I can’t help myself, I’m a list person. Over the years I’ve found that it takes the stress out of planning a holiday if you have a ready list of things to pack. Then it’s as easy as printing it from the computer and crossing items off as they are put in the van, camper trailer or car. The lists have expanded to include different holiday types or locations over the years but they are all filed away on the computer for when they are needed.
In the camper trailer days there were roller crates to wheel in and out of storage from the trailer. There was the gas gear crate, the pantry crate for all the food, another for tarps, ropes and pegs etc… Some things were always packed and ready to go but I had a list of what to pack in the pantry crate to print off and check. There were staples like long life milk, flour, tinned food such as tomatoes and all types of beans (great for adding to one pot campfire casseroles) and assorted pasta. I’d put in stock powders, dried herbs and spices, instant gravies and tinned fish. Then last but not least I would pack in the “Holiday Cookbook”. Basically this was a folder of plastic sleeves I made, which was filled with a variety of quick and easy meals for when you’re camping and have limited cooking equipment and ingredients. In the early days it was anything that could be cooked either on a BBQ or in a pot or pan on a small gas cooker. Everything from breakfasts through to happy hour snacks and evening meals and even desserts were taken care of in one handy book.
The cookbook as well as the packing list have been added to and changed over the years especially now that I have the luxury of a caravan with an oven. The range of food I can plan to cook now has expanded but not the simplicity, after all there are much better things to be doing than being stuck in a kitchen on holidays. To make it into the book it has to be quick, easy, and a crowd pleaser.
I was inspired by a friend to turn my rough “Holiday Cookbook” into a printed book because not only does it contain really quick and easy recipes for on the go, but for every recipe I included a photo, not necessarily of the food, but of the family and scenery of where we’ve been over the years when these recipes were needed. So it serves a dual purpose of being a practical recipe book and a keepsake of holidays past, much handier than just a photo book. When I had it made I got 2 copies so that both my children can have one eventually. It’s easy to compile your own favourite recipes and photos and have them made into a combined travelling recipes and photo book that you’ll treasure forever.
The best thing about having a packing list saved on the computer is that you can modify it for specific holidays. You can alter and add to the list depending on the location you’ll be going to and whether there will be power available or not. For instance what you want to pack for a fishing and coastal holiday will differ greatly to an outback and bushwalking trip. To get you started here is a basic packing list you can modify to suit your needs, feel free to download it and you are on your way to a stress free start to any holiday!
Caravan Correspondent 