We're getting ready again

[vanbrat]

We are getting ready to hit the road again maybe as early as next month. But maybe not until much later. UGH!!!
I am again thinking on what I want to pack as far as food goodies.
The usual cereal for breakfast and nobody wants me to go without my morning tea. But it has been decades since I have been to the desert so now, I need to think about what is good desert eats. For me tacos, don't know why but they just seem right. Hubby is easy just meat and tatos. I know I can't eat tacos for a month. I will get busy in the kitchen again and make cookies and such. I will precook some chicken meat and some ground beef etc. Also the usual canned soup ETC. I know we will be shopping too so I don't need to have 3 weeks' worth of food to start off with. Is there anything early spring that is locally available in Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. I know what is available here. But......

 

[bullfrog !]

I hit the Subway, it is open year round, when I am in town and get 2 eggs, sliced ham, slice of Pepper Jack cheese, red onion, bell pepper toasted on a 6” piece of flatbread, a little lettuce, 6 slices of tomato, a ton of banana peppers, salt and pepper with extra napkins cause it is juicy all for a little over $5 so I don’t have to cook or store stuff in a cooler! Lol!!!

 

[vanbrat]

That sounds yummy

 

[maki2]

Sandwiches are good for driving days. Ham, cheese, tuna, whatever. No cooking and minimal dishes. Peanut butter on crackers or peanut butter on apple slices or celery. A hard boiled egg is stick to your ribs and kills your hunger for lots of hours. Meals do not have to be complex, they just need to get you from point A to point B without feeling hunger pains.

 

[Happy Camper]

I hit the Subway, it is open year round, when I am in town and get 2 eggs, sliced ham, slice of Pepper Jack cheese, red onion, bell pepper toasted on a 6” piece of flatbread, a little lettuce, 6 slices of tomato, a ton of banana peppers, salt and pepper with extra napkins cause it is juicy all for a little over $5 so I don’t have to cook or store stuff in a cooler! Lol!!!

These new members. Am I right?

 

[bullfrog !]

Old and new I’m a little of both! Really it is a little less stressful being a new member nobody expects to know anything! Lol!!!

 

[Happy Camper]

I'm pretty sure you're not fooling anyone lol.

If they thought you didn't know anything before, then you don't have to worry about checking minds lol. Now if your new name was bullfrogullo, or b.s. frog, that might make a difference. Otherwise good advice is always good.

 

[vanbrat]

I was mostly wondering if there is a product that is mostly available in spring. Like the fresh pears early autumn in hood canal or the salmon that runs late autumn along the south end of the island here. What does the south west have that I can only find mid to late spring?

 

[bullfrog !]

Unfortunately in Arizona even with 3 growing seasons in certain areas it is mainly large corporate farming and those are exporting most of what they grow. You should see some farmers markets but they usually sell out fast. If you get to Utah/Colorado corn in summer, peaches and apricots with cherries as well in late summer, melons of all types, in September Green River Utah celebrates their world famous melon crop. Fruita Colorado has some great wineries due to surplus fruits (peach and cherry) and some local restaurants serve a peach glazed chicken dish that is yummy! New Mexico has chilies but I’m not sure when they start coming to market.

 

[rvwandering]

If you go as far south as Yuma you'll find fields of winter crops - lettuce, baby greens, cauliflower, broccoli, herbs, root vegetables, and kales.
Across the border in Algodones, street vendors sell asparagus and fresh shrimp from the Sea of Cortez.

 

[vanbrat]

You should see some farmers markets but they usually sell out fast. Fruita Colorado some local restaurants serve a peach glazed chicken dish that is yummy! New Mexico has chilies but I’m not sure when they start coming to market.

I am finding, sometimes, the areas that don't think they have anything really do. I found out that Montana seems to have lots of pork chop dishes. Didn't know that was a thing until we went there. Most of the restaurants seemed to have at least one pork chop dish offered. And of course a huckleberry dish. Here in the Puget sound seems most places have at the least one shellfish dish. Clams, muscles, crab. And at least one salmon dish. Puget sound, so yea sea food.
I like the sound of the chicken dish. I would never think to put chicken and peaches together I will have to try that one. Probably not in the early spring though no ripe peaches yet.
I will have to try and find a farmers market.
I have heard about roasted chilies in New Mexico and hope to find some and even bring a bag or 2 home.
I don't think they will be fresh though.

 

[vanbrat]

If you go as far south as Yuma you'll find fields of winter crops - lettuce, baby greens, cauliflower, broccoli, herbs, root vegetables, and kales.

I don't know if we are going that far south, but maybe....
We will be going through Salinas CA so we will maybe get some lettuce there and maybe Watsonville, but I don't think the artichokes will be ready yet.

 

[vanbrat]

Sandwiches are good for driving days. Ham, cheese, tuna, whatever. No cooking and minimal dishes. Peanut butter on crackers or peanut butter on apple slices or celery. A hard boiled egg is stick to your ribs and kills your hunger for lots of hours. Meals do not have to be complex, they just need to get you from point A to point B without feeling hunger pains.

I do that to, but I like to cook stuff that is "fancy" if we get to a spot early enough. Hubby has a hard time stopping that early though. He still thinks of a road trip as get from point A to point B as fast as you can. No stopping even for a minute. I am working on getting him to relax more and try to enjoy the journey too.

 

[maki2]

Sounds exactly like married life on the road.

 

[StacyK]

A food you’ll often find in small markets in the southwest this time of year is nopales or nopalitos—prickly pear pads. They are traditionally served on Fridays during Lent as a meat “substitute.” They’re a little tart and lemony and can be slimy if not prepared well. Good with green chiles on scrambled eggs with corn tortillas.

 

[vanbrat]

Sounds exactly like married life on the road.

Yep going on 46 yrs

 

[vanbrat]

A food you’ll often find in small markets in the southwest this time of year is nopales or nopalitos—prickly pear pads. They are traditionally served on Fridays during Lent as a meat “substitute.” They’re a little tart and lemony and can be slimy if not prepared well. Good with green chiles on scrambled eggs with corn tortillas.

Thank you. I will have to try those. Can't get those much here on my little island.