Nourishment For The Soul

Picture this… It’s a beautiful summer evening. The weather is a perfect 80 degrees, with no humidity and not a cloud in sight. You’ve snagged the best spot in your favorite RV park for the weekend. You can hear kids running around and having fun, see people swimming in the lake, and you’re firing up your grill to cook another tasty meal for your loved ones.

 

Sounds like the perfect scenario, right? Well, if there is one thing the staff can agree on here at the FMCA national office, it’s that we love food just as much as we love RVing. Whether we are cooking, eating, sharing, or talking about food, the one thing we can count on is that it brings us together. So, we decided to cook up a newsletter about food. It includes some of our favorite recipes, important information about how to select an RV grill, and much more.

 

Bon appetit!

 

The FMCA Team

FMCA Campground

It was a nice treat again! We stayed at the FMCA Campground several months ago for two nights, and we just completed another two nights there. The campground is excellent and the 1.4-mile walking path around the nearby lake provides exercise as well as enjoyable bird-watching. Units of all sizes and degrees of fanciness seemed right at home there. THANK YOU, FMCA!!!

 

BEN & MARGARET HUMPHREY, F502631

FMCA members can stay two free nights per month at FMCA’s member-only campground in Cincinnati. Join FMCA today and make reservations for your first stay. 

Select An RV Grill

Nothing says summertime like burgers sizzling on the grill and an ice-cold beverage on the side. Grilling and RVing go hand in hand, and just like at home, having the right tools is essential. That includes the grill. Fortunately for us, the BBQGuys have it all figured out. This online store offers a huge selection of grills, smokers, and backyard essentials, plus grilling tips, recipes, and advice. The company’s motto is “Born To Grill,” and if you are, too, you’ll want to check out their recommendations for choosing a grill that suits your RV cooking style.

 

When it comes to deciding which RV grill to buy, the BBQGuys suggest the following considerations:

1. Grill size and available storage – not only for the grill but also for the fuel it requires.
2. Weather and wilderness – the climate where you will be using the grill matters. Wind can wreak havoc with propane grills, and frequent rain can literally put a damper on charcoal grilling. For an electric grill, obviously you’ll need an electric hookup, or a generator.
3. Stamina and sturdiness – Lighter materials might be attractive from the standpoint of adding less weight to the RV and being easier to handle, but these grills may not last as long as one made of heftier materials.
4. Features and flexibility – you may want to trade off some features, such as number of burners, in favor of portability.

Ready to learn more or to start shopping? Click here for help from the BBQGuys in narrowing down the options.

Dutch Ovens: Cooking In The Coals

Perhaps you’ve thought of trying Dutch oven cooking while camping. If you’re new to the concept, Kim Hanna from Camping For Foodies can get you started. Along with providing oodles of tasty recipes, she explains the basics, including these tips.

 

Dutch ovens used for outdoor cooking differ from those found in a home kitchen. You’re trading gas or electric heat for charcoal or campfire coals, which are placed around and on top of the oven.

 

Dutch ovens come in various sizes and depths, which affect the number of charcoal briquettes needed to maintain a set cooking temperature. Most camp oven recipes call for a standard-depth 12-inch Dutch oven, which holds 6 quarts. (A deep-sided 12-inch oven holds 8 quarts.) Standard-depth ovens are suggested for baking, because they brown food more evenly on the top and bottom. Deeper ovens are great for preparing meats, soups, and vegetables.

 

A key factor is the temperature of the coals. Some recipes do not require a specific temperature — chili and stew, for example. For others that do, this temperature chart may help.

 

Because many recipes are cooked at 350 degrees, use these tips to achieve that temperature: 1. Multiply the size (in inches) of your Dutch oven by 2 to determine how many coals are needed for heating. 2. Place 1/3 of the coals under the oven and 2/3 on top of the lid.

 

If a temperature isn’t specified, just heat and cook. In this case, take the size of your Dutch oven (in inches); add 4 to the number to determine how many coals go on top; subtract 4 from the number to see how many coals go on the bottom.

 

Add more coals every hour or so to maintain the heat. Note that fast-burning charcoal, windy conditions, and cold and wet ground under the oven will cause the heat to dissipate more rapidly.

 

To ensure uniform heating, rotate the oven as the food cooks. Kim suggests a quarter turn for the cooker bottom and a quarter turn in the opposite direction for the lid. Heat-resistant gloves or a lid lifter can help you perform this task safely.

 

Place a fireproof barrier between the ground and the bottom coals to prevent the area around the oven from heating up.

 

Learn as you go and create delicious recipes in your Dutch oven! For inspiration, check out Kim’s recipe for Dutch Oven Chicken And Potatoes.

"Golden Getaway"

Come join fellow RVers for FMCA’s 105th International Convention & RV Expo Presented By Blue Ox, August 24-27, 2022. We will meet in Lincoln, Nebraska, at the Lancaster Event Center. The four-day event will be jam-packed with educational opportunities, entertainment, shopping, fun and games, a silent auction, socializing, special events, and a chance to peek into the latest and greatest RV displays of 2022! Click here to register.

Save On Campground Fees

Save even more this year by taking advantage of FMCA's partnership with Passport America, a 50% discount camping club.  FMCA members can purchase a reduced Passport America membership. Click here to find out how.

Keep It In The Family

FMCA’s RV Marketplace is the fastest way to find an FMCA commercial member campground in the area of your choosing. Go to the RV Marketplace and search by keyword, state, or postal code. With each listing, you will be able to tell if the facility offers an FMCA family member discount. Visit the company’s website, call, or email them using the info provided. Click here to check it out!

West Palm Beach/Lion Country Safari KOA Journey, C8859

Loxahatchee, Florida

Fall asleep to the sounds of nighttime in Africa. Wake up to the roar of lions — really! — at this KOA campground situated next to Lion Country Safari, a wild animal preserve and adventure park. The campground offers full-hookup sites with concrete pads, including pull-throughs up to 40 feet, plus laundry and shower facilities. For recreation, try the heated pool; playground; volleyball, basketball, shuffleboard, or petanque. Campground events are offered for all ages, too. How about a pancake breakfast or ice cream social? Yum!

Looking for a place to camp? The FMCA RV Marketplace lists FMCA commercial members that provide a variety of RV-related goods, services, and campground accommodations. Many offer discounts to FMCA members – another way to save with us!

Amanda Outside

Amanda Outside is a Utah-based adventurer known for her camp cooking tips and recipes. Follow along with her many adventures on her YouTube channel and blog as she hikes and travels the United States. Her unique take on camp cooking could inspire you to become your campground’s next top chef!

What's Poppin'?

Get tasty popcorn in minutes with this collapsible silicone microwave popcorn maker! Thanks to this handy product, you can ditch traditional popcorn poppers and popcorn bags. Just add popcorn kernels and you’ll be noshing on hot popcorn in no time. It is dishwasher safe and collapses to fit in your kitchen cabinet or drawers without taking up much space.

Staying Safe in Summer

Unexpected and dangerous weather can seriously affect your RV camping plans. RVcamping.org recommends enhancing safety by having weather-reading instruments and radios in your RV. While it’s easy to determine how hot or cold it is at your campsite using a thermometer, being aware of factors such as wind speed, humidity, and other weather readings can prepare you for any sudden climate changes. You can check out their list of recommended products here.

M-M-Mac And Cheese

Want a twist on a classic summer cookout side? Check out Maureen of M &M Hit the Road’s newest recipe for FMCAdventure! This bacon jalapeno mac and cheese brings a savory and spicy taste to the traditional mac and cheese we all know and love. It can be enjoyed as a side or even on its own. If you aren’t tempted to eat the entire dish, leftovers can also be frozen and reheated for your next meal.

 

You can also check out this and other of Maureen’s recipes on FMCAdventure or on her blog M&M Hit the Road.

FMCA Area Rally Schedule

 

June 2022

Great Lakes Area Rally – June 8-11 – Goshen, Indiana

Northwest Area Rally – June 22-26 – North Bend/Coos Bay, Oregon

 

July 2022

Eastern Area Rally – July 13-16 – Lewisburg, West Virginia

 

August 2022

Northeast Area Rally — August 4-6 — Fryeburg, Maine

 

September 2022

South Central Area Rally — September 14-17 — Shawnee, Oklahoma

 

October 2022

Rocky Mountain Area Rally — October 26-29 — Tucson, Arizona

Did you know that you don't have to be an FMCA member to attend our area rallies? That's right; you can join us at any FMCA rally or International Convention & RV Expo. Click here to find our complete list of area rallies and conventions.

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Family Motor Coach Association 8291 Clough Pike | Cincinnati, OH 45244 US

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