Serve up a spooky “Monster Buffet” for squeamish Halloween party pleasure

Are you having a Halloween party and looking for something a bit out of the ordinary to entertain your guests of all ages? How about hosting a “monster buffet”…sure to satisfy monsters of all shapes and sizes. This buffet isn’t to dine on, though. Instead, it’s creepy, crawly, touchy, feely scrumptious party fun. Your guests will walk down the “buffet” line, getting a good feel of “eyeballs”, “guts”, “a shrunken head”, “snot”, and more…your imagination is the limit.

Here’s how it works:

Prepare a station of six or seven ghoulish experiences along a rectangular table or countertop. Visit the dollar store and purchase plastic pumpkin candy totes – like children use for trick or treat – one for each station. Each pumpkin will contain one “buffet” item. Consider:

Black olives = eyeballs
Cooked spaghetti coated generously with oil = guts
Small, hairy coconut = shrunken head
Cornstarch slime = snot (here's how to make snot - use green food coloring)
Baby carrots (leave out and allow to dry a bit) = fingers
Ripe mango = heart
Corn meal = ground bones
Ears = dried apricots
Large pickle end = nose
Popcorn kernels = teeth
Wet yarn = hair

Cover the top of each container so guests cannot see inside. Label each station with what’s inside (guts, eyeballs, snot, etc.). Have a few “crypt keepers” behind the table to help guests and discourage peeking.

Invite guests to walk the line, reaching into each pumpkin container and getting a good feel of the contents. Be sure to provide plenty of napkins or paper towels (and perhaps even a bucket of clean water) for guests to use to clean up at the end of the “buffet” line.

Tip: Avoid using any type of meat product or other item that may be unsanitary.

Enjoy this good clean fun…guaranteed to gross out even the most wicked monsters among us! Delish!!

Let me know how it goes...what you used...party goer reactions...right here on the RV Cooking Show blog...

Evanne
www.RVCookingShow.com

RV Green?

Today, October 15th, is Blog Action Day – this year focusing on climate change. Pondering the topic got me wondering, how green are we RVers? It’s something I’ve rolled around in my head for a while.

As I lumbered down the highway the other day in my F-350 a Prius zipped past me and for a moment I felt a bit sheepish about my “less than green” machine. Then I began thinking…just the sheer fact that I live in my (less than 300 square foot) RV makes me pretty environmentally friendly.

Like many full-time RVers I enjoy spending “seasons” - anywhere from two to six months – in one location. I choose temperate places where the only climate control required is an open window. Showers are short, I’ve gotten into the habit of turning off the water when brushing my teeth, and RV toilets are designed to be water-use savvy. If there’s a water leak somewhere in our lines I know it and it’s repaired on the double.

Once settled in I drive less – reducing the use of fuel, needing fewer oil and fluid changes, and lessening the tire wear both on the truck and trailer. I generally use one tank of fuel per month when I’m at a seasonal location.

Living in a small space means living with less stuff. Book exchanges are welcome sights. And after all, RVing is about experiences not things. Frankly, I’d rather spend my money on parks and picnics than tschokes and trinkets. The practical nature of our being models the three R’s – reduce, reuse, recycle.

Many other full-time RVers write me saying they find they are eating and living healthier – biking, hiking, swimming, strolling the farmers market and buying local. We grill a lot –fast, fresh, and fabulous meals.

When it comes to cleaning an RV we have to be careful. Harsh chemicals can harm our plumbing systems, and destroy our sinks and counter tops. Vinegar, baking soda, and lemon are an RV housekeepers’ friend.

I’ve yet to meet a full-time RVer that told me the reason they hit the road was to be more eco-friendly…it just happens to turn out that way. And if that has any effect on global climate change then so be it – everyone wins!

What are your views on being green and being an RVer? Leave a comment below...we want to know...

Evanne
RV Cooking Show

Time for many to winterize their RV - tips and video

At the pool the other day I was chatting with a fellow from Michigan that told me his son was lamenting winterizing the RV. Sadly, that time has come. Here's an article by a friend of mine from the Dow Chemical Company on how to winterize your RV - Evanne

How to Winterize Potable Water Systems for RVs and Seasonal Equipment
Guest contributor Nicole Gorsuch

Taking a few steps now could save you big bucks next spring on your RV, boat, pool, vacation home or any other seasonal equipment or dwellings—especially when it comes to water system maintenance and avoiding burst or damaged pipes.

Here’s how to prepare your potable water system for freezing temperatures safely, effectively and with the lowest environmental impact:

Thoroughly flush and drain pipes and fixtures: Water freezes at 32 degrees Fahrenheit, so leave as little in your system as possible.

Use a water heater bypass: Many RV water heaters come equipped with a bypass valve system. If yours does not have one, you may want to install bypass valves to protect only the parts of the system vulnerable to freeze damage. By using a bypass loop with valves at each end, you isolate the water lines from the heater tank. This allows winterization fluid to be pumped into the system without first filling the tank with fluid.

Use specially formulated propylene glycol winterization fluid: Choosing the right winterization fluid product is important to ensure the safety of people or pets that might come in contact with and swallow spilled or stored liquid. The right type of winterization fluid also can prevent harmful pollution of ground and surface water in the event of a spill. A high quality propylene glycol winterization fluid can provide freeze and burst protection as low as -50° F, and is generally safe for people and the environment.

DOWFROST™ RVR, available at Wal-Mart, AutoZone, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Advanced Auto Parts, Pep Boys and other retailers, is specially formulated for use in RVs and other seasonal equipment, and is readily biodegradable to help protect the environment. It is safe for incidental contact by people or animals and is practically non-toxic to aquatic life. It also has the added benefit of reducing our dependence on petroleum-based chemicals, because it supplements the propylene glycol with renewable plant based ingredients.

Don’t use automotive antifreeze for water system winterization: Most auto antifreeze is made from ethylene glycol, which is more toxic than propylene glycol and can be more harmful to the environment. And don’t use windshield washer fluid either, as it can freeze solid at subzero temperatures.

Flush your system thoroughly in the spring: When winter is over, drain and then flush all of the winterization fluid from your water system, using plenty of clean water. Capture the winterization fluid and any contaminated water used to flush the system and dispose of the waste liquid properly.

Consult the instruction manual: To avoid any unnecessary surprises, be aware of and follow any specific instructions provided by the equipment manufacturer.

For more information, visit http://www.dowfrostrvr.com/

Well, RV Cooking Show blog readers, I hope this was helpful. You might also want to check out this in-depth video - Evanne

PS - This blog is for informational purposes only - the RV Cooking Show assumes no responsibilty for success or failure. If you have questions or are unsure about winterizing your RV contact a professional.