December 20th, 2016 -
Try these delicious red velvet chocolate chip cookies in your RV this holiday season. They’re the perfect treat to get you and your family and friends into the holiday spirit.
Ingredients
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1 and 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
, spooned and leveled (careful not to over measure)
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1/3 cup natural cocoa powder
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1 and 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch
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3/4 teaspoon baking soda
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1/4 teaspoon salt
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10 tablespoons unsalted butter
, softened to room temperature
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1/2 cup packed brown sugar
, light or dark
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1/2 cup granulated sugar
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1 large egg
, room temperature
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1 teaspoon vanilla
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1.5 to 2 tablespoons red food coloring
, liquid or gel
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3/4 cup + 1/4 cup white chocolate chips
Directions
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In a large bowl whisk together the flour, cocoa, cornstarch, baking soda & salt. Set aside.
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In a separate large bowl using a stand or hand-held electric mixer beat the butter and sugars together on medium speed until light & fluffy. Once no clumps of sugar remain add in the egg & vanilla and beat until combined. Add in the red food coloring and continue mixing. The batter will look quite neon at this point.
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Turn off the mixer and scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula and large wooden spoon. Add in 1/2 the flour mixture and beat on low speed until combined. Add in the 2nd half of the flour mixture and beat on low. Turn of the mixer, scrape down the sides of the bowl, and add in 3/4 cup white chocolate chips. Beat on low for about 15 seconds until chocolate chips are mixed in. The dough will be very sticky
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Using a cookie scoop, form dough into balls of about 1 tablespoons. I got a total of 27 cookies. Put cookies on a plate, cover with cling wrap, and refrigerate for 3+ hours.
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When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350F degrees. Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Place cookies 2 inches apart on the tray, and bake for 7-9 minutes. The tops should look almost set when you remove them from the oven. Allow cookies to cool on their tray for at least 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to continue cooling. While the cookies are cooling, stud the tops of your cookies with the additional 1/4 cup of white chocolate chips.
Visit PleasureLand RV Center
Stop by PleasureLand RV Center this December to shop for a new RV and to tour any RV in stock. You can also get your RV checked over for winter driving or prepare it for storage if you intend to put it away for the season.
December 15th, 2016 -
Winter means a lot of things to different people. The holidays, time off, spending time with friends and family, and, to some, winter sports.
Whether you’re an old hand at the slopes or just someone who would like to give it a go for the first time, Minnesota is the destination for you. While Minnesota isn’t known for especially elevated terrain, there are numerous locations around the state that are ideal for skiing and snowboarding and there’s sure to be a slope to match your skill level.
Lutsen Mountain
Ride a red gondola up the rocky crest of Moose Mountain with the shimmering Poplar River below, then crest down a 1,000-foot drop along some of Minnesota’s biggest ski runs. As you descend, you’ll see dark evergreen forests and Lake Superior’s blue expanse in the background.
Detroit Mountain
One of Minnesota’s newest and baddest ski destinations, Detroit Mountain opened in 2014 and features a lodge and 15 ski runs. Tubing is also available there.
Giants Ridge
Overlooking Wynne and Sabin lakes, Giants Ridge straddles the rugged landscape of the Iron Range and has 35 ski runs and over 30 miles of trails for Nordic skiers.
Spirit Mountain
Lodge on the mountain and enjoy 22 runs and a terrain park nestled into the hills surrounding the St. Louis River and Lake Superior.
Coffee Mill Ski Area
In southern Minnesota you can check out Coffee Mill Ski Area, which is situated on hills rather than on mountains. Using the bluffs along the Mississippi River with 425-foot drops, the resort has 14 runs.
Visit PleasureLand RV Center
Make PleasureLand RV Center your RVing headquarters this winter. Whether you’re a local or from out of state, PleasureLand RV Center is the place to go for RV sales, service, parts, and accessories. Make this the most adventurous winter yet in an RV from PleasureLand RV Center!
December 8th, 2016 -
There’s no better place to learn about RV living than from travelers who have lived life on the road. And these must-have tips have been compiled by some of the most experienced RV travelers in the country — members of the Escapees RV Club. So next time you hit the road, keep these helpful tips on hand to help your RV travels roll along more smoothly.
RV Living Tips From the Experts
- Always keep wheel locks on hand.
- Become a member of the Escapees RV Club and embark on some RV rallies.
- Invest in a high quality sewer hose or two and have the correct connectors on hand.
- Check the condition of your tires and the tire pressure before each journey.
- Create a checklist for all of your departures.
- Know how to maintain your chassis and house batteries and check them often.
- Keep more than one fire extinguisher in your RV.
- Don’t travel with any items that have less than two uses.
- Throw your toilet paper in the trash instead of the toilet to save room in your black water tank.
- Scott’s single-ply toilet paper is less expensive and more comfortable than special RV toilet papers.
- Buy small surge protectors for every appliance in your RV.
- Turn your water heater on roughly 30 minutes before you plan to use hot water.
- Let your black water tank fill at least halfway before you empty it.
- Always keep bottled water or a water filter in your vehicle in case the campground’s water is not drinkable.
- Take your time and see the sights. There’s no need to race to the next destination.
- Volunteer at your destinations to meet new people and get involved in new communities.
- Keep a magnetic key somewhere on your rig, so you never have to worry about being locked out.
- Travel to a number of RV campgrounds before you choose to join an RV campground organization.
Find All of Your RV Needs at PleasureLand
We’ve got everything you need to enjoy the best RV lifestyle possible right here at PleasureLand RV Center in Minnesota. Stop in one of our massive Camper’s General Stores in Ramsey or St. Cloud or shop our online parts store 24 hours a day.
December 5th, 2016 -
The flavors of fall and winter are numerous and delicious. Try these hearty and savory apple oatmeal muffins next time you’re out on the road. They’re great for breakfast, a quick snack on a hike, or with tea or coffee in the afternoon or before bed.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
- 3/4 cup applesauce
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
- 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon allspice
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup rolled oats
- 1 medium apple, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 12 muffin cups with paper liners.
- In a large bowl, mix together the sugars, eggs, oil, vanilla and applesauce.
- In a separate bowl, mix together the flours, baking powder, soda, salt and spices.
- Mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients in the bowl. Stir in the oats, apples, and nuts.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Visit PleasureLand RV Center This December
Stop in at PleasureLand RV Center this December to shop for a new or pre-owned RV. Tour any model on the lot and ask your sales associate any questions you may have. While you’re here, you can see about scheduling maintenance service on your current rig, or shop for parts and accessories for that RVer in your life.
November 24th, 2016 -
The RV lifestyle is full of adventure, excitement, and exploration, and while all of the outdoor activities can certainly bring your family closer together, there are also tons of indoor activities that can too. Consider some of these fun games and activities for the down time spent inside your RV, and you’ll never fear rainy days or long hours on the road again.
Hold an RV Treasure Hunt
Turn down time into fun time with a treasure hunt right inside your RV. Create a variety of clues to hide throughout your RV or even around the campsite if the weather is nice. Make it a competition with a small prize going to the winner, or have the kids follow the clues as a team and reward everyone with a prize at the end.
Create a Special Meal Together
Whether it’s a festive Mexican taco night, your very own RV pizzeria or just your family’s favorite meal — cooking a dinner together can be the perfect way to bond on a rainy day or during that down time after an adventure. If you’ve got an entire day to fill, decorate your RV with your dinner’s theme before you start cooking. And don’t forget to get your kids involved in the easier aspects of cooking (stirring, plating, etc.)
Turn Your RV Into a Movie Theater
Instead of simply turning out the lights and popping a movie into the DVD player, set your RV up as a movie theater for rainy days or those long movie nights. Make sure you have movie-theater-style popcorn and treats on hand, and if you’ll be making a day of it, stock up on a variety of movies you’ve never seen. If possible, position your RV furniture in rows in front of the television to resemble movie theater style seating.
Indoor and Outdoor Games at PleasureLand
Getting tired of the old board games you’ve had in your RV for years? Check out our huge selection of indoor and outdoor camping games at our online parts store or stop in and see us at PleasureLand RV Center — your local Minnesota RV dealer — today.
November 22nd, 2016 -
Try these delicious muffins in your RV this fall and winter.
Pumpkin Crumb Cake Muffins
Ingredients
- 1 and 3/4 cups (220g) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup (120ml) canola or vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup (100g) packed light or dark brown sugar
- 1 and 1/2 cups pumpkin puree
- 2 large eggs, at room temperature
- 1/4 cup (60ml) milk, at room temperature
Crumb Topping
- 3/4 cup (94g) all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup (50g) granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup (50g) packed light or dark brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- 6 Tablespoons (86g) unsalted butter, melted
Maple Icing (optional)
- 1 and 1/2 cups (180g) confectioners’ sugar
- 2 Tablespoons (30ml) pure maple syrup
- 2 Tablespoons (30ml) milk
Directions
- Preheat oven to 425°F (218°C). Spray a 12-count muffin pan with nonstick spray or line with cupcake liners. This recipe makes 15 muffins, so prepare a second muffin pan in the same manner. Set aside.
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Make the muffins: In a large bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, and salt together until combined. Set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk the oil, granulated sugar, brown sugar, pumpkin puree, eggs and milk together until combined. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, then fold everything together gently just until combined and no flour pockets remain.
- Spoon the batter into liners, filling them almost full.
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Make the crumb topping: Whisk the flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and pumpkin pie spice together until combined. Stir in the melted butter until crumbs form. Spoon crumbs evenly on top of the batter and gently press them down into the batter so they’re snug.
- Bake for 5 minutes at 425 then, keeping the muffins in the oven, reduce the oven temperature to 350°F (177°C). Bake for an additional 16-17 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. The total time these muffins take in the oven is about 21-22 minutes, give or take. Allow the muffins to cool for 10 minutes in the muffin pan as you make the icing.
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Make the icing: Whisk all of the icing ingredients together until combined and smooth. Drizzle over muffins and serve warm.
Visit PleasureLand RV Center
Stop by PleasureLand RV Center this fall to shop for a new or pre-owned RV. While you’re here, you can also schedule service or shop for parts and accessories.
November 17th, 2016 -
It’s a dreaded event that no RVer ever wants to encounter, but if you travel enough it’s bound to happen eventually. When it does, it pays to know what to do and how to do it correctly.
Changing an RV tire is similar to a vehicle tire, except that you want to use a ramp rather than a jack.
What you’ll need.
- A spare tire in good condition
- A lug wrench that fits the lug nuts on your RV’s wheel
- A Tire pressure gauge
- A Portable air compressor
- Chocks
- A Ramp
- A Standard wrench
- A lubricant (such as WD-40)
How to change the flat tire.
- Make sure you’re not in a dangerous area; pull as far away from traffic as you possibly can while remaining on a stable driving surface.
- Break loose the lug nuts on the flat tire with your lug wrench.
- Drive your good tire on the same side as the flat tire onto the ramp in order to get the flat tire up off the ground. If the flat tire can’t spin freely, get higher up on the ramp, add blocks under the ramp, or even dig under the flat tire to gain enough space.
- Chock the tires on the opposite side and set the parking brake to make sure that your RV or trailer remains in place while you work.
- Use the lug wrench again to fully remove the lug nuts on your flat.
- Remove the flat from the hub and then install the spare onto the hub.
- Lubricate the studs before replacing the lug nuts and then tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern.
- Stow the flat, disengage the brake, remove the chocks, and drive off the ramp.
- Finish tightening the lug nuts.
- Check the tire pressure in all tires, including the spare. Equalize and top off as needed with your air compressor.
Subscribe to roadside service.
If you prefer to avoid a situation where you have to change your own tire, look into roadside service for your RV. Just remember that roadside service, while reliable in most cases, may not come through if you’re unable to call due to poor reception or are on a road that they don’t respond to.
Visit PleasureLand RV Center
If you need any RV service that’s beyond your capabilities, don’t hesitate to stop by PleasureLand RV Center to schedule an appointment with our service department. Looking for a new RV? Shop our inventory of new and pre-owned motorhomes and travel trailers.
November 15th, 2016 -
Cyclists who visit Minnesota will find ample opportunities for fun and challenge with Minnesota’s biking trails. Touting some truly beautiful trails of all skill levels and with over 4000 miles of paved bike trails, you’re sure to find trails that aren’t quite like those anywhere else. Here are some of the best bike trails that Minnesota has to offer.
Cuyuna Lakes Mountain Bike Trails
The first state park in Minnesota built specifically for mountain biking, it sits on the Iron Range of Central Minnesota about 20 miles northeast of Brainerd.
Offering 25 miles of mountain bike trails year round, there are trails suitable for all skill levels.
Duluth
One of four gold level ride centers in the United States, there are some publications and blogs that contend that Duluth has the best mountain biking in the world. With lift-accessible downhill trails at Spirit Mountain, Lester, and Duluth Traverse, Duluth has continuously beaten out other biking sites to be recognized as one of the country’s best.
Twin Cities
If you’re into urban biking, the Twin Cities are some of the most biker friendly cities in the country. Of course, there are also plenty of parks sprinkled throughout the metro area. With nature and skyline views along some trails, the Twin Cities offer some dynamic biking opportunities.
Visit PleasureLand RV Center
Stop by PleasureLand RV Center if you want to tour an RV you can take on your next biking trip. An RV allows you to travel in more comfort and to stay out longer. Let PleasureLand RV Center connect you to your perfect motorhome or travel trailer.
November 8th, 2016 -
Camping seems simple enough — arrive at the campsite or RV park, sprawl out and enjoy a weekend, week or even months at your new destination. However, there are certain things that make campgrounds work, and many of those things involve the behavior of those who are camping there. This simple guide to campground etiquette will help you and your fellow campers enjoy each camping experience to the fullest.
Leave Nothing Behind
The first part of enjoying the great outdoors is doing as little harm to it as possible. Always pack up your campsite, then double and triple check that you haven’t left any items or trash behind. Leave your campsite cleaner than you found it.
Be Friendly
When you’re at a campground or RV park, you know you have a common interest with everyone else there. Invite your campground neighbors over for snacks or drinks and encourage your little ones to make new campground friends. Often times, the people you meet at the campsite become lifelong friends.
Time your Awning and Outdoor Lights
It can be easy to forget to turn off your awning, porch or other outdoor lights. Set your lights on a timer, so they never use excessive power and keep your fellow campers up at night. Your outdoor lights may not seem bright to you, but the camper next door may be staring at them all night long.
Leave Extra Wood Behind
Every camper has arrived at a campground late and endured the struggle of finding firewood at night. One of the best bits of campground etiquette you can practice is leaving some of your firewood behind for the next camper. They’ll be elated to be able to start a fire upon arrival, and hopefully the favor will be returned to you by someone else.
Find Your Dream Camping Vehicle
A happy camper makes a good camper, and there’s no better way to get excited about camping than to purchase a top-quality new RV. Stop in and see us at PleasureLand RV Center to find your dream RV today.
November 3rd, 2016 -
Minnesota is one of the top states in the country for horseback riding. The diverse terrain, massive network of trails and stretches of untouched land make for some of the most scenic trail rides you can find.
The following three riding trails and ranches are some of the best in the Land of 10,000 Lakes for taking in the Minnesota sites on horseback.
Big Valley Ranch — Winona
Big Valley Ranch is a family-friendly place to hop on horseback without owning one. The ranch is nestled into the picturesque Winona bluff country, and offers 165 acres of terrain. Visitors can enjoy everything from riding lessons to long trail rides, day camps and more. The ranch is located on East Burns Valley Road in Winona, so it’s easier for vacationers to find than some other, less-accessible ranches.
Browns Creek State Trail
The 5.9-mile-long Browns Creek State Trail in Washington County opened last October and is the newest addition to Minnesota’s massive trail system. This rail-trail spans from Stillwater to Grant where it meets up with the Gateway State Trail. Riders can access the St. Croix River from an off-road trail or enjoy the smoother paved option. Both lines pass historic sites and breathtaking Minnesota scenery.
River Valley Ranch — Carver
Get on the trails every day you’re in Minnesota at the River Valley Ranch in Carver. The ranch provides stunning 1-hour-long tours of the Minnesota River Valley with group tours available as well. Even better, the ranch is just 25 minutes southwest of the bustling city of Minneapolis. This is the perfect option for novice riders; however, reservations are recommended for all tours, so call the ranch at (952) 361-3361 before your visit.
Stop and See Us at PleasureLand
Don’t forget to stop and see us at the PleasureLand RV Centers when you’re traveling throughout Minnesota. There’s no better place to find the perfect RV or simply some accessories and camping supplies for your fall adventures.
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About Me
Hi, my name is Dan Pearson and I am the Owner of PleasureLand RV Centers based out of St. Cloud, MN. We have three other Minnesota locations to serve all of you RV needs. I look forward to providing you with all your RV information from buying an RV to tips and maintenance. If you would like to contact me, be sure to leave a comment.
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By Dan Pearson
