The Gourmet Camp Kitchen

camping dinner table photos via pinterest

Whether you are cooking on an open fire, a portable grill or you have a full kitchen in your rig/tent/camper/rv, preparing a meal while camping doesn’t have to be any less gourmet than meals you would cook at home. 

There are loads of cooking options available that allow you to have the same luxuries in your Camp Kitchen as you have in your home Kitchen.  There are so many portable appliances, grills, ovens, cooktops and even multi-purpose appliances available that allow you to cook in your camp kitchen just like you do at home.

camp kitchen photos via pinterest

I have to admit the whole glamping phenomenon has taken gourmet camping to a whole new level.  Gone are the days of the same ole burnt hotdogs, cereal out of a box and soggy sandwiches. 

glamping photos via pinterest

Glamping or as I like to call it Gourmet Comfort Camping allows you to fully enjoy the outdoors and have all the comforts of home. 

No matter what type of camper you are, the common goal is to be in nature and enjoy the outdoors, it is time to relax and get away from the hustle and bustle of our daily lives.  It is perfect time to try out a new recipe or cook up your favorite meal.  So why not let your camp kitchen be gourmet central during your time in the outdoors?

photos via carmen christensen

Whether your rig comes with a kitchen or you have a portable kitchen, cooking outdoors while camping is all about planning, preparing and improvising when necessary.

phots via www.campchef.com

There are many types of portable camp kitchens to keep you organized and store all your kitchen essentials.  Everyone has a different way of cooking at home it only makes sense that everyone would have their own way of cooking while camping. 

photos via

(upper left) The Outdoorsmen from www.mycampkitchen.com

(lower left) Deluxe Campers Kitchen from www.cabelas.com

(right) The Field Kitchen from www.kanzoutdoors.com

So plan ahead, whether you are going for overnight, a long weekend or a week, plan your meals ahead.  The more you plan the more time you will have to enjoy other camp activities. 

photos via carmen christensen

By planning ahead you won’t have to worry about figuring it out once you get to your destination and you won’t be stressed searching for a grocery store.  And since you will know what you will be cooking, you will know what to bring with you to cook on or in.  Also it helps to not lug things along that you won’t be using.

Once you have made plan set, done your shopping the next most important thing is food storage.  Whether you have a refrigerator or you are camping with coolers get yourself organized.  I find it helps to repackage food, ziploc bags are a great and take some extras with you for left overs.  

   

photos via pinterest

Make the most of your space.  If you have a camper where you cook inside you will probably store your pantry items indoors.  But if that is not an option using some type of bins with lids is a great alternative and makes transporting your supplies easier.  (Don’t forget if you are in bear country be sure to take appropriate steps for storing food.)

camping food storage photo via pinterest

What about what you eat on?  Paper plates? Plastic silverware?  Bring along real plates and silverware and if you want to get fancy add in a table cloth, maybe a vase to put wildflowers in and stow away a few candles for your evening meals.  Why not make the most of your camping experience and treat yourself?  The sky is the limit.

 

camping table photos via pinterest

The most important thing in your gourmet camp kitchen is to be yourself, cook how you cook and enjoy your outdoor adventures! 

photo via carmen christensen "My Campsite"

Whether your kitchen is inside or out

we can help make your dream kitchen

a reality stop by our website to learn more

www.time2design.biz 

Time2Design, Inc.

941-378-9964

Before and After - Kitchen

Recently completed Kitchen Remodel by Time2Design - Before & After Kitchen

As you can see from the before pictures the footprint of this kitchen remained basically the same.  Sometimes the simple things can make the biggest impact.  
 
The dated cabinetry, countertops and flooring were the main reasons the homeowner wanted to remodel their kitchen.  In addition the soffits with the built-in lighting, the pantry with the louver bi-fold door and the desk that went on forever both dated the space but also contributed to its disfunction.  

So we removed the soffits, increased the height of the upper cabinet for additional storage space and by taking the crown molding right to the ceiling it gives the whole kitchen a greater sense of height.  For as much space as the old pantry took up it had shallow depth wire shelving inside making for a lot of unused space.  So when we took out the soffits, the walls that made up the pantry came down as well.  In its place we put in a tall pantry cabinet to utilize the entire area with interior roll-out drawers allowing the homeowner to see everything in their pantry and it has increased the amount of storage space by more than double. Notice the deep cabinet over the refrigerator?  This is the home to new vertical tray dividers and it gives the refrigerator a bit of a built-in look.    
  

The oversized kitchen desk was just taking up way more space than the homeowner wanted or needed, not to mention if you notice in the first before picture above there was an additional desk originally to the right of the range.  The homeowners really wanted to have a nice place to sit in the kitchen to read the paper or eat a meal and didn't need multiple desks.  So by minimizing the desk size it gives plenty of room for a table and a desk that is much more effecient with file drawers and just the right amount of space for their use.

New granite countertops a fresh coat of paint, lots of drawers and top it off with the beautiful solid hickory wood floors ~ icing on the cake!   What do you think?

Walker Zanger Tile for Today's Home ~ BlogTourVegas

While attending Design & Construction week and as part of the BlogTourVegas Team, I got a first hand look at some new products and finishes at the Las Vegas Walker Zanger Showroom.

For more than 60 years, Walker Zanger has been combining traditional tile-making techniques with a modern sophistication that exceeds a singular design style.  A leading choice for design professionals and homeowners, Walker Zanger natural stone and tile products can be found in celebrity homes, trendy boutiques, lavish spas and resorts, and museums around the globe including: Bellagio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Viceroy Anguilla Resort, The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, H. Stern Flagship Store in Shanghai, and The Beverly Hills Hotel and Bungalows.

Regarded as an industry leader in stone and tile design, Walker Zanger has been featured in Architectural Digest, Veranda, HGTV Magazine, House Beautiful, Elle Décor, Luxe, Interior Design, This Old House, Dwell, Sunset, Traditional Home,  San Francisco Chronicle, HGTV and DIY Network.  

During our BlogTourVegas visit to the Walker Zanger Las Vegas Showroom we were given a challenge to participate in a little scavenger hunt.  This was a great way to get familiar with the showroom and also a fantastic way to engage and get to see the amazing patterns they have to offer.  By spending time learning about each pattern and taking the time to identify each of them on our scavenger list, I can say it allowed me to have a greater understanding of the level of sophistication and style Walker Zanger has to offer.   There is a something for every design style and they go to the next level when it comes to creating patterns, textures and collections that meld into everyday living. 

During our scavenger hunt,  when we found each collection we were to take a photo and then upload it to Pinterest with a description.  So I decided to take it to the next level and get a little selfie at the same time, a sort of memory moment of my time at the Walker Zanger Las Vegas Showroom.  

Here are a few of my pics...

Walker Zanger ~ "Ostia" Pattern

Walker Zanger ~ Duqeusa "Fez" Pattern

Walker Zanger ~ Tangent "Astral Night" Pattern

Be sure to check out the rest of them on my Pinterest page

~~Time2Design BlogTourVegas #KBIS2014 Pinterest Board ~~

Disclosure:  This is a "Sponsored Post" the company/companies who sponsored it compensated me via a cash payment, gift, or something else of value to write it.  Regardless, all opinions written here are my own and I only promote or recommend products or services I believe in.

What's for Dinner? Spinach Pesto Grilled cheese w/ Tomato Chickpea Salad

Meal 1 - Spinach Pesto Grilled Cheese w/ Tomato Chickpea Salad

This is the first meal I decided to make from my the first order I placed with Plated - Chef designed recipes and fresh ingredients delivered to your door.  And I am going to share my experience with you.  If you haven't already read the who the what and the What's For Dinner be sure to check it out by clicking this link --> What's For Dinner ? Plated to the Rescue ?

So lets get right to it.  

This is the Chef designed recipe card that arrived with my order

 And here is a look at the ingredients and how they are packaged and labeled.  Each meal comes in its own individual bag and each item is clearly labeled.

Out of the bag everything was super fresh and I was ready to get to cooking...

It was just a matter of a bit of prep work....I had to get four halves of tomatoes in the oven to roast with fresh thyme and a bit of olive oil.  Once that was going I prepped the remaining ingredients. 

Then I mixed the chickpea salad, prepared the pesto and about that time the roasted tomatoes were coming out of the oven.  And then it was time to assemble the sandwich and start the grilling process.  

The bread was buttered and the cheese, tomatoes and pesto were layered between and it was time to grill them up.

A quick few minutes on each side it was time to enjoy a delicious gourmet grilled cheese sandwich and the chickpea salad was the perfect accompaniment!

This made for a really great afternoon meal.  The salad was fresh, the cheese combined with the spinach presto and the thyme seasoned roasted tomatoes took it beyond just a grilled cheese.  

My first Plated Meal this recipe was a success!  I am looking forward to Meal 2 - Chicken Tikka Masala!  

If you are interested and want to try it for yourself click the Plated logo or Whats for Dinner to learn more...  

Whats for Dinner - Plated! 

Disclosure:  This is a "Sponsored Post" the company/companies who sponsored it compensated me via a cash payment, gift, or something else of value to write it.  Regardless, all opinions written here are my own and I only promote or recommend products or services I believe in.

What's for Dinner ? Plated to the rescue ??

What's for Dinner?  Do you ever ask yourself, what should I make for dinner tonight?  Or are having friends over for dinner and want to prepare a gourmet meal and you don't have time to plan what to make?  Do you like to cook and enjoy making a gourmet meals with fresh ingredients?
  

Well Plated is a company that provides exactly that.  A entree Menu with multiple selections each week shipped directly to your home with the recipe and all the ingredients that are needed to prepare the meal.  You may have seen them recently on an episode of Shark Tank where Mark Cuban gave Plated the investment they want in addition to advisory shares.  

I enjoy cooking, planning a meal, preparing it and then sharing it with family and friends.  Though I have to say I do sort of get in a rut from time to time.  I find myself cooking the same meal or a variation of it over and over again.  Creature of habit?  Or is it just lack of time to really sit down and explore alternatives? 

Well for me, I have a busy schedule during the week and the last thing I want to think about is what am I going to make for dinner and the dreaded trip to the grocery store where I walk thru trying to figure out some semblance of meals for the week.

So I decided to try out Plated, chef designed recipes and fresh ingredients delivered right to my door.  And so I jumped right in, I placed my first order last week and it arrived via FedEx directly to my door this past Saturday.

I am looking to make my life easier and find a way in my busy like to explore cooking alternatives.  It is one thing to have a recipe it is another to have the recipe and all the ingredients arrive at my home and all I have to do is enjoy preparing it and serving it. 

So the box arrived Saturday afternoon, I opened it to find the four recipe cards for the meals I had ordered and two separate insulated bags.  Inside the bags were still slightly frozen ice bag/blocks along with separate bags containing the individual ingredients for each meal.  Everything looked really fresh and to my surprise still cold from the ice blocks.

Here is what it looked like as I UN-boxed everything...

 

Let the cooking begin!  

First up Spinach Pesto Grilled Cheese

w/ Tomato chickpea Salad

If you are interested and want to try it for yourself click the Plated logo or Whats for Dinner to learn more...

 Whats for Dinner - Plated!

Disclosure:  This is a "Sponsored Post" the company/companies who sponsored it compensated me via a cash payment, gift, or something else of value to write it.  Regardless, all opinions written here are my own and I only promote or recommend products or services I believe in.