Travel Food Help Please

julie777

Speaking for myself, I could live on nuts and fruit! No need to chill, prepare or plan. Don't suppose everyone would agree though?;)

Maitane

I quite like making P! Bagnat for picnics, you can play around with the fillings to suit.
I know the French one is basically a salad nicoise inside a round hollowed out loaf or a hollowed out baguette but the one I used to make when I lived in Barcelona that seemed to be the one I got at the shops was:

Either a large round loaf (Like a grand rustique at Mr T's or something round that you can cut the top off then hollow out) or a hollow-out-able bread you like.

Tomatoes, a little garlic, olive oil and salt whizzed or mashed together so you can spread it all around the inside.

Chicken, ham, cheese and salad-y stuff you like on sandwiches, layered up.
Sometimes I'd drizzle a little pesto mixed with olive oil over before putting the top back on, wrapping it in clingfilm and weighting it good.

I know it's a sandwich still - but it's an interesting sandwich! Pain Bagnat is also tasty if you like salad nicoise.

I also like making a pie or quiche and if I'm at a festival where any kind of cooker is allowed (even a trangia), I always take a chorizo sausage, a leek, stock cubes and a packet of risotto rice. I'm sure you can see where that is going.. It tends to be for the later days though, especially as we go to Download and it's five days camping. Pot Noodle gets a little boring after the first one.
I also like taking dried pancetta and spagetti to make the old classic, spagetti and bacon. *drool* but make sure you take fruit or something that tastes fresh!

BigMummaF

We prefer to make our own variations so I take 'buttered' bread & rolls but keep the fillings in little tubs; people then can make the final decision of whatever they fancy. For example I'm partial to a little sliced onion in with my tuna or corned beef sometimes, while other days I go for just lettuce & cheese. I'm afraid I am one of those people who will bring home the sachets of condiments when they have been brought with my meal & already on the plate but I also have some little spice jars that are perfect for dollops of things.
Take flasks to use the kettle in your hotel room or do you have travel ones for the ciggie lighter in the car, to have hot water for a cup of soup or instant pot snack if you'd like a warming lunch? Even with the fridge, I'd be very wary of taking something like a rice salad or cooked chicken but I think veggie pasta & couscous is not so much of a danger. Perhaps a couple of tins of tuna so you could open them & stir thru, & I know folk use tinned chicken in white wine sauce for vol au vents but have no idea if you cook it first
May I suggest you have a look at the first page of the monthly Grocery Challenge as there are a multitude of recipes & links for things like biscuits, cereal bars & of course the notorious Twinks & you might find some inspiration from there.
I am so envious of your trip, so just make sure you have enough fun for the both of us OK

Thriftybynature

How about Anti-Pasta style for the second day? I was in Aldi/Lidl recently and got some jars of roasted peppers and artichoke hearts. There are lots of other jars and tins of stuff and even ambient packaging that would mean that you wouldn't need refrigeration. Tins of mixed bean salad, tuna salad, vac-pac salamis & meats (in the cooler), olives etc. Tinned potatoes mixed with sachets of mayo to make a pot salad. Make sure you have other (legally obtained!) sachets of stuff like mustards & other sauces. You can get some tortilla wraps in ambient packaging so they won't need refrigeration. It's more expensive than just sarnies but much nicer and cheaper than eating out. Make sure you add a nice tablecloth and pretend you are Italian! And don't forget the Prosecco if you are in Aldi/Lidl...

This is the basis for my 'emergency picnic' that I keep in the back of the car. We live in the Yorkshire Dales so if it's nice in the summer we can have a picnic tea after work at the drop of a hat.

Thriftybynature

Forgot about jars of Feta Cheese in olive oil (bought or even home made if you are organised) and jars of Rollmops and Gherkins. And those big salamis that you have to slice yourself.

I am sooooooooooooo hungry now!

Owain_Moneysaver

If you have some large thermoses of hot water you can produce noodles and other dehydrated foods (instant mash, dried peas, some cold meat from the coolbox and you have a hot meal). Or use hot water from the kettle in the hotel room and keep the food hot and cooking slowly in a haybox

If you are driving to the event you might be able to cook or reheat food on the engine block.

Owain_Moneysaver

BigMummaF wrote: »

I know folk use tinned chicken in white wine sauce for vol au vents but have no idea if you cook it first

No, just heat through. You can also get tinned mince in gravy, tinned curries, beef stew, etc. Would make toppings for rice cooked in thermos or baked pots on the engine block.

theonlywayisup

Cheats Coronation Chicken?

We use it for all picnics. Can stuff it into pitas too if you like them.

Roast a chicken, let it go cold and then strip it.

Put a small tub of plain yoghurt with 2-3 large tablespoons of mayo in a bowl. Beat well. Add curry powder/chilli powder to taste.

Add a tin or peaches/mangos or whatever fruit you like.

Plonk in the chicken. Stir well and chill. Bring to room temperture before serving, sprinkled with some flaked almonds.

You can either use it as a sandwich/baguette filling or eat on its own/with salad. We use those cheap camping Sporks (a knife, fork and spoon in one - always handy in the glovebox).

lisawood78

Thanks for everyones great ideas.
Am planning to use many of them, and got a Tesco order coming tomorrow with all the bits I need.

Will definitely be needing some warm food as we're off to Bonny Scotland and it's gone rather chilly this week!

Thanks again everyone.

babyshoes

If you are able to warm stuff up, then there is always baked beans and soup, either HM or from a tin.