.
Regards Brian
Rip and Rosie said
04:24 PM Jun 19, 2012
I try to do easy stuff when travelling. No complex recipes, no multiple saucepans etc to wash up. I like a few ingredients, BBQ or 2 saucepans max meals. I like my food, but I'm out to enjoy the travelling, not the cleaning up.
Have never been one for gadgets, so those dreampots aren't on my wish list. I can't see why I would transfer the messy part of cooking to the beginning of the day, and add to the chores that need to be done, especially if pulling up camp and moving on.
valnrob said
05:04 PM Jun 19, 2012
Hi there, Rob and I mainly have what everyone else here has, I do lots of campoven cooking in winter, stews, etc. BBQ's too. Everything tastes so much better when we're out camping and the waistline is testament to that!!
cheers
Dougwe said
05:40 PM Jun 19, 2012
BohemianGypsy wrote:
dazren wrote:
Bohemian gypsy wrote
I'm hoping to be able to make the sorts of things I cook at home - like curries, slow cooker meals, Spaghetti Bolegnese, Baked Fish, just to name a few. We have a lot of stir frys too and Steak, baked potato and salad. I am not planning on changing anything too much whilst travelling. I love to cook and that will continue in the van. I am looking forward to purchasing fresh produce from farms etc along the way and visiting seafood co-ops for fresh seafood or whatever we catch along the way lol. That was why I had to insist in what we wanted in a van hehehe it had to have a full oven and a large fridge/freezer. I'm not a plain food eater and much prefer, Thai, Italian and Spanish food lol. Michelle
Michelle, when you hit the road, i need to know your full travel intinery ??
and every time you pullover to cook a meal. you may see a lotus caravan towed by a silver grey Colarado, in the near vicinity. that will be me, so do not be shy ?? i am a willing participant, in having a chat, so please donot hesitate in offering me a meal, it all sounds so yummy ?? dazren
ROTFLOL Dazren, okay so if we happen to see a lotus caravan being towed by a silver grey Colarado we will walk up and ask you over for a meal and if perchance it is not you and your wife then we are gonna be in deep . . .very deep dodo!!!! Cause I just asked some geezer to enjoy a meal with us ROTFLMAO and he is going to think we are stalkers hehehe
Michelle
What about little old me? Why should dazren get special treatment?
KerryandBruce said
07:30 PM Jun 19, 2012
Thanks Doug, what a brilliant idea. I think one of our daughters has a vacuum seal.
Esmeralda said
07:44 PM Jun 19, 2012
I cook pretty much the same as at home. I am thinking of changing my mcrowave to a convection microwave - then it can roast, make sconesm, bake a cake, lasagne, and the list goes on.... If I don't change then I will stick with the Sunbeam pizza, bake and grill - but would rather get down to one appliance rather than two.
I also have a Dreampot but have yet to take it away with me, though have used it around the home - put the corned beef in the inner pot with all the bits and pieces, heat for the appropriate time on the stove and then put the pot inside the Dreampot and turn off the stove. Certainly uses less electricity.
Cheers, Helen
valnrob said
09:36 PM Jun 19, 2012
Boroma577 wrote:
Gerty Dancer wrote:
Jon, have often wondered about those dreampots, if they are worth taking in the van... you have answered that question, thank you. But.. can they cook a roast???
I also have a DP Gerty and yes you can do both pot roast or a regular roast using an oven bag. It will pay for itself in no time at all in energy saved as well as convenience in no time at all. Great for all sorts of things, sweets, cakes, scones, yoghurt and main meals.
In addition to the BabyQ or similar you can use a Camp Oven for roasting or a Turbo Oven. I found the turbo oven to be too big for me but many have them and swear by them.
-- Edited by Boroma577 on Tuesday 19th of June 2012 01:10:45 PM
Re: the turbo oven, what power source do you use? Inverter? If so how much battery would they use to cook a roast for instance.
We're wondering what people do for meals while free camping across this big land of ours.
Hi KerryandBruce, welcome from me, enjoy here and out there.
Like the others have said, I do pretty much the same when away but I tend to use tin vege as I find it easier, salads are great too.
I have now got a vacuum seal machine and at home because I am solo and I have recently been cooking (steam) a heap of different fresh vege at one time then mush not mash it all together, put a meal size amount in a bag then vacuum seal it and freeze.
I see no reason why I couldn't take the frozen bags away instead of tins. Just heat up in dry fry pan or heat in the bag in boiling water, serve with a steak or similar, YUM.
Doug, thats a great idea, freezing extra before you go away.
There are many ways you can work to your own advantage. I have a very good heavy based fryiing pan with a lid, it's a bit deeper than the normal. Can pop everything in there together for a one cook pot. Can cook anything from bacon and eggs to a stew.
I agree....pretty much the same as home. I do add more dried vegs to the larder and those flavoured pasta mixes.
I invested in a Dreampot Thermal Cooker which slow cooks a meal using only it's own heat after just 20minutes on the stove.
Refer to this site: http://www.dreampot.com.au/
Also we used a vacuum sealer a lot in our travels to keep fresh foods fresh and for keeping precooked foods for a long time.
Cheers
Jon
-- Edited by Hylda&Jon on Monday 18th of June 2012 10:08:49 PM
Chickens, silversides, fish, eggs, vege's (love them roast vege's) and salads (most salad & vege's stay fresh for a couple of weeks so are fine for most areas)
As others have said, we eat much as we do at home.
Bon appétit
Jon
I go mad when we get home cooking all the things I cant make when in the van, especially a roast..
Silverside is my substitute for a roast & lots cheaper
Michelle
Gerty dancer wrote
I go mad when we get home cooking all the things I cant make when in the van, especially a roast..
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Before easter our friends and ourselves bought these portable bbq's from Aldi, they have a full roll lid on them [ just like a Baby Q ] we cooked a fantastic roast in them, our friends did chicken, and we did roast beef, we just put the roast in those aluminium disposable oven dishes, surrounded the meat with Potates, carrots, onion, pumpkin, and parsnip,
It took approx 2 and a bit hours to cook, and the juices made the base for a fantastic gravy, I reckon it was the best roast dinner i have ever had, I don't know if Aldi have any left, but they are very good value compared to the Baby Q type, as they only cost $70.00 dazren
Bohemian gypsy wrote
I'm hoping to be able to make the sorts of things I cook at home - like curries, slow cooker meals, Spaghetti Bolegnese, Baked Fish, just to name a few. We have a lot of stir frys too and Steak, baked potato and salad. I am not planning on changing anything too much whilst travelling. I love to cook and that will continue in the van. I am looking forward to purchasing fresh produce from farms etc along the way and visiting seafood co-ops for fresh seafood or whatever we catch along the way lol. That was why I had to insist in what we wanted in a van hehehe it had to have a full oven and a large fridge/freezer. I'm not a plain food eater and much prefer, Thai, Italian and Spanish food lol.
Michelle
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Michelle, when you hit the road, i need to know your full travel intinery ??
and every time you pullover to cook a meal. you may see a lotus caravan towed by a silver grey Colarado, in the near vicinity. that will be me, so do not be shy ?? i am a willing participant, in having a chat, so please do not hesitate in offering me a meal, it all sounds so yummy ?? dazren
ROTFLOL Dazren, okay so if we happen to see a lotus caravan being towed by a silver grey Colarado we will walk up and ask you over for a meal and if perchance it is not you and your wife then we are gonna be in deep . . .very deep dodo!!!! Cause I just asked some geezer to enjoy a meal with us ROTFLMAO and he is going to think we are stalkers hehehe
Michelle
But.. can they cook a roast???
While we're waiting for the new van to arrive, MOTH and I have been cooking up a storm and vacuum sealing and freezing. From soups to spring rolls and pasties. Once we're on the road we won't have to do much cooking at all.
Apparently so Gerty according to the website. I just watched the two videos and checked the whole site out and there are some fab recipes there as well.
Michelle
I also have a DP Gerty and yes you can do both pot roast or a regular roast using an oven bag. It will pay for itself in no time at all in energy saved as well as convenience in no time at all. Great for all sorts of things, sweets, cakes, scones, yoghurt and main meals.
In addition to the BabyQ or similar you can use a Camp Oven for roasting or a Turbo Oven. I found the turbo oven to be too big for me but many have them and swear by them.
-- Edited by Boroma577 on Tuesday 19th of June 2012 01:10:45 PM
Often cook roast etc as I like my food.
Also love asian food and prefer fresh food even though I have a large fridge and freezer.
When travelling and I need a quick meal in my old bus I used the gas stove.
Regards
Brian
I like my food, but I'm out to enjoy the travelling, not the cleaning up.
Have never been one for gadgets, so those dreampots aren't on my wish list. I can't see why I would transfer the messy part of cooking to the beginning of the day, and add to the chores that need to be done, especially if pulling up camp and moving on.
cheers
What about little old me?
Why should dazren get special treatment? 
Thanks Doug, what a brilliant idea. I think one of our daughters has a vacuum seal.
I cook pretty much the same as at home. I am thinking of changing my mcrowave to a convection microwave - then it can roast, make sconesm, bake a cake, lasagne, and the list goes on.... If I don't change then I will stick with the Sunbeam pizza, bake and grill - but would rather get down to one appliance rather than two.
I also have a Dreampot but have yet to take it away with me, though have used it around the home - put the corned beef in the inner pot with all the bits and pieces, heat for the appropriate time on the stove and then put the pot inside the Dreampot and turn off the stove. Certainly uses less electricity.
Cheers, Helen
Re: the turbo oven, what power source do you use? Inverter? If so how much battery would they use to cook a roast for instance.