cooking in the truck

That is good to hear. I am trying to keep an open mind, as I don't have an idea yet on the space and weight available in a truck. I'm sure you are right about saving money, but that isn't my motivator. I have developed an aversion to restaurant food. Probably from watching too much Kitchen Nightmares. lol

People should do what they want, but for me personally, the thought of eating those buffets really turns my stomach. I enjoy picking a new dish, and then cooking it relentlessly, until it is perfected (in my mind only of course). I suppose it's kind of a hobby, one that I'd like to continue in a small way, when I begin driving.

 

Most of those buffets are too high in sodium and fat. Of course people also over indulge too. Couple that with the lack of exercise most drivers have and it's a recipe for diabetes/stroke or coronary disease. Too me it all kinda tastes the same too. Sysco crap.

 

Had to laugh at this sentence! Sounds like me, getting relentless with a dish. My wife does like to remind me that the perfection is definitely in my mind.

 

I'm thinking of the weekend I decided to "perfect" grilling pizza on the BBQ on a granite slab. I made 15 pizzas that day until I could humbly declare perfection. (no wife around to say otherwise - lol)

 

what about recipes , anything easy and specific which can be cooked in lunch box oven

 

I cook chicken, pork chop, steak all the time. I put a boneless skinless chicken breast in the aluminum loaf pan, a few tbls of water in there, pepper and soy sauce to taste, cover with foil, seal the edges, plug in for an hour and 15 minutes, unplug and let rest a half hour. Very tasty, and you can do lots with cooked chicken. I eat it with veggies, or make chicken salad out of it. I mix the chicken, minute rice, mixed veggies and pineapple and call it a hula bowl.

 

Stacks...

I mostly bake in mine. I especially like to bake potatoes because I prefer a nice crisp skin on the spud.

How do you feel about a nice meatloaf? For meatloaf this is what I do:

First prep your cooker. It's important that you use the foil inserts. Buy them at Wal-Mart or Family Dollar as they are 3 for $1. At truck stops they are a buck a piece. Since you are baking, you don't want the insert to come into direct contact with the cooker bottom as that will burn the bottom of your meatloaf. What I do it roll up a few strips of foil and place them under the insert so you have about a quarter to half inch of space under the insert.

To make the meatloaf you'll need:

1/2 Packet of Onion Soup Mix
1 lb of ground beef
1 small onion (chopped)
3 pieces of bread (cut into small cubes)
2 eggs
1 tlb. each of ketchup and yellow mustard
Pinch or two of salt and pepper to your liking.

In a bowl (or the insert) mix all the ingredients thoroughly and spread evenly in the pan and cover with foil crimping the edges around the insert pan. Bake for 90 minutes, then lightly top with a couple of squeezes of ketchup and bake for 30 more minutes. Drain the grease, then serve.

And remember, with any dish you cook it's all up to your tastes. If you like it a bit spicy, add hot sauce and hot peppers. If you like a garlic flavor add some of that. I like to also add green pepper to mine...it's really up to you.

I also will stuff a couple of green peppers sometimes with this mixture too...and while I can make a nice marinara, for the sake of time I usually just buy a can of pre-made and put a layer in the bottom of the insert and put the peppers in and bake exactly like the meatloaf but instead of adding ketchup after 90 minutes I top with some shredded mozzarella cheese. I also try to squeeze a potato in there with the peppers.

Let me know what you think, I have others I can share like chicken or stews.

-Chef Brian

 

Nice to see input from a former chef. Guys out there think it's too much work or it's too complicated. Cooking is easy, you just need to know the basics and don't forget the seasoning. A good chef will always taste his food as he goes along. It helps to have a good source of heat though. As many have found out, those cheap cookers at the TS are not great. You either need a good power inverter or an APU. It helps that you have a good fridge too. ThermoCoolers are way too limited in cooling stuff down. It's even better that you have a good sized freezer so you can enjoy the really good foods. It doesn't take long....unless you do the slow cooker deal. Either way, there's no reason why you can't eat very well, as good as any decent restaurant and it's going to be cheaper too. There's no need to eat canned food at all. I very rarely eat canned. Just be motivated to get the setup right and enjoy !!

 

... and throw away the measuring cups and spoons. Pinch of this, dash of that, about this much oil and voila!

 

I completely agree with you. I actually only chose that video to show an area of the truck you could cook on without a table....I am not a trucker yet and don't know the names for bits and pieces around the truck. I would highly recommend you do random video's....especially if It's more original stuff like cooking DECENT food in the truck. Get yourself a good fan base and before you know it it will be a nice side earner. I know a guy who gets an extra $400 average a month from YouTube. Not much, but considering he doesn't have that many subscribers or that many clicks, he's doing alright!