After a while, eating out every night can get tiring when you're on the road with your show horse. Some nights, you may be tired after a long day of eventing, or you may be miles away from the nearest restaurant. Carrying along some homemade foods doesn't have to be difficult, and can provide some comforts of home, and an option to constantly eating on the run.
Since most RV's or travel trailers have modest kitchens, it's easy to reheat or prepare a simple meal that your family will appreciate. Basic cooking supplies are all you will need, along with a little preparation before you leave home, as well as optimizing your grocery shopping ahead of time. Depending on how long you will be away, usually a weekend, to a week, you can tweak your meal plan to accommodate your needs. Consider purchasing supplies that can be used for more than one meal to optimize storage space in your trailer refrigerator.
If you're going away for a weekend show and will be gone 2-4 days, consider pre-made meals that can be quickly heated in your trailers microwave or oven. For longer trips, consider ready made meals or utilize store packaged products that make cooking a bit easier. Since time is often in short supply during show season, the better prepared you are, the less time you will have to spend on putting a meal together.
Quick Breads for Breakfast:
Quick breads are easy to prepare ahead of time and freeze. Or, make the batter and keep in your fridge for baking when needed. They not only taste wonderful, but are a comforting way to start a chilly Show morning! Serve with hot cocoa or coffee on a crisp morning.
Cinnamon Quick Bread
1/3 cup white sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup white sugar
1 egg, beaten
1 cup milk
1/3 cup vegetable oil
DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan. In a small bowl, mix together 1/3 cup sugar and 2 teaspoons cinnamon; set aside. In large bowl combine flour, baking powder, salt and remaining 1 cup sugar. Combine egg, milk, and oil; add to flour mixture. Stir until just moistened. Pour half of the batter into pan. Sprinkle with half the reserved cinnamon/sugar mixture. Repeat with remaining batter and cinnamon/sugar mixture. Draw a knife through batter to marble. Bake in preheated oven for 45 to 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Let rest 10-15 minutes before slicing. Best if kept overnight before slicing.
Banana Bread ( Courtesy of Taste of Home)
2/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup shortening
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup mashed ripe bananas
DIRECTIONS
There are NO eggs or milk in this recipe. In a large bowl, cream sugar and Shortening for about 5 minutes (mixture does not get smooth). Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with bananas, beating after each addition (the batter will be thick). Spoon into a greased 9- in. x 5-in. x 3-in. loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for 40-45 minutes or until bread tests done with a toothpick. Cool in pan for 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack.
Lunch Recipes:
Turkey & Ham wraps
1 pkg each thin sliced deli turkey & honey ham
1 large sliced onion
1 large sliced green pepper
1 large sliced tomato
Lettuce
Ranch dressing
1 pkg shredded mozzarella or cheddar blend cheese
1 pkg tomato basil, or garden herb tortilla wraps
DIRECTIONS
Simply fill a tortilla with desired amount of meats and veggies. Add ranch dressing and cheese if desired, and roll tortilla end to end. Serve with fruit or baked chips. These wraps can be made ahead of time and stored in a bag in the refrigerator.
Bruschetta Chicken Sandwiches: to prepare ahead of time, simply chop the veggies and place in a storage bag. Buy packaged chicken strips, or cook and cut frozen chicken breasts and store.
1 pkg hoagie rolls
1-2 packages prepared chicken strips or 3 large chicken breasts cooked and cut into strips
2-3 Roma tomatoes, diced
1 can black olives, diced
1 large green pepper, diced
Small bunch of green onions ( chives), finely diced
Small bunch of fresh parsley, finely diced
Olive oil
Salt & pepper
DIRECTIONS
Mix all the veggies and herbs together. Add a dash salt, pepper and about 3 TBSP olive oil. Mix all well. Open a hoagie roll and place a scoop of chicken inside. Top with a scoop of vegetable mixture. For added pizzaz, add a dash of parmesan cheese and broil or bake until the bread is slightly crisp around the edges and cheese is melted.
Easy Supper Meals:
Beef Stew:
To make life really easy and still get a wonderful homemade meal, purchase a bag of ready made stew for the crockpot. Betty Crocker has a delicious prepackaged beef stew that you simply put in your crockpot, add water and let cook while you go about your show day!
Chicken Fajitas
1 pkg cooked chicken strips
1 pkg flour tortillas
1 jar salsa
1 pkg dry fajita mix
1 large onion, chopped
1 package cheddar or taco blend cheese
Sour Cream
DIRECTIONS
Cook chicken strips and dry fajita mix according to package directions. Spoon finished meat into a tortilla. Add onions, sour cream and cheese if desired.
Hot Turkey Sandwiches & Mashed Potatoes
2 pkgs deli turkey
2 jars turkey gravy
1 loaf Texas Toast Bread or thick sliced bread
1 box instant mashed potatoes
DIRECTIONS
Simmer turkey and gravy in small pan until heated through. Prepare boxed potatoes according to directions. Serve turkey and gravy over a slice of Texas Toast and add gravy to hot potatoes.
Snacks
Show-Time trail mix
In a bag mix together: almonds ( any flavor), m&m's, raisons, craisins, salted peanuts, flaked coconut. Mix in a baggie and serve as a snack
Puppy Chow
1 box corn chex mix
1 cup melted peanut butter
2 pkgs hot cocoa powder
Powdered sugar
DIRECTIONS
Melt peanut butter in a large saucepan. Add the cereal to the peanut butter and mix until all the cereal is coated. Transfer the covered cereal to a large storage bag ( you may need to divide it into two bags). Add the cocoa packets to the bag, seal and shake until cereal is coated. Add 1-2 cups powdered sugar to the bag, seal and shake again until covered with the sugar. Transfer to clean bags and serve as a snack ( a little messy!)
Kitchen Supplies not to forget
Crock pot
Large wooden spoons
Mixing bowls
Whisk
Storage Bags or Tupperware containers
The key is sticking to recipes that are fast, using ingredients that have multi-purpose and are easy to store to make your life, and your meals, on the road a little easier.
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