cooking in the truck

im gettiing ready to go out permanently with my husband. we have talked alot about doig a cookbook for drivers. this time im gonna do it. this will be one of the things thats gonna keep me busy while im out there. we have also decided to get a digital camera so we can take pictures of what we are doing.
cooking on the truck has gotten to be such a big thing now. a few years ago chef emeral did a segment for it on his show.
i have a thing for figuring out just how much a meal can save us. i get a big thrill when i can spend what amounts to $20 for a meal but it turns out to be about $2.50 per serving cause we have leftovers and eat on that.
eating healthy is very good, but we can all use the exercise too. we dont park in the front of the lot; this is so we have to walk. i usually get up before my husband, so i do a few laps around wherever we are parked. i made this routine the ;ast time i was out with him for a month. it gave me a smile to see all the faces at a rest area watching the crazy lady doing laps!

 

BEWARE of Coleman Electrified Coolers! You will buy/replace 3-4 times a year. I've had an Igloo powered cooler now for 9 months and only unplug it once a week to let the cooling vanes defrost. Igloo is regularly around a hundred bucks or so. roughly 20 dollars more than coleman, but you won't have to hassle with it nearly as much so it's a better buy. A road pro lunchbox stove also makes a mean meatloaf and a great roast/potatoes/stuffing/veggies. I have two of them so I can cook fresh veggies with the rest of the meal. Startup is alittle expensive, but once you're there, you're set.

 

EXCELLENT Idea!! I bet you'll actually make alittle money from it!

 

gonna go one more from the recipe book. i have a small sewing machine im putting on the truck. gonna be creative while im out there. i figure if we are stopped for a couple of days, i can make a little extra money by doing simple mending. it provides a service and i dont get bored.

 

Speaking of the roadpro lunchbox stove, where do you get the foil liners? Other than the truckstop. Those foil liners cost about as much as the meal does!

 

at walmart. they usually run about $1 for 3 pans. sometin=me you can find them at dollar tree. i watch the store and stock up for my hubby when they are on sale

 

go to WalMart.... I get a pack of either 4 or 6 for .99 and a pack of 3 is 4.99 at the t/s.

 

Mini loaf pans from WalMart I also heard you can use oven bags - but have to reposition them so the food doesn't burn... haven't tried them yet myself - just the tins.

 

have a freind who hauls travel trailers. she uses the cookong bags and says they are great.

 

I dont do sewing or mending but I do have a little sideline gig I do when I am at the truck stops for a layover or something. I carry knife sharpening gear in the truck with me and tune up drivers knives for them while I am down.
A couple minutes on the CB when I get parked letting drivers know I am doing it and I can usually make an extra $100 - $150 over the course of a reset.
I also collect and trade quality knives for a little profit here and there.

Now that I think about it truck driving has taken my sideline income nationwide!