This campervan recipe of chorizo & mozzarella gnocchi cooked in the RidgeMonkey is ideal for vanlife. A quick one pan meal with 10 ingredients, perfect for a mid week treat in the van. If you want to keep it veggie – for meat free Monday perhaps, add some smoked paprika for some smokiness and do away with the chorizo.
Amanda & Paul cook this on their vanlife adventures and we can see why it’s a favourite. Follow their adventures on Instagram here.
For now though make do with making this Ridgemonkey Chorizo and mozzarella goncchi yourself. You could even cook the gnocchi in the pan first to crisp it up before adding the tomatoes & cheese. Delicious!
Don’t forget to rate this campervan recipe and leave a review if you try it!
Chorizo & Mozzarella Gnocchi
amandaanddarcy
Vegetarian
This campervan recipe is super quick, and doesn't need an oven. We don't even use a pan, we cook it in our ridgemonkey!
5 from 2 votes
10 Ingredients or less – 30 minute meal – One-pan – Stove top meal
Have you ever thought about trading the school run for a full time vanlife adventure? That is exactly what featured vanlifers Mum Delanie & son Qunicy decided to do in their van Penny Pilotè. What an fabulous substitution full of amazing experiences & memories to share together!
Worth every penny…
So what made Delanie decide to venture into the world of full-time vanlife with son Quincy?
Having previously been enjoying vanlife part-time, a property falling through gave Mum Delanie a life changing opportunity. A chance to visit many amazing countries with Quincy and see what the world has to offer. She decided to look for her first ever motorohome. When looking for a motorhome Delanie knew she wanted something vintage, unusual & boxy in shape and luckily she found Penny, a Pilote City Van CV60. It must have been fate, it was definitely love at first sight. Less than a week later they were headed to somewhere Quincy was desperate to visit – Scotland.
“One day I just woke up & realised that there is more to life than existing in one corner of the world & I wanted to see more & explore more”
Delanie admits full-time vanlife took some adjustment. Getting used to the motorhome water, electrics etc. She quickly realised it isn’t all perfect instagram opportunities. Speaking of which, if you want to follow their adventures you can check them out here. Very soon their travels led them overseas to Europe.
While in Portugal they stayed in a campsite high up in the mountains. The next day they were driving down the narrow winding roads to their next location. Being fairly new to motorhoming and being on the narrow roads they were taking it quite slowly. The car behind was flashing their lights and beeping their horn, but Delanie didn’t feel comfortable going any faster. It was only when there was an oncoming car on the same side of the road that Delanie realised why the car behind had been flashing. She was driving on the wrong side of the road! Even after this hair raising experience, it was still their favourite country to visit. They loved the warmth of the people, culture and rich history. Also the tolerance to the vanlife community. Quincy shares his Mum’s sentiments and his favourite part of their journey so far has been the portugese mountains. He also has lovely memories of a beautiful, happy and colourful market in Barcelona. One of his favourite things to do is in the motorhome itself and is having dancing competitions with his Mummy in the van.
The penny shaped bathroom is Delanie’s favourite feature of the motorhome. Which is just as well as she couldn’t live without the toilet in the van. She detests using public toilets, saying they give her the ick. At least having her very own throne to sit upon in Penny when nature calls means the visits to public loos are infrequent.
Vanlife meals
If you have kids, you are most likely familiar with the call of ‘I’m huuuuuunnnnnnggggrrrry’. This is no different when living full-time in the van. Quite often the pair will eat meals that are quick to make, with pasta being a firm favourite. Easy to prepare and you can throw anything you like in to mix it up. Being a foodie means Delanie will eat most things, and enjoys trying vegan, vegetarian and meat based meals in the van. However, this self professed foodie did manage to burn a pizza in the van once – happens to us all! Plus when starting out in vanlife and getting used to cooking in a van can result in some interesting meals.
Delanie is not one for fancy gadgets in the motorhome kitchen. Her must-have kitchen gadget is a can opener. Perfect for when making her featured recipe Vegan Sweetcorn Fritters.
They have a small kitchen set-up, ideal for the mum and son duo. They are kitted out with a good size fridge & freezer, an oven/grill & a 3 burner hob. The only downside is Delanie feels there isn’t a decent amount of worktop space. However, as with any resourceful vanlifer, Delanie has a solution. She uses a chopping board over the sink to get some more space while cooking. There is also a decent sized table if more space is required.
Mum and son travels
As with any big decision, it is diffcult to know whether you have done the right thing and many a sleepless night was had. The main dilemma was whether taking Quincy out of mainstream school for a life of home schooling on the road in a motorhome was the right thing to do. On reflection now, Delanie said that aside from becoming a Mum, it was the best thing she ever did. The experiences they have had has given them an unbelievable bond, and wonderful memories to cherish. One of Delanie’s highlights so far was a breathtaking drive through the French Pyranees. That was a real pinch me moment!
“I did this! – It was freaking awesome”
It’s not all smooth sailing! On their first voyage heading to Scotland there was a bit of a bump in the road – or on the head. The over cab bed hadn’t been tied up properly, resulting in it falling and landing on Delanie’s head while driving. Luckily it was a country road and not a motorway meaning they could pull over and tie it up. On a very early vanlife experience there was also a time Delanie drove away not realising they were still attached to the electric hook-up.
Sometimes the adventures are a lot closer to home & Delanie has enjoyed girlie nights in the motorhome with her friends – perfect! Delanie & Quincy managed to join us at the Vanlife Eats Big Picnic in 2022 and it was great to meet them and Penny in person!
Advice for fellow vanlifers
Vanlife has made me feel alive and refreshed. Being close to nature makes you realise what’s important in life. Having done this journey alone with my son has made me feel empowered and proud of myself. Just be prepared – vanlife isn’t always as glamorous as it looks on Insta!
Do you travel full time with kids, or are you thinking about it check out previous featured vanlife family The Howls, who also travel full time with their children.If you are based in the UK and thinking of travelling with children and want to home school, here is some advice from GOV.UK.
If based in the US you can find some useful information here.
Some great resources listed here for those of you in Canada.
Australian vanlifers can get more information about home schooling children here.
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.
These sweetcorn fritters are a firm favourite of featured vanlifers Delanie & Quincy @mumandsontravels. If you would like to read their feature it is right here! The recipe is from her friends book which can be found here, and she was happy for Delanie to share it with our community.
They are ideal as a starter or snack, and being as they don’t require too many ingredients they are suitable for vanlife cooking. Although not in this recipe Delanie likes to mix it up and add some chilli for a bit of a spicy kick.
Vegan Sweetcorn Fritters
@mumandsontravels
Vegan
Jamaican saltfish (salted cod) Fritters are something my mum would cook for the family when I was growing up! These vegan versions are just as tasty!
5 from 1 vote
10 Ingredients or less – Family friendly – One-pan
In a medium bowl, combine the chickpeas, plain flour, yeast flakes, wet seasoning, salt & pepper.
Add 2 tbsp water and use a fork or masher to combine the ingredients until they are well blended.
Add the sweetcorn & mix well
Divide the mixture into 6 equal parts & form thin patties.
In a large pan heat the oil until it's shimmering.Then add the sweetcorn fritters & cook until browned and fully cooked through. About 2-4 minutes each side
Place on a plate lined with a paper towel to absorb any excess oil.
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!
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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!
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!
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.
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 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.
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 ⅓ 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!
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!
Course Baking, Brunch, Dinner, Lunch, Other, Side Dish
Servings 6people
Diet Vegetarian
Equipment
Oven
Mixing bowls
Measuring spoons
Measuring cups or scales
Whisk
Cast iron skillet/baking dish
Ingredients
1cupcorn flour 155grmaize meal
1cupplain flour 155gr
1 ½teaspoonbaking powder
½teaspoonbaking soda
½teaspoonsalt
1 ⅓cupsbuttermilk 340ml
3tablespoonsof melted butter
2large 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.
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 & 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
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 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
1Lobster Live if you are brave or if precooked reduce cooking time by 10 minutes
200gCoconut MilkFull Fat
1Lemon
2tbspSweet Chilli SauceThe bottled type (Blue Dragon)
1tspCayenne Pepper
1tbspParsleyFresh or Dried
1tspSalt
1cupWater
1tspGarlic Granules
1cupChedder Cheese
1tbspTomato PastePuree
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.
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site you are consenting to these cookies.OkPrivacy policy
