Open up the 6 chicken thighs (slice them to open further if they are too thick) and place the Brie cube into the center. Close up the thigh around the cheese as tightly as you can.
Wrap a rasher of Bacon tightly around the chicken thigh making sure the wider part of the rasher closes up the underneath of the chicken thigh. Repeat this with all the thighs.
Pre-heat a skillet pan on a medium / high heat and then place all 6 chicken brie bombs into the pan top side down.
Whilst the chicken cooks.. empty the tinned tomatoes into a bowl and add the minced garlic, tomato paste and a little salt and pepper.
Turn the chicken over in the pan. You should have a nice brown and almost burnt top to the chicken.
Add a splash of red wine (just a little) to the pan. This will deglaze the pan and bring in all the flavour that is stuck to the pan. Let the alcohol cook off for around 5 minutes.
Next pour over your bowl of tomato sauce, turn down the heat and place a lid on top. Cook for 20 minutes.
Chop some fresh Basil leaves.
After 20 minutes remove the lid and add in the chopped Basil leaves. Leave the lid off and cook for another 15 minute. (you may need to turn up the heat so that the tomatoes simmer).
Serve 2-3 chicken brie bombs each., drenched in the sauce. We like it with rice.
Who doesn’t love Halloumi? Well we LOVE it! This is a quick and easy campervan recipe for hot dogs, an amazing vanlife lunch. The recipe makes 4 hot dogs but we have 2 each :)
Halloumi Hot Dogs
Vegetarian
The perfect vegetarian option for a hot dog! Easy to make and even a meat lover will love these. Vanlife meals at its finest!
5 from 1 vote
10 Ingredients or less – No water – One-pan – Quick cook
Cut the Halloumi Cheese into 8 thick slices. (I usually cut lengthways).
Cut the Bell Pepper into chunky slices.
Cut the 1/2 Red Onion into slices.
Add the Halloumi and peppers to the hot pan. After 4-5 minutes the Halloumi should be brown on the pan side down. (Keep checking as Halloumi can burn easily). When it looks golden brown turn the cheese and peppers over and cook for another 4-5 minutes.
Remove the Halloumi from the pan.
Add the red onion to the pan and cook the Peppers and Onion for a couple more minutes and then turn off the heat.
Slice the hot dog buns lengthways and generously blob on the Guacamole.
Load up the buns with 2 slices of Halloumi each, some peppers and red onion.
Cut off two triangles of Toblerone and save for later. Roughly chop up the rest of the Toblerone in to bits.
In a pan add the 200g (half a tin) of condensed milk and warm over a gentle low heat for 5 minutes. (strictly no bubbles!)
Add the Toblerone chunks and stir through for another 3-4 minutes.
When melted it will be sticky, at this point add the table spoon of butter to loosen it up slightly. Warm for a further 1 minute until the butter has melted into the mixture.
Pour the mixture into tin lined with greaseproof paper.
Chop up the two Toblerone chunks you saved earlier in to small chunks and crumbs. Sprinkle this over the top of the mixture and gently press it down into the mixture.
Chill for 2 hours and then remove from the tin and cut into your desired bite size pieces.
It was a cold, dreary and rainy evening in the campervan and we wanted something hearty for dinner. Something filling with a little heat (but not too much) and this recipe was the perfect match! A vanlife must try!
With only the need of one skillet pan and one of our favourite cheat ingredients, Jerk Seasoning this was a really simple recipe to put together.
We’ve got some left over for lunch and I cant wait to eat more!
Caribbean Jerk Chicken with Pineapple and Coconut Rice
Meat Based
A vanlife one pan recipe perfect for a cold evening meal in your campervan. Its delicious and simple to make with minimal mess and washing up!
Place the 4 chicken thighs in a bowl and coat with 1tbsp of olive oil, 1tbsp soy sauce, 2tbsp of jerk seasoning, 1tsp salt, and 1tsp cayenne pepper. Massage the marinade into the chicken.
Place the chicken top side down in the hot skillet and leave it for 5 minutes to brown on top.
Meanwhile cut a bell pepper into chunks, mince 2 garlic cloves and slice the bunch of green onions (scallions).
Make sure you have a nice brown crust on the chicken and then turn it over.
Add the bell pepper chunks, the garlic cloves, the packet of white microwave rice and the whole tin of coconut milk. Make sure the top of the chicken isn't covered. so you keep that nice spicy crust. Cook for 5 minutes and then add the cup of pineapple chunks and the sliced green onions.
Lower the heat so it gently simmers for a further 25 minutes.
On a recent trip to a campsite in Aylesbury we decided to visit the on-site farm shop. With super fresh ingredients, we decided to make a stove-top meal for two. A campsite in the UK in March isn’t the warmest of trips away so we decided a bit of stodge was in order. Hence the gnocchi lasagna we’re sharing with you now. The best bit is you don’t even need an oven! This gnocchi lasagna was made on our 2 burner hob in our van.
Gnocchi Lasagna
Vanlife Eats
Meat Based
A simple yet super tasty dish for any campervan. A delicious recipe cooked on the hob! We visited the farm shop at the campsite we were visting to ensure we got the freshest ingredients for extra tastiness.
1cupCheeseUse the cheese of your choice, we used mozzarella, cheddar and red leicester.
Salt & pepper to season
Parsley to garnish
Instructions
Chop the onion, heat some oil in a pan on a medium / high heat and stick the onion in. Cook for 5 minutes until softened.
Season the beef with salt, then add to the pan with the onions.
While this is cooking, finely chop the 2 garlic cloves.
When all the beef is browned (5-10 minutes), add the gnocchi. Cook for a further 2 minutes
Add the tomatoes to the pan and put the lid on & leave to cook while you make your cheese sauce. Take the lid off after 10 minutes to allow the sauce to reduce.
For the cheese sauce
In a seperate pan add the 1 tbsp of butter over a low heat.
When melted add 1 tbsp flour and stir continuously to make a roux
Add the milk slowly and keep mixing to ensure no lumps form, continue until the sauce coats the back of the spoon. You can whisk if needed to make it extra smooth.
Season with salt & pepper before adding the cheese.
Remember to check your gnocchi mix!
Add your cheese and keep mixing 💪
Pour the cheese sauce over the gnocchi mixture and spread evenly.
Like cooking in your van? Want to know 5 cookbooks that’ll make vanlife a piece of cake? Jakob Staudal from www.headlessnomad.com takes us through his top 5!
Wait… what the heck is vanlife? It’s when you live in a van. Oh, we guess it wasn’t as complicated as we thought it was. Obviously, the sarcasm is off the charts here as vanlife is not even close to as easy as it sounds.
One of the problems can be food, and that’s what we want to focus on today. It’s not as if you’re just going to eat out for the entire time you decide to want to indulge in the van life. Finding appropriate recipes and meals to make on the road can be a difficult endeavor. However, a well-written, vanlife cookbook can make all the difference, and here are five that are just that.
1. The Clever Camper Cookbook
We have to say that even though most have heard the expression, “don’t judge a book by its cover,” we really love the cover ofthis book. It just has a really nice and happy camping tone. Anyway, as for the book, it’s written by Megan and Simon who are both world travelers.
What makes this vanlife cookbook both a good read and very useful is there are over 20 simple-to-make recipes that can be done with a two-burner camping stove. The recipes were created by the authors during their travels, and they decided to share what they created with the rest of the world.
It’s a relatively short book at 64 pages, but the simplicity of it makes it worth it.
2. The New Camp Cookbook
This is a muchlonger read and book overall, and it was made for anyone who enjoys cooking outdoors from campers to day-trippers to adventurers. Outside of just recipes, this vanlife cookbook also gets into different elements of camping such as maintaining heat in a Dutch oven and grilling in foil packs.
As for the recipes, they’re actually presented by meal, which is really a nice touch. The meals include breakfast, lunch, feasts, sweets, and snacks. Now, you’ll probably see a number of recipes that will be too complicated for vanlife, but there are also simple recipes included that are very easy.
Indeed, this is kind of a broad camping cookbook that covers many different styles of camping and adventuring. So, not everything will apply to you and your vanlife situation.
3. Hungry Campers Cookbook
Yet another vanlife cookbook that is more or less a cookbook for campers, this one gears more toward simple and easy recipes. This will be right up the alley for vanlife, and the author uses her love of camping and many years of writing to create a cookbook ideal for the entire family.
Virtually all of the included recipes will require very little cooking equipment, and some of the chapters in the book include Prepare Ahead Meals, One-Pot Dinners, and Fire Up the Barbecue. The author also does a good job of providing advice on how to eat well while camping, and this can be suitable for vanlifers, if you will, as well.
As the title of the book suggests, this book places an emphasis on recipes that are both healthy and fresh. Oh, and also those that are easy to achieve, and that is also very critical.
4. The Camper Van Cookbook
The tagline of this vanlife cookbook is “Life on 4 wheels, Cooking on 2 rings,” and it kind of says it all. We’re not picking a winner here, but this might be the best book on this list for the purposes of vanlife. Included are over 80 different and tasty recipes that can be cooked with the use of just two rings.
Of course, as great as the content is in this book, it needs to be mentioned that it takes place in Great Britain. The way the author writes, you can clearly tell that’s where he’s from, and many of you in America may not be too fond of a read such as this.
Again, the content is really great and there’s a lot of zest in the writing. However, it may be a bit overbearing for some. Hey, if nothing else, you at least can just read the recipes and call it a day with this book.
5. The Original VW Camper Cookbook
One thing we’ll say is you might just want to buy this book used as it’s kind of expensive brand-new. Anyway, off that topic, this features a collection of over 80 dishes and for the purposes of a vanlife cookbook, the dishes are designed to be prepared in many different rustic settings.
Meaning, basically, that many of the recipes aren’t going to require you to have a lot of utensils. Here’s what’s also kind of cool about this cookbook, the recipes are organized by different categories. The categories include main courses, light bites, soups and salads, sweets, and BBQ.
Additionally, some of the actual dishes include baked bananas, hot cinnamon apples, pancakes, flaming beef stroganoff, spicy lime grilled prawns, and avocado salad. There’s a really good variety here is basically what we’re getting at, and that can be very important for life in a van.
Final thoughts on Vanlife cookbooks
It’s not as if you can’t find recipes and resources online to figure out what you’re going to make on the road in a van. However, these dedicated van life cookbooks can be so much easier and more convenient for you to have at all times.
We know all we presented was a quick overview of each book, and you can always dig a little deeper to find the right van life cookbook for you and your needs. After all, not everyone will have the same utensils, resources, and even personal likes (when it comes to the types of food and things like that).Past cooking, van life might also present some nights where you want to have a campfire somewhere. And on that topic, have you ever wondered how hot an average campfire gets? Well, wonder no more as we’ve uncovered that mystery for you!
BONUS COOKBOOK – Camping Soul Food
Here at Vanlife Eats, we couldn’t let this pass without passing comment! What a great variety of books – we would love to add our own personal favourite. This vanlife cookbook was written by The Buggans, a family in Ireland who have combined their love for cooking and good music. Camping Soul Food has a really quirky feature, which allows the reader to scan a QR code. This provides a playlist for the length of time required to cook the meal in question. Simple, tasty recipes the whole family will enjoy!
This was a guest post by Jakob Staudal
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This campervan recipe of Summer cous cous is fabulous to make and enjoy for a tasty lunch or side dish. It is amazing eaten in the sunshine outside your campervan with friends but can be enjoyed all year round. This is a recipe enjoyed by @campervancodgers who kindly shared it with you! Be sure to rate it when you try it.
Summer Cous Cous
@campervancodgers
Vegetarian
As soon as the sun starts shining, Summer cous cous is a must! Packed full of tasty, fresh ingredients – sunshine in a mouthful. You can mix up the vegetables, and even include leftovers to use them up.
We decided a treat was in order on our recent camping trip!! We ended up having Naughty nutella crumpets for an indulgent Sunday morning breakfast in our campervan – and it was sooooooo good!! We shared it on a plate to minimise washing up 😉
Without further ado, let us introduce you to Naughty Nutella crumpets!
Naughty crumpets
Vegetarian
This delicious breakfast is the perfect naughty treat in the van. A twist on the classic french toast – but a lot more cheeky!
Crack 2 eggs in a bowl and whisk in the 1/3 cup of milk. Add in the vanilla extract
Add the crumpets to the mixture and ensure all pieces are coated.
Add a knob of butter to a hot pan and add your coated crumpets
Keep turning the pieces until all sides are browned
Dish up onto a plate, drizzle with nutella & icing sugar.
Enjoy the naughtiness!
Notes
We made this in our van in the winter so our Nutella was quite firm. We placed it in a small bowl inside a larger bowl of hot water to soften it up. Alternatively you could use chocolate sauce
Ever wondered what size inverter you need for cooking in your van? Eliot Prince of www.wattalot.com explains what size inverter you need for cooking in a van in this article.
We’re all becoming increasingly reliant on electronics. That includes in our vans and other homes on wheels.
It’s almost impossible to escape!
If you’re like me, you’ve tried to pack up your van and head off-grid for as long as possible.
But eventually, you’ll find the need to use electricity to enjoy life.
For me, that usually comes in the kitchen for either food storage or cooking.
What kitchen appliances can you run in your van?
When spending long periods in your van, you might be thinking of adding luxuries like microwaves, fridges, and coffee makers.
These are all examples of appliances that need AC electricity, just like you get from the mains at home.
The only problem is that your deep cycle batteries can’t supply this directly.
Deep cycle batteries store direct current (DC) electricity, while most home appliances run using alternating current (AC) electricity.
But don’t worry, you can easily use a power inverter to make the conversion from DC to AC, plus increase your voltage from 12V to 120V/240V.
Using a power inverter enables you to run any electronic appliances you use at home (as long as you have a big enough battery). Once you understand your campervan’s kitchen power consumption, you can then pick the right size power inverter for all your kitchen gadgets.
What size inverter is best for cooking in a van?
You will need at least a 1000 watt inverter to run common kitchen appliances. You might even need a bigger 1500 watt or 2000 watt inverter depending on what you plan to run.
To work out the correct size, you will first need to know how many watts your electronics use. There are 3 ways of finding this out:
Check the user manual or technical specification. You might also find a sticker on the device detailing the power consumption.
Use a wattmeter to get a live power reading. These are great little devices you can attach to any appliance to check the wattage. It’s awesome to have if you’re using an inverter.
Do the maths. To calculate wattage use the formula Volts x Amps = Watts.
Once you know the total wattage of the appliances you want to run simultaneously, you should add 20% to the final figure. This is the minimum inverter size you require.
Here’s an example.
Let’s say you want to run a 700W microwave, a 40W mini-fridge, and charge a 5W phone at the same time. This is a total of 745 watts.
Next, we add 20% by multiplying by 1.2.
745 x 1.2 = 894 watts.
So you need an inverter with at least 894 watt capacity. (Closest to this would be 1000 watts.)
What type of inverter is best for cooking in your van?
Go for a Pure Sine Wave Inverter
One other thing to consider is the type of power inverter. You can choose between pure sine wave and modified sine wave.
I always recommend pure sine wave. This is because it more closely replicates the electricity you get from the main grid. While they are more expensive, it allows you to run a much wider range of kitchen appliances like microwaves and refrigerators.
The other option is modified sine wave which is cheaper. These inverters have a much sharper step in voltage which is not suitable to run sensitive or inductive appliances. In simple terms, you can’t efficiently run cooling devices like fridges or cooking equipment like microwaves.
What can you run off your inverter in your van?
Now you understand what size inverter you need for your van kitchen, let’s look at what you might want to run. We’ll also look at the average wattage of these devices.
One thing to mention is that different models of appliances can range massively in power consumption.
For campervans, it’s always best to look for low wattage options or travel sized gadgets. This helps to reduce the amount of energy your batteries need to supply.
Here’s a handy table you can quickly reference:
Appliance
Average Wattage
LED Lighting
5 – 10
Smartphone Charging
5 – 10
Fan
30 – 60
Mini-Fridge
40 – 60
Slow Cooker
50 – 200
Microwave
600 – 1000
Small Blender / NutriBullet
600 – 1000
Toaster
800 – 1600
Coffee Machine
1000 – 1500
Induction Hob
300 – 2000
Which appliances should you avoid in your van?
There are a number of appliances I will always avoid trying to use in a van. This is simply due to the sheer amount of power they suck up. While you might be able to get a big enough inverter to run them, you will find power hungry devices will deplete your batteries super quickly.
You can generally find low wattage options for these devices which would be better when using off-grid power. What I want to discuss here are the normal domestic sizes that you’ll find in your home kitchen.
Kettle
It is generally best to boil water using a gas hob when living off-grid. This is because a domestic kettle uses an enormous amount of energy to operate. You will find that a modern kettle uses between 1500 and 3000 watts! That means an amperage of 125 to 250 from a 12V battery. Even if you only run the kettle for 5 minutes it will still suck up 10Ah or 20Ah of your battery. So it’s probably not best to be using a kettle to make cups of tea or prep cooking water.
Induction Hob
I have listed an induction hob on the list above with a wattage of between 300 and 2000 watts. But think very carefully about using one to cook with. That wattage is for a small lower powered single hob. You could run it at 300 watts but the cooking temperature would be impossibly low. In general, a regular induction hob is going to use over 2000 watts when cooking on a decent heat. So it’s going to be better to stick to gas for frying your bacon.
Domestic Fridge (or freezer)
You want to avoid a normal home fridge at all costs. They have large compressors in them that draw a lot of power. You will find that they have a running wattage of at least 200 watts. Now, this doesn’t sound huge but remember you need to have it plugged in 24 hours a day. Adding to this, each time it cycles on to do some cooling it draws a quick spike in power. All of this adds up to a demanding toll on your battery supply. You should look at RV fridges specially designed with 12V operation or a low powered mini-fridge.
Which inverter to choose for cooking in a van?…
I hope this article helps you understand what size inverter you should pick for your campervan.
Put simply, you need to add up the total wattage of all the devices you want to run at the same time. Then add 20% to find your minimum inverter capacity.
Happily, the size of an inverter is measured in wattage so it will be easy for you to pick out.
And remember, just because your inverter is powerful enough to run an appliance, doesn’t mean you should! Take the time to think about how much battery power it will use, it’s not always worth it.
If you need some more tips for which equipment you need in your van kitchen for cooking, then these articles may interest you.
Tortilla wraps are everyone’s go to for a Vanlife recipe. Quick easy and incredibly versatile. Here is one of our favourites for when ingredients are low and we are after a quick yet filling bite to eat.
Chipotle Chicken Crunch
Meat Based
Simple ingredients, quick to make and super delish!
5 from 1 vote
10 Ingredients or less – No water – One-pan – Stove top meal
8Tortilla Chips / DoritosOr any of your favourite crisps :)
2Tortilla Wraps
2tbspChipotle Sauce
Low Calorie Spray Oil
Salt
Instructions
Heat your skillet pan to a medium/high heat.
Half tenderise your chicken breast by bashing it with a tenderiser or rolling pin. (I just give it a bash with my hand to flatten it a little).
Add the chicken to the pan and season the chicken with salt and drench in Chipotle Sauce. Cook for 5 minutes each side.
Whilst the chicken cooks chop your tomato into rough chunks, grate your cheese and trim around the edge of 2 tortilla wraps to make them smaller than the remaining 2.
When the chicken is cooked, slice it into chunks.
Lay out the larger wrap and take half of each component and build a pile in the center of the wrap. Chicken, cheese, tomato, lettuce and a good drizzle of mayo. (half of your ingredients) Finish up with a layer of chips/crisps.Do not stack it too high or it wont wrap up very nicely.
Place the smaller cut down wrap on the top and fold the edges of the lower wrap over the top. Hold it in place whilst you place it fold down into a medium heat pan. Do not lift it up too early or it will unfold! Toast off each side for about 2-3 minutes.
Whilst toasting compile the second one with the remaining ingredients.
When perfectly toasted place on a plate and cut in half.
Enjoy!
Notes
Get creative and use your favourite combination of fillings :)
Full time vanlife cooking can be a very different game to that of the vanlife weekend warrior. Cooking three meals a day (or more if you are a fitness freak like me) can be hard to sustain.
The number of times I used to default to the quick pan of pasta and ready made sauce I should really keep a secret. It was unhealthy, boring and didn’t at all spark any of the vanlife dream that had drawn to the lifestyle!
To make it even more embarrassing, I am a qualified nutritionist and I also come from a family of passionate chefs and cooks. I was brought up on hearty home-made meals. I’d be booted from the dinner table if they knew I used a supermarket pre-made tomato sauce!
5 years before starting Vanlife, I was totally hooked on cooking shows, always making the effort to cook with seasonal produce and always keeping everything fresh. I cooked to impress!
Full Time Vanlife Cooking Year 1
My reasons for starting Vanlife were not like most, at least those who are likely reading this post. I had no intention of driving off into the sunset, exploring Europe or getting my bum out for a photograph under a waterfall. I simply needed somewhere to live so I adapted my VW Caravelle into a T4 campervan. Rock and roll bed, mixing bowl sink and a single burner cartridge stove. It really was minimalist living and I loved that about it.
During that year I was still finding my feet and learning about the Vanlife scene which I hadn’t heard of previously but what really did suffer was my nutrition.
Basic meals, basic cooking and regular convenience stores for a quick bite became the norm. With nobody to cook for, the cook to impress was out the window.
Thankfully this same year I met Sophie. Now I had a reason to pull out my culinary skills. Especially as I felt I had to make up for the fact that I was living in a van.
Rather than our usual meals out for our dates, I decided I would make a romantic candle lit dinner in the van. Sophie took the bench seat and I covered up the porta potti with a towel for my seat and a mini collapsible table from homebase and voila! Im such a smoothie huh!
My First Vanlife Romantic Meal
Traditional Bologna Spaghetti & Ragu (Spag Bol)
I made this on the one hob and I remember the spaghetti being cold and I premade the sauce early that day and had to store it in a camping flask! It was such a bodge and there was so much mess in my tiny T4 van. Thinking back, it was hilarious! Tasted good though!
Dried Spaghetti 1 x Onion 1 x Carrot 1 x Celery 2 x Garlic Cloves 1 Tin of Chopped Tomatoes 1 tbsp of Tomato Puree 250g Pork Mince 250g Beef Mince Handful of Basil Splash of red wine Salt & Pepper 1 tbsp Sugar Olive Oil (Extra Virgin)
Dice the onion, celery and carrot and fry in a pan with the olive oil until soft.
Finely chop the garlic and add to the pan.
Season with salt the pork and beef mince and add to the pan stirring until the meat has colour. Add a splash of red wine.
Add a tin of tomatoes and puree.
Sprinkle 1 tbsp of sugar and give it all a good stir.
Leave to simmer for as long as you can. It richens the longer you leave it.
In the meantime, boil some water and add the spaghetti. Cook until soft.
Before combining and serving add some chopped fresh basil to the ragu 5 minutes before.
That very meal re-sparked my passion for cooking once again and I felt excited by the challenge of having a tiny kitchen with only the most basic amenities.
Here is everything you need to know about Full Time Vanlife Cooking
Full Time Vanlife cooking should be as nutritious as possible so that you can maintain your health during cold winters, improve your mental health and be full of energy to enjoy life on the road surrounded by nature.
Do you need a fridge for Vanlife?
Generally nutritious food tends to be perishable and storing perishables requires a fridge, freezer or even a cool box. Especially during the warmer months.
If you don’t have any of these in your van you can find yourself limited to tinned food, dried food or making regular trips to the store for your fresh perishable food.
Full Time Vanlife
From my experience of full time Vanlife a fridge is an essential appliance in your tiny home on wheels. I would even say it’s an investment as it will minimise your trips to the store purchasing additional items you may not necessarily need.
If you are a solo full time Vanlifer you will also find that the freezer compartment is an amazing way of storing pre-made meals. It’s difficult to cook for one sometimes so go ahead and make a double portion so that you have one prepped for another day.
Part Time Vanlife
One of the biggest holdbacks in equipping your van with a fridge is the expense. A common 12v compressor fridge will cost between £300 and £1000. The higher end being for brands such as Dometic / Waeco.
For part-time vanlife perhaps all you need is a cool box for the weekend. With a couple of ice blocks stored inside it would certainly keep your perishables cool for a long weekend.
However, for a week or two away in your van you may start to find it inconvenient to keep stopping at convenience stores to stock up on perishables and a fridge would be a worthy asset to your van.
Do you need an oven for Vanlife Cooking?
Many campervans, motorhomes and van conversions make do without a fitted oven, but the real question is can you?
What do you like to cook in your van?
Full Time Vanlife
From my experience as a full time Vanlifer without an oven, I can confess to missing pizza the most but also oven baked delights such as pies and hot pots.
Whilst it is very possible to cook variations of these favourites by using gadgets such as the Omnia oven it lacks that one thing you find you start craving… that crispy topping!
All this being said, even when I was boring and lived in a house I hardly used the oven. Most of my cooking was done in a pan. It is my cooking style.
I’m sure that if you are a passionate cook you will know how to enjoy panlife and will be able to cook most of the things you enjoy. If you are an oven based passionate cook then you are going to need to get an oven installed.
Part Time Vanlife
Ok so you are on holiday right? You will undoubtedly be sightseeing, snacking on pasties, ice creams and local delicacies and a hearty home cooked meal might not be on the agenda. An outdoor BBQ is more likely on the cards when you get back from the local attractions.
Ovens aren’t that expensive, but they do come with their own set of considerations. They are quite large, heavy and they are either powered by gas or electricity.
Gas ovens require professional installation with gas safe approval and electric ovens require a substantial amount of power from your batteries. Both are the main reasons why Vanlifers avoid them. If you are a part-time Vanlifer do you need to go to these lengths for an oven?
Here are some products that will help you cook oven style food without an oven or grill
The Wonderbag Dutch Oven Great for slow cooked recipes that need long periods of time in the oven.
The Omnia Oven Cooks a variety of oven recipes with the simplicity of your stove top.
A Stove Top Tagine Almost everything tastes better when cooked in a tagine!
Full Time Vanlife Cooking Year 4
4 Years along the road and not only have I learnt how to cook the meals I have always loved but I have never been so passionate about cooking. There seems to always be a way to adapt a recipe and make the classics come together in a van. Of course, I like to experiment and do my own take on the classics anyway.
I often make toast on the hob by using my stove-top toaster. It’s possibly one of my favourite van kitchen gadgets. The toast comes out spotty but perfectly crispy.
Another regular feast in the van is roast dinner with roast potatoes. Crispy roast potatoes might I add!
Curry is also a favourite of mine, with so many variations of protein, spices, veg and of course I make my own Naan Bread.
4 years on and I still haven’t found the need to install an oven. I do have a mini electric oven stored under my counter, but I very rarely use it. It’s only because of the kid’s turkey dinosaurs that I keep it. I can’t see myself installing an oven anytime soon and even if I started another van build, I wouldn’t be taking an oven into consideration.
I’d like to say I rock up at some scenic location and make viral TikTok worthy meals but the harsh reality of my vanlife is that I am usually parked up on an industrial estate with a depressing view! Not quite the TIkTok or Instagram shot you lot in Portugal are getting!
During the weekends when I am in the van with Sophie we like to head out into the country with the intention of a nice park up and interesting food and we both get stuck into some van cooking and baking. Sophie usually hogs the Omnia oven and bakes an amazing pudding. I can’t recommend her Omnia cakes enough!
Conclusion
The conclusion of full time Vanlife cooking vs part time Vanlife cooking is as follows:
Full time Vanlife cooking requires a more sustainable diet which will also mean there is a requirement to store perishable food. You shouldn’t be avoiding your veggies and you will need a more varied diet, thus more ingredients to store. Longer periods in the van will free up more time to cook a nutritious hearty meal.
Part time Vanlife is a lot more flexible in what food you need to be storing as you will be stopping off for convenience meals and snacks whilst on your travels. You are less likely to feel the need to cook a hearty meal so cooking will be quick and easy, leaving much more room for those holiday activities.
For the first weekend of Spring here in the UK we host our Vanlife Event “Afternoon Tea” and we are inviting Vanlifers anywhere in the world to join us with a celebratory afternoon tea in a van.
Last year we hosted the event over zoom but this year if you are based in the UK why not join us in person at the Cotswold’s Camping and Caravanning Site in Oxfordshire where we can make a weekend of the whole event.
Join us in Oxfordshire
Join us at the campsite on 19th March for an overnight stay and then the afternoon tea at midday Sunday. (bring your own food)
Cotswolds Caravan and Camping Spelsbury Rd Charlbury OX7 3LL
Join us Online
As we did last year we will be streaming the event live over Google Meet so that anyone in the world can also join in.
Join the live event here at 12pm (UK time) 20th March 2022
**Link will only be active 10 minutes before the event**
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You don’t have to bake or make anything in your van to join in with the eventso go grab yourselves some delicious treats from the store.
If you aren’t planning on baking in your van we can highly recommend The Cornish Company to grab yourself a pre-made afternoon tea. We have reached out to them to get you a discount code too!
There are many variations of an Afternoon Tea and it can be entirely customised to suit your taste. Here are some of the classic elements found in an Afternoon Tea.
Here is our very own recipe for making mini scones in an Omnia Oven
Last year we were dispersed across the UK & as far as Portugal and the Algarve and we all managed to meet up and have afternoon tea together via the magic of GoogleMeet! This year we are free to meet in person so be sure to get booked into the campsite. Spaces are very limited!
Looking forward to seeing you there in person or live on Google Meet!
The Story of Our Ambulance Conversion: “Florence the Ambulance”
In 2019, we realised that our beloved VW T4 just wasn’t big enough for our ever-growing vanlife adventures. We needed something roomier, more practical, and better suited for long-term travel. After considering numerous options, one particular vehicle caught our attention—a retired Fiat Ducato ambulance!
It wasn’t just the size; we saw personality in this van. Knowing the heroic duties it had performed, we felt compelled to give “Flo” a well-deserved second life filled with adventure and exploration.
Why an Ambulance Conversion?
Flo is an H3 L4 model, meaning she has a long wheelbase and a high roof—perfect for standing room and extra space. While she had clocked 225,000 miles, we weren’t deterred. Many ambulances at auction had over 400,000 miles, and since emergency vehicles undergo rigorous maintenance schedules, we felt confident she had been well cared for.
The van was in excellent condition but still fully kitted out for medical emergencies, complete with cupboards labeled “Body Bags” and an overwhelming array of gadgets! I must confess, I have a soft spot for techy gadgets, so rather than stripping everything out, we decided to retain as many of the original features as possible.
Planning the Layout
We used SketchUp to map out the perfect van layout. It had to be versatile—it would be my full-time home, a weekend space for children, and a comfortable base for Sophie and me on our frequent travels.
We later discover “Van Space” which we now use for designing our layout. Its an incredible program!
Since we were working with a tight budget, we aimed to repurpose as many materials as possible. We salvaged unwanted furniture from friends and family, scoured online marketplaces, and collected any useful discarded items we could find.
The Conversion Process
The first step was a deep clean. While the ambulance was already in decent condition, we wanted to make absolutely sure that every surface had been disinfected.
Then came the strip-down. We removed the ambulance furnishings, including the plastic wall linings, to access the inner cavities for insulation improvements. A word of advice for anyone converting an ex-ambulance—don’t rely on the existing insulation; it needs upgrading!
The flooring was another challenge. Many of the floor bolts were corroded, making removal a nightmare. However, once we got it up, we added extra insulation and replaced it with durable, hard-wearing vinyl flooring.
For the walls, we opted for ply cladding, and we repurposed the overhead ambulance cabinets—sturdy aluminum units that added a clean, modern touch.
Windows and Ventilation
Luckily, the ambulance already had several additional windows, but we decided to install another on the side and one more at the rear. With our limited tools, let’s just say there was some bodging involved! Cutting into the van was one of the most nerve-wracking moments of the build—nothing quite prepares you for slicing into your home-on-wheels.
Building the Bed and Kitchen
For the bed, we got creative by repurposing an old bunk bed that was being thrown out. After some clever modifications, it became a lightweight yet sturdy double bed, complete with small steps for easy access.
Since we’re both huge foodies, the kitchen was a priority. Our first iteration was an upcycled wooden butcher’s block, which served us well for a while. Later, we upgraded to a larger worktop for more cooking space and storage.
Tackling the Electrics
The electrics proved to be one of the biggest headaches. Ambulances use a system called “Genesis,” which controls everything. Figuring out how to bypass it was a painstaking process, but eventually, we got the wiring functioning like a standard campervan.
We installed two 100W solar panels with a budget-friendly controller and a split charge relay to keep our leisure batteries charged while driving. While it was a basic setup, it provided all the power we needed for our daily vanlife essentials.
Living Through the Build
I had to live in the van throughout the conversion, which made things even trickier. Imagine constantly working around construction materials, dust, and half-finished projects while also dealing with the occasional minor injury from clambering over tools and debris. But after just a few weeks of hard work, Flo was at a point where we could finally start enjoying some adventures.
A Major Setback
Just as we thought we were ready to hit the road, we encountered a massive problem—our newly converted home was officially registered as a 4-tonne vehicle! Most long-wheelbase vans are 3.5 tonnes, which would have been fine for my standard license. But at 4 tonnes, I wasn’t legally allowed to drive it.
Downgrading the weight wasn’t a feasible option, so the best solution was to upgrade my driving license. This involved weeks of HGV lessons, a theory test, and a practical exam. For months, we were stuck, unable to drive Flo anywhere!
Cost Breakdown
The van itself cost £4,000, and the initial conversion came to another £3,000, bringing the total to £7,000—a fantastic achievement considering what we built. Of course, as time went on, we made more improvements, adding a shower, upgrading the electrics, and tweaking the layout. You wouldn’t believe how many times we installed and removed the shower before getting it just right!
Follow Our Journey
Florence the Ambulance has taken us on incredible adventures, and her story is far from over. We’d love for you to check out our van tour and follow our progress. Van conversions aren’t just about creating a home on wheels; they’re about building a lifestyle of freedom, adventure, and creativity.
If you’re considering your own van conversion, whether it’s an ambulance or another type of van, we hope our experience inspires and helps you along the way. Watch our tour and conversion videos for more insights and inspiration!
Looking for vegan autumnal snacks for vanlife? Look no further, @wellnesswanderersyoga update us with their global travels and share 5 healthy, vegan autmnal snacks for vanlife. Most of these recipes require an oven, but do not fear, with a bit of creativity these recipes can be adapted for any vanlife adventure.
To find out more about this family that wanders and teaches yoga around the world, check out their website https://wellnesswanderers.co/ Let’s hand over to them for their thoughts on Autumn and their 5 vegan autumnal recipes!
“Fall is here! We are in the French Alps right now and today is a very windy, cloudy Fall day, perfect for eating some of our favorite snacks of the season: Butternut Squash Fries; Cinnamon Sweet Potatoes; Candied Pecans; Apple Crisp and Chai Tea. These are all not only delicious but warming and comforting.
These autumnal snacks are all healthy, vegan, gluten-free and sugar-free and perfect for vanlife adventures. Healthy eating with natural, organic foods like these is an important part of our wellness lifestyle. We also try our best to eat local and in season for the sake of our health and that of the planet. When on a vanlife adventure it is a great opportunity to shop locally and enjoy local produce! I did notice that the sweet potatoes we bought were from Spain but I think in Europe that could be considered local considering the countries are not too far apart. 😊
Another important part of our wellness lifestyle is movement. While we have our daily yoga practice to rely on for movement, Autumn is a great time to go for long walks. Here in the Alps, we’ve found some pretty steep hikes into the mountains. I especially love movement that is simply part of our daily activities. Just getting our groceries in this town requires a good walk that goes up and downhill a few times. And there is always the need to walk our dogs which is a great way to get us out and moving even when we feel like all we want to do is snuggle up on the couch. Once we’re outside, of course, we’re always glad for it. The movement and fresh air is always refreshing and energizing. Having movement throughout the day, especially if you work at a desk or on the computer a lot, is an important part of a healthy lifestyle especially in vanlife.
And, finally, we consider taking time to pause and be still another important part of being healthy. Autumn is the perfect time to make space for stillness in our lives because the cooler temperatures and the changes in the trees and plants invite us to go within and also to notice the beauty around us more. This is a great time to reflect on any changes in ourselves and the world around us as well as finding our center of strength and calm in the midst of it all. We make meditation, sitting or lying down, a part of our daily practice. And there are also opportunities in the midst of the day, by taking a few minutes to be alone (maybe in the bathroom or by putting your head down on your desk) to close your eyes and breathe, or by stopping to gaze at something in nature for a few minutes while letting thoughts float by, or even by eating these yummy snacks, slowing down and giving your full attention to the details like smell, texture, where its from, who made it.
We hope you enjoy these fun and healthy Fall snacks as much as we do”
These cinnamon sweet potatoes are one of 5 delicious Autumnal recipes that Wellness Wanderers Yoga shared with us. It’s perfect for those Autumn days when your craving a delicious snack. Vegan, gluten free and only 3 ingredients! These are great for a campervan with an oven, and can be eaten as a snack or as a side dish. You can read their article with all recipes here!
These incredibly delicious Sweet Potatoes are the perfect snack to nourish and re-energize. Quick and easy to make and the perfect combination of the best Fall flavors, these Cinnamon Sweet Potatoes will soon become your go-to treat.
These Crunchy, Munchy squash fried are one of 5 delicious Autumnal recipes that Wellness Wanderers Yoga shared with us. They’re perfect for those Autumn days when your craving a delicious snack or as a side dish. You can read their article with all recipes here!
Ever feel like you want a healthy snack but there’s nothing good in the cupboard. These fries make the perfect savory snack or a great addition to a meal. You can add them into a stir-fry or have them with a burger.
This delicious Candied Pecans are one of 5 delicious Autumnal recipes that Wellness Wanderers Yoga shared with us. They are perfect for those Autumn days when your craving a delicious snack. You can read their article with all recipes here!
These are one of our favorite treats for movies! They are a great popcorn substitute because they are crunchy and fun. This recipe is really easy once you have got it down and the whole family can enjoy them.
This decaf Chai Spice Tea is one of 5 delicious Autumnal recipes that Wellness Wanderers Yoga shared with us. It’s perfect for those Autumn days when you need warming up! You can read their article with all recipes here!
This is a delicious tea. Drink some while reading a book or hanging out with your family. Its perfect for any day. We especially enjoy it during the winter and fall, when a warm cup of tea is just what we need.
Steep the tea bags in a medium-size pot of water. The longer the better for a stronger flavor.
Mix the spices with the coconut milk in a mason jar,shaking it with the lid on or by using a blender stick
Now fill your tea cup to a ½ to 2/3 with the tea and fill the rest with the spiced coconut milk and stir.
Notes
Optional: mix all of the milk with the pot of tea.Optional: stir in honey to tea as desired.Any leftovers can be stored in the jar in your fridge to be warmed up anytime you’d like a cup of chai. Enjoy!Just in case you want to know what steeping is…https://www.thespruceeats.com/what-is-steeping-2355586
This flavourful Appily Apple crisp is one of 5 delicious Autumnal recipes that Wellness Wanderers Yoga shared with us. It’s perfect for those Autumn days when your craving a delicious snack. You can read their article with all recipes here!
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