Are you planning on an RV road trip? Then brush yourself up with some generic and not so generic tips while you still have the chance on a safe yet enjoyable way to drive yourself around. The generic tips are more like the dos and don’ts of a simple driving lesson although it can get tricky while you are maneuvering a campervan.
However, the not so generic tricks involve the safety and security aspects of your campervan itself. It is often easy to forget about the safety issues on the road while you are high on your energy enjoying the experience. However, if you plan ahead your trip and way before your excitement kicks in you can avoid a whole lot of mess that may happen while you are behind the wheels. Although accidents do not occur always because you were careless that is why they are called an accident and thus the best bet is to get a motorhome insurance. In fact this should be your first step towards safe caravanning trip. The so called generic and not so generic safety tips are as follows:
1. Weight Restriction: Do not overload your motorhome at any cost. Take all the factors of your motorhome into consideration before you plan on how many people should board your motorhome. Remember that there are legal restrictions regarding Maximum Vehicle Weight, Mass in Running Order, Payload, and Gross vehicle weight. Check your motorhomes specifications and board and load accordingly.
2. Outdated Parts and Accessories: Make sure all the parts are in perfect working condition in your motorhome. If some parts are outdated or retro run a thorough check. Do not let any accessory hang on at the rear end of your motorhome which might hinder your rearward view like the rear cycle carrier. Most importantly make sure your satnav is not outdated at any cost.
3. Interior: Make sure you van is always dry in a healthy way. You should not let any damp or moist air circulate inside your van while you are in it. It can settle anywhere so make sure you run a thorough check. Do not leave anything unattended that may happen to rot and smell. Also make sure of attaching industry standard child seat if you are travelling with one. If the cupboards in the interior of your motorhome tend to fly open while in transit consider replacing them.
4. Exterior: Each time you stop at a gas station or for a grocery break; make sure you run a check on the exterior condition of your van. Damages as simple as a dent and a scratch or a broken surface needs immediate attention that you cannot afford to ignore even if you are on the road. Get them fixed ASAP. Assess the door, window, and pane fittings thoroughly. This is essential because you would not want to be bothered by external weather condition, especially when you are driving.
5. Gas and electrics check and other fitted equipment: Check all the gas, electric and other fitted equipment to see if they need any repair once you are around civilization. You would not want to get stuck without the essential convenience when you would be behind the wheel for a long run again.
6. Chassis, engine, running gear and tire check: At every stop make it an absolute necessity to check your engine, hitch mechanism, condition of your tires, chassis, and other running gears in your motorhome. The idea of a break down and getting stranded in the middle of nowhere is not particularly enjoyable.
7. Others: The more generic safety rules while you are on the trail are that first and foremost you must remember to drive slowly and gradually build your confidence. Accelerate slowly and press your break a little sooner than sudden. If possible take a motorhome maneuvering course before you venture out. Beware of the traffic around you and let them pass. Also beware of the trees and branches overhead while you are driving for obstruction and possible damage. Be careful of the weather condition and if it is raining or snowing or frosting up, try and make a halt. If that is not possible go really slow, and at all cost avoid all steep or sharp curves and slopes and lose ground.
Also make sure you take a wider area while taking a turn. Do not haul your motorhome with you once you are pitched if you have to go to town or the local market. Most importantly do not drink and drive and keep changing the hands behind the wheels every now and then if travelling with friends and family. If you are travelling alone make sure you rest often if you are tired.
With these tips in your hand you would surely enjoy your trip safely. Make sure you abide by these codes and you will have no problem in not just reaching your destination but also come back safely.
Photo by studio tdes via Flickr Creative Commons
Soups are making winters warmer. Isn't it? Besides, providing plenty of nutrients, these healthy soups are great way to warm up and have pleasant time with your family.
So here I am ready with another recipe of nutritious soup which I make at home:
Mixed Vegetable Soup
Ingredients of the soup are:
4 Spring onions, 2 red tomatoes, 5-6 florets of cauliflower, cabbage, 2 capsicum, 5-6 beans, 2 carrots, salt, black pepper powder, soy sauce, vinegar, oil,
Recipe:
1. Finely chop all the vegetables.
2. Heat two spoons of oil of your choice in the wok.
3. Add spring onions and saute for a while.
4. Now add tomatoes followed by other vegetables.
5. Saute all the vegetables at low flame till they are half cooked.
6. Add four cups of water, some salt as per taste and stir. Cook for 10 minutes at medium flame.
7.When the vegetables are cooked, add black pepper powder, two spoons soy sauce and a spoon of vinegar. Bring the soup to a boil and then turn off the heat.
Your Mixed Vegetable Soup is ready to serve. Garnish it with coriander leaves, butter/ cheese and serve it with soup sticks for more flavor.
Related link:
Tomato soup recipe
Veg Pasta Soup
So here I am ready with another recipe of nutritious soup which I make at home:
Mixed Vegetable Soup
Ingredients of the soup are:
4 Spring onions, 2 red tomatoes, 5-6 florets of cauliflower, cabbage, 2 capsicum, 5-6 beans, 2 carrots, salt, black pepper powder, soy sauce, vinegar, oil,
Recipe:
1. Finely chop all the vegetables.
2. Heat two spoons of oil of your choice in the wok.
4. Now add tomatoes followed by other vegetables.
5. Saute all the vegetables at low flame till they are half cooked.
6. Add four cups of water, some salt as per taste and stir. Cook for 10 minutes at medium flame.
7.When the vegetables are cooked, add black pepper powder, two spoons soy sauce and a spoon of vinegar. Bring the soup to a boil and then turn off the heat.
Your Mixed Vegetable Soup is ready to serve. Garnish it with coriander leaves, butter/ cheese and serve it with soup sticks for more flavor.
Related link:
Tomato soup recipe
Veg Pasta Soup
Hello everyone,
Vegetable Soups are my favorite especially the tomato soup. My family is also a big fan of this one. Its filled with goodness of tomatoes and other ingredients which I always include.
Here is my recipe of tomato soup which you can also relish:
Ingredients: 7-8 red and ripe tomatoes, 3-4 carrots, some french beans, few leaves of cabbage and ginger (optional).
Salt, black pepper powder, butter, sugar, coriander leaves for garnishing.
Kids would never come to know that you have added so many veggies to the tomato soup! Add these along with tomato and provide your family maximum advantage of vegetables.
Method:
Wash all the vegetables. Peel off the carrots and cut them roughly. Now cut all the vegetables into large pieces and place them in a cooker. Put half cup of water, one small spoon of salt and place the lid. Boil them for some time. After 3-4 minutes of one whistle of cooker, switch off the flame.
Now let the vegetables cool down. Make a puree of the boiled vegetables in a mixer and strain them. Now you get a thick paste which you can either use to prepare soup or store in a glass jar and freeze for future use.
In a pan, put some thick paste of soup and some water. Add some sugar and black pepper powder according to your taste. ( Note: I prefer sweet-salty taste so I have added some sugar. In case you like the tangy flavor, then do not use sugar.) Bring it to a boil and then serve in a soup bowl. Do not forget to add some cubes of butter ( avoid butter if you wish to lose weight) and leaves of coriander.
Serve the yummy tomato soup quickly and enjoy with your family in winter evenings.
Visit this link for all your kitchen needs and get the delivery at your doorstep.
Related link:
Benefits of homemade soups
Vegetable Soups are my favorite especially the tomato soup. My family is also a big fan of this one. Its filled with goodness of tomatoes and other ingredients which I always include.
Here is my recipe of tomato soup which you can also relish:
Ingredients: 7-8 red and ripe tomatoes, 3-4 carrots, some french beans, few leaves of cabbage and ginger (optional).
Salt, black pepper powder, butter, sugar, coriander leaves for garnishing.
Kids would never come to know that you have added so many veggies to the tomato soup! Add these along with tomato and provide your family maximum advantage of vegetables.
Method:
Wash all the vegetables. Peel off the carrots and cut them roughly. Now cut all the vegetables into large pieces and place them in a cooker. Put half cup of water, one small spoon of salt and place the lid. Boil them for some time. After 3-4 minutes of one whistle of cooker, switch off the flame.
 |
| store soup in glass jar and freeze |
Now let the vegetables cool down. Make a puree of the boiled vegetables in a mixer and strain them. Now you get a thick paste which you can either use to prepare soup or store in a glass jar and freeze for future use.
In a pan, put some thick paste of soup and some water. Add some sugar and black pepper powder according to your taste. ( Note: I prefer sweet-salty taste so I have added some sugar. In case you like the tangy flavor, then do not use sugar.) Bring it to a boil and then serve in a soup bowl. Do not forget to add some cubes of butter ( avoid butter if you wish to lose weight) and leaves of coriander.
Serve the yummy tomato soup quickly and enjoy with your family in winter evenings.
Related link:
Benefits of homemade soups
Vegetable based soups are filled with goodness of nature. No preservatives, chemicals or artificial colours. When you have them on regular basis, you get plenty of nutrients and energy. Unlike packed soups, homemade vegetable soups are fresh and fulfilling. Furthermore, you can experiment and make changes as per your liking and creativity.
Here are some easy to prepare homemade soups that do not take lots of time and efforts.
Tomato soup
Tomato soup is one of the most favorite soups among kids and adults alike. This one is very easy to prepare. You can also show some creativity by adding some more ingredients of your choice and garnishing with different things such as cream, coriander, etc. Some like the tangy flavour of tomato soup and some prefer to have sweet-salty taste. Make your own recipe and share it with your family today!
Hot and sour soup
This Chinese soup finds place at every dinner table. Loaded with lots of seasonal veggies and Chinese sauces, the hot and sour soup is perfect for winter evenings when you need some extra energy and enthusiasm to go on.
You may prepare it without using oil and butter to cut down the calories. Though this recipe is originally high on spices, you may alter according to your taste and restrict chillies or chilli sauce to suit your taste buds.
Veg, Talumein Soup
Another Chinese soup which is filled with lots of vegetables, spices and sauces! What sets it apart from other soups is use of noodles. Kids love to eat and drink the soup because of noodles.
If your kids are fussy eaters then make this soup and they would start asking for more. It i a great way to make kids eat vegetables.
The biggest advantage of making Talumein soup at home is that you may delete certain ingredients such as chilli sauce and chilli oil which make the extra spicy. This is not possible with pre-packed soups wherein the spices and flavour are innate.
Lentil soup with vegetables
To get enough of proteins along with other nutrients, try the lentil soup. Use one lentil or combination of two lentils to make this soup and add vegetables to it. You can add herbs such as parsley and mint to enhance the flavour and nutritional value. The result is healthy and satisfying meal for dinner.
A wholesome diet is a prerequisite for complete development of children. One of the essential ingredients of complete diet of a kid is homemade soup. There is nothing to be amazed about it. Soups indeed have plenty of visible as well as hidden benefits that your kids deserve. If you are still not aware or not sure then read on to find out more about soups.
Nutritional benefits of homemade soups
Homemade soups, especially, constitute of fresh vegetables and ingredients that are full with nutrients. So when your child consume a bowl of soup on daily basis, you can be assured that he/ she gets daily supply of vitamins, proteins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber. In addition, these homemade soups have no preservatives and are low in sodium, fats and carbohydrates.
With increasing activity levels and hectic schedules of growing kids, it is important to incorporate healthy eating habits in their lifestyle so that they remain prepared and active at all times. Soups thus fit into their routine very well without taking much time and rendering health benefits in abundance.
Superior option over junk foods
Soups are healthy snacks that contain only health benefits of veggies, legumes, grains and good meat. They are best option for lunches and early evening snacks. These are great appetizers which ensure goodness of nature while side-lining junk foods and foods rich in Trans fats.
When you are ready with your bowl of tasty soup, kids are unlikely to rush to chocolates, chips, aerated drinks, burgers and other high calorie foods. Therefore, you introduce them to healthy eating while taking them far from unhealthy foods without knowing them.
Protection from obesity and other health problems
Vegetable based soups provide ample of benefits to the mind and body of kids. Soups are ideal and delicious meals for obese kids who need to lose weight as these meals are low in carbohydrates and fats. Moreover, many of the gastric issues such as constipation and indigestion can be tackled among kids when they consume healthy homemade soups.
In case, your child has fallen ill or suffering from cold/cough/ fever then soups are best way to provide quick nutrition as they are easy on stomach and digest really fast.
With so much to gain and nothing to lose, prepare your child’s favorite soup today at home and experience the healthy benefits!
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