Hot RV Recipes...the crock-pot & a tiny oven!

   We eat together a lot. Our life style is very much like a co-housing development. The one big difference is our location...we live in an RV Resort for 6-7 month of the year. Our little park model, circa 1987, has been the scene for many parties and small dinners for friends. Cooking in a very small space like a motor home or a park model requires some careful thought.   But even my small gas stove oven will accomodate a baking dish quite large. There is no excuse for not baking a cake.
   I have found that a crock pot can be moved outdoors when the temperatures go up. I use the one shown at the side.The lid clips on and the crock can be removed for easy cleaning. I love this kitchen gadget!

   Each season we find that a few recipes reappear over and over. This year has been no different. I am including the recipe for a crockpot pork loin that is just delicious. The chocolate cake dessert is the perfect potluck dish. No oil, milk or butter if you omit the frosting. I give this recipe out to people every time I bring it to share.
   I am a fan of Cooks and use their recipes most of the time. Both of these came from their website.

PINEAPPLE - CRANBERRY PORK LOIN (***** Potluck Dessert)
1 (4 lb.) pork loin roast
Salt & pepper
1 (1 lb.) can crushed pineapple
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1 can cranberry sauce
1/4 tsp. cloves

Season roast with salt and pepper, and place in slow cooker. Mix remaining ingredients and pour over pork. Cover and cook for 8 to 10 hours on low. To serve, slice and spoon sauce over each portion.

CHOCOLATE CHERRY CAKE WITH CHOCOLATE
CHIP FROSTING (*****Feeds a Crowd)
1 pkg. chocolate cake mix
1 (21 oz.) cherry pie filling
1 tsp. almond extract
2 eggs

FROSTING:
1 c. sugar
1/3 c. milk
5 tbsp. butter
1 c. chocolate chips

   Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Using solid shortening or butter, grease and flour 9 x 13 x 2 inch baking pan. In large bowl, mix dry cake mix and remaining ingredients by hand, stirring until well mixed. Pour into prepared pan and bake 25-30 minutes. Cool cake.
   (I omit this frosting step.) Frosting: In small saucepan, combine sugar, butter and milk. Boil, stirring constantly, for 1 minute. Remove from heat, stir in chocolate chips until smooth. Pour over cake and let cool. Frosting will thicken as it cools.

Note:

I cook this in a large flat baking pan. It will be done a little quicker but it feeds a large crowd that way.
I put the chocolate chips in the cake.
I do not make the frosting but buy a can of pre-made dark chocolate frosting and sprinkle it with toasted almonds. The almonds finish the dessert so nicely.

Have a wonderful day.

Five Little Ducks...stories played out!

The children's song about the little ducks leaving the nest to fly away has always been one of my favorites. Every mother has seen their babies fly away and rejoiced. Life comes full circle. Animals live that same cycle. Babies grow up. Birds leave the nest. Life goes on. So when the three ducks show up every year near my patio I am not surprised. But I am puzzled that it always seems to be the same three. Something just doesn't seem right. It appears the one did not fly away at all. Five little ducks Went out to play Over the hills and far away. The mommy duck went "quack, quack quack," Four little ducks came swimming back... And then Three Two and One. A drake, a female duck (a hen) and a not quite a drake but still not a hen gather here on the 5th green of the golf course. She leads and the other two follow along obediently. They eat, sleep, and guard each other. Each and every day this time of year they come. I have not named them. Jinxing them would be very pos...

How to be a 12 Month Snow Bird

Vacation Rental in Mexico I live around snowbirds 6 months of the year. I have heard those people say that they all want to live the "snowbird" lifestyle when they go home. But it just is not possible. They are isolated and cold. Social activities with friends and beautiful weather are greatly missed when they return to the realities of their "real" life. One couple I visited with lately returned to Florida this morning where they own a home. The woman is a nurse and works in the summer. They are not going home until May this year. It is too cold in Michigan in the spring so they are hoping to extend their good weather season by simply staying away. Besides that they love their Florida lifestyle a lot. Last week I visited with a woman that lives the snowbird lifestyle year around. No going home to the Midwest in the spring. They essentially vacation 12 month out of the year. And I thought their solution for avoiding unpleasant weather and keeping their lifestyle in...

If You Build It, They Will Come...Maybe!

It all began with a antique window in front of a local shop. It had been painted yellow, the glass was loose and all of the hinges and latches were gone. My old friend Betty would have approved...she would tell me it was just broken enough and damaged enough for me to drag it home. When my dear husband saw it, he wondered what he was meant to do with it. Imagine his surprise when he was presented with the plan to build a small neighborhood library exchange. It wasn't the first time he had heard me ask "How hard could it be?" Now it is six weeks later and we mounted the darling little library exchange on two posts in our front yard. I love it. Now the question is, will they come or has the time passed when people actually read something made of paper? Our association president stopped by and admired the box but left after telling me that he only read books on his Kindle. We will see. Would you bring a book and take a book? b+

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