From My RV Kitchen to Yours: A Weekend at Lake Murray
Detour ahead issue #14, Lake Murray State Park, A Live Cook-Along with Rebecca Blackwell, Baked Ravioli Lasagna, Short-Cut Caesar Dressing, Garlic Butter Croutons (Air Fryer), and Cosmopolitans
This week was a first for me!
I did a live cook-along from my RV kitchen with my friend
, who was set up in her RV all the way in Colorado. We were cooking together, chatting and laughing like we were just across the counter from each other, even though we were several states away. Cool, right?!It’s funny, we give technology a hard time for making us feel disconnected, but the truth is, it can also bring us closer in ways that wouldn’t be possible otherwise.
Rebecca has started teaching live cooking classes from her RV. She invited me to join her for one, and I’m so glad she did. I’ve never done anything like that before, but despite my nerves, I had a great time doing it.
For those of you who joined us, I just want to say thank you.
, , , , , , Shanna Sjogren, Blake HammonsI couldn’t see the names of everyone who attended, but if you were there, please let me know in the comments.
You can watch the replay here.
(Sorry for the poor quality. Like I said, this was a first for me, so I’m not sure what happened. It looked normal while we were doing it. If anyone has any thoughts, please let me know in the comments.)
We made Baked Ravioli Lasagna and a quick Homemade Caesar Dressing.
Nothing fancy, just simple, comfort food you can pull off in a small kitchen without too much hassle.
One of the best parts? My kids popped into the live chat to cheer me on. Ethan even invited a few of his friends. It meant a lot. Knowing that the boys were watching (and maybe even a little proud) made the whole thing extra special.
I hope we get to do it again sometime.
We were camped at Lake Murray in Oklahoma during the cook-along and stayed through the weekend. The weather couldn’t have been better—other than a few showers early in the morning. It was sunny, breezy, and not too hot. Pretty much ideal for paddle boarding, grilling, and sitting around a campfire. We did all three. And of course, there were s’mores.
Where We Ate
On Friday night, we headed into Ardmore for dinner at a local spot called Two Frogs Grill. The place was packed, but in a good way. It was lively with lots of families, and the kind of energy that makes you want to hang around for a while.
There were two large tables next to us celebrating a little girl’s 10th birthday. I leaned over to wish her a Happy Birthday and told her how lucky she was to be surrounded by so much love on her special day. Her grandmother smiled, thanked me, and before we knew it, we had a slice of Dr. Pepper birthday cake on our table. 🍰😃
I ordered the Fettuccine Alfredo topped with their famous "VOODOO" Crawfish (Yes, it was as indulgent as it sounds), and Ken went with a classic: Chicken Fried Steak, Mashed Potatoes, and Fried Okra.
To top it all off, I spotted a Cosmopolitan on the drink menu—my favorite cocktail back in my college days. I hadn’t had one in years, but I ordered it for old time’s sake, and it was just as good as I remembered.
Here’s how to make one:
1 oz Cointreau
2 oz vodka
1 oz fresh lime juice
1 oz cranberry juice
Combine all of the ingredients in a coctail shaker.
Add ice and shake until well chilled.
Strain into a chilled Martini glass.
Garnish with a twist of citrus.
Everything was delicious, and the service was great ( although you may spend the rest of the evening hearing “CORNER!” in your head. If you go… you will know 😂). They also have live music and thousands of 5-star reviews.
If you are going for fancy, this might not be the place for you. But if you are in the area and want a simple, down-to-earth restaurant with good food and good people, I would highly recommend it.
The whole night was a lovely mix of nostalgia and new memories. We’ve celebrated so many birthdays for our boys over the years, and now we’re the ones watching other families do the same while we sip an old-school cocktail and split a slice of birthday cake given to us by a total stranger.
Where we stayed
We stayed at Rock Tower Campground at Lake Murray, which isn’t exactly made for a rig as big as ours. Ken said getting into the spot was a challenge—tight turn, and not much swing room thanks to another camper and some trees, but as always, he got it done. He said once he got settled the neighbors even came over to say “Damn…good job! That was tough.” 😂
I’m honestly glad I showed up later in my own car, after all the hard stuff was over. That part always makes me a nervous wreck. (Thanks, babe!)
The sites are pretty close together, but they do have full hook-ups and plenty of trees, which kept things cool and comfortable. The hiking trails in this part of the park aren’t anything to write home about, but the campground is near the water, with some sites right on the lake. We weren’t lucky enough to snag one of them this time, but it was still peaceful, and such an easy drive from home. It was a great little escape.
What We Cooked
We grilled hot dogs and thick juicy pork chops (Ken and I have decided that we need to work on our charcoal grilling game), but here are the recipes from “Lasagna” Night!
Baked Ravioli Lasagna
If you love lasagna, this is the easiest way to make it. There’s no need to boil noodles or mix up a Ricotta Filling. It’s just cheesy, saucy goodness with store-bought ravioli taking out most of the work.
Shortcut Caesar Dressing
This isn’t the classic version, but it hits all the same bold, tangy notes. No raw egg or anchovies—just a quick, creamy Caesar you can whip up in a mason jar.
Garlic Butter Croutons (Air Fryer)
If you’ve never made croutons from scratch, this is your sign. These are buttery, crisp, and full of garlicky flavor. And they only take a few minutes in the air fryer.
You’ll find these recipes—plus plenty more—on the blog, complete with step-by-step photos and easy-to-follow instructions.
Now that the weekend’s winding down, I can’t believe it’s already time to pack up and head home. This trip has been just about perfect—good food, great weather, and a mix of quiet mornings and unexpected moments (like surprise birthday cake). It’s always a little tough to leave when things feel this easy and peaceful.
But the good news is… now it’s time to start planning the next trip.
We’re heading to Big Bend National Park at the end of June with Jacob and Olivia. Jacob wants to go star gazing, and Big Bend is one of the darkest spots in the country, perfect for soaking in the incredible night sky. We’re also hoping to squeeze in a few good hikes while we’re there. It’ll be hot, but we’re ready for it. More on that to come.
Reader Spotlight & Community Corner
I’d love to hear what you’ve been up to—whether it’s trying one of my recipes, camping somewhere beautiful, or cooking in your own tiny kitchen on the road. Leave a reply and tell me where you’ve been, what you’ve made, or what’s been inspiring you lately. I’d love to share a few responses in a future newsletter.
Quote of the Week
Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory. —Dr. Seuss
It’s a good reminder to slow down and soak it all in, especially on trips like this one.
Well, guys, that’s all I’ve got for now! Wishing you a fantastic week ahead. If you’ve enjoyed this newsletter, I’d love it if you shared it with a friend!
Spread the word – Invite a fellow food lover or travel enthusiast to join us on this journey.
And if you try a recipe, have a question, or just want to say hello, drop a comment below—I’d truly love to hear from you! ❤️
It was a fun cook-along with you and Rebecca. I made the ravioli and took it over to my grandchildren's house. They devoured it in no time. This recipe is a keeper. I hope to cook with you again in the future. Happy camping 🏕
Love this! Lake Murray looks like a fantastic place and cooking with you last week was a blast. I'm glad you were able to get away and that the weather played nice. :-)