Food That Travels Well

Food That Travels Well

Sometimes we have to travel for the holidays, and it can be tricky to transport dishes full of food without them tipping over or busting up on the long drive. So we came up with a list of food that travels well, whether you're heading across town or the country to join your family for a meal.

This recipe for Take Along Pretzel Salad sprang from my love of the Jello Pretzel Salad. I needed a take a cold salad to a function for my children and this is one of our favorites. I love that it can be made for individual servings. To make for easy transport, I line them up on a sheet tray and cover with plastic wrap or foil to help them from tipping over.

These Crock Pot Baked Beans from Baking Beauty are wonderful to let simmer in your crock pot for 4 hours on low while you get ready to go out of town. Beef, bacon and onions are just a few of the ingredients but this isn't a spicy dish. My slow cooker has a lock-on lid, but you could also set yours in a box stuffed with towels, to keep it from sliding around in the trunk.

Texas Caviar is what we call this, but I've also heard it called Black Eyed Pea Salad. It's a cold and refreshing mix of cilantro, black eyed peas, garlic, lemon juice and tomatoes that you serve with tortilla chips. Awesome on a hot day especially because you keep it cold until serving. I transport mine in a lidded bowl or gallon baggies (kept in a dish in case they leak) and usually inside a cooler if I'm going very far.

This Starbucks Raspberry Lemon Loaf from Baking Beauty is a copy of their pound cake with the cream cheese frosting. It is easy to make and has a stunning presentation when you slice it for serving. I let my loaf cool completely before I wrap it in foil and frost it on site; otherwise, I'll use my cake carrier that has a lid and locks and go ahead and frost it at home.

Mac and Cheese Muffins by Baking Beauty are always so easy to make and always a hit with every meal or party I've taken them to! This recipe makes 12 small muffins and most people eat 2-3, so keep that in mind depending on the number of people that will be attending. I let these cool and take them in a sealed container then you can warm them but it's not required.

Whether you like pumpkin pie or caramel, you will love these Personal Caramel Pumpkin Pies! These are great because they are already portioned for individual servings and they are great warm or at room temperature. I let mine cool completely before tossing them in a towel lined basket or bowl to take with me on the road.

Traditionally, casseroles travel well anyway, so this Hashbrown Casserole recipe by Lori's Culinary Creation works great! I even bake it in my 9×13 plan that has it's own lid and carrying case! Depending on how far you need to travel, you can keep it warm in the carrying bag or wrapped in towels, or simply slide it into the oven upon arrival.

Lori's Culinary Creation's version of Holiday Green Bean Casserole is always a requested favorite, plus you can make several dishes of it at one time to feed a crowd. Cover the pans in foil and warm in the oven before serving. These can even be made ahead of time and kept in the fridge!

These Lemon Dill Oyster Crackers are super simple to make; the only problem is making sure you make enough to reach your family meal! I usually double the batch. Any flavors will work, but this is our favorite kind. Let it cool and bag it up to take with you.

Cold salads tend to handle a car ride pretty well, so this Bacon Broccoli Salad by Baking Beauty is one of my “go to” sides if I'm going to a pot luck or family meal. Plenty of veggies, plus enough other yummy stuff to get any picky eater to dive right in. Simply place in a bowl with a tight fitting lid and keep it upright while you travel.