Freedom in a Can: Adventures with Hamlet

It’s February, and cabin fever is setting in. Staring out the window, does the snow covering the dormant lawn suddenly transform to warm sand? Does the incessant hum of city traffic begin to sound more and more like waves crashing on the beach? From her isolated peaks in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, Hawaii calls. We can’t get enough of this iconic archipelago. The conspicuous absence of lace-up shoes, the multi-hued, volcanic sands, the swimming without a wetsuit, and travel that requires neither passport nor currency exchange all make travel less of a challenge. You don’t even need to speak another language, though pronouncing place names like a local might help you stand out from the rest of the tourists.  We each had solo love affairs with Hawaii before we met, Hutch with the 1996 Ironman Triathlon World Championships and Shari with her 5th grade gymnastics team. Each return visit only tunes the ear more acutely to the islands’ siren song. Since living in our tiny camper,

Like fusion dishes? You'll love this sweet and spicy chili. This recipe was adapted from Oryana, a fantastic natural food market in Traverse City, Michigan. We fell in love at first taste when it was served at a Sips & Soups event sponsored by the Leelanau County Wine Trail. Paired with a dry, fruit forward Pinot Noir, it is out of this world. But, to be fair, it's also great just by itself.  This dish is both dairy-free and meat-free, but we often top with cheese, Greek yogurt, an egg...whatever.  Monterey Jack cheese blends well with the sweet and spicy flavors. BTW, beets are a great anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, support healthy blood pressure, and more...so this chili will more than fill your tummy. Check out  more delicious recipes  and subscribe to our  FREE Almost Monthly Newsletter  to get a new recipe (and lots more RV camping tips, hacks, and resources) in your inbox each month! HEART BEAT CHILI Ingredients 1 pound beets, diced 3 tablespoons olive oil, di