My Essentials for a Camper Van Trip

We got given a copy of The Camper Van Cookbook for our first wedding anniversary (paper, you see) and there's a big section on getting sorted for your trip, with a list of essentials for the storecupboard (aka cupboards built into the hefty back doors).


Here's the list from the book:

• Tea bags, jar of coffee and UHT Milk (ick! Who wants to ever drink UHT! Far better to pick up a fresh pint from a garage on the way)
• Bottle of wine (agreed, and add Gin and Tonic too)
• Sunflower and olive oil
• Tomato puree
• Olives
• Jar of pesto
• Porridge oats (we take bacon, and eggs from our chooks)
• Biscuits
• Jar of peanut butter and jam (our jam's homemade, natch, and we always take some chutney)
• Nuts and dried fruit (we substitute haribos)
• Dried mushrooms (so rarely used at home, let alone whilst camping, so no)
• Pasta, couscous and rice
• Tins of chopped tomatoes, chick peas, beans, sweetcorn, tuna and coconut milk (yes to all except the last one, plus we take some tinned tomato soup)
• Fresh basics - onion, lemons, limes, garlic, ginger and parmesan (or if you're us, just wang in whatever's ripe in the garden)

There's a load of condiments listed too, but I tend to just take a spice box (paprika, cumin, coriander, chilli powder and mixed herbs) plus the essential BROWN sauce for fry ups and bacon sarnies. I also chuck in a loaf of bread and usually a cake. 

For our upcoming trip to Ireland I've whipped up the exceedingly easy and delicious (I know cos I made 2 and ate one already) golden syrup cake from The Pink Whisk. I loved Great British Bake Off and Ruth was my fave baker on the show, everything with a wacky twist and all in a blink of the eye - brilliant.  Here's a wee glimpse of some of the goodies coming with us this time around:

We won't go hungry, that's for sure!