Super-fast, yummy stir-fry for quick RV meal

There are so many times, especially after a long day of sightseeing, when we come back to the camp and no one feels like cooking. It’s tempting to go out for something that’s cheap and bad for us, and more often than not, that’s what we do.

I try to have a few things on hand, though, that will keep us from doing that too much. All it takes is a couple of chicken breasts in the freezer and some freshies – maybe a little bit of broccoli and a red pepper, or some celery and carrots – on top of steamed rice (even instant is better for you than a Big Mac) and we’re good to go.



Healthy and delicious!



Here’s our family’s favorite fast stir-fry.

Super-fast Stir-fry

The sky’s the limit with vegetables in this – we’ve used carrots, celery, all manner of bell peppers, broccoli, asparagus, mushrooms (shiitake, button, portobello), bok choy, onions and baby corn, all to good effect. We make a steamer full of brown rice, but it's faster with instant if that's what you have on hand. Serves 3-4

3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch-thick strips

2 tbls. toasted sesame oil, plus 4 more tbls.

4 cloves garlic, minced

2-in. piece fresh ginger, minced, or 1 tbls. ground ginger

6 cups vegetables, cut into bite-size chunks

2 tbls. rice vinegar, brown rice vinegar or white wine vinegar

2 tbls. black sesame seeds
Soy sauce to taste

Heat a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat until hot; add 2 tbls. sesame oil and then immediately add chicken strips. Sauté, stirring, until meat is just cooked through, about 4 minutes. Remove from pan, set chicken aside in a bowl, and turn burner off.

Add garlic and ginger to pan. Let sit for a minute, then turn heat to medium. Add remaining sesame oil and sauté for 10 seconds. Add vegetables. Sauté, stirring vegetables constantly, until they begin to soften. Pour vinegar over and stir to coat.

Cut reserved chicken into bite-size pieces and toss in with vegetable mixture. Cook until heated through, about one minute. Sprinkle sesame seeds over top and divide among serving bowls with white or brown rice. Serve with soy sauce on side.

The roadtripster is the handle of a longtime Coloradan who travels the country by any means possible, sometimes in an RV, sometimes car camping or in the backcountry, with kids and without.

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Some top spots along the Blue Ridge Parkway

The Blue Ridge Parkway, which runs for 469 miles from Virginia in the north to North Carolina in the south (and a tiny bit over the border into Tennessee), is one of the most scenic drives in the United States. It's famous for not being particularly RV-friendly in parts -- many big-rig drivers tote along another vehicle and park the RV at a centrally located campground to go explore chunks of the drive. The route is well marked by milepost (the spots below are so marked), and a good place to start your trip planning is at the official site.

The views along the Blue Ridge Parkway are hard to beat.

However, with the exception of the tunnels around Asheville, N.C., most of the road can be done in a motorhome; you just want to get a good map of the highway and pay attention to the warnings about tight sections and watch for the turnoffs that are marked as larger, as well as keeping an eye out for tunnel heights all along.

Highlights include Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina and Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. Here are some other options for activities:

Mill Mountain Zoo (MP 120.3) is a nice break near Roanoke, Va., with more than 160 animals, including small exhibits of big cats, primates and wolves. There's a wildflower garden and a small train (extra charge), and the views are spectacular.

Mabry Mill (MP 176.2, 276-952-2947) near Rocky Knob, Va., is a cool grist mill with living-history re-enactments that does different demonstrations depending on the time of year. Soap-making, apple butter, wood-carving and cloth-making are among them. There's a nice restaurant nearby of the same name that serves food made from local produce.

The Mile High Swinging Bridge is not for those with height issues.

Grandfather Mountain (MP 305) has a Mile High Swinging Bridge that makes kids squeal and a lot of adults close their eyes and, well, usually swear. Once you're across, though, you'll say it was great fun. Promise. Don't forget the camera, because there's also a "zoo" of sorts where you feel as though you're in the cage, and the animals get to roam free. It's pretty cool.

Altapass Orchard (MP 328.3) near Linville Falls, N.C., is best at apple-picking time, of course, but year-round offers the products made from the apples (cider, juice, jams, etc.) as well as fudge and also has a Monarch butterfly pavilion for kids.

Sliding Rock (by MP 407.6) near Pisgah, N.C., is a kids' paradise, a natural water slide that ends in a small pool. It costs a buck to do it, and good luck tearing the kids away on a hot day.

Graveyard Fields (MP 418.8), also in the Mount Pisgah area, is a great place to get out and stretch the legs; several waterfalls, including Yellowstone and Upper Falls, are worth striving for, although the latter requires a 3.2 mile jaunt.

The roadtripster is the handle of a longtime Coloradan who travels the country by any means possible, sometimes in an RV, sometimes car camping or in the backcountry, with kids or without.

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Saving money on a road trip (even with kids)

We’re in the thick of family vacation time, and money isn’t getting any easier to come by. The most expensive components of a road trip continue to be gas, lodging and food, but with RV travel and camping, the lodging part is usually significantly reduced compared to those traveling with hotel destinations in mind. Here are a few tips for lowering the bill for some of the other things you’ll come up against.

Plan ahead. This always sounds great, but it’s the hardest thing to do, especially with a day job and multiple people to coordinate. It’s the one thing, though, that will make the biggest difference. At the very least, try to come up with an idea of the most important places you want to visit – museums, theme or water parks, historical sites – and things you want to do, such as hiking or horseback riding. Then sketch out an itinerary and a budget. Having something written down helps you stick to a spending plan, simply because it keeps you on track. It also helps to have a good pack list with everything you’ll need along the way, because then you won’t have to buy forgotten things along the way.

Plan meals ahead. Knowing what you’ll be cooking on the road and buying as much of the non-perishable food as you can in advance will keep you from spending too much on the more-expensive fare at campground stores and convenience stores en route.

Pick an RV park/campground with activities. You may pay a few extra bucks to stay, but the savings will be exponentially worth it in the long run if everyone finds something to do during down time on-site. A swimming pool, evening movie, game room, nice playground and other distractions go a long way toward keeping everyone from looking for ways to needlessly spend money shopping or buying junk food when they’re bored. Also bring along games that everyone will enjoy.

Look for online passes. Many cities have discounted coupon books (such as CityPass) that offer substantial savings – just be sure you’ll actually visit enough of the places to make buying the whole book worthwhile – and the attractions themselves usually offer discounts if you purchase your tickets ahead and print them out. Set up a system of folders that can keep track of what days you’ll be where and file the tickets accordingly, which will help keep you organized. Also be sure to take advantage of military, AAA and senior discounts, and look for discounted meal vouchers at the amusement parks, as well.  

Plan meals around attractions. If you can hold off going to an amusement park or other expensive activity where you’re held captive until just after lunch, you’ll save quite a bit, especially if it’s one that doesn’t allow you to bring in food. That way, you’ll only have to buy dinner and maybe a snack. Take advantage of the attractions that do let you bring food in, even if it’s just to haul around snacks that will keep you from overeating pricey, unhealthy food. Don’t forget water, which is also expensive when bottled. Refill at water fountains.

Take advantage of parks’ meal offerings. When you check in, be sure to note if your campground is offering a free weekly pancake breakfast or weeknight BBQ, and plan that into your itinerary.

Gas up at the cheap spots. If you have access to the Web, Gaspricewatch finds the cheapest gas prices for you, which can sometimes be a big saver, especially if you’re in an RV. Of course, driving 20 miles out of your way doesn’t make sense, but if you’re in an area where there are multiple options, it can be a help. Also, RV tire pressure and filling up on weekdays (allegedly cheaper than weekends) seem to be constant issues.

The roadtripster is the handle of a longtime Coloradan who travels the country by any means possible, sometimes in an RV, sometimes car camping or in the backcountry, with kids and without.

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