Travel Through Your Kitchen

Since we can't physically travel this summer, we can do it another way -  through our kitchens. We can easily make dishes form different parts of the US and the world. It's a fun way to expand our palates and our repertoires.

Luckily there are cookbooks that can help us on our culinary journey.Try Priya Krishna's Indian-ish Recipes and Antics From  A Modern American Family. You can sip spicy chai drinks while enjoying dal or pulao.  The great Marcella Hazan left a phenomenal legacy in her Essentials Of Italian Cooking : A Cookbook.  You'll feel like you're at Lago Maggiore as you recreate her polenta and squab. Finish with a homemade Italian ice or granita as you play bocce in the backyard. If you're yearning  for bouillabaisse, there are several excellent Provencal cookbooks that you can upload to your Kindle.Enjoy the dishes of romantic Provence under backyard fairy lights. Want a week in Mexico, then buy Oaxaca: Home Cooking From The Heart Of Mexico by Bricia Lopez. This has hearty dishes of the home kitchen sort that can easily be recreated in yours. Author Kelly Kwok has The Asian Slow Cooker; Exotic Favorites For Your Crockpot. where you can make classic Chinese dishes while you sunbathe or garden.

If you had planned on an American road trip, not to worry. You can still make the same fried chicken you'd have in the South. It can even be made healthier by using your air fryer. You can fry okra and green tomatoes too. Wash down with sweet tea or mint juleps. Finish with a peach pie and homemade pralines. There are some excellent cookbooks such as Sweetie Pie's Cookbook Soulful Southern Recipes from My Family To Yours. So many head to New England for the beaches and seafood. You can easily get already steamed seafood at any local seafood restaurant or do the steaming yourself. Serve with cups of melted butter and lemon wedges.Of course there is the Jersey shore, and the famed boardwalks that dot many a coastal town. The Jersey  shore is known for its pizza and you can easily recreate it with dough already made and a good homemade sauce. Of course there's sausage and peppers. This is an easy saute piled on Italian bread. Mix it up with some red and yellow peppers. Finish with cotton candy  which you can buy the machine at Five Below and the sugars off of Amazon.

Turn your kitchen into a road trip. There's so many different cuisines you can try and pretend you're at the place where they originated. It's a fun staycation.

Meals On The Road

This is the season for travel- and with that means eating on the road . The question is what is better for you? Do you bring favorites with you? Or nosh in one of those rest stops?. There are plusses and minuses to both that benefit you and your family.

Not many travelers actually eat breakfast on the road.They usually have it at home, with favorite cereals and dishes. However there is the chance of having a very early start and that means eating on the road So , what do you do? If you have kids, then bring those cereal cups and those square boxes of milk like Parmelat.Both are easy to pack and  the little ones will enjoy their particular faves. Another idea is making toast sandwiches with butter and jam or croissants stuffed with jelly.For a healthier spin buy breakfast bars but read their ingredients before you buy them. Many are loaded with refined white sugar along with chocolate and even crumbled cookies. Go for the all natural, sweetened with honey or molasses.  Some vacationers like  hitting the  local diner before hitting the highway.You can get a heartier fare like French toast and sausages without leaving a mess in the kitchen. What about those roadside stands ? Drive on if it's a greasy spoon and just find a grocery to buy rolls and fruit. Some supermarkets  like Stop & Shop and smaller privately owned marts  have cafes where you can get coffee and tea too.

Lunch and supper are another matter. You've probably been traveling three or four hours when lunchtime rolls around. Everyone need some kind of break after sitting so long.  A multi restaurant rest stop like what  New Jersey has on our Parkway and Turnpike is salways the best choice. There's usually a food court featuring fast food chains however be judicious. Try to get the healthiest dishes such as salad or even spaghetti. Keep kids away from the ultra fried or  ultra  sweet. This is also a good time to stock up on  water  and unsweetened drinks like tea.Yelp is   going to be a big help when you veer off the main arteries. Look at reviews of local restaurants and diners and pick out the most suitable for your family and their needs.Another idea is gong to the local grocery store for cold cuts, rolls and drinks along with fresh fruit . This makes a nice, light dinner. It's also a good way to get the lay of the land, especially if you're renting a house in the area.You'll know in advance where to pick up groceries or get a slice of pizza.If you're still starveling by  supper time, then stop at destination's local mart for not only food but essentials like toilet  paper, dish and laundry soaps.

Travel means eating on the road.Try to eat decent balanced meals that are both taste and good for you.It makes for a comfortable trip that leaves everyone happy but not hungry!

Pack This Not That

This is the month when everyone will be on the road. That means more people will be eating on the road whether in a fast food places or from a cooler. Travelers will be wolfing down everything from chips, soda candy bars along with burgers fries and sodas. This isn't the best way to start a vacation. Eat healthy whether you're in transit or enjoying a day at the beach.

Fruit and veggies are perfect for snacking. They give you energy along with proper nutrition and vitamins. Think about packing grapes and plums for a fun sweet break on the road. Graham crackers and Saltines are also good for crunchy snacking. For savory think of chilled grape tomatoes along with broccoli and cauliflower florets.There are mini dips, small cups of dip that you can have with these last.You can also pack filled pita pockets . Try apple and peanut butter, or tomatoes and cheese. These also make great lunches .There's no grease or salt to weigh you down and make you feel bloated.

If you're thirsty nix the sodas and some juice.Try water and zero calorie energy drinks such as Fyxx Hybrid to keep you going on those long hauls. You;'ll feel energized and won't have the need to pull over to nap. Chilled milk is also good for you and the kids . Keep bottles in a cooler for a snack with fruit or even graham crackers.

This is the season for traveling. With that comes the need to snack during the long drive. Eat as carefully as you drive. You'll start your vacation healthier and happier.