Picnic Food Ideas During Your RV Trip

One of the most fun parts of any RV trip is enjoying a picnic outside in nature, especially if you do it in a place you’ve never visited before. Picnics are great because they are so universal and can be catered to your specific likes and dislikes. You can make a picnic a romantic occasion, or it can be something that you can do with your children. 

Traveling in a Bowlus allows you even more freedom and flexibility with the foods that you are able to bring, which is part of what makes it the ultimate in land travel.

Charcuterie

Although it may seem to be a newer trend, there really isn’t anything more classic than taking a charcuterie plate out on a picnic. Charcuterie is just a fancy term for a type of cooking and preservation method that is used specifically on meats, but the idea of charcuterie boards has expanded to include cheeses, breads, fruits, nuts, and olives. 

Generally speaking, though, charcuterie boards are very meat-focused. There are four main types of charcuterie:

• Rillettes – Rillettes is similar to pate, but with a slightly more coarse texture. It can be served either cold or at room temperature and is usually spread on either crackers or artisan bread. Common rillettes are made out of goose, rabbit, or duck.
• Mousse – Mousse is an even more finely blended meat pate that is often described as being creamy. It is also most often eaten on crackers and is best when served cold. Chicken liver mousse is by far the most common.
• Salami – Salami is dried meat that has been encased in sausage casings after being mixed with various spices. It can be eaten by itself or with bread or crackers. Types of salami include genoa salami, soppressata, and chorizo.
• Prosciutto – Prosciutto is fattier than salami, and it takes longer to make. It is most often made from pork and is eaten plain, with fruit, or on bread or crackers.

To put together your own charcuterie plate, simply pick any of the above that sound good to you! You can then find cheeses and fruits that will be complimentary (prosciutto and melon is a good combination, as is chorizo and sweeter fruits). You can make these as complex or simple as you want. Don’t forget to add nuts, pickles, and fresh veggies in addition to the crackers and bread. 

Instead of counting on a cooler filled with ice to keep your meats and cheese cold during your trip, you can travel worry-free when you travel in a Bowlus. With a kitchen designed with a refrigerator and freezer that has a high efficiency (12-volt) compressor, you’ll be able to bring all the ingredients that you need to make your perfect charcuterie plate while keeping them at the right temperature. 

Pasta Salad

Is there anything more classic to take on a picnic than a pasta salad?

Much like charcuterie plates, pasta salads are a great picnic option because they are so easily customized. For instance, while traditional pasta salad usually uses rotini pasta, it can also easily be made with macaroni, ziti, or even angel hair pasta.

The cooked pasta is mixed with either a vinegar, oil, or mayonnaise-based dressing, depending on personal taste. Vegetables and other add-ins, like cheeses and meats, are also added. A few of the more common pasta salad combinations are rotini pasta with olive oil mixed with herbs or macaroni noodles mixed with a mayonnaise-based dressing. 

Instead of cooking your pasta at home ahead of your trip, traveling in a Bowlus gives you the flexibility to be able to cook your pasta right before you head out on your picnic. With two gas burners and an Italian cooktop, you can very easily make your pasta salad from scratch whenever you are ready.

Sandwiches

Another picnic classic is the sandwich. Sandwiches can be as upscale or simple as you like, and everyone can make and bring their own instead of having to agree on a single type. For families with picky eaters, bringing sandwiches on a picnic is a great way to make sure that everyone is happy and no one is stuck eating something that they don’t want. 

From the simple peanut butter and jelly sandwich to something more complicated like a muffuletta, sandwiches are the perfect picnic food because they require zero silverware to eat. You can enjoy your picnic without worry about doing the dishes afterward or leaving anything behind. 

There are also biodegradable and compostable sandwich bags that you can buy so that you don’t have to be concerned about your environmental impact. They go perfect with the zero-emissions road trip that you’re taking in your luxury travel trailer. You want to see the world, not destroy it.

If you want to get a little fancier with your sandwich, consider grilling it. A grilled ham and cheese sandwich, or even making some barbeque for your sandwich is a great way to make each one more exciting than the last. Every Bowlus is made to be outdoor kitchen ready, with outlets that can accommodate both electric and propane. That means you can easily bring along your propane barbeque and cook outdoors without having to worry about firewood. 

Fresh Fruit and Vegetables

While it may not be exciting, fresh fruits and vegetables make the perfect picnic side dish. Not only are they healthy, but they also don’t require any clean up at all. They also provide you with all of the healthy nutrition you need to have a long, successful hike without feeling bloated and heavy afterward. 

Carrots, apples, bananas, and grapes are some of the more classic fruits and vegetables to bring with you, but feel free to grab anything you like! Slices of watermelon, celery with peanut butter, and red and green peppers are also great options.

Just make sure to rinse off your fruits and veggies in your Bowlus stainless steel sink before heading out on your picnic. You want to make sure they are as clean as possible, especially if you plan on eating the skin. You can even make a fruit salad ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator in your luxury travel trailer.

Rice Krispy Treats

Who doesn’t love a good Rice Krispy treat? These ooey-gooey portable desserts are loved by both children and adults alike and are often a source of significant nostalgia for people. While the original recipe calls for puffed rice cereal, butter, and marshmallows, there are endless ways that to customize them. 

One of our favorite twists on the classic Rice Krispy treat is trading out the puffed rice cereal for another cereal, like Golden Grahams or Fruity Pebbles. You can substitute nearly any cereal and use the same recipe for the butter and marshmallows. Or, if you want to keep the puffed rice cereal, you can add other ingredients. Try crushed up oreo cookies or peanut butter cups, which also add an interesting consistency.

As you know, making Rice Krispy treats can get messy. Instead of worrying about dirty dishes at your campsite, you can take advantage of the full kitchen in your Bowlus. Just set the saucepan in the stainless steel sink, soak with water, and you’ll be able to clean it easily when you get back from your hike. Who knew it would be so easy to make Rice Krispy treats in the middle of the woods?

In Conclusion…

Taking a picnic on your hike is one of the most classic ways to enjoy the great outdoors. Whether you get creative with a charcuterie board, put together a few sandwiches, or make your own pasta salad, your Bowlus is the best kitchen on wheels. 

When you don’t have to worry about keeping your food cold or buying pre-made pasta salad, you can plan the perfect picnic without having to limit your creativity. When you get back to your luxury travel trailer, you can put your leftovers back in your high-efficiency refrigerator and enjoy them again the next day! And if you haven’t experienced Bowlus camping, what are you waiting for?

 

Sources:

https://www.bhg.com/recipes/party/appetizers/charcuterie-plate/ 

https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/34367/muffuletta-sandwich/ 

20 Rice Krispie Treats Recipes – Easy Dessert Recipes (countryliving.com)