Inverter Stew
A
long day of driving is often a necessity of RV life. To make things easier
on everyone (er... myself!), I made dinner ahead. I browned a pound of lamb
stew meat (beef would work too) with lots of garlic and put the lamb in my
crockpot (lined with one of the fancy new crockpot liners) with a slivered
onion and half a bag of baby carrots. I put the crock in the fridge and went
to bed. Next morning, I added three cubed Yukons, one can of diced tomatoes,
one cup of chicken stock, a teaspoon of crushed rosemary leaves, kosher salt
and a lot of pepper. Then I placed the crockpot in the sink (safety first),
set the temperature and dinner cooked as we drove all day - smelling this
lovely concoction, which I lovingly named "Inverter Stew". The meal was
outstanding and welcomed by tired travelers.
If
your RV has an inverter, I urge you to cook a meal "in the sink". It is a
fun and a delicious end to a long day down the road. With a crockpot liner
(read my product review here),
there is only the lid to wash. I also advise placing the crock on some sort
of non-stick pad (I use a 12-inch square silicone mat) and if your crockpot
comes with a lid strap, this is the time to use it!) I found the above 3.5
quart crockpot for $14.99 at a national chain store last year. It is a white
oval Hamilton Beach brand. It came with an insulted carrying bag - for
potlucks I assume, but it is also perfect for non-breaking rattle-free
storage - and a white strap (big rubber band) to secure the glass lid. The lid has a plastic
handle, so you don't need an oven mitt. Though not programmable (seriously
what else can you ask at $14.99?) the crock features a HIGH, LOW and KEEP
WARM setting. It must have been invented with RVer's in mind.
Even though we have some sort of fancy inverter, I don't feel I get the same
amount of power as when we are plugged into shore power - so I turned the
crockpot to high for several hours, then reduced it low for the rest of the
day. (TIP: If your inverter can't get the crockpot hot enough, place a sheet
of aluminum foil over the top of the crock and place the lid over the foil -
this will raise the temperature quickly.)
Happy, Safe and Delicious Traveling!