Rancho Los Coches RV Park

San Diego's best kept secret

Grilling a Great Steak: Here’s How

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grilled steakIf you’re like most people with a grill, sooner or later you’ll try your hand at grilling a steak. Steak can be notoriously difficult to grill, and usually turns out either overdone or underdone. To grill a great steak, you’ll need these pointers.

Use Rib-eyes or Strips

If you’re starting out with cheap steaks or tough cuts of meat, no amount of grilling is going to save them. Stick with tender cuts such as rib-eyes or strip steaks, preferably with some marbling. Marbling shows fat, which can be a source of flavor.

Don’t Pierce the Steak

Like many people, you probably try to turn your steaks with a fork of some kind,which punctures the steak every time you turn it.. In fact, you might have learned somewhere that puncturing the steak can help it cook on the inside. This couldn’t be further from the truth.

If you pierce the steak and its juices begin to flow into the bed of the grill, that’s all your juiciness running out. It’s possible that you’re going to end up with an overcooked piece of meat. Instead, use grill tongs. Remember to avoid pressing the meat too hard, as that too forces all the juice from the meat.

Don’t Grill Cold Steak

A lot of people leave the steak in the refrigerator before grilling it. This can be a mistake, as it could result in uneven cooking and other problems. Instead, lay out the steak on the table or counter for 20-30 minutes. This will result in a much better tasting steak, as it will sear properly on the outside and cook well on the inside.

With these tips, grilling a fantastic steak is both possible and probable. Discuss your steaks with friends and check out what the experts think so you can learn even more. Work on your steak grilling skills often so that you can impress others at your next camping party.

Three Easy Ways To Remove A Splinter

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remove splinterEveryone has had a splinter at some point in their lives. The worst part is struggling and fighting to get them out. If you try one of the following three methods, you can remove them as easy as pie.

1. Grab Some Tape

If you notice a piece of the splinter protruding from the skin, you should try this method. Basically, you apply a piece of tape, allow it to adhere to the splinter, then tear it off in the opposite direction from the way the splinter went in. This is extremely important since pulling it the wrong way can cause the splinter to sink further into the skin

2. Vinegar Bath

Grab some vinegar and soak your finger in it for about a half-hour. This may seem off the wall, but it will cause the offending splinter to rise to the surface. At this point, you can take some tweezers, grasp it and remove it without any issues. Use vinegar that has not been diluted in order to increase the effectiveness.

3. Egg Shell Film

The film in the inside of an eggshell actually has some use. Apply this to the splinter and let it dry. Once that happens, pull on the film and the splinter should come right out. As you were told earlier, always pull in the opposite direction from the way that it went in. This will ensure that the problem gets better without getting any worse.

The next time you get a splinter, there is no need for you to panic. Looking for a needle to dig it out will not be necessary either. Using one of the ideas that were mentioned to you here means that you will be able to safely remove it without going through a ton of trouble.

Fun Card Games To Play With Kids

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kids' card gamesCamping provides lots of good things to families and time together is one of the most important aspects of it. Suddenly, the clock doesn’t really matter and you can spend more time with each other just having fun. It’s a good time to teach kids how to play some simple card games. They love the challenge of trying to beat you and you get to enjoy the sound of their laughter for an afternoon. It’s a wonderful thing.

Go Fish

In Go Fish, you shuffle the deck and hand out five cards to each person. The goal of the game is to end up with no cards in your hand, and the way to get cards out of your hand is to find a match. So if you have an 8, you ask your opponent (or one of them, if more than two people are playing) if they have any 8s. If they do, they give it to you, and then you lay your 8 and their 8 in the discard pile.

But watch out! If your opponent doesn’t have a match, they say “Go Fish”! This means you have to draw a card from the deck. If it matches a card you have, you may play the match. But your turn is still ended.

War

War is a game similar to Go Fish, in that the goal is to get rid of all your cards. In order to do this, you shuffle the deck and hand each player five cards. You then turn the top card of the deck over, and the first person to play has to play a card of a higher number than the number just put down.

If you don’t have something to beat the card last played, such as if they played a 10 and you don’t have a Jack, Queen, King, or Ace, you draw a card. Many people make a house rule that you have to keep drawing cards until you draw one that can beat the previous card.

These are some easy card games to teach the kids. If you ever need to pass the time, then these games can be great!

Grilling With Charcoal Or Propane

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charcoal or propane grillEvery barbecue aficionado has their preference as to what is better for the flavor of the food they are cooking, charcoal or propane. Others see it as a matter of convenience and choose one over the other for that reason. Either way, most people prefer one to the other. When you’re really talking seriously about flavor then charcoal usually takes the lead.

That does not mean you cannot cook delicious barbecue with propane grills. But, what makes such a significant difference between the two? It has to do with the flavoring and the smokiness that charcoal gives to any grilled food. That is the essence of barbecue anyway.

The latest propane grills have lava rocks or other types of materials underneath the grill which, when juices fall onto, will vaporize. They will also smoke up and add similar flavor to the meat or other food being grilled as charcoal.

Depending on the type of propane grill being used, it may be hard for anyone but an expert to tell the difference if food has been cooked with that propane grill or charcoal. One thing to keep in mind is that if grilling is done with charcoal and that charcoal has been lit with lighter fluid, there can be an unpleasant flavor. That flavor can be slightly reminiscent of a petrochemical.

That is not exactly a delicious flavor to embrace yet it is possible when it comes to grilling with charcoal. If a charcoal chimney-type smoker is used, however, with wood chips the flavor is entirely natural. There is no chemical flavor. There is only a woodsy, natural taste.

The truth is that there are subtle taste differences between propane and charcoal. The flavoring of the finished meal comes mostly from the seasonings. Whatever rubs or sauces are used before the food is placed on a grill has the most to do with enhancing flavor.

There are slight differences between charcoal and propane. Most have to do with seasoning and also personal preferences. How about you? Do you have a favorite method?

Dutch Oven Baked Beans

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Baked BeansOne of the staples of camping meals is good old baked beans. They go hand in hand with campers’ other favorites which are burgers, fries, and S’Mores. Many campers choose to bring precooked varieties these days but there are still a few who like to make them the old way. Slow cooked in a Dutch Oven. If you’re considering giving it a try you will have more success with the following tips.

Image Source: 50Campfires

Make sure that you add some kind of sweetener when you are making baked beans. Some people try to find ways to get around this because they are on diets and/or they are not fans of sweet food items. The problem is that this prevents the beans from having the thick, rich texture people tend to associate with this dish. If you decide to use something a little healthier than white sugar or molasses, agave is a decent option. Using sugar alternatives will not cut it.

Always use dried beans. There are some people who love the idea of cutting to the chase and trying to make this dish with canned beans, but it does not come out the same. Since you are not able to keep them cooking for as long, the flavor does not develop as much. If you try extending the cooking time to coax more flavor out of them, there is huge chance they will come out mushy.

Those who are adding raw meat should add it at the beginning of the cooking process. Things like fresh sausage, bacon, salt pork should be added at the same time the beans are placed in a pot. In the event you are using kielbasa, hot dogs or some other meat that is already fully cooked, you can add it toward the end so it can heat through, but adding it too early can make it devoid of flavor.

Campfire food is not all about hot dogs on a stick and making s’mores. If you are looking for a great way to tease everyone’s taste buds on your next outing, make some baked beans using all the advice you were offered here.

Fresh Berries For Delicious Desserts

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berries for campfire dessertsCamping means time spent outdoors with people who matter. It affords you a relaxing atmosphere and no alarm clocks to make you get up in the morning until you want to. You look forward to enjoying juicy burgers with the family and cooking S’Mores over the campfire. It’s also a great time to enjoy some fresh berries and make some tasty camping desserts.

One popular and delicious fresh berry dessert for camping is berry shortcake. You may be familiar with strawberry shortcake, but you can actually enjoy your favorite berry with the dessert for a nice treat. All you need are fresh berries, angel food cake, and whipped cream. If you like a more sweet berry mixture, you can add sugar to your berries and let it sit until syrup is formed. This is an easy and delicious treat when you are camping.

Another favorite dessert is cobbler. Just like with the shortcake, you can make it with your favorite berry, plus it’s super easy. Start with your berries and add some sugar. Allow the mixture to sit until the berries are sweet enough for your liking. When you are ready to bake the dessert, you can put just about any type of topping on that you like. You may want to use your grandma’s favorite recipe or a boxed cake mix. Either way, you can create a delicious fresh berry dessert while you are camping.

As you can see, whether you want a baked dessert using fresh berries or eaten as is, you can have a delicious treat while you are camping. They can be eaten by themselves or added to other ingredients for something you and your friends and family can enjoy on your camping trip.

Grill Fish to Perfection

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RVers grilled fishCamping and RVing isn’t all about burgers and hotdogs. You can cook some mouth watering fish on the grill and your family and guests will rave about your skills.

One of the biggest concerns when grilling fish is the potential for it to stick and break apart. You can avoid this by starting with a very clean grill, well-dryed fish, and medium-high heat.

Wrap the fish in paper towels or a hand towel to absorb any extra moisture. Keep it in the fridge until you are ready to cook it.

Turn the heat on ahead of time. Cover the grates loosely with tin foil as it heats. This will help to burn off any left over particles on the grates and they can be easily removed with a good grill brush. Watch for grill bristles, though, they can be left behind and cause injury if swallowed. Oil the grill with some folded paper towels. This should have you ready to cook.

Add the seasonings you prefer and put the fish skin side down on the grill. It makes for pretty grill marks on the fish and also makes it easier to flip when the time is right. Test the fish gently on the edge to make sure it lifts easily. If it still seems to be sticking give it a few more minutes and try again. Check it every 30 seconds or so. Using two spatulas is a great assist when flipping. Be gentle but firm.

We hope these tips help you in making a memorable grilled fish for your next get-together around the campsite. You can read more at The Right Way to Cook Fish on the Grill.

 

Your Camping Gear Repair Kit

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camping gear repair kitMost campers are aware that they need to bring a tool kit for their RV in case a slide malfunctions, a tire goes flat, or some other fixable thing goes wrong. They pack hand tools, mechanical tapes and solvents, clips, staples, straps, and things of that nature so they can fix the minor things that have broken.

Some forget to bring a camping gear repair kit. This can be just as important when you consider how much wear and tear your camping gear will get during your packing, unpacking, and use during your camping stay. You may experience a torn camping chair, frayed sleeping bags, punctures in the floor of your dining tent or holes in screens. Having some basic repair items close at hand will have you back up and running in no time.

Be sure to pack several kinds of tape such as duct tape, electrical tape, and clear packing tape. These three variations will cover just about any situation you might run into. Vinyl sealant will be helpful as well as vinyl patches. Bring tarps to protect your gear while you’re working on the problem and try to have everything stored in one place such as a box or bag designated as your repair kit.

Toss in some strong nylon thread and heavy gauge needles, just in case. You might also consider a pair of utility shears as well as a package of grommets, safety pins, and a roll of fine gauge wire. The combination of all these things should address most situations you find you need to do some repair work on and save you from making a trip to the store. After all, you’re on vacation and probably don’t want to spend any more time shopping for supplies than you have to.

We hope all your camping experiences are good ones and if you do have a split, tear, or puncture in your camping gear, we hope it’s quickly mended and you’re back to enjoying your vacation. We look forward to seeing you around the park.

RV Battery Problems? This Might Be Why

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RV Dead BatteryPhoto Source: Go RVing

If you find yourself frequently replacing your dead RV battery there may be an underlying problem you can fix instead. It will save you frustration and cash; two good reasons to look into it.

Mark Polk, of RV Education 101, recently wrote an article for the Go RVing blog which addresses some of the potential causes for this type of frequent RV battery failure. He lists the following is the most common causes for a dead battery.

Sulfation
Parasitic Loads
Self-Discharging
Overcharging
Undercharging
Lack of Maintenance

He states that sulfation is the most likely cause of most battery failure. A battery in a low-charge state can collect large sulfates and ruin the battery. The fix is to perform regular recharging on a discharged battery.

There may be other factors at play, however, and Mark goes into detail about each of them. It’s an article worth reading and a good investment of your time. We want your stay with us to be as worry free as possible so check out Mark’s RV battery tips and learn how to avoid that dreaded dead battery.

Mark Polk; Not Another Dead Battery!

 

Making Sure Your RV is Road-Ready

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Camping ChecklistThere always seems to be a list of things to do and getting your RV ready for a road trip is not exception. They are great to travel in but there are a few things you should check before you leave.

Take a walk around the outside of your rig. Is your awning secured? Check your tires for air pressure and make sure all access doors are locked. How about your hitch? Do all your lights work? Check the levels of your propane, gray water, black water, and fresh water before you pull away. Is the water heater turned off?

You’ll need to stow and secure anything that could shift during your travels. Lock your cabinets, turn off the furnace, and add things to the cab area that you’ll need for the trip. Do you keep a daily log, use maps, follow a campground directory? Make sure they are all within easy access as you are driving.

Be sure your phone is charged and that you have your wallet or purse handy. Then take another walk around inside and out to double check. We want you to have a safe and happy experience while you are on the road so we hope these tips help make that happen.