MeShell’s Diner Nantucket Cranberry Pie

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This recipe for Nantucket Cranberry Pie is so easy and so good. This is a delicious light sponge, full of juicy cranberries, crunchy pecans and a crisp sugary crust. What’s not to love?! There are many variations of Nantucket cranberry pie online, some using walnuts rather than the pecans I like to use in my recipe. One thing is for certain though MeShell’s Diner nantucket cranberry pie is the best. Best of all it’s great to cook in any campervan or motorhome.

This is cooked in a conventional oven in our motorhome, but could definitely be baked in the Omnia Stove top oven too!

Nantucket pie

MeShell’s Diner Nantucket Cranberry Pie

amerimanx_travels
Vegetarian
Is it a cake? Is it a pie? Regardless what you call it..it’s delish! This light, tart, and sweet pudding is a tasty alternative to any Christmas dessert. Measurements in US cups
5 from 1 vote
10 Ingredients or less – Family friendly
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Course Baking, Dessert
Servings 6 people
Diet Vegetarian

Equipment

  • Measuring cups and spoons
  • Cake or pie pan
  • Oven

Ingredients
  

  • butter for greasing
  • 2 cups heaping cranberries
  • 3/4 cup pecans chopped (measure, then chop)
  • 2/3 cup sugar
  • 1 cup flour
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 stick unsalted butter melted
  • 2 eggs lightly beaten
  • 1 tsp pure almond extract
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 tbsp sugar for sprinkling

Instructions
 

  • Generously butter a cake pan or pie pan. Add cranberries to the bottom of the pan. Sprinkle on chopped pecans, then sprinkle on 2/3 cup sugar.
  • In a mixing bowl, combine flour, 1 cup sugar, melted butter, eggs, almond extract, and salt. Stir gently to combine.
  • Pour batter slowly over the top of the cranberry mixture in large "ribbons" in order to evenly cover the surface. Spread gently if necessary.
  • Bake for 45 to 50 minutes. 5 minutes before removing from oven, sprinkle surface with 1 tablespoon sugar for a little extra crunch.
  • Cut into wedges and serve with ice cream or freshly whipped cream.

Nutrition

Calories: 556kcalCarbohydrates: 79gProtein: 5gFat: 26gSaturated Fat: 11gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 95mgSodium: 122mgPotassium: 127mgFiber: 3gSugar: 60gVitamin A: 577IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 28mgIron: 2mg
Keyword 10 ingredient or less, Baking, cranberries, Easy, oven, winter
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

MeShell’s Diner Butter Pecan Fudge

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Another meal from MeShell’s diner, this time butter pecan fudge. The buttered pecans give this fudge a bit of texture as well as a whole lot of flavour. Yummy! Check out more of our recipes here.

Butter pecan fudge

MeShell’s Diner Easy Butter Pecan Fudge

amerimanx_travels
Vegetarian
Easy fudge recipe to make without the need for candy thermometer. Delicious buttery fudge, which can be adapted to loads of different ingredients. Cup amounts are American cup measurements. Please Google for UK equivalents. Make sure pecans are toasted, cooled, and chopped before starting the fudge cooking process. Also, make sure powered (Icing) sugar has been sifted and measured out prior to beginning.
5 from 1 vote
Family friendly – Prep ahead
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Cooling time 3 hours 30 minutes
Total Time 4 hours 5 minutes
Course Dessert, Snack
Servings 6 people
Diet Vegetarian

Equipment

  • Measuring cups ( American were used)
  • Measuring spoons
  • Mesh sieve
  • Skillet (toasting pecans)
  • Heavy stainless steel pot
  • Timer
  • Parchment paper
  • Baking tray

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups pecans
  • 2 Tbsp butter for toasting pecans
  • 1 cup butter
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1-1/8 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1/4 tsp. salt
  • 1 Tbsp. vanilla extract
  • 4 cups powdered sugar

Instructions
 

  • Toast the two cups of pecans with two tablespoons of butter for five minutes and set aside. Once cooled, chop up. Set aside about 2 Tbsp.
  • In a large saucepan, add one cup of butter and melt on medium-high heat.
  • After the butter melts, add the granulated sugar and brown sugar and mix well.
  • Add the heavy whipping cream, salt, and vanilla extract and mix well.
  • Turn the temperature to medium-high to high heat and bring the mixture to a boil, stirring occasionally. Once the mixture starts to boil, start a timer for four minutes. Stir occasionally while it cooks.
  • When the timer reaches four minutes, take the fudge off of the burner, add the powdered sugar, and mix well.
  • Finally, add the two cups of chopped pecans and stir.
  • Pour the fudge into a parchment lined baking pan, sprinkle the two tablespoons of chopped pecans on top, and allow it to set up for at least three hours.
  • Slice the fudge into little squares.

Nutrition

Calories: 1136kcalCarbohydrates: 154gProtein: 4gFat: 60gSaturated Fat: 25gPolyunsaturated Fat: 8gMonounsaturated Fat: 23gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 97mgSodium: 367mgPotassium: 205mgFiber: 3gSugar: 149gVitamin A: 1153IUVitamin C: 0.4mgCalcium: 68mgIron: 1mg
Keyword Fudge, intermediate, Pecans, sweet
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Essential Vanlife Christmas gifts

Wondering what gift to get a vanlifer in your life this Christmas? We’ve got you covered with this list of essential vanlife Christmas gifts. No need to worry about saving the gift receipt for any of these Christmas goodies. All the gifts on this list are sure to make any vanlifer happy this Christmas and are absolute vanlife essentials.

We have included options for all budgets, and are things that we love to use in our own van so can fully recommend them to you.

This article does contain affiliate links. Vanlife Eats is a hobby of ours and using these affiliate links helps to cover the running costs of our website with no extra charge to you. Thanks in advance for your support.

Christmas vanlife

Essential Vanlife Christmas Gifts for under £20

These essential gifts are perfect for filling the stocking of a vanlifer you love this Christmas. If food heavily features in your vanlife travels then you are going to want to check these out.

Cooking Cosy

In these tough times with energy costs going up, you may just want this gift yourself! The Cooking Cosy is a little hat for your pans. It means you can bring your food to the boil then leave it to continue to cook under the cosy. This allows you to save on gas, so not only a vanlife essential but also in the home if you do vanlife part-time. You can buy your cooking cosy here.

Cooking cosy

Stove top toaster

If you follow our Instagram you may have seen us talking about this next little gadget. We had many people joining the dotty toast club! Toast is something we both love with a good cup of tea. It’s not the easiest thing to make in a van with no grill though. Then we discovered this little gem! An absolute bargain at around £6. This stove top toaster makes a great stocking filler and means you can toast bread on the hob. Super quick and super easy – get the butter at the ready. Buy yours here.

how to make toast on a stove top

Global WakeCup

You can’t have toast without a mug of tea! That’s why the next item on our essential vanlife Christmas gift list is a good mug. These Global WakeCup’s are our favourite mugs to use in the van. They come with lids making them easy to drink from while on the road, plus their pretty van friendly and you know they won’t break when travelling. We hang ours by the handles on hooks so they don’t even take up room in the cupboards. The stainless steel interior makes them super easy to clean. These are made from sustainable bamboo & biodegradable, making them eco-friendly. If that doesn’t give you a halo then this will. The company donate 10% of their profits to The Marine Conservation Society *ding – halo incoming* it’s the gift that keeps giving. You can get your hands on one for £20, or they offer a personalisation service for a little more. Find them here.

The Cornish Tea company cream tea

What do you get the person who has everything? Food of course. Not just any food though, only one of the finest things to come out of Cornwall. This cream tea sets from The Cornish Tea Company are perfect. They come through the post so you don’t even need to wrap them. To keep the Christmas harmony and avoid any arguments, don’t ask whether cream or jam is first…

These boxes are already a bargain at £20, but last time we checked our exclusive discount to get 15% off still worked, just enter VANLIFEEATS2022 at checkout. Even more of a bargain, but seriously.. cream or jam first? Answer here.

Cornish tea company cream tea

Yellow lids – Stretchy lids & straws

If your looking for stocking fillers that are good for the environment and your pocket, then look no further. These stretchy lids from Yellow Lids are fab, they are perfect for vanlife, and helping reduce food waste. They mean you can cover cans, or bowls of leftovers etc with these spill proof lids. This company realise it is unrealistic to completely stop single plastic use, so they have teamed with ReSea Project and have committed to remove plastic from rivers & oceans with every purchase. They also sell these fab straws which are great for avoiding plastic straws, or worse… the paper ones that disintegrate in your mouth! With them being under £10 each they are definite vanlife essentials!

Essential Vanlife Christmas Gifts for under £35

These gifts are a little bit more expensive so great for a present a little bigger than a stocking filler. They are still under £35 though, so good for those of us with a budget in mind.

Camping Soul Food cookbook

If you have tried all the recipes on here, then this cookbook could be just the vanlife essential for you this Christmas. We love this cookbook, it has such a unique feature. Each recipe has a QR code so you can enjoy the accompanying playlist while you cook a delicious vanlife meal! You can buy it right here!

Camping soul food cook book

Ridgemonkey sandwich toaster

The ridgemonkey is something we use regularly in our van. When we first bought one (as we thought every van kitchen seemed to have one!) we were surprised by how small it was. We bought the Compact XL sandwich toaster. Due to this we hardly used it for a long time. Then we discovered it’s true potential!! We use it so much now, we have made omelettes, hotpots, brownies and all sorts of delicious things in ours. A great present for a solo vanlifer as you can cook perfect portion sizes for one person. Coming in at around £27 it’s worth every penny. You can see all the details and buy here.

Ridgemonkey

Ridgemonkey cutlery set

If you wanted to add a little extra with your ridgemonkey gift then these cutlery sets are great! They come in individual sets so ideal for solo vanlife. The quality of them feels amazing, the fact they pack away into a little pouch makes them travel friendly too. You can take them along on walks, picnics and adventures. These are under £15 and you can get them here.

Zyliss Easy Pull

This next one is a definite favourite gadget of Mark’s. The Zyliss Easy Pull has been a game changer for us. It is a manual food chopper/slicer. I (Sophie) am terrible at chopping vegetables, they tend to fly everywhere. So this keeps everything contained nicely, stops the tears caused by onions and is powered by muscle power. If you fancy giving this to a vanlifer in your life, then click here.

Zyliss easy pull

Stove top Kettle

There’s not many better sounds in life than the whistle of a kettle. Our kettle is an absolute essential in our van kitchen. We couldn’t be without it or our morning cuppa. This 2.5l is the perfect size for us and fits on the hob perfectly. They come in lots of different colours but this one fits in with our van so well. You can grab one for a gift here.

Vanlife eats kitchen

Enamel serving tray

This was the vanlife gift we didn’t realise was an essential until we got one. It helps keep our kitchen clean, as we put peelings and food waste on it making it easier to put in the bin. Mark regularly uses it to make fresh pasta and keep flour explosions to a minimum. Plus you can actually use it as a serving tray. They can be completely personalised and are £25, get yours from Duncan Stewart gifts here.

Enamel tray

Essential vanlife gifts for under £75

If you are looking for a more extravagant gift, then look no further. These vanlife gifts are all under £75 but are something we use regularly in our van and 100% recommend them after putting them to the test!

Omnia Stove top oven

Coming up first is something we use in our van regularly. We tend to use it for baking cakes, bread, pies and have found it really useful. Although it isn’t something we use every day it is definitely something we recommend. The Omnia starter pack comes in at £66.99 which contains the Stove top oven as well as a silicone mould. We definitely suggest using the mould when making cakes in particular to ensure they don’t stick. You can purchase a starter pack here.

Omnia oven starter pack

Wonderbag

Next up on the list is a different kind of oven! The wonderbag is a thermal non-electric slow cooker. For those worried about increasing energy costs this may be a good Christmas gift. It can be used for houselife as well as vanlife. You use it by starting off the cooking process then placing the pan in the wonderbag. It needs to be a good thick pan that will hold the heat well. The oven keeps it warm and carries on the cooking process. We have made stews in ours and even some beef which was cooked to perfection. It can also be used to keep things cool, so is multipurpose. It is quite large so if space is limited in the van it may not be the best option. Or do what we do and use it for storage or as a cushion. You can see the different colours available here.

wonderbag slow cooking

FlavorStone Pan

This pan is a great vanlife essential, even if it’s not a Christmas gift. This is a multi-purpose pan which makes it great for vanlife. You can fry, deep fry and even steam in it. It has a removable handle for storage too. It is a definite essential in our van kitchen. For £70 it reduces the need for lots of pans in the van, which take up space & money. You can find it here.

Gifts to blow the budget! (but they’re worth it)

These gifts are budget busters, but we can guarantee they are ALL worth it. You can always treat yourself this Christmas.

best vegan burger jackfruit bbq

Winnerwell woodburner stove

Woodburner stoves may not seem the most compatible gift for vanlife – but they are. Not only do they keep you warm sitting outside the van of an evening, you can cook on them too, and they look pretty impressive. Starting from £249 you can add whichever kit and accessories you want onto that. We have the Woodlander large Stove, we love it. It always draws lots of attention & comments whenever we have it set up. If you use code VANLIFEEATS at checkout you get 10% off!! Check them out here.

Winnerwell woodburner stove

Vanlife Eats Big Picnic tickets

This is a gift for yourself as well as others! Tickets to the Vanlife Eats Big Picnic 2023! Each year just gets better & better. Tickets are £69 per adult, with a wide variety of unique demonstrations and workshops it really is not to be missed. If you can’t make the whweekend then worry not, this year there are day tickets! You can buy tickets right here, we’ll see you there!

Vanlife Eats Big PIcnic

Cobb bbq

If you love a bbq, then you will love taking a Cobb on the road with you! We have even cooked a whole chicken on ours, and it was cooked to absolute perfection. Priced around £160, it means you can have a bbq wherever you are. The amazing design means the bottom doesn’t get hot so you can safely have it on camping tables! Get yours here!

Chicken on a cobb

Savernake Knives

Any good chef knows how important a good knife is. We were lucky enough to collaborate with the amazing Savernake Knives! If you enter this secret part of the website then you can save 10% off our exclusive design. You just need to enter the password vanlifeknife to access the collection. The knives start at £152 with our discount and they will sharpen them every year for free and have a lifetime guarantee, so definitely an investment!

vanife knife

Thanks for looking through our list of essential vanlife gifts, we hope you have found something for the vanlifer in your life. Plus make the most of the exclusive discount codes. If you want to share the festive cheer and buy us a gift, we would love if you could buy us a coffee to help support the running costs of our website.

We wish you a Merry Christmas, and a happy, healthy & prosperous New Year.

Sophie & Mark

Vegan Gingerbread Omnia cake

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This festive vegan gingerbread cake made in the Omnia is perfect for Christmas. Full of the wonderful flavour of Christmas, gingerbread with lots of homemade gooey jam in the middle. Chocolate and nuts, it really has it all! This recipe was entered by @team_ateem for van bake off 2022 and was very popular on our public vote. If you saw it and wanted to give it a try, this is all you need to know.

This recipe uses plum jam lovingly made by Justyna’s Mum, you could mix it up with different flavour jams if you wanted to.

Vegan gingerbread Omnia cake

Vegan Gingerbread Cake

@team_ateem
Vegan
This was the winning entry for the final week of Van Bake Off 22. Absolutely breathtaking, it will definitely impress any guests you may have in your van.
5 from 1 vote
Family friendly – Stove top meal
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Cooling time 3 hours
Total Time 4 hours 10 minutes
Course Baking
Servings 8
Diet Vegan

Equipment

Ingredients
  

For the cake

  • 200 ml Soy milk
  • 100 ml Oil
  • 300 g Wheat flour
  • 7 tbsp Agave nectar
  • 2 tbsp Pumpkin spice
  • 4 tbsp Cane sugar
  • 1 tbsp Plum butter
  • 1 tbsp Cornstarch
  • 1.5 tsp Baking Soda
  • 1 tbsp Cocoa
  • 270 g Plum butter

Vegan Chocolate Topping

  • 100 g Dark Chocolate
  • 100 ml Soy milk
  • 50 g Whole almonds

Instructions
 

For the cake

  • Pour the soy milk, agave syrup, oil, pumpkin spice and sugar into the pot. Boil it. Add the plum butter and mix well. Leave the mix to cool
    Making the gingerbread cake
  • In a separate bowl combine the dry ingredients: flour, baking soda and cocoa.
  • Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix just until combined.
    Combining the mixture
  • Line the Omnia with the baking paper and pour cake mix.
    Cake in the Omina oven
  • Bake for 20 mins on high heat and 30 mins on medium heat, then leave it to cool it down.
  • Cut the cooled gingerbread cake into 3 parts and spread the plum butter. 
    Cake covered in jam

For the topping

  • Put the dark chocolate in a pot, add the soya milk and heat over very low heat and combine it together. 
    Chocolate melting
  • Spread the chocolate topping on the cooled, layered gingerbread cake.
    Glossy chocolate topping
  • Sprinkle the vegan gingerbread cake with coarsely chopped almonds.
    Close up view of 3 layered gingerbread cake, sandwiched with plum jam

Nutrition

Calories: 553kcalCarbohydrates: 83gProtein: 7gFat: 22gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 0.4mgSodium: 286mgPotassium: 228mgFiber: 4gSugar: 38gVitamin A: 16IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 66mgIron: 4mg
Keyword Cake, dairy free, gingerbread, intermediate, omnia, van bake off, vegan
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

MeShell’s Diner Cornbread

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MeShell’s diner cornbread is a very versatile recipe, and so easy to make – even in a van! In fact I even made an award winning version in the van at the Vanlife Eats Big Picnic this year! It can be made savory or sweet with the addition of honey. It’s a great accompaniment to stews, soups and chili. I use it as a topping for my Tamale Pie recipe.

For this cornbread recipe you will need to source Corn/Maize Meal. Do not confuse Corn Meal with Corn Flour, here’s an article to help clear up which is which! I’ve found course and fine Maize Meal in Holland & Barretts. Buy both and combine. I have also found Maize Meal in Europe as well.

This cornbread recipe also calls for Buttermilk. If you can’t source buttermilk. Measure out 1 â…“ cups of milk and add either a tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar to turn the milk. Stir and leave for about 15mins. Enjoy!

If you want to see more of our recipes, check out our profile here!

MeShells diner cornbread

MeShell’s Diner Cornbread

amerimanx_travels
Vegetarian
A very versatile dish, adding your favourite flavours can make it savoury or sweet. It's a great accompaniment to may different van meals!
5 from 4 votes
Family friendly – One-pan
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Baking, Brunch, Dinner, Lunch, Other, Side Dish
Servings 6 people
Diet Vegetarian

Equipment

  • Oven
  • Mixing bowls
  • Measuring spoons
  • Measuring cups or scales
  • Whisk
  • Cast iron skillet/baking dish

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup corn flour 155gr maize meal
  • 1 cup plain flour 155gr
  • 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 â…“ cups buttermilk 340ml
  • 3 tablespoons of melted butter
  • 2 large eggs

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to gas mark 5/190f
  • In a mixing bowl measure out all dry ingredients, stir to combine.
  • In another mixing bowl measure out buttermilk, add eggs and melted butter. Whisk to combine.
  • Slowly start pouring wet ingredients into dry ingredients, whisking to combine.
  • Once all incorporated, pour mixture into a cast iron skillet if you have one. If not, pour into a baking dish.
  • Place in hot oven and bake. You can test if the cornbread is completely cooked by inserting a knife into the bread. If it comes out clean cornbread is done. Should be golden brown on top.

Notes

Other ingredients can be added to the wet base mixture.
Such as whole kernel corn or grated Cheddar. I’ve made Jalapeño Cheddar Cornbread before.
To make a sweet cornbread add 3 tablespoons of honey or brown sugar.

Nutrition

Calories: 251kcalCarbohydrates: 33gProtein: 8gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 75mgSodium: 514mgPotassium: 166mgFiber: 2gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 344IUCalcium: 160mgIron: 1mg
Keyword cornbread, Easy, oven, Simple, skillet, vegetarian
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

French Onion and Apple Grilled Cheese

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This french onion and apple grilled cheese is the perfect mix of sweet & savoury. It’s a perfect recipe for the van too as you only need one pan. Looking for more recipes? Check out our profile & recipes here

Want to make your own apple sauce? This recipe from BBC good food shows you how to make it with 3 ingredients!

French onion and apple grilled cheese

French Onion & Apple Grilled Cheese

MatsonLife
Meat Based
A sweet and savory twist to the classic grilled cheese sandwich that is perfect for fall. Pan fried until the cheese is melty and the bread is crisp! Vegetarian? Leave out the ham.
5 from 1 vote
10 Ingredients or less – No water – One-pan – Solo travel
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Brunch, Dinner, Lunch, Main Course
Servings 2 people
Diet Meat Based

Equipment

  • Skillet

Ingredients
  

  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 1 cup thinly sliced white onions
  • 2 tbsp unsweetened apple sauce
  • 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 4 slices whole wheat bread
  • 1 gala apple de-seeded and thinly sliced
  • 2 slices ham
  • 4 slices white cheddar cheese
  • Salt & Pepper to taste

Instructions
 

  • Melt 1 tbsp of butter in skillet over medium-high heat
  • Add onions and cook until they are soft and caramelized about 20 minutes
  • Add the apple sauce and Italian seasoning. Season with salt and fresh cracked pepper
  • Assemble the grilled cheese. Bread, cheese, apples, ham, caramelized onions, another cheese and topped with the bread
  • Butter both sides and grill on a medium-high skillet until golden brown and the cheese is melted

Nutrition

Calories: 626kcalCarbohydrates: 48gProtein: 27gFat: 37gSaturated Fat: 20gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0.5gCholesterol: 103mgSodium: 1045mgPotassium: 498mgFiber: 7gSugar: 17gVitamin A: 976IUVitamin C: 10mgCalcium: 525mgIron: 2mg
Keyword Easy, easy prep, one pan, Onion, quick, sandwich, Simple
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Lobster Thermidor in a Coconut Sweet Chilli Bisque

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One of my favourite places to park up in the van is down by the coast. When I came across a local seafood shack selling catch of the day I couldn’t help being drawn to the fresh lobster. How decadent would it be to cook lobster in a campervan. I had to do it because I’m a total show off at times.

Lobster Thermidor Campervan Recipe

Lobster Thermidor in a Coconut Sweet Chilli Bisque

Pescatarian
I was parked up by the coast and the local fresh seafood shack was selling fresh lobster. Here is what I made in the van during storm Nicole!
5 from 1 vote
Less washing-up – One-pan – Quick cook – Stove top meal
Prep Time 2 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 32 minutes
Course Dinner
Servings 2 Vanlifers
Diet Pescatarian

Equipment

Ingredients
  

  • 1 Lobster Live if you are brave or if precooked reduce cooking time by 10 minutes
  • 200 g Coconut Milk Full Fat
  • 1 Lemon
  • 2 tbsp Sweet Chilli Sauce The bottled type (Blue Dragon)
  • 1 tsp Cayenne Pepper
  • 1 tbsp Parsley Fresh or Dried
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • 1 cup Water
  • 1 tsp Garlic Granules
  • 1 cup Chedder Cheese
  • 1 tbsp Tomato Paste Puree

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your skillet pan to a medium/high heat. We love to use our Jean Patrique Whatever Pan for this recipe.
  • Cut your lobster in half from the top of the head to tail. Do this quickly and firmly using a large sharp knife. Afterwards cut off the arms and legs.
    … (I'm waiting for the comments to come in below)
  • Place the lobster meat side down and place the other parts of the lobster in the pan around it.
    Cook meat side down for 5 minutes. (3 minutes if using a pre cooked lobster) The meat should start to go golden brown.
    Turn the lobster (and claws etc.) over so it is shell side down.
  • Pour in around the lobster the cup of water, half the tin of coconut milk, the garlic granules, tomato paste, cayenne pepper and sweet chilli sauce.
    Season the lobster and bisque with salt and then squeeze half the lemon over the meat.
    Bring it to the boil and then let simmer for 5 minutes
  • Grate the cheese over the top of the meat and sprinkle parsley over everything in the pan.
  • When the cheese has melted you are ready to serve it up in a bowl with a wedge of lemon.

Notes

Serve it in a large bowl with the lobster sitting on top and the bisque surrounding it. 
Don’t forget to crack open the claws for the delicious meat inside. 

Nutrition

Calories: 542kcalCarbohydrates: 21gProtein: 27gFat: 42gSaturated Fat: 30gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 137mgSodium: 2054mgPotassium: 595mgFiber: 2gSugar: 11gVitamin A: 1287IUVitamin C: 35mgCalcium: 497mgIron: 4mg
Keyword gluten free, intermediate
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

French Toast with Berry Compote

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This recipe of French Toast with berry compote is great for cooking outside or in a van. The perfect fuel for hiking or biking. We serve ours with chicken sausage for extra protein and yumminess! Otherwise it is a great vegetarian meal. You could definitely mix it up and use any type of bread or even waffles for the french toast part!

Berry Compote is pretty easy to make in the van too. Here’s how we make ours, simmer some fresh berries with a bit of sugar on a pot for 15-20 minutes until to your desired consistency.

Alternatively here’s a really simple recipe for a berry compote that can be made on the stove top in minutes, and only needs 3 ingredients!

French toast with berry compote

French Toast topped with Berry Compote with a side of Chicken Breakfast Sausage

MatsonLife
Meat Based
This easy recipe works with many types of bread. We used Trader Joes’ Maple Streusel Bread. This tender, fluffy and indulgent recipe comes together so quickly and you can serve it with a side of breakfast sausage for a sweet and salty flavor. We topped ours with a homemade Berry Compote. Simmer some fresh berries with a bit of sugar on a pot for 15-20 minutes until to your desired consistency. Enjoy!
5 from 2 votes
30 minute meal
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Course Breakfast, Brunch
Servings 2
Diet Meat Based

Equipment

  • Skillet
  • Bowl

Ingredients
  

  • 1/2 Cup almond milk
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 Tbsp sugar
  • 1 Pinch salt
  • 4 slices maple streusel bread
  • 1 Handful fresh blueberries
  • 1 tbsp Maple Syrup
  • 1 tbsp Butter
  • Chicken breakfast sausage optional

Instructions
 

  • Whisk almond milk, eggs, salt and sugar together in a shallow bowl.
  • Lightly butter a skillet and heat over medium-high heat.
  • Dunk the bread in the egg mixture, soaking on both sides.
  • Transfer to the hot skillet and cook until golden brown on both sides. (3-4 mins per side)
  • Place on a dish and top with berry compote, a slice of butter, and a drizzle of maple syrup.
  • Note: serve it with a side of chicken breakfast sausage for a sweet and savory taste!

Notes

This breakfast can easily be vegetarian if not including the chicken sausages

Nutrition

Calories: 321kcalCarbohydrates: 39gProtein: 12gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 179mgSodium: 473mgPotassium: 171mgFiber: 3gSugar: 13gVitamin A: 434IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 174mgIron: 3mg
Keyword blackberries, breakfast, brunch, Easy, french toast, quick cook, sausage, Simple
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Rigatoni alla vodka

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This recipe for Rigatoni all vodka is one of our featured vanlifers favourite meals to eat in their bus Sweet Bea. Read their feature here.

Vodka sauce, at its base, is a tomato and cream sauce laced with a bit of red pepper and a splash of vodka. It is more of an Italian-American dish than proper Italian, though it did originate in the old country.

That origin is somewhat debated, though the story that makes the most sense to me, and one that I have read many times, has to do with simple economics. Back in the 1970s, vodka distillers were attempting to get their product to take hold in Italy. In addition to the typical advertising, they sought out the somewhat unusual path of trying to get chefs to use it in the kitchen. While this advertising route seems strange to me, it may have been what led to pasta alla vodka, which has quickly become one of my personal favorite meals to cook.

But the question stands, particularly if it was all a marketing ploy, does the vodka actually add anything to the sauce? The evidence appears to say yes. At low concentrations, alcohol increases the perception of aroma, so the splash of vodka serves to just bump that flavor meter up a notch. This is part of the reason why wine is often used in cooking. Additionally, the alcohol serves as an emulsifier, helping to keep the mixture of tomato and cream silky smooth.

Anecdotally, I have forgotten to add the vodka when making this dish in the past and not realized until I tasted the final product and found it a touch lackluster. I certainly didn’t think that splash of liquor would make much of a difference, but there you go.

Rigatoni alla vodka

Rigatoni alla vodka

@the.buslife.kitchen
Vegetarian
This delicious pasta dish is a great vegetarian meal. Perfect for cooking in a tiny home and super tasty!
5 from 1 vote
30 minute meal – Stove top meal
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Course Dinner
Servings 4
Diet Vegetarian

Equipment

  • Large pan

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb Rigatoni or penne
  • 1 Shallot large
  • 4 Garlic cloves
  • 4 oz Parmesan grated
  • 3 tbsp Olive oil
  • 4.5 oz double-concentrated tomato paste 1 tube
  • 1/2 tsp Crushed red pepper
  • 1/2 tsp Black pepper
  • 2 oz Vodka
  • 3/4 cup Heavy cream
  • 1 handful basil to garnish

Instructions
 

  • Start water for pasta in a pot and add a liberal quantity of salt. When boiling, toss the rigatoni in. In the meantime, start work on the sauce.
  • Add olive oil to a dutch oven over medium heat. Chop shallots and garlic very finely and add to the pan with oil. Cook until browning at the edges, 5 or 6 minutes. Once the shallots begin to brown, add the tomato paste and red pepper. Cook this until the paste darkens slightly and sticks to the bottom.
  • Deglaze the pan with the vodka. Be sure to scrape the bottom of any dark burned bits. As this is boiling, scoop ¼ cup of the pasta water into a bowl and add ¾ cup heavy cream. The pasta water brings the cream up to temperature so that it will not scald when added to the hot pan.
  • Reduce the heat to low and slowly stir the cream in. Once the cream is in, add half the grated parmesan a bit at a time while stirring, allowing it to melt into the mix. Then add another half cup of pasta water a bit at a time, stirring the whole time. This thins the sauce. If you’d like the sauce a bit thinner, you can keep adding water a bit at a time, but probably no more than another quarter cup.
  • Serve the pasta topped with the remaining parmesan cheese, a few cranks of black pepper, and a bit of chopped fresh basil.

Nutrition

Calories: 590kcalCarbohydrates: 42gProtein: 19gFat: 35gSaturated Fat: 17gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 14gCholesterol: 70mgSodium: 482mgPotassium: 301mgFiber: 3gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 1142IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 389mgIron: 3mg
Keyword Easy, pasta, quick, Simple, stove top, vegetarian
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Featured Vanlifers – The Buslife Kitchen

Meet featured vanlifers Andy & Ayana of The Buslife Kitchen. Cookbook author, jeweller, chef to fellow nomads and living buslife full-time. Andy and Ayana live full time in their bus Sweet Bea with their gorgeous puggle Tori.

More about these featured vanlifers

Vanlife or Buslife was something this pair discussed on their very first date, and they realised they shared this idea of lifestyle and adventure.

We both love travel and adventure, and wanted to live a simpler life with more time to focus on the things we really care about. Living small and nomadic means we can work less and enjoy more

Shortly after meeting the pair bought a bus and the conversion began. The bus was used for helping to transport disabled people. After converting it, they have been living in Sweet Bea for the last 2 years. One of their favourite features of the bus is the roof deck. What an amazing spot to sit and watch the sunset or watch the stars together.

Andy and Ayana sitting on the roof deck of the bus

Ayana is a silversmith who makes jewellery on the road. The pair really enjoy foraging and so it’s natural this love reaches into Ayana’s jewellery making too. She quite often sets flowers and plants they find on foraging trips into resin for jewellery.

As well as foraging Andy enjoys hunting and fishing and enjoys creating recipes with what he catches. Living buslife and meeting fellow nomads on their travels, he began to cook for them. That is how The Buslife Kitchen came about…

Andy and Ayana are enjoying a meal with a table and chairs set up in the middle of nowhere. Their dog Tori is looking on as they eat

The Buslife Kitchen

After cooking for fellow nomads on the road on their buslife adventures, Andy decided to share these delicious recipes with others. As writing is another passion of his, he decided to write a cookbook. Living in the bus gave him the time and opportunity to write his first cookbook, The Buslife Kitchen. The cookbook features 107 recipes from 15 different cuisines, and aims to bring gourmet meals into tiny homes everywhere. The recipes are designed and cooked in the kitchen on the bus and so is perfectly suited to those whose home has 4 wheels. All recipes are designed to be made on a stove top, ideal for those of us who don’t have ovens! You can purchase the cookbook right here The Buslife Kitchen.

Andy photographing a plate of food in the bus for the cookbook.

Adventures of featured vanlifers Andy & Ayana

Their favourite place to be is parked up in the forest. They park up on public lands as much as possible, but have been known to park on friends driveways when needed. Having said that, travel and adventure was what the pair were seeking and what better adventure than joining the circus! During a pretty bad breakdown of the bus Ayana was offered the job of a Nanny with a travelling circus. This pair swapped buslife in the forest for a more urban adventure travelling around different cities and seeing what they have to offer. After a year of this, nature was calling them and they headed back on their buslife adventure.

As much as they love travelling together, they both have their own favourite places they have visited. For Ayana, her favourite place so far has been nestled amongst the pinyon and juniper tress in the Red Rock desert Sedona, Arizona. They spent several weeks there enjoying many of the free camping spots.

Ayana in the bus kitchen with a bottle of water

Andy prefers to be closer to water, so his favourite spot so far has been Telephone Cove in Nevada. Free camping right on the beachfront with crystal clear waters, buslife at it’s best. Their ultimate dream would be driving the bus to Alaska so make sure to follow their socials and keep an eye on their travels (links at the bottom of the page).

There are many ups and downs when living in a bus full-time. As with any vehicle they can break down from time-to-time. 6 months after being on the road they were driving through the desert. When Andy looked in the mirror he noticed motor oil down the side of the bus. They immediately stopped and were lucky enough to be close to a town and were towed to a garage. Being stranded without a vehicle is one thing but when it’s also your home it has extra implications. Luckily, the mechanic worked his wonders and they were back on the road a day later.

The bus is parked up in the middle of the desert with the doors open

As well as lows there are so many highs when living in a bus full-time. The ever changing scene out the window, visiting new places, experiencing a more simple lifestyle to name a few. The community is an amazingly supportive one, and one of the couple’s highlights so far involved fellow nomads. They decided to have a small thanksgiving feast with fellow nomads, with Andy doing the cooking! Which was no mean feat in a bus with no oven. There is little they like more than setting the table for friends and enjoying a good meal together. We can’t agree more and love the way food can bring joy and people together!

Sometimes life reminds you why being a nomad and having the ability to up and leave is a good thing! Andy and Ayana were visiting a warm spring in California when they met some of the locals. A group of older people enjoying the nudist lifestyle. This in itself wasn’t an issue, but their incessant talk of their ‘group’ activities made for uncomfortable listening. Many characters were encountered, including Beach ball Bob and his wife. Beach ball Bob, called this because he resembled, you guessed it, a beach ball. When Bob had a little too much to drink he would recite his escapades from high school. Primarily the time he blew up a trash can at school. While regaling everyone with this story Bob’s wife would disappear into the bushes with the masseuse. He actually turned out to be a trucker, who was on good terms with all the wives in the group! So unfortunately the trip to the hot spring didn’t last too long before Andy & Ayana were on their travels once more

Andy and Ayana dancing on the roof deck of the bus

The kitchen in the Bus

With The Buslife Kitchen cookbook being written, designed and photographed in the bus, you may imagine a large sprawling kitchen. The bus has a 3 burner propane stove, and a large 78l fridge. As you would expect with an enthusiastic chef there is a full spice rack and pantry. Good quality cookware is also a must. A fair chunk of their storage in the kitchen is reserved for their cast iron cookware and kitchen gadgets. Their favourite kitchen gadget is their immersion blender, a great multi purpose gadget. Not only can it be used as a blender, but also as a whisk, food processor, and milk frother.

When designing the layout of the bus, the kitchen was an important aspect. They knew they would want to make many amazing meals in there so it was a very important part of the build. It was essential for them to have a large enough fridge for their ingredients, as well as a good solid worktop. As with many vans not having an oven can mean a different way of cooking. This took a while to adjust to, the first time Andy attempted to roast a bird on the stove he burnt the base for the gravy. Ever the professional though, he pulled it back and made a delicious gravy in the end.

Andy roasting a large bird in a saucepan on the hob

The couple try to eat a varied diet from a range of cuisines, and limit their meat consumption so make a lot of vegetarian meals. One of their favourite meals to make in the bus is sushi, something vanlifers shy away from. Sticking to vegetarian sushi means there is no need to find fresh fish on the road. It is easy enough to make but feels very luxurious!

Advice from our featured vanlifers

When we asked featured vanlifers Ayana & Andy what advice they had for anyone considering vanlife or buslife, this is what they said….

“Do it. You only go around once, and nothing is guaranteed. Don’t spend your time living by anyone else’s rules”

Andy and Ayana with Tori the puggle outside the bus

Where to find our featured vanlifers.

You can find our featured vanlifers on their socials below. If you can’t wait to get your hands on their cookbook then you can find one of their recipes right here. Rigatoni alla vodka, enjoy!

Instagram: www.instagram.com/the.buslife.kitchen

Instagram: www.instagram.com/letsliveeverywhere

Facebook: www.facebook.com/the.buslife.kitchen

TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@the.buslife.kitchen

Website: www.thebuslifekitchen.com