We have some upcoming road trips, and for each one we’re bringing our kitchen kit. Have you heard about these?
It’s basically a box, bag, or tote, of whatever tools you need to cook on the road.
Brilliant!
Because I don’t want to be reliant on restaurants and fast food - I want them to be a treat, not a necessity. Because I want the option of feeding my family what I want - which may mean making pasta for the kids while Brett runs out and grabs us some fancy take-out. Because I want to be able to easily cut up some fruit or make some eggs, without worrying what our cabin or vacation rental or extended stay hotel has for tools. And because the idea of eating out three meals a day for days on end makes my stomach hurt. And the idea of taking two small children to that many restaurants makes me want to just stay home altogether.
Plus, hungry toddlers (and adults) are the worst. I want to be able to have the option of making our own stuff when we need it.
Enter My Road Trip Kitchen Kit.
And your kit may look similar to mine, but it may look completely different, based on our cooking needs and dietary preferances.
For example, I only cook if I have access to a kitchen - so I don’t bring along any fire or propane related tools. I want to bring things to eat sandwiches, to prep produce (or salad), to make pasta (or soup!), to whip up some quesadillas, to scramble eggs, to fix a Build Your Own Breakfast Taco Bar, at a bare minimum. So that’s what’s in my kit.
I also want the option of making a quick toddler breakfast (and a nice cup of coffee) so that they can go on and do some play with their road trip toys while I leisurely wake/up and get ready. (Because while a lot of times we stay in Residence Inns with Brett’s Marriott Points and take full advantage of their free breakfast buffet, sometimes the hangry toddlers need a small something to eat from our kitchen before we can get down there.) Bless the Road Trip Kitchen Kit.
And because my parents own an Airstream, and they love to let us borrow it to explore the country. The Road Trip Kitchen Kit is so handy then, too.
So armed with the following essentials in My Road Trip Kitchen Kit, a trip to the grocery store, and the access to a kitchen, I love to have the option of making food on our adventures.
My bag:
I love this rolling bag. A dear friend recommended this bag, and while it’s made for crafting, the large size and the multiple pockets are divine for kitchen gear.
I also love these XL totes and these zippered, space-saving bags. Depending on where we’re going, I usually bring a few for our various bulky (but lighter weight) necessities like a roll of paper towels, our dishes (see below), our snacks, etc.
My appliances:
I bring my instant pot because of its ability to make a lot of our easy family favorites - pastas, soups, eggs, oatmeal, baked potatoes, etc. I’ll compile a list of our favorite travel meals soon!
If I have room in the car (slash depending on where we’re going and for how long) I may bring along my extra instant pot insert.
I also bring this handy gadget that diverts the steam so it’s not shooting straight up.
And I bring a lid like this that turns my old instant pot into an air fryer so if our hotel kitchen doesn’t have an oven, I still have the option of making some frozen chicken strips and veggies, or reheating some restaurant leftovers from lunch. (Or! Some potatoes for a Build Your Own Breakfast Taco Bar!)
Depending on the trip, I may bring this lid, too. Mainly so we can make Instant Pot popcorn. (Here’s our favorite things for gooooood popcorn at home!)
If I have room, I also love to bring something for grilled cheese, quesadillas, pancakes, eggs, etc. I recently invested in this indoor griddle/grill - after seeing people rave about it for eating well on the road, I knew we could put it to good use!
And, depending on how long we’ll be gone, the kids and I love egg muffins (like this!), so I love to bring along something that I can make those in - like a mini, mini muffin pan, or this Instant Pot Egg Bite insert.
My tools + containers:
Let me first preface this by saying at first I wanted a colorful set of tools because why not, but then I realized I wanted to match my color scheme at home: whites, woods, blues. So that way I could just repurpose beloved things I already had on hand. And so that way if and when we no longer need this kitchen kit, these tools would be so appreciated as new additions in my home kitchen.
tbd
some of my favorite deli containers
and/or leftover takeout containers
lots of kitchen towels + old burp cloths
and good tortillas - we never road trip without plenty of goooood tortillas
My dishes:
grab what I need from my disposable goods tub
I love these XL totes and these zippered, space-saving bags for our various bulky necessities like dishes and toddler things.
Brett’s coffee must-haves:
stay tuned!
but know I bring pre-ground coffee beans and reusable k-cups so that I can use a coffee pot or keurig if the cabin/hotel/airbnb has it - or if they don’t, I rely on Brett to make me a coffee with his set-up :)
My miscellaneous odds and ends:
painters tape + sharpie
condiments + spices, depending on that trip’s menu plan
salt, pepper, spices
my pinto bean seasoning I can’t be without
Trader Joe’s onion salt (my go-to for roasted veggies)
my favorite honey mustard packets for dipping sandwiches + chicken
ketchup packets we’ve collected
mini jams (I always have these on hand for my Decide Once birthday gift)
dishwasher detergent
dawn power spray for dishes + stain treating clothes
laundry bag + detergent
coin purse with quarters
a few trashbags, plastic bags
roll of paper towels
hand soap
clorox wipes, baby wipes, wet ones
a cooler or two, insulated grocery bags, and/or these massive totes we love - just depends on where we’re going and for how long!
Taaaaa daaaaaaa!
My Road Trip Kitchen Kit. AKA one of the biggest MVPs of our family - allowing us to explore where we want via car, and giving us the freedom to eat what we want, too.
Stay tuned for more road trip posts. :)
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