The photo of you two in the tent is wonderful. We have a little fridge in our car that runs off the battery. It’s good for cheese and fruit, also milk for coffee. Most of the space is usually taken up with beer though.
I’ll have to look into that fridge that runs off the battery. It sounds promising. Some cold beer or wine might not go amiss with cheese and crackers at a roadside picnic. Thanks so much for your comment, Marg!
Wow, I loved reading this one! I'm fascinated by other people's roadtrip foods.
It's been a little while since I've gone on a proper roadtrip. My most recent was punctuated by various off-road BBQ stands in Tennessee + Mississippi, so ... maybe not the healthiest situation in the world.
When I'm good about planning, though, I also love the pre-cut and portioned veggies approach, especially bell peppers and sugar snap peas to break the monotony of celery and carrots. They're delicious and I get to feel a little self-righteous at the same time ;)
Thanks, Emily! I also appreciated the mention in your newsletter! Your tips are really welcome. I am going to take along some of the veggies you suggest. I particularly love snap peas and maybe some mini sweet peppers. Carrots and celery do get a bit monotonous!
I can see we need to do some traveling in the south and try some of the roadside barbecue! It is those unexpected little places you come across so different from what you know that make road travel so much fun! Thanks again for your comments. I hope you get to take a road trip soon!🤗
If you put cut up carots and celery in salted ice water they'll stay fresh and crisp for days. I learned that in Home Ec years ago. Just make sure the container is closed tight.
Wow, Judy! I’m glad Home Ec tricks still come in handy. All I learned in mine was how to make a lemon meringue pie. Don’t think that will keep too well on the road!
So much to comment on! Love the photo and the memory. Funnily enough, my hubby & I road tripped around the southwest after only knowing each other a few weeks also. It made us stronger, let's just say that :) Really love your ideas about food when on the road - esp the neat ice pack trick. I will def try that out. Can't wait to hear more about the trip and wish you both a Bon Voyage!
Thanks so much for your comments, Ginger! How interesting that you and your hubby went on a southwestern trip after a few weeks together also. It really does teach you a lot about the other person being together 24/7! I sometimes think we’re at our best traveling; it’s staying home that’s the challenge.😆 I’ll definitely be writing a few letters from the road. We’ll see how well our best-laid plans work out.
Fantastic post! I now have a hankering for diner food, specifically a chocolate milkshake. But what a great idea to bring some produce along. I hate that feeling of having eaten out one too many times. To avoid it, Nick and I have started having a big breakfast and skipping lunch most days when we travel! (I keep thinking about doing a post on this...I have very strong feelings about why lunch is inferior to other meals.)
Oh, thanks, Sam! Please do that post! We tend to skip breakfast and eat lunch, but I actually like breakfast better and think it sets you up for the day better. When you eat a heavy lunch, you want to sleep, not drive--not such a great result on a road trip! I’d also love to read about your favorite breakfasts to eat out and to make!
Yes, exactly! Similarly, if you’re on a non-road trip vacation, lunch is it cuts into prime activity time!! If I’m enjoying a museum or walking around a city or lounging on the beach, I don’t want to be bothered with finding a place to sit down and eat 😂
Great idea to include something about fortifying breakfasts in such a post...it’s implorant to get breakfast right if you’re skipping lunch! I like to eat something savory and hearty with a sweet pastry and a cappuccino, personally.
I agree about not wanting to bother with lunch when you’re in a museum--maybe just coffee if you run out of steam!
Your breakfast sounds delicious! Since you travel so much, it would be interesting to read about breakfasts in some of the places you visit. I wonder what’s a typical breakfast in Egypt or Cyprus. It’s such a fun topic I may write about it myself one of these days!
One of our coolers has now been repurposed as a damp locker for Allen’s ceramics “works in progress”.
Make sure you don’t leave any food in the car overnight? Did you see the report of the bear who locked him/herself into a truck when he/she smelled dog food then hit the auto lock so it couldn’t get out?
I was going to suggest filling plastic bottles and using them as freezer packs, but someone beat me to it. Looks like you got a lot of good advice. Start packing!
Definitely a good idea, Judy! Those little cubes melt too fast and larger blocks last a lot longer. I do think you tend to stop a lot on the road out of necessity, so it’s not all that hard to replenish everything.
Taking a cooler is sound advice from your sister-in-law. It's just nice to have snacks handy when your stomach begins to talk to you! I'm with you on that all-important morning cup of coffee. Enjoy the travels Ruth.
Thanks, Vicki! We’ll see how it all works out. A month’s s long time and the best intentions tend to melt along long windy roads in furnace conditions! But we can always try!😊
I do struggle with food on long road trips! We've always sought out good local eateries (Jane and Michael Stern's Roadfood was a godsend in pre-Internet days) These days, it's amazing how many unpromising small towns boast Thai restaurants and sushi joints. I do bring sandwiches and snacks from home, but once these run out, it's good to know that there are options.
Thanks, Annette! I used to listen to Jane and Michael on The Splendid Table and salivate. It will be interesting to see how much the food scene has changed--hopefully there will be more healthy and interesting options than in years past. I hope you're feeling better!
I just got my Coleman out. I freeze refillable plastic bottles with potable water as icepack (bonus: a cooling treat as it melts) I love to pack a ready-to-eat meal salad (veggies, grains, protein- dressing separate) so my first meal on the road sets the tone….of course there are favorite culinary haunts that will override that plan on occasion. 😛This time the senior pup coming, so some cooler real estate will be for his home-cooked dog food!
Such good ideas, Jean! Packing a readymade salad to start the trip out right sounds like a great plan! Aren’t you leaving soon? Please send or post a picture of the salad and the “senior pup” and I’ll include it in my next newsletter! And Bon Voyage!💕
Thanks, Crowden! I actually wrote about the Aeropress sometime ago after my cousin's husband made me the most incredible coffee from his device, but for some reason I never bought one. Here's a link to the piece in case you're interested: https://ruthtalksfood.substack.com/p/tales-of-a-coffee-geek
Just read it. And ... you've personally sparked a future Letter. I'm not a coffee geek - I'm a coffee artist. Literally. But that'll have to wait until after The Search for Rosie - Part 2!
Great feature, Ruth! I love the road trip eats. Big fan of the local diners along the way!
Thanks, Julia! I’m a big fan of diners too! Hopefully we’ll come across some good ones in our travels.
The photo of you two in the tent is wonderful. We have a little fridge in our car that runs off the battery. It’s good for cheese and fruit, also milk for coffee. Most of the space is usually taken up with beer though.
I’ll have to look into that fridge that runs off the battery. It sounds promising. Some cold beer or wine might not go amiss with cheese and crackers at a roadside picnic. Thanks so much for your comment, Marg!
Wow, I loved reading this one! I'm fascinated by other people's roadtrip foods.
It's been a little while since I've gone on a proper roadtrip. My most recent was punctuated by various off-road BBQ stands in Tennessee + Mississippi, so ... maybe not the healthiest situation in the world.
When I'm good about planning, though, I also love the pre-cut and portioned veggies approach, especially bell peppers and sugar snap peas to break the monotony of celery and carrots. They're delicious and I get to feel a little self-righteous at the same time ;)
Thanks, Emily! I also appreciated the mention in your newsletter! Your tips are really welcome. I am going to take along some of the veggies you suggest. I particularly love snap peas and maybe some mini sweet peppers. Carrots and celery do get a bit monotonous!
I can see we need to do some traveling in the south and try some of the roadside barbecue! It is those unexpected little places you come across so different from what you know that make road travel so much fun! Thanks again for your comments. I hope you get to take a road trip soon!🤗
Have you checked out Wall Drug yet? If not for the food, the weird-ass mannequins are 💯 percent worth stopping for.
Thanks, Amie! I really appreciate the tip. We’ll definitely be checking it out. Stay tuned!
If you put cut up carots and celery in salted ice water they'll stay fresh and crisp for days. I learned that in Home Ec years ago. Just make sure the container is closed tight.
Wow, Judy! I’m glad Home Ec tricks still come in handy. All I learned in mine was how to make a lemon meringue pie. Don’t think that will keep too well on the road!
So much to comment on! Love the photo and the memory. Funnily enough, my hubby & I road tripped around the southwest after only knowing each other a few weeks also. It made us stronger, let's just say that :) Really love your ideas about food when on the road - esp the neat ice pack trick. I will def try that out. Can't wait to hear more about the trip and wish you both a Bon Voyage!
Thanks so much for your comments, Ginger! How interesting that you and your hubby went on a southwestern trip after a few weeks together also. It really does teach you a lot about the other person being together 24/7! I sometimes think we’re at our best traveling; it’s staying home that’s the challenge.😆 I’ll definitely be writing a few letters from the road. We’ll see how well our best-laid plans work out.
Thanks for mentioning my ideas Ruth! It’s gonna be a fun and memorable trip for ya both! We will be with ya in spirit!
Thanks, Mindy! Wish you guys were going with us for real!💕
Fantastic post! I now have a hankering for diner food, specifically a chocolate milkshake. But what a great idea to bring some produce along. I hate that feeling of having eaten out one too many times. To avoid it, Nick and I have started having a big breakfast and skipping lunch most days when we travel! (I keep thinking about doing a post on this...I have very strong feelings about why lunch is inferior to other meals.)
Oh, thanks, Sam! Please do that post! We tend to skip breakfast and eat lunch, but I actually like breakfast better and think it sets you up for the day better. When you eat a heavy lunch, you want to sleep, not drive--not such a great result on a road trip! I’d also love to read about your favorite breakfasts to eat out and to make!
Yes, exactly! Similarly, if you’re on a non-road trip vacation, lunch is it cuts into prime activity time!! If I’m enjoying a museum or walking around a city or lounging on the beach, I don’t want to be bothered with finding a place to sit down and eat 😂
Great idea to include something about fortifying breakfasts in such a post...it’s implorant to get breakfast right if you’re skipping lunch! I like to eat something savory and hearty with a sweet pastry and a cappuccino, personally.
I agree about not wanting to bother with lunch when you’re in a museum--maybe just coffee if you run out of steam!
Your breakfast sounds delicious! Since you travel so much, it would be interesting to read about breakfasts in some of the places you visit. I wonder what’s a typical breakfast in Egypt or Cyprus. It’s such a fun topic I may write about it myself one of these days!
One of our coolers has now been repurposed as a damp locker for Allen’s ceramics “works in progress”.
Make sure you don’t leave any food in the car overnight? Did you see the report of the bear who locked him/herself into a truck when he/she smelled dog food then hit the auto lock so it couldn’t get out?
No, Ellen, missed that one! Yikes! Poor bear! Good advice! They have an incredible sense of smell!
And major kudos to you for the camping.
Thanks, Ellen. We’ll see if we really do it!
I was going to suggest filling plastic bottles and using them as freezer packs, but someone beat me to it. Looks like you got a lot of good advice. Start packing!
Definitely a good idea, Judy! Those little cubes melt too fast and larger blocks last a lot longer. I do think you tend to stop a lot on the road out of necessity, so it’s not all that hard to replenish everything.
Taking a cooler is sound advice from your sister-in-law. It's just nice to have snacks handy when your stomach begins to talk to you! I'm with you on that all-important morning cup of coffee. Enjoy the travels Ruth.
Thanks, Vicki! We’ll see how it all works out. A month’s s long time and the best intentions tend to melt along long windy roads in furnace conditions! But we can always try!😊
I do struggle with food on long road trips! We've always sought out good local eateries (Jane and Michael Stern's Roadfood was a godsend in pre-Internet days) These days, it's amazing how many unpromising small towns boast Thai restaurants and sushi joints. I do bring sandwiches and snacks from home, but once these run out, it's good to know that there are options.
Thanks, Annette! I used to listen to Jane and Michael on The Splendid Table and salivate. It will be interesting to see how much the food scene has changed--hopefully there will be more healthy and interesting options than in years past. I hope you're feeling better!
Getting there, Ruth! Mostly just a bit tired. :)
Love the black and white picture of you two in the tent!
Thanks, Susan! It’s a fun memory, even the collapsed tent!
Great read as always💙 and timely, as I kick off my WA to CA road-trip soon!
Thanks, Jean! Any tips you have are welcome--or I guess I'll glean a few from what you post along the way!😘
I just got my Coleman out. I freeze refillable plastic bottles with potable water as icepack (bonus: a cooling treat as it melts) I love to pack a ready-to-eat meal salad (veggies, grains, protein- dressing separate) so my first meal on the road sets the tone….of course there are favorite culinary haunts that will override that plan on occasion. 😛This time the senior pup coming, so some cooler real estate will be for his home-cooked dog food!
Such good ideas, Jean! Packing a readymade salad to start the trip out right sounds like a great plan! Aren’t you leaving soon? Please send or post a picture of the salad and the “senior pup” and I’ll include it in my next newsletter! And Bon Voyage!💕
Will send it to you- we go Sat. ❤️🐕🎶🌸
Can’t wait to follow along!!!👏💕🤗💐
I've got that same Hario (and about a dozen other coffee devices ...). I recommend checking out the Aeropress if you haven't already. For sure, it's the most foolproof way to make perfect coffee. It'll amaze you. https://aeropress.com/products/aeropress-coffee-maker?gad=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw4ZWkBhA4EiwAVJXwqbd5R3DmgkNDz81rJnyzgv0FO4FKoMuuB_Uf9k45-d9zoS8DcW4voRoCciwQAvD_BwE
And ... might that burger in Cambria be from Linn's Easy As Pie Café?
Thanks, Crowden! I actually wrote about the Aeropress sometime ago after my cousin's husband made me the most incredible coffee from his device, but for some reason I never bought one. Here's a link to the piece in case you're interested: https://ruthtalksfood.substack.com/p/tales-of-a-coffee-geek
Just read it. And ... you've personally sparked a future Letter. I'm not a coffee geek - I'm a coffee artist. Literally. But that'll have to wait until after The Search for Rosie - Part 2!
Yes you are, Crowden! Can't wait for both Letters!🚗☕️
I will dream of grilled cheese and eat carrot sticks instead.
Ha ha! That will be some feat of willpower!