A Tiny Thanksgiving | I Heart RVing

I Heart RVing

WE SACRIFICE A LOT FOR OUR RV HABITS. Space for an extra shoe rack? Who needs it? An extra 10 inches of TV screen space? Won’t even miss them. But sacrificing the quality of our Turkey Day dinner? Not. Gonna. Happen. Instead, max out your holiday spirit with these RV-friendly tips to keep your culinary experience intact.

2 DISHES YOUR LOVED ONES WILL BE GRATEFUL FOR

The Star of the Show: Brined Turkey Breast

Sure, you could give the fryer a shot, but that’s too much work if you’re not feeding the whole park. Instead, with just a few hours of brining, you can present to your loved ones a golden delight that’s huge in flavor and just right for your tiny kitchen.

Ingredients:
1 bone-in turkey breast
½ cup salt
½ cup sugar
1 Tbsp of whole peppercorns
Splash of apple juice
1 bay leaf (optional)

Add all ingredients to a gallon-size freezer bag and shake (it’s OK if salt and sugar don’t dissolve). Brine for four to eight hours. Pat dry. Roast at 375° F for approximately 20 minutes per pound, or grill over high, indirect heat for about 35 – 45 minutes—until reaching 160° F internal temperature (in both cases). Use a meat thermometer to avoid overcooking.

A Slow Cooker Side: Candied Carrots

Your meat’s not taking up your slow cooker space, and carrots work great slow and low. Plus, a 4-hour cook time and almost no prep make this the perfect fire-and-forget side dish that dishes out a healthy dollop of cheer.

Ingredients:

1 bag of baby carrots

¼ cup brown sugar

3 Tbsp maple syrup

Big pinch of salt + pepper

Healthy squeeze of lemon juice

Mix all ingredients in the slow cooker and stir. Cook on high for about four hours, stirring halfway through. Finish with a holiday flourish by topping with a healthy dose of mini marshmallows and broiling, or have the kids kick in some hand-toasted marshmallows for the topping.

1 HOLIDAY-SIZED TIP

Don’t Bring the Food to You. Bring You to the Food.
You can’t bring your full pantry, so consider parking next to one. Or with Harvest Hosts, next to the winery, farm, brewery, or distillery. Because nothing says Thanksgiving like filling your belly with special treats. Bonus: No cleanup! Harvest Hosts is a membership program with over 2,000 unique overnight stays available. Members get access to an online directory of spots you can park in exchange for a suggested purchase. So, stay overnight, taste some sweet treats, and instead of paying a parking fee, just buy some of your favorite stuff.

There’s an app to make searching and finding just the right spot a breeze. And all classes of RVs are allowed except for “traditional pop-up campers, otherwise known as folding camping trailers.” The other thing to note is that most properties don’t have electricity, water, or sewer hookups. So… it’s kind of like Wallydocking, except less Wally and more wine. Find your next holiday parking spot online at HarvestHosts.com.

LAND SOME REVOLUTIONARY KITCHEN GEAR

The right gear can make the difference between happy holidays and a Hell’s Kitchen experience. And if loving kitchen appliances is wrong, we don’t want to be right. We love the Dometic fridges, like the DMC 4081. Sturdy. Works great. Lasts a long time. Holds tons. Just the thing to make you feel right at home in your kitchen on the go.