I don’t often cook in my minivan camper, but when I do, the slow cooker crockpot is a great way to do it.
You can make stews and sauces, cook potatoes, make a quiche, and many other things. Best of all, a slow cooker uses under 300W of power, so you don’t need a giant inverter. There are a million recipes on the internet, but today I’m making bread!
This bread recipe is cheap, easy, delicious, and makes your van smell GREAT! Best of all, it can be made while you are “on the way” to someplace so it’s ready when you arrive.
Slow cookers (generic CrockPots) are awesome for minivan camping! They use little power and if you use the liners, they don’t require water for clean up. I often eat dried soups and oatmeal when I’m on the move, but every few days I like a hot meal. A can of tomato paste, some spices, and a package of chicken makes for a delicious meal that cooks while you are driving.
Bread is the “staff of life” and it’s the thing I make most often in my slow cooker. This recipe is quick and simple and although I like to give it a couple of squeezes before it goes in the pot, you don’t HAVE to knead it. If you don’t have a slow cooker, I gave you some links at the bottom for what I use to make this bread.
No Need to Knead, Bread Recipe:
3 Cups of Flour (sorry if you’ve got a gluten allergy)
2 tsp salt
3/4 tsp active dry yeast
1 1/2 cups tepid water
Mix the dry ingredients well (you can premix the dry to bring it on the road) then work the water into the middle of the mix a little at a time. It helps to have some food-service gloves for the last part, kneading by hand for 2 minutes. Chuck it in the pot and cook for 2 hours on high. You don’t need to let it rise, but if you have some extra time, let it rise for an hour before turning on the slow cooker and it will make a fluffier loaf.
My generic CrockPot is 1.5 quarts and this recipe is the exact right size. If you use a larger crock, check your bread after the first hour and then every 20 min after. It’s done when the center reaches 195 degrees, which is also about the time it stops being doughy on top. You can mix in a 1/4 cup of apples, or other fruit but use a little less water. It’s also a good base bread for Italian seasoning, or cinnamon…the van will smell better than it ever has before!
If you don’t have a Crock-Pot or slow cooker (the generic name), I made a “kit” with everything you need for this recipe. Buy the flour and water at the supermarket, but the price on the cooker and the inverter is as cheap as you will find it, on Amazon. There is also a 12V slow cooker if you plan to run this off of solar while boondocking (12V skips the extra draw from the inverter).
–Darren at OdysseyCamper
