Planning our first Thanksgiving dinner in the RV - RV-Dreams Community Forum

NWescapee · RV-Dreams Family Member

Planning our first Thanksgiving dinner in the RV

WestWardHo · RV-Dreams Family Member

I was at a fun RV Kitchen demonstration yesterday done by Evada Cooper, myRVKitchen.com. She and a couple of the other ladies raved about electric roasters. I haven't used one since my restaurant days many moons ago (and the best EVER prime rib was made in them) but they ere highly recommended by several of the women there. Gals said you can even fry in them and cook lots more than just roasts. They also said they are pretty lightweight but space is always an issue. Two ladies said get as big as you can because they come in all kinds of sizes And are often used outside.

Just FYI but your recipe looks good.

An aside: I was struck by how few cooking pans and pots Eveda actually carried And she's quite a cook.

Sherry

-- Edited by WestWardHo on Friday 22nd of November 2013 01:02:08 PM

Ann-Hank · RV-Dreams Family Member

Hi Ruth, we are having a dinner with 2 other work camper couples here in GA. I will be fixing the turkey and like you what to do. Last weekend we did a trial run on a chicken and it turned out great. We cooked it in the bbq, but not the Magma the one that uses briquettes. I brained it for 2 hrs in a buttermilk brine and bbq at about 325 for a little over 2 hrs. Until it reached165°. OMG it was so moist and tender, just hope the turkey is as good. I'll be doing a 10-12 pounder.
have fun hope to meetgain down the road.
Ann

-- Edited by Ann-Hank on Friday 22nd of November 2013 04:17:25 PM

Grams · RV-Dreams Family Member

That does sound delicious!

I plan to make Stove-top apple cruch vs. pumpkin pie (which I don't like)

Here is my recipe:

Stovetop Apple Crisp

Crisp Topping:
3 Tbl. butter
½ cup blanched almonds, sliced
1/3 cup rolled oats
¼ cup brown sugar

Melt the butter in a medium nonstick sauté pan over medium high heat. Stir in the almonds, oats and sugar. Cook while stirring constantly for 3-4 minutes, or until lightly browned. Pour the mixture onto a sheet of parchment paper. Spread evenly to create a single layer and set aside to cool.

Apple Filling:
3 gala apples, peeled and sliced
2 Tbl. butter
3-4 Tbl. sugar
½ Tbl. lemon juice
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
¼ tsp. ground nutmeg
pinch of salt

Sauté the apples in a medium sauté pan over medium heat for 5 minutes or until softened. Add the sugar, lemon juice and cinnamon. Reduce the heat and simmer for 1-2 minutes until slightly thickened. Evenly divide the apples into bowls. Break up the crisp topping and sprinkle on top of the apples.

Serves 3 – 4 people.

Clay L · RV-Dreams Family Member

In contrast we do want leftovers. We have a cooler and buy block ice for it. That keeps most of the leftovers.
We have a 3 cubic foot freezer that sits beside the dinette and we also use it for some leftovers.

We get a 12 pound or so turkey (we like dark meat so a turkey breast wouldn't work for us. We use the white meat for turkey noodle soup and sandwiches.).
I use my saber saw to cut it in half length ways so it will lay flat in the pan and fit in our RV oven. We do the full blown dinner including cornbread dressing, giblet gravy, mashed potatoes and at least one pie. Both the convection microwave and the regular oven get a workout.

scrappy · RV-Dreams Family Member

we have been debating the menu also. thinking grilled turkey breast.

we did, however, just buy a NuWave Cooktop. its fabulous! Convection gets it done fast! yay!

Lucky Mike · RV-Dreams Family Member

I find a church pantry or homeless kitchen every year to help out at.........kinda makes my holiday better!!.....(not to mention the free lunch) nothing is better than to be able to give to a complete stranger and leave knowing you have one more friend!!!!!!

NWescapee · RV-Dreams Family Member

Lucky Mike - like you, we are looking to help out at a local charity. Salvation Army did not need any more volunteers for Thanksgiving day so we're volunteering a couple of days before that on a turkey drive to ask for food donations at a local grocery store.

I think we have our small menu figured out that we can make using our Microwave / convection oven, stoptop and grill. Looking forward to creating a small dinner and enjoying it in the desert.

NWescapee · RV-Dreams Family Member

Hi Ann - we were lamenting the fact that we left the Cobb Grill in storage, thinking it would be nice to smoke a turkey. However, since it's just the 2 of us for a very quiet Thanksgiving we're still thinking this is a good option for us. We're still adjusting to the Magma grill for some of our cooking, it seems to cook a lot hotter than previous grills. This will be a peaceful, non-stressful, no family drama day for us and we are so looking forward to that. Love our families, but look forward to visiting all of them during non-holiday times in the future.
Let us know when you are back in the Western part of the US again, we'll look forward to seeing you and Hank again!!

DeeJee · RV-Dreams Family Member

Unless our grandson decides to make his arrival this week we plan to give thanks at Cracker Barrel. For the cost and space to buy everything to fix the meal it's not worth it. Plus, more than a day of leftovers would be wasted food. I guess we'll be helping out the waitress.

PIEERE · RV-Dreams Family Member

Well the local church came by with a 1/2 fried Turkey and some Green Beans; mashed taters. This was cooked Sunday AM by the Country singer; Tracy Lawrence and his volunteers have been doing this for 8 years. He does this for the Nashville Mission and other organizations in the surrounding areas. This Park has been on the list for the past few years. There a few others here who are on SSD and SS lower incomes. We are blessed as being single who wants to cook. Happy Thanksgiving!

Lucky Mike · RV-Dreams Family Member

Well Im off at 4:30am for a little one armed cooking magic at St. Vincent Depauls Kitchen to spend some time with all the turkeys on the assembly line!!!!!......28 birds and 9 beautiful Deck ovens , I love it when a plan comes together......(I hope they have a Commercial potato peeler!!!)

Happy Thanksgiving !!!!!!

NWescapee · RV-Dreams Family Member

Well, it's almost here and I think we're ready. Spent yesterday volunteering with Salvation Army, when our shift was done I had way too much fun shopping for items that would be donated to the local food bank and buying a couple of turkeys for the Salvation Army. You know, I don't need any more "stuff" in the RV, but as I talked to the staff from Salvation Army I was reminded once again how much I take for granted and how little some families have and how blessed we are to be living our dream. Made me want to fill the donation box all by myself (had fun trying!!).

Meanwhile we're prepping a few items tonight, realizing we really don't need a HUGE menu, we will grill the turkey roast tomorrow and spend the day in the desert being thankful that we are out of the rainy, cold, Pacific NW. Skype with family and friends, maybe a walk or bike ride, but overall a quiet, peaceful day to give thanks and reflect.

Airplane Guy · RV-Dreams Family Member

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!