I'm passionate about all things cruising.  OK, that's a lie. I admit it; I HATE the galley dance.

Under the best of circumstances, Julie Child and I would not have hung out together.  But the galley is a special torment to me.  Besides the usual cutting and burning risks that follow me anywhere I try to cook, the galley is the bane of my existence, and I approach it with an evil and wary eye.  Oh, sure, if I had a brand new 50' Jeanneau, the galley might be of particular joy to me.  But in my wee, albeit beloved, Gypsea, I hit my head, get a kink in my neck, and bruise my hips regularly in the Barbie doll size galley.

The same friend who taught me the key-to-success fan trick for an efficient ice box, tried to teach me to love galley cooking.  I still love her; I still hate spending time in the galley.

The robust size of my round cheeks (all four of them) would belie the claim that I don't care much about eating well. So, what's a hungry sailor to do?

For my own safety, I've developed a repertoire of cook/store/serve/toss meals all created in a one-size-fits-all, miracle container also known as the common, disposable mini-loaf pan.  In the comfort and convenience of my (relatively) spacious home kitchen, I can easily whip up meal after meal, in assembly line fashion, by combining all manner of yummy fresh ingredients, spooning the various concoctions into the sacred mini-loaf pan, baking as needed, then popping them into either the fridge or freezer after wrapping all the way around in foil for transporting and storing without spillage.  

The next time I handle the super-duper-complete-meal-in-one-container, I'll be casually tossing it in the pre-warmed oven so that I can make my way back topside post-haste.  It won't be long now . . . the tasty, steaming, healthy, all-inclusive meal comes straight from the oven to that sweet spot beneath my fork and I hardly lifted a finger to make it happen.

After either satiation, or upon licking clean the mini-loaf pan (whichever comes first), I simply toss the remains and giggle smugly at having had such a delicious, warm meal and spending all of 5 minutes total in the claustrophobic galley, including clean up time.  

Not up for a hot meal, and so much advance prep every time?  Well, then have I got a deal for you.  Another easy-breezy galley trick was introduced to me by one of my cruising buddies when a rather odd gift mysteriously showed up on my boat one day, and quickly became a favorite convenience.  Evidently you can go to any restaurant supply store (or Smart and Final or The 99 Cent Store) and get plastic sandwich baskets and a big box of wax paper squares.  The baskets are far better for grabbing a bite while underway than is a plate, and the wax paper square is tossed in the trash for the ultimate in quick clean up without a single dish to wash.

When cruising, you can bet I both eat well, and also spend hardly any time at all in the galley.  Send me an email here to share YOUR favorite galley tricks and recipes.  If we receive enough of them, we'll post them on the website and in the newsletter. 

"The lesson that the sea teaches is that you must sail the wind you have, not the one you wish you had, the one you thought you would have, or the one you 'ought' to have."

- Unknown

WOODEN BOAT FESTIVAL - SEPTEMBER 17, 2011 9AM to 5PM

American Legion Yacht Club.  Tickets $10, children under 8 are free.  Parking & Shuttle BOAT -- The brigantine Irving Johnson, will be docked at LIDO VILLAGE much like last year.  Instead of one shuttle bus we will provide two shuttle boats to transport you from the brigantine area to the main part of the Festival--and back.  So--you have two choices for parking instead of one!!  If you elect to park neat Lido Village, the shuttle will take you to the American Legion Yacht Club--and return you when you're done!  If you like, you can park near the American Legion and the shuttle will take you to visit the brigantine and bring you back later when you're finished.