Little Luxuries

Submitted: Saturday, Mar 12, 2005 at 13:35
ThreadID: 21165 Views:2316 Replies:5 FollowUps:4
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We are not getting away this weekend so my Mrs. and I are going through our gear and are updating some of the cheaper stuff.

We do have most things we NEED but there is always something to learn from others.

Any ideas welcome along the lines of cutlery/cooking gear etc

Thanks iMusty
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Reply By: Mike Harding - Saturday, Mar 12, 2005 at 14:48

Saturday, Mar 12, 2005 at 14:48
It wasn't your Coaster at Tyrepower about 3 or 4 weeks ago was it - on a Saturday?

Cutlery wise - I went to the $2 shop and bought six sets of metal knife/fork/desert spoon/tea spoon for (you guessed it) 2$ each set. I wouldn't want them at home but they are great for camping. Likewise with plates and bowls etc. - $2 shop reject Melamine - got a whole set (and spares) including BIG oval plates which sit nicely on your lap in front of the fire. Generally $1 or $2 per item. I also take a largeish metal sieve which doubles as a strainer or steamer. I had to give up on glass wine glasses after breaking loads during 4WDing and now have a couple of polycarbonate "wine glasses" which are pretty good. Pan wise: 1 small, 1 medium saucepan, 1 big Safeways non stick frying pan, 1 Bedourie camp oven. I also take a couple of simple plastic beakers in case all other drinking vessels break (haven't had to use them yet, thank God!). The one thing I refuse to compromise on is my ceramic mug (can't manage china - but the heavy clay type are OK) . Tea and coffee in the morning would not be right from plastic or metal.

An excellent plastic measuring jug is available from Big W, shaped like an inverted cone it can hold up to 500ml but because of it's conical shape can also accurately measure 50ml. Also from Big W a $10 whistling kettle is a must. I usually take a pack of paper plates too for things like lunches on the move - no washing up.

A couple of wire egg cups, an El Cheapo potato peeler, a whisk, a few corn-on-the-cob forks and, most important of all!, a corkscrew :)

All of the above lives in it’s own boxes and is used purely for camping and is always complete and ready to be loaded into the vehicle at a moments notice – none of this taking stuff from the kitchen and either leaving the house short or forgetting something.

Not quite cooking gear but related: I made a lamp support from a 4ft length of thin timber, a cup hook and a cheap (wood working type) clamp – drill shaft of clamp and bolt timber to it. Screw hook into top of timber. Clamp unit to kitchen table and hang light from hook.

Mike Harding
AnswerID: 102171

Follow Up By: Member - Roachie (SA) - Saturday, Mar 12, 2005 at 16:36

Saturday, Mar 12, 2005 at 16:36
Geez Mike, you've thought of everything....lol

With those polycarbonate wine glasses, we found our 1st set get all scratched and looked crappy after a while rolling around in the drawer of the camper. Next set I bought, I used a pair of socks and stick one wine glass in each sock...beaudiful and no more scratches....Next time I might even use CLEAN socks, as the smell from ones that I used (I'd been wearing them for 3 weeks straight and I thought it seemed such a shame to wash them if i wasn't going to be wearing them again) seems to have permiated the plastic..Hahahahaha

We get a fair amount of use from our Cobb cooker and our Dreampot too.

We've always used that Corelle crockery stuff, but have managed to break the occasional piece when on really bad corrogations or when I've hit a large bump/pothole etc. I've just about got SWMBO convinced that the next set-up we get should be the melamine plates/cups etc.

Cheers,

Roachie
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Follow Up By: Member - iMusty(VIC) - Saturday, Mar 12, 2005 at 16:59

Saturday, Mar 12, 2005 at 16:59
Thanks Mike

No not my Coaster at tyre power. You'd know mine.

It's kindof crappy looking. Half zebra stripes and half drunken paint from yesteryear. Very, very ordinary

The roof has been heightened by a bloke who did half the job and did a runner with my tools which I recovered from Cash Converters, leaving me to complete the job.bleepty to say the least, at being ripped off and my workmanship. (workmanship) is the WRONG word.

We have a lot of kitchen gear but today Invested is a potato masher, spaghetti server, Roast baster, 2 Staysharp knives and toothpicks.

Like you all the gear is seperape from our kitchen thus removing the chance of forgetting something.

We have set up our "Utensil" box which includes all eating gear. Plates, forks, knives etc in a way that all goods can drip dry and be stored easily. ie plates stand on their sides, cups upside down, cutlery standing up and so forth. The box also is easily thrown in the car for day picnics or the like.

Might go on a short drive on Monday??

See Ya iMusty

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FollowupID: 359968

Reply By: V8Diesel - Saturday, Mar 12, 2005 at 21:02

Saturday, Mar 12, 2005 at 21:02
The old faithful Jaffle Iron, aka Wonder Woman's Bra! Baked beans in ham sauce and Tom Piper sweet curry jaffles.....mmmmmmmm.....

The corn cob end thingies as mentioned are the go too.

Dono
AnswerID: 102194

Follow Up By: Shaker - Sunday, Mar 13, 2005 at 13:48

Sunday, Mar 13, 2005 at 13:48
Try blackberries, teaspoon of sugar then serve with cold rice cream ....... mmmmm!
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FollowupID: 360014

Reply By: Gajm (VIC) - Saturday, Mar 12, 2005 at 22:50

Saturday, Mar 12, 2005 at 22:50
I have a set of long welding gloves in the car...been great for around the fire.
AnswerID: 102205

Reply By: awill4x4 - Sunday, Mar 13, 2005 at 13:06

Sunday, Mar 13, 2005 at 13:06
We've changed all our plates and dishes to melamine as the plastic ones look pretty ordinary after a while.
One useful tip given by another camper was to buy a large pencil case with a zip for keeping all the cutlery together. If you have lots of other useful utensils apart from knives, forks and spoons, buy two and seperate into eating utensils and "other utensils"
Regards Andrew.
AnswerID: 102222

Reply By: Member - Frank - Sunday, Mar 13, 2005 at 21:29

Sunday, Mar 13, 2005 at 21:29
Now I know why no one askes rochie to shout socks (clean!!!)

Its easy to see you lot are all married number one item a high quality can opener

frank
AnswerID: 102281

Follow Up By: Willem - Monday, Mar 14, 2005 at 07:41

Monday, Mar 14, 2005 at 07:41
Frank you are right about the can opener. Couple of trips ago I couldn't get the camping can opener to work and resorted to using me old Bowie knife. Have now up dated the house one with a newbie and the old house one is in the camping box. Being non smokers we sometimes forget to pack matches. Bit of a bugger rubbing sticks together or using the jumper leads for a spark. :o)
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