The Best and Worst of 2016: Our First Year of Full-Time Travel

I know I'm late to the party, but can you handle another 2016 recap? 

There's been plenty of commentary on the anger-filled upheaval that was 2016, and while politically it was a pretty negative year, personally, it was an overwhelmingly positive one.

It's early January and we are back in the US for a short visit after completing our first nine months as full-time travelers.  It's weirdly symbolic because it feels like I've been in a strange incubation period waiting to see how this was all going to turn out.  Could I really leave the security and comfort of a real job, a house full of beautiful things and a nice car?

Spoiler Alert:  YES, easily, as it turns out.

So, how did we do in our first year on the road?

Since April, we visited 24 countries across Europe and walked over 2,000 miles, each with just a 44 liter backpack.  We had a lot of firsts, including participating in a language camp in Spain and petsitting in the UK.  We attempted, but failed to hit our target budget of $100 per day, but it ended up at a not-too-terrible $125.  

We learned a ton, including how to score a great Airbnb at a reasonable price, when is a shirt is truly dirty and more European history than this nerd ever thought possible.  I discovered the kindness of people everywhere (especially Jonas in Tallinn, Francesco in Trieste and Irina in Varna) and the douchey-ness of Hungarian train guards.  I lowered my expectations and became grateful for a simple cup of hot coffee or a shower where I don't have to wear flip-flops.  I developed an appreciation for places that are not perfectly manicured and filled with touristic delights.

It definitely wasn't all sunshine and rainbows, and since no one really wants to read only about the amazing things that happened, I'll toss in the low points as well.  

Favorite Cities

Looks like a fairytale, feels like a fairytale

Paula's Winner: Ljubljana/Lake Bled, Slovenia

I wrote about Slovenia in a previous post and despite visiting it relatively early in our trip, it still stands in my mind as the best place we experienced.  From the fairytale beauty of the lakes and mountains of Lake Bled to the friendly and charming university city of Ljubljana, Slovenia completely won me over.  

Paula's Runners Up:

• Budapest, Hungary (A tourist's dream! A beautiful, romantic destination with so much to see and do (Spas, Parks, Museums, History, Nightlife).  All this, plus super affordability make Budapest feel like Paris without the high prices.)
• Tallinn, Estonia (A well preserved old town plus an incredible foodie scene with the friendliest people and low prices... what are you waiting for?!)
• Bilbao, Spain (A tremendous combination of the natural beauty of N. Spain, outstanding food, the super fun party zone that is Casco Viejo AND the amazing Guggenheim.  GO, immediately!)

Perry's Winner:  Innsbruck, Austria

The train ride from Zurich to Innsbruck has to be the most scenic we have had the pleasure of experiencing... and that is just the beginning.  When you arrive in this incredibly picturesque location, try not to gape and gawk with your mouth open as you walk through the beyond-adorable Old Town surrounded by snow-capped mountains and turquoise blue streams.

Perry's Runners Up:  

• Tallinn, Estonia
• Ljubljana, Slovenia
• Zurich, Switzerland

Least Favorite Cities

Paula's Winner: Bucharest, Romania

I really tried to find the bright side here, but the city is so grimy and run-down that it was just one disappointing day after another.  Ick.

Paula's Runners Up:

• Bratislava, Slovakia
• St. Petersburg, Russia

Pretty much sums it up

Perry's Winner: Bucharest ,Romania

Perry took the photo above which he feels summarizes Bucharest.  Pressed for further comment, he was quoted saying:  'In a word?  Depressing.'  

Perry's Runners Up:

• Zagreb, Croatia
• Lisbon, Portugal

Best Airbnb

Winner: Sofia, Bulgaria

We stayed in 35 Airbnb apartments over the course of nine months, so it was tough to pick an overall winner because we were lucky enough to find so many nice places.  Also, there are many factors that make up a 'great' stay.  From the host to the location to the comfort of the beds to the cleanliness, different Airbnb's stand out for different reasons.  For example, the bed we slept in in Santiago de Compostela was better than all the beds I've ever owned and even some fine hotels.  

This place in Sofia ticked all the boxes for us.  Located in an upscale suburb, this brand new apartment had all the bells and whistles and was definitely the nicest place we stayed, plus the bed was super comfy with nice sheets and pillows.  However, it was the location with a view of Mount Vitosha outside our balcony, the grocery store directly below us and metro right on our doorstep that made it simply perfect.  Oh, and did I mention the host was a super friendly guy AND it was really inexpensive?

Runners Up:

Here are a few more great places to consider if you are visiting any of these locations.

• Budapest, Hungary (inexpensive, yet beautifully furnished and location right on Vaci Street/metro made it tourist perfection)
• Brasov, Romania (quality furnishings and comfortable bedroom with view of Mount Tampa, plus the BEST host)
• Bilbao, Spain (location in Casco Viejo was unbelievably fun and exciting)
• Lisbon, Portugal (large space with gorgeous hardwood floors and uber-modern kitchen made us never want to leave despite not loving Lisbon, the city)

Worst Airbnb

Winner: Split, Croatia

Like I said earlier, we were really lucky and didn't stay in too many crappy places, but there were a few, like this one.  I went against my better judgement by booking a place without reviews, and boy, did we pay the price.  From the overwhelming mold smell in the kitchen to the waterlogged bathroom floor to the dirty blankets to ant infestation, this place totally sucked.  The only saving grace was its location near the beach and Diocletian's Palace.  

Making matters worse, our friend Alison came to visit us here, but thankfully, she was incredibly understanding.  

Runners Up:

• Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina (super nice host but damp and moldy bedroom forced us to sleep on a sectional sofa)
• Bratislava, Slovakia (ok apartment, but super run down location and a 30 minute walk to the nearest grocery store)
• Marseille, France (cute old building, but unusable kitchen and scary shower)

Best Moments

Besos mis amigos!

Winner: Diverbo Language Camp in La Alberca, Spain

Talk about gobsmacked!  I expected an exciting experience, but who knew it would be so life changing?

Perry and I met 52 people (27 Spaniards and 25 English speakers from all over the world) and quickly bonded with all of them over the course of seven mind-blowing days filled with social activities (1:1 conversations, group discussions and entertainment) and many late nights with music and drinks.  We volunteered to help the Spaniards improve their English and they returned the favor to the Anglos by gifting us heartfelt stories, bawdy laughter, and lifelong friendship.  

Guess who ended up the bigger winners?

Runners Up:

There are so many.. I could go on and on, but these really stand out to me.

Toasting our trip.. then along came a special friend.

• Toasting with Peg and Gary while overlooking the spectacular cliffs of Pwlldu Bay in Wales, then having three gentle ponies and a dog join us!

Blondes like Gary... or does Gary like blondes?  :)

• Mountain hikes (Mt. Vitosha/Bulgaria, Cadair Idris/Wales, Mt. Tampa/Romania)
• Glamping at Lake Bled, Slovenia and riding the Alpine Slide
• Lunch with Jonas and friends at Rataskaevu 16 in Tallinn, Estonia
• Visiting Eagles Nest with Jeremy and Jennie near Salzburg, Austria  
• Day trip to Brac Island with Alison in Split, Croatia
• Plovdiv, Bulgaria Folk Festival in the ancient Roman Theatre at sunset
• Strolling the Danube at sunset our first night in Budapest, Hungary
• Attending the Kirov Ballet in St. Petersburg, Russia
• Nordkette Cable Car to the top of the mountain in Innsbruck, Austria
• Swimming in the cold mountain runoff outside of Mostar, Bosnia & Herzegovina

Worst Moments

Winner: Paula's panic attack walking back to our hotel late at night in St. Petersburg Russia  

I wrote about this in a previous blog post and it still stands as the worst experience I had on the road.  The culmination of a frustrating ordeal getting into the country, followed by being disappointed at how run down the city was, and creeped out by the nasty looks we were getting on the street when we spoke to each other in English brought about a full-on freak out that ended only after I polished off a Big Mac.  

Runners Up:  

We were truly disaster free in 2016 with relatively minor issues to report.  The good news is that they make for entertaining stories.  

• Getting lost and stumbling into a scary Gypsy camp in Belgrade, Serbia
• Six-hour un-airconditioned train ride from Plovdiv to Varna, Bulgaria in 100F heat and having to stand in the aisle to hold the window down the entire trip because it was broken.
• Walking to the train station through the seediest part of Bucharest, Romania to buy tickets, subsequently leaving without tickets due to chaos in ticket hall and then getting ripped off by a taxi driver trying to return to our apartment.

Living on the Road: The Best

Paula: Exposure to so many different people and places has been humbling and inspiring.  Plus, experiencing something new every day- whether good or bad- has really tested me mentally.   Not knowing what the day will bring is exhilarating but at times can be exhausting, too. 

Perry: The ability to learn an incredible amount without really trying.  You are getting an education by virtue of just being there.  Oh, and cat cafes.

Living on the Road: The Worst

Paula: People not sharing the sidewalk.  Dirty bathrooms.  Unpredictable hours for restaurants/grocery stores.

Perry: Not having regular access to a gym for working out.  Continually feeling like a dumbass for not speaking the local language.  

Thanks for reading everyone!  I really appreciate the kind words and support you have offered over the past year.  Look for lots of new and interesting posts in 2017 as we head to Asia for six months and a return to Europe later in the year.

Eating Well on the Road Part II: Kitchen & Shopping Tips for Budget Travelers

We've all been there.  Black beans is on your grocery list, so you head for the vegetable aisle only to find nothing.  You discover after much hunting, that black beans are housed in the international foods aisle with the Mexican food.  

Navigating an unfamiliar supermarket can definitely be a pain, but throw in strange new foods and a foreign language, and grocery shopping becomes downright challenging.  

Recently, I posted an article that offered some recipe inspiration to temper the unglamorous reality that is cooking on the road.  Building on that, today's post will delve into managing budget travel cooking, even when stuck with unfamiliar kitchens and grocery stores from around the world.

Taking Inventory

Despite my best efforts to seek out Airbnbs that offer full kitchens, I occasionally discover less-than-ideal circumstances.  

When this happened, I started by identifying exactly what I will be working with before heading to the store.  If there isn't a decent sized pot, soup or even pasta is off the menu.  Only a small frying pan?  I won't be making frittata.  No paring knife?  I will look for pre-cut veg or use veggies that are easy to break with my hands, like green beans, broccoli and cauliflower.   I try to focus on what I do have and adjust meals accordingly.  

I look to ensure I have plenty of aluminum foil on hand, as it is your best friend on the road.  It can be used to cover skanky pans or serve as an impromptu baking sheet when doubled/tripled.  I build up the sides on a sheet to broil cheese on stale toast- my hack version of Welsh Rarebit!  I also use it to store leftovers and wrap cut onions, lemons and the like.  It can transform the inside of a colander into an extra bowl.  No ice tray?  You can make ice with an empty egg carton lined with aluminum foil.

Finally, I search out whatever ingredients may be on hand.  Most places have salt & pepper, oil, vinegar and sugar, but sometimes I'm lucky enough to find various spices, pasta, rice, beans and other goodies.  I'll brainstorm for ideas (sometimes using the internet) and come up with a few days of meal ideas to get us started.  In this way, I am prepared to cook and not be tempted by every restaurant we pass on our daily walk.

Break the Rules

Sometimes, I use our kitchen woes as an excuse to throw the rules out the window.  For example, we had a particularly awful kitchen in Marseille, so we agreed to eat out more, but we also alternated these restaurant excursions with 'grazing dinners'.  

Perry is a big fan of this type of eating, with a combination of bananas, peanuts, carrots, figs, chocolate milk and dark chocolate his preferred choice.  Growing up in a 'meat and potatoes' household, the grazing approach has been a bit more difficult for me, but I've gotten more comfortable with it especially if it includes olives, baguette, cheese and wine.  Ok, AND chocolate!

Super Shopper

Navigating the grocery store can be equal parts anticipation and dread.  I look forward to seeing new items that are unique to whatever country I am in, however, it is frustrating trying to figure out what certain things are, or identifying alternatives when I can't find what I'm looking for.

My fellow American traveler friends, you need to get used to certain things in Europe when it comes to food.  

Instant Coffee.  I realize the following might be a deal breaker amongst the coffee purists out there.  First, you can't always count on a coffee maker in the places you stay.  Sometimes, you might luck out with a french press or cafetiere, but the most common coffee available in Europe is good ole Nescafe instant.  Look, I used to be a snobby coffee addict and still appreciate an excellent cup of joe as much as the next gal.  I definitely seek out a proper espresso-based drink from a cafe when I'm out and about.  

While I never thought I would learn to enjoy instant, the cost and availability make it a necessity.  Life's too short for bad coffee you say?  Well, a gal's gotta do whatever it takes to be a long-term budget traveler.   I weaned myself to instant with Starbucks Via in the beginning, but the price forced me to get on the regular instant coffee bandwagon... and I'm still alive (and happily caffeinated) to tell the tale.

Don't knock it til try it... or are desperately in need of caffeine

Milk & Coffee Creamer.  Things started off well in Northern Europe.  Those delightful Scandinavians drink filter coffee and use regular fresh milk and creamer.  But, eventually, we began to move south and discovered shelf stable milk is the norm and the cream you find is the thick stuff used in cooking.  I had to give into the idea of shelf stable whole milk as my coffee creamer.  Guess what?  I'm used to that now, too.  We recently arrived in Germany where fresh milk is once again a normal occurrence and it feels so... luxurious!

Problematic Produce.  Yes, even in Western Europe it is common to see skanky fruit and vegetables.  Stuff that looks bruised, a bit dirty and might have bugs on it.  I'm used to it now, but it took me a long time to get over it.  The other produce issue I've I had is that I keep forgetting to weigh and print out the price before checking out with the cashier.  It was embarrassing the first time it happened, but I felt like a downright idiot the second and third time.  *Top Tip* Look for a scale and white stickers in the produce area OR look to see if there are numbers in the corner of the price per kilo card.  If bananas are code 10, it's a sign you may need to weigh and print out a sticker.  

But my biggest produce pet peeve? All the grapes have seeds.  GAAAAHHHH!

Mystery Meat.  Trying to decipher a multitude of foreign languages is difficult, even with Google Translate and then there are those countries that use the Cyrillic alphabet!  Now apply this to a package of meat.  Just when you think you know what a particular meat *looks* like, I can testify that I have confused cut up chicken and pork on more than one occasion.  Especially since the word for pork starts with 'C'.  

No issues with red meat, but that's because the prevalence of goat and horse meat in Europe means I have avoided red meat altogether.

It starts with a 'C' so maybe it's chicken?

Less Choice.  In general, you will have less to choose from on the shelf, but rather than a negative, I find it less overwhelming and easier to shop.  If there are too many choices (like bread for example), I look for the item that has the largest turnover.  If it's popular with the locals, it's probably for a good reason.

My Shopping List

When I select an Airbnb, I look for those that denote *full kitchens* including staples such as olive oil, balsamic vinegar, sugar, salt, pepper and the like.  You would be surprised how often you don't find these basic items, necessitating I buy them more often than I would like.  I started carrying salt & pepper in a ziplock bag because of this.  

However, if the basics are covered, here is what my shopping list looks like from week to week. 

• Instant Coffee (priorities)
• Legumes/Pulses (white beans or lentils)
• Pasta or Rice
• Can of tomatoes
• Chicken or Veggie Broth Cubes
• Cucumbers/Tomatoes/Avocado (for salad)
• Onion/Garlic (for satueeing)
• Carrots (for Perry to eat raw or to roast)
• Broccoli or Cauliflower (for roasting, stir fry or curry)
• Sweet Potatoes (for roasting, baking or curry)
• Parsley or Cilantro (Coriander)
• Spinach or Kale
• Lemon/Lime
• Fruit for Snacking
• Nuts for Snacking
• Dark Chocolate
• Cured pork product (bacon, chorizo, pancetta)
• Eggs (for breakfast or frittata)
• Milk (for coffee)
• Yogurt
• Local Cheese (try something new)
• Local Bread (try something new)

If I'm feeling low on energy, I'll pick up chicken, pork or beef, depending on how expensive it is.  As I've mentioned before, I tend to order meat when we eat out so I'm fine being having a more vegetarian focus with my own cooking.  Between the cost, prep, lingering smell (in a tiny apartment, eek) and clean up, I'm not missing it much.

Looking at the list, it seems like a lot!  In reality, I might not buy everything all at once, especially the veg so I end up making 2-3 trips to the store over the course of a week.  With our typical week-long stay, I'm getting better at managing inventory so we have little to no waste.  

Now that I've got a strategy for cooking and shopping, I no longer dread the whole grocery shopping experience and we are financially and physically better off because of it.

Thanks for reading!  

Next time on Gobsmacked:  My Favorite Walks in Europe

Eating Well on the Road Part I: Recipe Ideas for Budget Travelers

Eating out is one of my favorite things to do on the road.  Trying local foods is a great way to experience a culture, and the sights, smells and tastes of these meals are among my most vivid travel memories.  From cockles in England to cevapi in Bosnia to pastel de nata in Portugal, we've had some interesting food experiences that I will detail in a future post.

When you are a full-time budget traveler, however, eating out is something you do sparingly.  It is simply not sustainable from both a financial and health perspective.  

So, doing your own cooking becomes imperative, and while it is something I usually enjoy, there are times on the road when it really sucks.  The challenges are numerous, including inadequate cooking facilities/equipment, trying to find certain ingredients, and deciphering instructions in a foreign language.

At the beginning of our trip, I fell down with cooking more times than I care to remember.  In the year leading up to our departure, we only ate in and I began to develop ninja-like cooking skills, including mastering Pho.  So you can imagine my disappointment that I went from such culinary highs to serving bags of frozen veg with a jar of curry sauce.  Poor Perry, he always ate it up without complaint.

As time went on, I started to get my kitchen mojo back and picked up a few tips and tricks along the way.  I'm going to drop that knowledge and a few recipes on you, so strap in kiddies, here we go.

Salad

Ok, I get that salad doesn't provide much inspiration or imagination, but I wanted to ease into things.  We've seriously reduced our meat consumption as it's expensive and often a pain to prepare, but that's not to say our salads are completely vegan and lacking in protein.  I often use cheese, eggs and beans in my salads, and my favorite is one I picked up in Bulgaria: the Shopska.

Shopska Salad contains chopped tomato, cucumber and bell pepper.  It is topped with a simple lemon vinaigrette and parsley, but what makes it really special is the brined (salty) cheese mixed in with the veg.  In Bulgaria, it is similar to feta but more solid so it can be shredded as well as chunked.  A huge bowl of Shopksa and a skewer of chicken was pretty much my evening meal every night I was in Bulgaria.  

Not all of our salads are meatless, however.  While we have cut way back, I've found the selective use of meat adds big time flavor, transforming a boring salad into something delightful.  

Cured pork is my go-to, and luckily every country (except Bosnia) had some derivation I could use.  From bacon to sausage and lardons to chorizo, a quick fry up with a little onion tossed over a plain salad makes all the difference in the world.  

In Portugal and Spain, my favorite dinner was to fry up chorizo with onion and red pepper, then dump it over a bed of greens with cucumber, tomatoes and avocado.  Finished with a squeeze of lemon, salt/pepper and then served up with a big glass of Albarino or Rioja, I was one happy traveler.

Salad with chorizo and avocado

Soup

A wintertime favorite, soup is a frugal cook's best friend.  As long as I have chicken or veggie broth cubes, I have the power to transform humble ingredients into a savory and satisfying bowl of goodness.  

Lately, I've been baking up a squash and then cutting half of it into chunks while mashing the other half into a quasi-puree.  I add this to sautéed onions and leeks, although you could also use diced carrots, celery and even potatoes.  Pour chicken stock over the lot and simmer.  If you have an immersion blender (I've only come across 2 in the 27 Airbnb's I stayed in, so not an everyday device, unfortunately) and prefer a more uniform texture, you can puree until smooth.

Another favorite is Red Thai Curry soup.  Saute onion and garlic and cilantro (coriander) stalks a few minutes.  Fresh ginger, too, if you have it.  Toss in chicken now if you want meat.  Add chopped bell pepper, carrot and broccoli and stir fry until slightly softened.  Add a couple tablespoons of red curry paste, a can of coconut milk and 3-4 cups of broth.  Top with cilantro leaves and a squeeze of lime.

My favorite soup, however, is all about the lentils.  First, fry up onion and garlic until lightly brown,  then add some carrots and celery or even bell pepper.  If you are a meat eater, now is a good time to involve bacon, lardons or pancetta.  Add your broth and lentils and simmer until the lentils are cooked. Finally, throw in a can of tomatoes and a bag of spinach or other leafy green.  I usually finish it off with some parmesan, parsley and lemon.  If I'm lucky enough to have Mediterranean herbs such as oregano or basil, even better!  Super easy, with ingredients you can find anywhere.  

Lentil Soup

Eggs

I'm a huge egg person and they are my preferred morning food to keep hunger at bay during long walks after breakfast.

But I also use eggs for evening meals as well.  I make omelettes and frittatas fairly regularly, as they take kindly to a multitude of ingredients from veggies (zucchini, leeks, onion, bell peppers, mushrooms) to meat (ham, bacon, sausage) to cheese (parmesan, cheddar, gruyere, swiss).

However, my newest culinary secret weapon is Spanish Tortilla.  

Spanish Tortilla has nothing to do with the flour or corn tortillas you see in the US and Mexico.  The Spanish version is like a big, fluffy omelette, and typically served as part of tapas or Pinxtos where a small slice is placed on bread and topped with roasted red peppers or tomatoes.  I prefer to eat it for dinner and then serve the leftovers for breakfast.

Start by frying up onions, potatoes and garlic.  Feel free to add ham or chorizo, if you like.  Then, add the beaten eggs and then place a cover over the pan.  The trick is to cook gently over a lower heat than you might use for regular scrambled eggs.  The toughest part is to flip it over (using a plate) once it has just a slight wobble in the middle.  Don't worry if you break it, it will still taste great.  Season with salt/pepper and garnish with parsley.  Serve with baguette and drizzled olive oil.

Spanish Tortilla

Roasted Veggies

We don't always have an oven in the apartments we rent, but when we do, I'm a big fan of roasting vegetables.  In fact, we are on a huge roasted veggies kick right now and the thought of our next big batch of broccoli, cauliflower, parsnips, carrots and brussels sprouts browned to perfection fills me with giddy excitement.  

I realize that sounds a bit overly rapturous for discussing vegetables, but I'm telling you, it's the little things in life!  My cooking mantra is definitely Roast or GTFH. 

In addition to tasting freaking fabulous, root vegetables tend to be less costly, so they are also a budget travel hack.  As well as the ones mentioned above, squash and sweet potatoes are a couple more of our fave veggies to roast.  It's just so easy- take bite sized veggies, toss in olive oil and salt/pepper and roast at 190-200C/375-400F until slightly browned.  Sometimes, I throw in a handful of pancetta or lardons if we need to use them up, but really they don't need it.

A sprinkle of parmesan and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar would also be a divine serving finish.

If you want to get fancy, experiment with spices.  I love to roast colorful carrots seasoned with cumin and serve with a sauce of tahini, lemon, oil, salt and (more) cumin.  That is, if I'm lucky enough to find tahini which has only happened once, in France!

Colorful, economical and delicious roasted carrots!

Legumes/Pulses

Ah, yes, my favorite protein alternative to meat.  So healthy, so cost effective and SO delicious, legumes are a staple of the budget traveler!  Be it chickpeas, lentils or navy beans, I throw them in everything- salads, soups, etc. but my favorite recipes below allow them to take center stage.

One I love starts with a jar of lentils, for ease (in France, available everywhere!) but a bag of dry lentils takes about 10-15 minutes to cook, so either way, no biggie.  Fry up onion, garlic and your fave chopped/cured pork (bacon, lardons, pancetta, chorizo, etc).  If you are lucky enough to find thyme or herbs de provence, toss it in!  Add the cooked lentils and a handful of spinach or leafy green.  Finish with salt/pepper and lemon or balsamic vinegar.  The perfect side dish to serve with meat for a substantial meal or with bread (and wine) for a light supper.  

Chili is something you can easily make just about anywhere, but I'm partial to a soup/stew hybrid of White Chicken Chili.  Fry up chunks of chicken with onion, garlic and a green chili pepper if you can find one.  Yellow bell pepper is good if you have one.  Add chicken stock (more for soup/less for stew) and two cans of white beans.  Season with oregano and cumin if you have it or find a packet of gyro seasoning packet (a great hack at just .95 euro cents) and add half of it.  Simmer for a bit and top with fresh cilantro (coriander) or parsley or a squeeze of lime.

Photo Credit:  shewearsmanyhats.com

I also picked up a new recipe courtesy of my friend Sara in Switzerland.  Mix canned white beans and canned tuna with lemon, oil, salt/pepper and parsley.  Served with a baguette, it makes the perfect light lunch.

Curry/Stir Fry

It is a testament to the delicious popularity of Asian food, that my final staple is surprisingly easy to put together anywhere.

Stir frying veggies and serving with rice is super easy as long as you have some soy or teriyaki sauce, ginger and chili.  Anytime I can get my hands on sesame seeds, I brown them in the pan and finish off my stir fries with an extra hit of flavor.

Curry is another favorite and is vegetarian friendly, although you could easily add chicken.  My favorite recipe involves chickpea, sweet potato and spinach.

Start by frying up onion and garlic, then add diced sweet potatoes and cauliflower.  Once softened, add coconut milk, curry powder (or a combo or cumin, coriander, turmeric, mustard and cayenne) and chickpeas.  Right before serving, add two big handfuls of spinach.  Sometimes I add a can of tomatoes or peas, or you could substitute broccoli for the cauliflower.  If coconut milk and curry powder are not available, I will use a jar of curry sauce.  Whatever it takes to jazz up those veggies.

Photo Credit:  veganricha.com

Fake It Til You Make It

When it comes to flavor, I've had to hack my way to deliciousness.  As a traveler, my days of simmering bone broth, developing layered flavors and a fully stocked spice rack are long gone.

But I've picked up a few cheats.

Citrus.  I'm a HUGE fan of using citrus in cooking.  I've discovered a squeeze of lemon or lime over a soup, stir fry, or curry before serving is the secret to happiness.  It doesn't just taste of lemon or lime, it adds a dimension of complexity that makes such a difference.  Balsamic vinegar (or any vinegar) does something similar.  Give it a try... and a light touch... I promise your family will think you brought it home from a restaurant.

Fresh Herbs and Ground Salt/Pepper.  Another flavor hero is to grind fresh salt and pepper right before serving.  I don't always have it, but when I do, I make sure I finish off my seasoning at the table in the way.  This works similarly with fresh herbs.  Toss a few bits of parsley, cilantro (coriander) or basil over your dish and your taste buds will sing.  Especially effective when combined with a dash of citrus.

Seasoning Packets.  As a traveler, I've been pleasantly surprised by seasoning packets and the flavor magic they can work.  I didn't use seasoning packets very often in my previous life as I found them too salty and I preferred to customize my flavor.  However, on the road and without access to a full spice rack, these little babies can be very handy and cost effective.  I think the Maggi brand does a great job with not just the Gyro (mentioned earlier), but the Singapore Curry Noodle and Oriental 3 Spice are excellent in stir fries.  I plan to experiment with these more in the future.

Lunch Hack.  Not just a flavor hack, but a really great idea picked up from our friends and fellow travelers, Sarah and Adam from Discovery Awaits.

Take Wasa crackers, spread cream cheese and top with smoked salmon.  Salt/pepper, a squeeze of lemon and a leafy herb would take this to a heavenly new level.  Cue the singing angels.

Next!  

Now that you have a few ideas to whet your on-the-road cooking creativity, next time I'll map out some strategies for maximizing limited kitchen facilities and equipment, as well as a few tips for grocery shopping.  I'll even share my own shopping list.  

A guaranteed barn-burner, eh?

Thanks for reading!

Next time on Gobsmacked-  Eating Well on the Road Part II:  Kitchen & Shopping Tips for the Budget Traveler

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