May 2023 Newsletter
We hope this newsletter finds you well and you are enjoying your stay at our beautiful campground. May is a wonderful time to be in Tennessee and we have some exciting recipes, tips, and events happening in and around the area that we think you’ll enjoy.
Cajun Salmon (Fast & Easy!)
This Cajun salmon is pan-seared with a special mix of spices! It comes out crisp, blackened, and full of flavor: the perfect easy dinner.
Prep time: 5 minutes; Cook time: 30 minutes; Total time: 35 minutes.
Ingredients:
- 1 pound wild-caught salmon fillets, skin on
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 tablespoons homemade Cajun Seasoning
- 1 tablespoon butter (or more olive oil for dairy-free)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, plus one drizzle
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Instructions:
- Brine the salmon: in a large, shallow dish, whisk together 4 cups room temperature water and 3 tablespoons kosher salt until dissolved. Place the salmon in the water and wait for 15 minutes.
- If you haven’t already, mix up the Cajun Seasoning.
- Pat the salmon dry with a clean towel. Rub it generously with oil and sprinkle it with kosher salt and blackened seasoning.
- Heat a large skillet (not non-stick) over medium-high heat and add butter and olive oil. When the butter is melted, add the salmon skin-side up and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until cooked about 1/2 way to the center of the thick part of the salmon.
- Flip the salmon (a fish spatula makes easy work of it). Tilt the pan down slightly and quickly spoon the pan juices over the top of the fish a few times. Drizzle with the lemon juice and spoon the pan juice a few times again. Cook for 2 to 6 minutes, depending on the thickness, until just tender and pink in the center (the internal temperature should be between 125-130 Fahrenheit in the center when removed). Remove from heat and serve.
Starlite Dinner Cruise
2023 Annual Street Rod Nationals South May. 05, 2023 – May. 07, 2023
Recurring daily until May 7, 2023, Chilhowee Park & Exposition Center
Stevie Nicks
May. 16, 2023 – May. 16, 2023
Recurring daily until May 16, 2023, Thompson-Boling Arena
The summer is the best time to escape to your most sought-after destinations, but your RV can get uncomfortably hot if it sits too long under the sweltering sun. With a little planning, you can maximize air ventilation throughout your cabin and keep your RV cool day and night.
1. Find a campsite with shade
- While finding a campsite with shade may seem like common sense, it can easily slip your mind if you’re booking months in advance. Do some research before making a campsite reservation: look at a map of the campground or call up and ask which sites offer the most shade. If you arrive at a campground without a reservation, don’t forget to check if there are any shady sites available.
- Even if you acquired the perfect spot, most sites aren’t going to stay completely shady throughout the day. When the sun begins to shine, position your RV so its rays hit the side with the least amount of windows. The fewer windows the sun shines through, the cooler your RV will be. You can also pull down your blinds to block the sun from entering the cabin. Remember Campers, the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, so plan accordingly!
2. Bring tarps
- If you miss out on a shady site, a couple tarps will provide instant cover when the midday heat kicks in. Tarps are great because they’re big enough to provide shade for you and whomever you’re camping with. Attach one to your awning or your RV, set up a chair and relax!
3. Improve your RV air conditioner’s efficiency
- You can get cooler air from your air conditioner by keeping its filters clean. There are two quick and easy ways to do this: 1) Wash the filters in warm soapy water. Rinse and allow them to dry before reinstalling. 2) Use a small vacuum to suck up any dirty matter on the filters. Follow either of these methods, and your air conditioner will be blowing cooler air in no time.
4. Ventilation
- One of the best ways you can keep your RV cool during the summer is by maintaining proper ventilation inside the cabin. Proper ventilation will suck in refreshing cool air and push out nasty warm air. You can ventilate your rig by installing vent covers over the roof vents. Roof vent covers are cheap, easy to install and allow fresh air to circulate even when it’s raining. You can also close the windows facing the sun and open up the windows on the shaded side. This will let all the warm air out. Furthermore, you can install a roof vent fan to provide a cool breeze inside the cabin.
5. Cover your RV’s bathroom skylight
- You’d be surprised how much heat enters through the bathroom skylight.
6. Cook outside
- You can avoid heating your cabin on humid summer days by cooking your meals outside as much as possible. If the forecast predicts a scorcher, buy groceries for meals that can be prepared in a crock-pot or a Dutch oven. You can also break out the grill or the camp stove. A cookout sounds pretty nice, doesn’t it?
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