The Per Diem Cookbook

[andy]

The Per Diem Cookbook

Hotel Room Cooking

(Under construction)

Made ya look!

[flourbug]

caught me!

[Potemkin]

Have you ever warmed up cold pizza using the iron and ironing board in a hotel room?

[flourbug]

No, but I used to raise dough on top of my humongous desktop monitor.

Do I get any points for that?

[andy]

I am actually quasi serious. I have read cookbooks about Snowbirds that used to cook on their engines while driving South to Florida.

I think that cooking in your hotel room makes a little bit of sense from the standpoint that you have to be on the road, you have a fridge and microwave.... and you can pocket the money you save?! Hard times call for creative solutions!

[andy]

I fully expect to be on the road 3-4 days a week for the next 6 months. This will give me something to read up on

[Ought Six]

a:

"I am actually quasi serious. I have read cookbooks about Snowbirds that used to cook on their engines while driving South to Florida."

Hot Pockets wrapped in foil on the exhaust manifold. It works, if you have a nice nook you can tuck them into where they will stay put.

Somebody here was talking on another thread about warming up soup in the carafe of a small coffee maker in a college dorm. A lot of hotels provide small drip coffeemakers is the rooms.

[D. Gale]

Originally Posted by Potemkin

Have you ever warmed up cold pizza using the iron and ironing board in a hotel room?

Dude! That's how you make grilled cheese sandwiches!

[Potemkin]

Originally Posted by andy

I am actually quasi serious. I have read cookbooks about Snowbirds that used to cook on their engines while driving South to Florida.

I think that cooking in your hotel room makes a little bit of sense from the standpoint that you have to be on the road, you have a fridge and microwave.... and you can pocket the money you save?! Hard times call for creative solutions!

I have heated up cans of food on the exhaust manifold of an air compressor on a job site.

I am thinking of cooking hotdogs or sausage on the exhaust or heads of my motorcycle the next time I ride to a rally.

If I wanted to cook in a hotel room and traveled by car I would probably get one of those small, cheap microwave ovens they sell at the beginning of the college year.

I would probably epoxy a handle on the side for carry.

If I travelled there by plane, and was going to stay there for a week or longer I would buy the cheapest one I could find and just leave it.

[blue gecko]

I cooked some fairly elaborate meals in my dorm room in college using an electric skillet, a hot plate and one of those resistance single cup-o-water heater thingies (its an electrical coil you put in a cup of liquid)

Here's a wiki how to for car cuisine:

http://www.wikihow.com/Cook-Food-on-Your-Car's-Engine

[andy]

I read most of a microwave cookbook last night. It was big on a food processor. I would change that to one of those "bullit" processors. A little tiny toaster oven and perhaps a hot plate would be essential. That would give the aspiring road chef a:

---Hot Plate for just about everything,
---Microwave for everything else,
---Micro-oven for fancy stuff,
---Fridge for food safety and to keep beer cold

I know the hot plate is small and portable, and I am fairly certain that the little oven is very small and portable. I will have to plan on having my big mega-cooler (which I can refresh with hotel ice) and a regular cardboard box for regular stuff.

I need a "micro-spice" system. I need a utensil system, and I can work on potential recipes with a mind towards uber simplicity.

I once read a recipe for a beef roast with all the veges tripple wrapped in foil and place on the manifold. It was just like a crockpot recipe. No real difference.

I have to go to Albany, Georgia on Sunday - I might try a peice of beef on that trip (along with hot dogs for the little one (turning 17).

[andy]

The problem with just cooking in the microwave is that it is very boring.

[blue gecko]

look into one of these:

Amazon
reviews:

http://www.epinions.com/reviews/DeLo...otisserie_Oven

We have one and use it daily. MUCH nicer and more versatile than a microwave

[Potemkin]

Originally Posted by andy

The problem with just cooking in the microwave is that it is very boring.

I don't think it has to be, it just because the way we are used to using a microwave.

We got our fist taste of microwave by warming things up. We tend to make simple foods in it so it gets boring.

You can make some/most of the foods out there. Some require modifications and some are a little different.

The main problem cooking elaborate meals with a microwave is the utensil, bowl and messes are the same for regular cooking.

Amana has a free microwave recipe site: http://www.amana.com/content.jsp?pag...owave_Cookbook

EASY BARBECUE CHICKEN
There is no need to bake and wait for barbecue chicken. Dinner is ready and
can be served in about 30 minutes.
1 (4 lb.) broiler chicken, cut into 8 pieces
1-1/2 cups hickory-smoke-fl avored barbecue sauce, divided

1. Lightly spray 10-inch round microwave-safe casserole with no-stick cooking
spray. Arrange chicken pieces bone-side down in casserole with thickest
portions toward the outside of the casserole. Brush 1 cup barbecue sauce
evenly over chicken pieces.

2. Microwave, covered, on power Level 7, 25-30 minutes, turning over chicken
pieces once after 15 minutes. Chicken is done when meat thermometer
reads 170ºF when inserted in thickest portion of thigh. Let stand
8-10 minutes before serving.

3. Before serving, place remaining barbecue sauce in small microwave-safe
bowl. Microwave on HIGH, 45-60 seconds or until heated. Brush over
chicken pieces before serving.
Makes 4 servings.

ITALIAN STYLE MEAT LOAF
Everyone loves the fl avor combinations found in this meat loaf, so much so,
they will be asking for seconds.
1-1/2 lbs. lean ground beef
1 can (15 oz.) pizza sauce, divided
1-1/2 cups (6 oz.) shredded Italian blend cheese
1/2 cup dried bread crumbs
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon oregano
1/2 teaspoon basil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

1. Lightly spray 10-inch square microwave-safe casserole with no-stick
cooking spray. In large bowl, combine beef, 1/2 cup pizza sauce, cheese,
bread crumbs, egg, seasonings, salt and pepper; mix well. Shape meat
mixture to form a 9- x 5-inch loaf. Place loaf in casserole. Cover casserole
with lid, leaving corners open to vent steam.

2. Microwave on power Level 5, 18-22 minutes or until meat thermometer
reads 160ºF when inserted in center of loaf. Remove from microwave; let
stand 5 minutes before slicing.

3. Place remaining pizza sauce in small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on
HIGH, 15-20 seconds or until heated through. Top each serving, as desired,
with pizza sauce.
Makes 6 servings.

Bunch of microwave cookbooks.
http://www.google.com/#hl=en&source=...cdf8cbbf06dc4f

[flourbug]

Get yourself one of these:



Amazon


Take off the lid and toss in:
16 oz container of sour cream
2 eggs
1 chocolate cake mix

Stir it up with a spoon. You don't have to beat it for 2 minutes, just take a spoon and stir until its all mixed together - right there in the container.

Then stir in goodies in by the handful. My favorites are:
Maraschino cherries, drained
dark chocolate chips
milk chocolate chips
nuts

This is a VERY flexible recipe. Use any cake mix. Choose any add ins (just nothing too wet). Pineapple chunks and cherries and coconut with a yellow cake, or mandarin oranges and pistachios in an orange cake, or butterscotch chips, coconut and pecans in a german chocolate cake, or chop up a couple candy bars - the combinations are endless. If you dust them with a little dry cake mix before adding in they won't sink to the bottom, but we don't care if they do we just dig down with our spoon.

Okay, you have it all mixed up in the container now put the lid on and...

Nuke for 14 minutes.

I let it sit for a few minutes when it comes out but you can eat this hot or cold. Awesome with ice cream. Scoop out what you want with a spoon then slap the lid on and save the rest for later.

[andy]

WOW!

[andy]

Today is the first road day of the season. I am at the office to get my camera so that I can upload pictures of my hotel cooking. I think I will start with stuffed tomatos. I wanted to work on these for a party I plan to throw for my Daughter.