We are very excited to feature our first family of vanlifers! What could be more exciting for children than camping every day in their very own campervan. Make sure to follow the families adventures on Insta @van_chula_travels
Meet the vanlifers…
A pretty certain thing about a home on wheels is that it is a tiny home. However, that doesn’t mean it is filled with any less love than a home made of bricks. Meet our featured vanlifers, The Howls. Annie, Luke, Hugo & Sacha have given us some insight to their home on wheels and their family experiences living in their self built campervan.
The family live full-time in their van Chula, and are based in the UK. They originally decided to travel full-time in their van but currently to allow their children to attend school they limit their travelling to the weekends and holidays but enjoy full-time vanlife nonetheless. They make the most of having their home on wheels by parking up at local beauty spots during the week, close enough to do the school run. Then at the weekend, the world is their oyster!
One of their favourite places to visit is Cornwall. A particular place they recommend is St Michael’s Mount. It is a great place to visit with children, and there is something magical about being able to cross a stone path which is only there when the tide is low.
Their van kitchen
The family eat an almost vegan diet, with a few dairy products. Due to this type of diet they manage without a fridge in their campervan. They have an emphasis on eating fresh meals, little convenience food & minimal washing up! Sounds perfect for vanlife. The family plan meals ensuring the fresh products are used up first after a shop, and adapt their meals towards the end of the week to use up leftovers and other remaining items.
Mum Annie, likes to cook meals requiring one pan so the family tend to eat meals such as vegetable stews, curries etc. Washing up after 4 is never fun even with a large sink and unlimited hot water, so it makes perfect sense to keep washing up limited in a family home on wheels.
Some of the family favourite meals include, risotto, soup and pasta. They enjoy cooking curries but eat them with naan bread rather than rice to save on pots and pans. One of their favourite family meals to make in their campervan is cheesy mashed potato, roasted butternut squash and gravy. Ultimate comfort food!
Family vanlife meals
One of the family’s most memorable meals in Chula was on a cold winter’s day in Snowdonia National Park. Their diesel heater had broken and what better way to heat up than a big bowl of soup. A bowl of hot sweet potato & lentil soup soon worked it’s magic and was declared the best soup ever!
See The Howls Vanlife recipe here. Omnia Roasted Butternut squash & Cavolo Nero, served with cheesy vegan mash and Mango, chilli dressing.
There are a few essentials in this van family’s pantry. Being as the family like to use up leftovers as the week progresses, gravy granules are classed as a definite essential. They can turn some leftover roasted vegetables into a yummy meal. Hugo & Sacha love overnight oats for breakfast with some ginger marmalade, nuts and seeds. This makes porridge oats another essential in this family’s van kitchen. Finally which UK pantry would be complete without baked beans!
Of course cooking in a tiny home doesn’t come without it’s share of disasters. Annie admits that cooking in a small space with children around can come with it’s challenges. One of the most memorable mishaps happened when cooking a family favourite, curry. A pan full of chickpea curry not only ended up on their new rug, but the children also ended up wearing it.
Tips for future vanlifers
What tips do The Howls have for families about to embark on a vanlife adventure?
Keep things simple, minimal and as easy as possible.
2 pairs of shoes each are enough. Only pack what you need and wear.
Have a box for muddy things so they can be dealt with later on (tiny living = easy mess!)
If meat & dairy are not a big part of your diet, then a fridge is not always required in a van build.
Finally…..
We all know vanlife doesn’t come without a few hiccups, and this was no different for The Howls. They were so excited to set off for their full-time adventure that they forgot one thing…… their toilet! Their first week was spent in a remote location, needless to say the children were not impressed with having to poop outside. Stories like this is what makes the vanlife experience and it has not hindered the families enjoyment of it at all.
This vegan Omnia roasted squash with mango, lime and chilli dressing is a great stove top meal. This is perfect for meat free Monday, or any other day of the week. With the squash roasted to perfection in the Omnia and cheesy mash, that’s vegan too! The lime and chilli dressing adds a sharp, spicy flavour that cuts through the sweetness of the roasted squash.
A great dinner for the family, full of nutrients and good flavours. You can vary the level of spiciness to adapt to smaller taste buds if required. A great thing with this recipe is that you can add whatever you want, a great way to use up leftovers.
Omnia roasted squash with lime & chilli dressing
van_chula_travels
Vegan, Vegetarian
Some really yummy dishes can be created from ingredients that do not need to be refrigerated.This meal has some simple but really tasty elements. Roasted butternut squash & Cavolo Nero, served with vegan 'cheesy' mash & Mango, lime & chilli dressing
Peel the butternut squash and cut into 2cm cubes. Peel and cube the potatoes.
Put the potatoes in a pan of water and bring to the boil, leave to cook for 20 minutes or until soft
Meanwhile coat the cubed butternut squash in a small amount of oil and sprinkle with the cumin and paprika. Season with salt & pepper
Place the squash into the Omnia oven and roast over a medium heat for around 20 minutes
While the squash and potatoes are cooking make the dressing. To make this blend the mango, apple cider vinegar, a dash of oil and the juice of the lime. Add as much chilli as you like depending on the spice level required.
After 10 minutes add the cavolo nero to the butternut squash and cook for a further 10 minutes.
When the potatoes are soft, pour away the water and mash. Add vegan butter and cheese plus seasoning.
Place the mash on the plate. Place the roasted butternut squash and cavolo nero on the top. Drizzle the dressing and voila!
The ultimate comfort food and this recipe is bursting full of rich zingy flavour that will leave you drooling away whilst it bubbles away on your van stove.
Use your Zyliss Easy Pull to blend up the mushrooms until they are finely minced.
With a splash of olive oil in a pan add the mushrooms and season with salt and pepper. Fry stirring constantly for 5 minutes and then remove from the pan and set aside.
Use the Zyliss to blend the Onion, the garlic cloves, the chilli and only the stalks from the fresh coriander. Add a little more oil to the pan and add the red onion, garlic, chilli and coriander stalks. Cook for about 5 minutes.
Roughly chop the celery and the red pepper and add to the pan and stir up the mixture.
Add the spices (chilli flakes, bay leaf, oregano, cumin, star anise, paprika, cayenne pepper, salt and pepper) and mix everything up so the veg is coated in the spices.
Add the red wine, soy sauce, tomato puree and balsamic vinegar and reduce the liquid down by leaving the lid off the pan. When the liquid has reduced right down add the tomatoes and cook for about 5 minutes until the sauce thickens up.
Return the minced mushrooms to the pan along with the maple syrup, the chocolate, drained kidney and black beans. Reduce the heat to a gentle low simmer and cook for about 15 minutes until the sauce is a thick rich mixture.
Remove the bay leaf and the star anise, stir through the fresh coriander and serve with rice or nachos!
This guacamole recipe is ideal for a campervan kitchen. No cooking required and using the manual blender, means no power required either! It tastes delicious too, win win!
Using your manual food processor (such as the Zyliss Easy Pull) finely chop the onion, chili and most of the coriander.
Squeeze the lime half into the mixture taking care not to get any pips into the mixture.
Cut the avocados in half, remove the skin and stones and scoop into the manual food processor. Use about 5 or 6 pulls on the cord to give a chunky blend of avocado.
During our vanlife adventure in Sardinia we discovered Fregola, tiny pearls of pasta made by hand which originate from the Italian island. Fregola is a very versatile ingredient and can be used in soups, stews, salads and in this recipe made into a risotto-like pasta dish.
It is one of our favourite campervan kitchen staples. So much so we brought plenty back with us! However, you can find it online (amazon), in posh supermarkets and Italian delis. Although you could substitute it for Orzo or Arborio rice, you may need to add more stock/water.
This recipe can be easily adapted to suit your tastes, camper kitchen supplies and diets - it can be made totally vegetarian and vegan.
Recipe from Meg, from Flora & the Novice Explorers
Heat a saucepan (preferably heavy based) on a high heat and add a drizzle of olive oil.
Begin to sauté the prawns, onions and garlic, adding a little colour/caramelisation. Add a pinch of chilli flakes, healthy grind of salt & pepper and slowly allow the aromas to be released.
When the prawns are cooked and have turned pink remove from the pan and set aside.
Reduce the heat and add a tablespoon of tomato paste. Stir into the hot pan of onions and allow the paste to cook out for a few minutes. Add the jar of passata and chicken stock and bring to the boil.
Now add the Fregola to the pan and stir every few minutes - sometimes it has a tendency to sink to the bottom, stick and burn as it swells.
On a low heat, simmer for around 15 minutes, constantly stirring. The fregola is cooked when the tiny balls of pasta are soft but still have a little chew, or a little bite - “Al dente” as they say! Check for seasoning as the pasta itself is pretty bland - as most pasta is. It takes on the flavour of a punchy sauce!
Turn off the heat and allow it to rest for a few moments, as it soaks up any remaining liquid as it finishes cooking.
Whilst you are waiting, roughly chop the sun dried tomatoes and the capers, add them to the pan along with the previously cooked prawns.
Finely chop the fresh herb of choice and stir some into the tomato fregola and save the rest to scatter on the top.
Serve up, add a wedge of fresh lemon and enjoy a little taste of Sardinia. Perhaps with a glass of wine!
We love using leftover bananas to make cakes. Without an oven in our van, the Omnia oven makes that all possible. In this one I decided to swirl some nutella through it for extra indulgence (not sure our waistlines appreciate it though!)
Looking for a low carb breakfast or lunch that's high in healthy fats? I'm sure that's why this recipe was invented! Egg and avocado are a match made in heaven and in this simple recipe we fire things up with some cayenne pepper and paprika!
Pre-heat your mini oven to a medium heat. (around 160 deg)
Evenly cut your avocado in half and remove the stone. Place face up on a baking tray. With a sharp knife score vertical and horizontal lines inside the avocado. This is so the egg can seep into the avocado.
Break an egg over the top of each avocado half, aiming for the yolks to sit in the stone cavities. Break into a cup first if this is easier for you.
Sprinkle with cayenne pepper, paprika, thyme and nutritional yeast flakes.
This little bowl just bursts with coconut curry flavours. It's quick and easy to make and use your favourite stir-fry veggies or whatever veggies you have leftover in the fridge. Our version here is protein packed and makes two medium bowls.
Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a nonstick pan over a medium heat. Add the diced tofu cubes into the pan and fry evenly on each side. Once golden brown remove from the heat and set aside on some kitchen paper.
To the pan add your selection of veggies or use a pre selected stir-fry pack if it's easier for you. Cook for 2-3 minutes and then remove from the pan.
Add another tablespoon of avocado oil to the pan and add the sliced garlic. Lightly fry for 1 minute and then add the curry powder, ground ginger and the tumeric. Stir continuously and cook the spices for 2 minutes and then add the coconut milk and bring to the boil.
Return the pre cooked veggies back into the pan and cook for a further 1-2 minutes. Taste the broth and add soy sauce and lime juice to your taste.
Remove from the heat.
In a second pan soak the vermicelli noodles in boiling water for 2-3 minutes until soft. Drain the water and split the noodles between the two bowls.
Add the veggies & coconut broth to the two bowls and top with the crispy tofu. Scatter a few cashew nuts on top of you like. You are salivating... Enjoy!
Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil to a pan and bring to a medium heat.
Add the can of chopped tomatoes, the tomato puree and the sugar, season with salt and pepper and give it a good stir and let simmer.
Meanwhile, peel and thinly slice the butternut squash. About 2mm slices or as thin as you can get it. Keep the slices and dispose of the peelings and seeds. Have a tidy up.
Finely chop an onion.
On your second hob, heat 1 tablespoon of oil and gently fry your onions until translucent.
Add the 2 minced garlic cloves.
Add the Vegan mince some salt and give it all a good stir. Cook for about 5 minutes.
Tip the pan of tomatoes into the mince mixture, add a handful of torn basil and let simmer.
Wash the pan that had tomato in it and then over a low heat combine 2 tablespoons of oil with 1/4 of a cup of flour. Mix for about 4 minutes into a paste.
Turn off the flame and add 1/3 of your milk to the paste and carefully stir until combined.
Turn the hob back on, add the next third of milk and switch to a whisk to stir the sauce. Once combined add the last third of milk and whisk until smooth and creamy.
Add the Vegan cheese to the sauce and give it a good mix until the cheese has melted into the sauce. It should be smooth and creamy. Add salt and pepper.
Remove the pan of meat sauce from the heat and drizzle some of the liquid into the bottom of the Omnia silicone insert.
Layer the bottom with your first layer of sliced of butternut squash.
Add your one layer of meat sauce.
Add a layer of cheese sauce.
Add a layer of butternut squash.
Add a layer of cheese sauce.
Sprinkle some dried herbs on the top and cook in your Omnia over a medium heat for 40 minutes.
We suggest serving with a peppery salad, flat bread or some garlic bread.
Fritatta's are a great way to use up any leftover veg. Choose any toppings as you like, but remember, the softer the toppings, the quicker the meal. Some topping combos we like:* Mushroom, Broccoli and Feta.* Tomato, Mushroom and red onion.* Cherry Tomatoes, Onion and Basil.* Multicoloured Peppers and Feta.
2tbspDairyIt doesn't really matter what you use, the point is to use up whats left
1handfulgrated cheese
1Handful of toppings. Whatever you have on hand and needs using up. I like; Mushrooms, Broccoli and Tomato
1sprinkleFeta
1pinchGarlic powder
Instructions
Crack the eggs into a bowl. Add your dairy of choice and salt. Whisk with a fork just until the egg yolks and whites are mixed. Add grated cheese.
Warm olive oil in your pan and add your toppings of choice and sprinkle some garlic powder and salt.
When cooked to your liking, add egg mix to the pan and stir with a spatula briefly to combine and distribute the mixture evenly across. If you are adding feta, now is the time to sprinkle it on top
Let cook till it looks puffy and jiggly in the middle. Normally this is cooked in an oven for the last 5 minutes, so instead, you can cover it so the top cooks nicely too. About 5 mins on a medium heat. And DIG IN
First, chop tomatoes, coriander and onion as tiny as possible.
Mix them together and add juice of one lime over it.
Season with salt to taste.
Now, rub some garlic on to your bread slices, a drizzle of olive oil, and toast on your pan for a couple of minutes.
Finally, lay out the slices of bread and add the mixture on top. Now crumble a bit of Feta over them and a drizzle of Balsamic cream to make this the best Bruschetta de Gallo in the world 😉
A definite favourite when it comes to vanlife breakfast or brunch!
*You can use normal eggs, but they will take a bit longer to cook, and you won't need as many*
Dice the onions and peppers as small as possible. Add to your pan with some olive oil.
Simmer them until soft (about 8 mins)
Add chopped garlic and spices and cook for an additional 2 mins.
Pour in the tomato, add fresh herbs and Worcestershire sauce and let simmer for 5 mins.
With a spoon, make a little pocket in the mixture and tip an egg in each hole. Let cook for a minute then sprinkle with feta.
I like adding little dollops of greek yoghurt and a few fresh herbs for garnish. Then spoon some on some bread or dip your bread in straight to the pan. YUM
A delicious simple one-pot Vegan chilli with pretty much zero prep time. Easy to cook on a camping stove when hiking, climbing, or even camping! Plus one pot means less washing up.
5 from 1 vote
30 minute meal - 5 ingredients or less - Less washing-up - One-pan - Open fire - Tinned food
Meet featured vanlifers Antoine & Alaena of @vantashjoey. They travel full-time in their van Joey and are currently between France and Spain. They have had their van for a year now, and are always making delicious looking food on their travels.
What is the kitchen set-up in your van?
As we have a Vito, there isn’t much space for a kitchen. We use a Camping Gaz Hob and cook on our slide out table outside.
What’s your favourite part of your van kitchen?
It is a very practical kitchen so we can move it to our convenience. If you have a fixed exterior kitchen it can be hard depending on the weather conditions. The good thing about ours is that we can cook wherever we fancy, even on the roof :)
Do you have a favourite vanlife kitchen accessory?
We don’t, but it is on our Christmas List. We would love to have an Omnia Oven! Although our home made chopping board is very precious.
What 3 food items do you always have in your van pantry?
Eggs – Always have eggs as it completes so many meals. Couscous – Such an easy and quick to cook carbohydrate to accompany so many meals. Greek Yoghurt – We have it for breakfast, sauce bases, salad dressings, dessert.. So many options!
What is your favourite / best meal you have made in your van?
We were very pleased with our Shakshouka, I have to say the fact of cooking in one pot makes it a favorite.
The one when the gear stick broke in half. The one when we got caught by the tide and had to swim with our basket on our head. The one when we had a siesta in Joey with another couple, and the faces of the people seeing us come out of the van one after the other. The one when we go stuck in the sand… We could start a comedy show :D
Have you had any van cooking disasters?
You should have seen us, we were in the middle of nowhere, somewhere far from civilization. We literally only had one packet of truffle ravioli left. Nothing else in our pantry. So we start to set up a nice dinner, ready exactly for sunset. Both of us suuuper hungry and excited for these raviolis. I (Alaena) was planning on taking some cool photos of said meal with said sunset. So, after counting down the minutes till the pasta was ready, Antoine goes next to the bushes to drain the water… 0.2 seconds. That’s all it took for our ravioli to be splattered on the sandy ground. All of them. How does this story end? We had to hand wash each ravioli, losing most of the lovely filling, and having a little extra crunch in every other ravioli :/
Be sure to check out Antoine and Alaena’s recipes on our website & follow them on Instagram @vantashjoey
Here at Vanlife Eats we have been very lucky to receive a bundle from Just Smart Kitchenware to review. Click here to go to the product review section on our website to read other reviews on their products.
This review is of the Just Smart Kitchenware bundle, the bundle arrived in a cute jute bag. A great idea to save on packaging and it can also be re-used. Either keep it in the van for your shopping, or use for packaging gifts.
Inside the bag you will find 2 large, square collapsible storage tubs, a collapsible multi-function bowl and a collapsible funnel.
A bit about Just Smart Kitchenware
If you haven’t read our other reviews you may not know about this company, so let us fill you in.
Just Smart Kitchenware is headed up by Jacquie, a lady keen on travelling. She travels Australia in her trailer. While travelling she realised there was a gap in the market for van kitchen storage and Just Smart Kitchenware was born. Items are available to purchase on Amazon as well as at www.justsmartkitchenware.com. (Scroll to the bottom for an exclusive discount code). They currently dispatch to the UK, Australia & Germany.
There are 3 main features of their products:
Space-saving
Multi-function
Quality materials
Smart tubs
We LOVE re-useable tubs in our van, it helps us reduce our waste and means we use less plastic.
As with the other Just Smart Kitchenware products these tubs are completely collapsible. This is ideal for life on the road, as when not in use they can be collapsed to use minimal space. Essential in a van kitchen. These tubs are made of silicone, meaning no chance of any breakages on the road. There is also the advantage of them being lightweight for those worried about weight.
See our previous review of a different set of tubs from Just Smart Kitchenware here. We enjoyed using them, but the main issue we had was that they weren’t leak-proof. Also we liked the minimalist look they have, but realise some people like more colour in their tiny space. The new tubs solve both of those issues!
They are definitely leak-proof. We put them through their paces and had no issues at all. These tubs are transparent with a little pop of colour, which actually fits our colour scheme pretty perfectly!
Just How Smart?
Here is what we did and didn’t like about the tubs. The fact these items are collapsible makes them perfectly suited to vanlife. This and the fact they are light means we are very happy to use them in our van kitchen.
We love that these are leak-proof, we have mentioned before that we are soup fans in the winter and these tubs are perfect to store it in! We have tried tubs that have unfortunately leaked, but no issues here. They are great for taking along on trips, picnics etc too.
We love the colours of these new tubs, they fit in with the Vanlife Eats van perfectly. The transparent tubs make it easy to see what’s inside with a quick glance. The only downside we found to this was that we noticed a slight stain after storing a curry in one. To be fair, we think the majority of transparent tubs would stain after having a curry inside. It hasn’t affected the use at all it is just something to bear in mind.
Bowled over?
Next out of the packaging was the multi-purpose collapsible bowl. Mark loves making 2 ingredient bread in the van (recipe here). He bought a mixing bowl for this purpose, and it was too big! Tiny kitchens with limited storage space and large mixing bowls do not mix.
This bowl isn’t very large but it’s an adequate size for a van kitchen. Mark managed to mix up his bread mixture with no issues. The best thing about it though, is that it is collapsible. When not in use, simply collapse it almost flat and put away. As with the other Just Smart Kitchenware it is made of high grade silcone. This means there are no chances of breakages.
After both of us using the bowl neither of us had anything negative to say about it. In fact we love it! We feel it is the right size for our van kitchen, a salad for 2, making up bread etc.
Funnel-ly..
The item we used least was the funnel. We think for vanlifers who like to make their own preserves etc then this would be really useful. It can also be used for disposing of cooking fat into a bottle, or when making orange juice.
As with the other products it is completely collapsible. It is also the same colour as the bowl, providing a bit of colour in your van kitchen cupboards. The top is fitted with a steel rim making it sturdy even though collapsible.
What did we think?
We loved everything about this bundle. Would we recommend it for vanlife? 100%!! There isn’t much better suited to vanlife than collapsible, lightweight kitchen products.
A couple of other things to mention, all these products are super easy to clean. Even after cooking in them or reheating food in a microwave, they still clean easily. This is such an important factor when picking van kitchen storage. Easy cleaning means less water when washing up. Water can be a limited resource in a van so using less is always best.
A second thing to mention is that these items can be used in the oven also. If you have an oven in your van, these are safe to use in there (apart from the lids). Ideal for baking or reheating leftovers.
Exclusive offer
If are reading this you think you NEED these in your van kitchen, then you are in luck. Just Smart Kitchenware are kindly offering 15% off this van kitchen bundle. Head to www.justsmartkitchenware.com and enter discount code ‘vanlifeeats’. Only valid for this bundle and not other Just Smart Kitchenware products.
Cooking in a tiny home can come with some challenges, and tiny homes do not come much smaller than a van! In this food diary from one of our trips over the summer, we highlight the challenges presented by cooking and travelling in a tiny home in one day.
6.30am
The sunshine trickles in through the windows awakening us from our sleep. I can hear the birds on the roof excitedly calling to their friends in the nearby trees. I roll over, open the curtain and take in the views before me. Finding park-ups like these make vanlife the best way to travel. Today we have woken up on a campsite that limits pitches to make it feel like you are in the wild. As luck would have it we are the ONLY ones here. We got here a little later than we would have liked to yesterday so we’re looking forward to exploring today.
6.45am
I fill up the kettle and put it on the stove to boil. Mark checks the water tank to make sure we have enough for later and don’t need to fill up – all good! The whistle of the kettle tells us it’s time for our morning cup of tea. The best way to start the day!
7.15am
We decide to head out and explore before having breakfast. The sunshine shines down on us as we walk hand in hand taking in the expanse of green before us. The grass is damp from the downpours of the day before and the smell of wet grass fills our senses. There is a small lake in the next field and we wander over to it. Canadian geese are gracefully gliding across the water, away from us, these strange creatures that have emerged from a van.
On the way back to the van we stop and pick some blackberries from the hedgerows. There doesn’t seem to be a great amount of ripe ones, and there is a little competition from some persistent wasps. We head back to the van with the goodies in our hands.
8.20am
When we arrive back at the van with wet shoes, Mark has wet socks too. We put everything in the sunshine in an attempt to dry it. We don’t want the van to smell damp.
Vanlifer breakfast
On the menu this morning is a breakfast wrap. We love making this because we can make it all in one pan, so there’s less washing up! This means less work and less water use! By washing up as soon as we eat it means food doesn’t dry onto the plates. We can clean them easily while using less water and energy (from our water pump)
We feel it’s important to try and create the least amount of waste we can. One because we want to work towards a more sustainable lifestyle and two because we only have a small bin! Breakfast wraps are great for using up whatever leftovers you have!
We get the leftover veg from last night, potato and some spring onions, from our cool box. Not having a large fridge can be a bit of a pain and means we have to shop for fresh produce more regularly. We don’t have a freezer either so plan our meals carefully to minimise waste. Our 3 way coolbox has done us well so far though.
Once the veg has been chopped we add them to our pan with some olive oil. Mark starts slicing the bacon and we add that too. Once nice and crispy, we push it all over to one side of the pan and crack in 2 fresh eggs. We managed to buy some on the drive down from a driveway with a little honesty box outside, so they are super fresh. We stir them round til we get some perfect scrambled eggs. Then for the fun part – the assembly! We place cheese in the tortillas into and load them up with the scrumminess from the pan. Add a squirt of ketchup and wrap them up!
9am
I do love a smoothie with breakfast. I feel like I can get in lots of nutrients and it leaves me feeling revitalised and full of energy. We are lucky enough to have a blender in our van but it does use a lot of energy. There isn’t a hook up at this campsite, we need to be careful with our battery use as we want to use our oven later. Luckily we have a Xyliss too. This is our favourite van kitchen gadget. We use it to chop veg, make sauces, we have even used it for mashed potato before. It’s a definite game changer. We’re lucky it creates a lovely smoothie too! Here’s a link to our favourite one.
10am
After letting our breakfast go down we head out again. There are lots of walking routes round here with absolutely stunning views. It’s so amazing to see little bunnies dashing in and out of the bushes, the birds flitting about singing to each other. The British countryside has so much to offer.
Tiny home lunch
1pm
We’re back at the van in time for a brew and some lunch. While spending some time off-grid is amazing, it means we have to be mindful of the amount of power we are using and the water we use. Our van has a small water tank and so we have to fill it up quite regularly. We decide we will fill it up after we have eaten.
There are some wraps left from breakfast so we decide to make some tortilla pizzas. We have a tin of tomatoes which we are using for our dinner later. Mark opens it and takes what we need to make the sauce for our lunch, putting the rest aside for later.
The toppings today are some mozzarella and goats cheese. We fry some onions in a little brown sugar to go on the top. They won’t take long to cook in our oven, about 5 minutes each. This is just as well as the oven uses a fair bit of power. Being as we have been parked up since last night the batteries won’t have had a recharge. We cook our pizzas and sit down to enjoy them. Van pizzas are the best, so many different ways of making them! We usually make these with a flatbread but they work well with so many different types of bread.
As we finish eating we hear the all too familiar pitter patter sound of raindrops on the roof. Looking outside we see the heavens have decided to open – as is usually the case with British weather. The water will have to wait.
A cosy afternoon hankering down in the van is needed. We always come prepared with books and games, and we do have a tv we can watch. We decide to raid our games cupboard. Mark pulls out a game he clearly thinks I am destined to lose called ‘Bucket of doom’. Upon reading the instructions it becomes clear that you need at least 3 players for this game. It will have to wait for another adventure – what a shame!
Instead we decide on a game of bears vs babies. This game can sometimes lead to an intense debate as we are both adamant we won the first time we played this game. (Obviously I won, but Mark said it was a practice round). This time it is uneventful apart from Mark continuing his reign as current champion. The rain seems to have eased off and we contact the campsite owner to ask about water and he kindly tells us where we can fill up. We start up the van and travel across the campsite to fill up. We want to make sure we have enough to wash up later and brush our teeth. A thorough wash at the sink (with cold water!) is required later, as we have no shower. By topping up we know we will be able to remain squeaky clean.
4pm
When we get back to the pitch the rain still hasn’t made a reappearance so we decide to light a fire. We use our bbq to build it in. We are really cautious as the ground has been extremely dry prior to the rain. The last thing we want is to scorch the ground or cause a wildfire.
We get our camping chairs out and enjoy sitting around the fire and chatting. There’s something quite mesmerising about a fire and the time passes by quite quickly.
Dinner of a vanlifer
6.30pm
We decide we should start making some dinner. Mark’s cooking this evening, which means I can keep my feet up and read my book. He’s making a vegetable curry with butternut squash as the main ingredient. A butternut is hard enough to chop in a large fully equipped kitchen, let alone in a van kitchen so I take my hat off to him there. If we are going to have a lot of peelings we use them for vegetable stock, otherwise I take them home to put in my food waste bin.
7.30pm
The smells coming from the van are divine. We have the door open plus an extractor fan above our kitchen so there will be no curry smells on our bedding when we climb into bed later. We’ve got an article on our website with tips and tricks for keeping cooking smells out the camper, so we consider ourselves experts now 😉
That curry has to be one of the best I have ever eaten, we will definitely need to make it again.
The fire has died down now, we are just waiting for nature to put on it’s very own light show and have an evening stargazing. I slip in and put the kettle on the stove and sort us out a cup of tea each. A cup of tea wouldn’t be the same without a biscuit or two! We wrap up in blankets and wait to see the stars.
10.30pm
As we head into the van to get ready for bed, we check the power and see we have enough to watch a bit of tv before dozing off in our super cosy tiny home!
Cooking in a tiny home can present some challenges, limited space, appliances, power and water just to name some. We love the challenge of cooking in a tiny kitchen and we feel it makes us more creative with our food. We have found some really cool gadgets to help make life easier and we really enjoy it. Be sure to add your favourite recipes to the site to inspire others.
Just Smart Kitchenware sent us some products to review in our van. Read more to see just how smart we think their products are…
A little about Just Smart Kitchenware…
Just smart kitchenware have shops in the UK, Australia & Germany. The company was created by Jacquie in Australia. She was travelling in a trailer and realised there was a gap in the market for van kitchen storage. As such they specialise in creating kitchenware for tiny kitchens, motorhomes, vanlifers etc.
There are 3 features of their products that have come to define them as ‘smart’
Smart in space
Smart in function
Smart in Quality
Smart…
Smart because when not in use the fold flat to minimise the storage space required. Collapses to 1/3 of it’s original size.
Function…
The tubs have 2 uses, they can be used for storage and can be used for cooking. Temperature resistant.
Quality…
Made from premium quality silicone!
With that in mind the products in this review are 2 sets of collapsible silicone tubs. A large set and a small set! Each set contains 2 tubs each with a branded lid that hook onto the bases.
Just Smart Kitchenware Product Features
Space saving. When not in use they fold almost completely flat, making storing them in a van kitchen a breeze. 4 or 5 folded tubs can fit in the same space as one conventional reusable tub easily.
They are lightweight and reusable.
These tubs can be used in the fridge, freezer and oven. They can also go straight from freezer to the oven.
The products are made of premium grade silicone, which is safe for food.
Are the Just Smart Kitchenware products suitable for vanlife?
Hell yeah! These products were designed with tiny living in mind. If you are limited on space these are pretty ideal for you.
Here is why we think these products would be perfect for any van kitchen.
Sustainability
We bang on about sustainable vanlife a lot here at vanlife eats. The Just Smart Kitchenware tubs can be washed and reused over and over again, goodbye plastic tubs! Reducing plastic use is something we feel passionate about. We try to minimise the plastic use in our van. This includes plastic tubs, they eventually stain and/or warp meaning they need to be replaced.
Another thing we try to do is reduce food waste. One way of doing this is to make sure you eat up those leftovers. Every van should have a set of tubs so any leftovers can be stored properly and used the next day.
Space-Saving
Living in a tiny home, can mean tiny storage space! That is where the Just Smart Kitchenware tubs really shine. When not in use they collapse almost completely flat.
Each product is lightweight, meaning no extra weight in your van. They are also useful for taking out on walks, hikes etc because of this. When opened the tubs are nice and deep, meaning you can store many different things in them.
The silicone material means it is easy and safe to stack them up with no worry of breakages. Ideal when you’re home is a home on wheels.
Versatility
Some advice we hear often about van kitchens is, every item in your van should have at least 2 uses. Minimalist living can mean packing light and having products that can be used in multiple ways is always a bonus.
These tubs can be used for storing leftovers, and for cooking in the oven (if you’re lucky enough to have one in your van!) They can also be used for baking bread and cakes.
What else did we like about the Just Smart Kitchenware tubs?
We have been impressed by these tubs. One thing we expected was the silicone to stain. At one point we stored chopped beetroot in one of the small tubs. Afterwards there was no stain and it didn’t even require scrubbing when washing up.
They are super easy to clean! Every part of the product is easy to clean, with no areas for bugs to linger. We heated up some food up in them and even then cleaning afterwards was a breeze. No food residue to scrub at all. This is a definite bonus when washing up in a van as it saves water when washing up.
The large tubs are ideal for taking on a picnic, while the smaller tubs are a great size for chopped fruit. Perfect for a packed lunch box.
What didn’t we like about the Just Smart Kitchenware tubs?
Before they arrived we were worried they may be flimsy, being as they are collapsible. However the wire in the rim makes them feel pretty sturdy. After using them the only time we had concerns was when storing soup in them. We’re big soup fans, especially at this time of the year. We tested the tubs with soup and there was a slight leak. We filled with water to test them and I applied a little too much pressure which sent the water everywhere – oops!
Due to this we wouldn’t recommend using them to transport soups or food products with a lot of liquid in them. For everything else though they are fab!
The design is quite plain, they are a plain grey with the logo in one corner. Some people like the minimalistic and simplistic look and so these are ideal. If you prefer a more colourful pop in your van then these may not be the tubs for you.
Finally…
We will definitely carry on using these in our van, you hardly know they are there until you need them due to the space saving design.
They are great for using for excess leftovers, prepped vegetables etc. As well as that they have come in handy for snack pots for the children.
Part-time vanlifers could definitely use these for meal prep and cut vegetables etc beforehand to take with them.
If you would like to try these products, head to our store to find the best place to purchase
We do not receive payment for reviews although we may have been sent the product free of charge. We do this to ensure you only ever read our honest opinion.
Our latest featured vanlifers are Sacha & Derek of @shanti_nomads_. They are a Maltese and Gozitan couple and are currently travelling around Queensland Australia in their van.
One of the reasons they purchased the van they have is because it had an oven. These vanlifers love to cook and so this meant they could continue to make delicious food!
Read more about their travels, check out their recipes at @shanti_nomads_ and be sure to give them a follow on Insta!
Does your van have a name?
Nasi our first date was in Varanasi in India, so we shortened it to Nasi!
Which country are you based in currently?
Queensland, Australia.
Do you travel in your van part-time or full-time?
Full-time
Where is the best place you have stayed in your van?
Bunya Mountains/Inskip Point
Describe your van kitchen set-up?
So we have a gas oven with 2 burners, I have all my spices and cutleries in one of the drawers and a 40 Ltr Fridge. The most important is our French press coffee maker! But our favourite cook ups are the ones done on the fire ( where we are allowed to light one up )
What couldn’t you live without in your van kitchen?
Non stick pan
What 3 food items do you always have in your van pantry?
Coffee, Cheese, garlic
What is your go to van meal?
Cold cuts and cheese platter. (quick, fulfilling and easy to clean)
What is the best meal you have made in your van?
For Sacha it’s Ramen and for Derek it’s his famous chicken parma.
Have you had any cooking disasters in your van?
When I try to cook rice, I never cook it perfectly and we always have soooo much rice left over! lol
Do you have any funny vanlife stories?
One time we were driving and the reel of the fishing rods got stuck in a tree and we were driving with the reel behind us on the highway! We had to stop and roll it back lol
And when a mouse decided to live in our van, and everyday we find something bitten, we named it Sir.Shitalot (cause that was another thing we were finding everywhere) and went to the supermarket and got a trap and we got rid of it.
We had another visitor one time, we woke up and found a wallaby on our outdoor mattress chilling.! He was so cute, but later in the day we found out that he broke it!
To apply for a featured post on vanlifeeats.com simply follow this link and fill out the application form. We promote all featured van lifers across all our social media networks, we send out a “featured Van Lifer” sticker for your van as well as awarding you a prestigious badge for your profile on our website.
Carrie & Glyn live full-time in their motorhome with their dog Buttons, they have had their van for 4 years. Currently they travel the UK in the van when not working. Next year they are planning on working on a campsite for part of the year and travelling the remaining months so make sure you follow them on Instagram @freespirit_c_g to follow their adventures.
Carrie has a real passion for ‘van baking’ Her baking achievements have been well documented in our Van Bake Off and she has won star baker several times. Make sure to check back to see if she gets crowned overall winner! Read more to find out more about their life in their van.
The favourite place you have visited in your van?
Isle of Mull
3 Vanlife Kitchen pantry essentials…
Pasta, baking ingredients & herbs and spices.
Describe the kitchen set-up in your van.
In my kitchen I have a full size cooker and a small 3 way fridge, no freezer. A well stocked cupboard of dry and baking ingredients, tinned foods and under floor cool storage for vegetables, gin and beers. We have a 70 litre fresh water tank so have hot and cold running water which is much more convenient.
What is your favourite meal to make in your van?
Our favourite meal to cook (and eat!) in the van is a sunday lunch with homemade Yorkshire puddings, mashed potatoes and veg. I don’t cook a joint of meat though I buy a few slices of meat from the butcher.
Do you have a vanlife go-to meal?
We have 2 go to meals…. the first a stew with loads of root vegetables and dumplings or homemade bread, which I normally cook the day before we plan a full day out. The second is smoked salmon and pasta in a creme fraiche sauce which from start to finish takes around 12 minutes.
What couldn’t you live without in your van?
I couldn’t be without my oven even though there are many ways to cook, because of the amount and variety of baking I do.
Have you had any cooking disasters in the van?
So far I have never had a baking or cooking disaster, although when we first moved into the van I thought it would be a good idea to buy a full chicken to roast. I chose the hottest day and I wasn’t really familiar with the temperature control. It wasn’t as good as the gas cooker I had in our house so it took quite a lot longer to cook. All ended up good and we enjoyed the meal but it’s a long standing joke about roasting a chicken now.
Any funny vanlife stories?
When we first built the van we put a slideout on the back. Our bed was in this area, when travelling it stored upright against the back wall of the slideout.
Even though we had seals fitted whenever it rained water found its way in. One night at around 2am during a very heavy downpour we woke to find the rain had found a new way in and it felt like we were laid in a burst water bed! Whatever we did to try and stop the water coming in we failed so removed the slide out, fitted a solid, watertight back on, added a garage and a fixed bed. We can now confidently say we always have a very comfortable nights sleep however heavy the rain comes down!
Make sure to check out their delicious recipes HERE including the star baker recipes!
Want to be featured on vanlifeeats.com?
To apply for a featured post on vanlifeeats.com simply follow this link and fill out the application form. We promote all featured van lifers across all our social media networks, we send out a “featured Van Lifer” sticker for your van as well as awarding you a prestigious badge for your profile on our website.
Measure out all ingredients and add everything except for the dates into a large mixing bowl.
Chop the dates into the small pieces. This is where things can get a bit sticky…try to make the pieces as small as possible.
Pull the date pieces apart and spread evenly across the top of the other ingredients in the bowl (this will make mixing all ingredients together easier).
Mix all ingredients together using your hands until you’ve achieved an even consistency and ingredients have been thoroughly blended together. Prepare to get a little messy.
Roll the mixture into small balls and place in a container to cool in the fridge or cooler (or just eat them now like raw cookie dough).
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