Giving Thanks and Paleo Food Ideas For The Road

I must say that I am looking forward to this year’s holiday season more than usual, I really think the collective “We” can use it. I love seeing all my friends posting and talking about things they are thankful for. Whether your gratitude list is long or short, it is a wonderful perspective to have. Give me some love perspectacles any day.

Nothing says love your neighbor more than Christmas lights and holiday cheer. My brother has declared that there will be a “smokers section” in his backyard for everyone who smokes or wants to talk politics on Thanksgiving Day this year. And none of us smoke.

Thanksgiving doesn’t rank as high as Christmas for me as far as spending time with my family, especially because my son used to spend it with his father’s family at the beach cabin. I would use this 4 day weekend as an excuse to get out town instead.

Over the years I have taken road trips, usually drives around the Olympic Peninsula or down to the Columbia Gorge for hiking.

Oh, don’t think I’m the only one who abandons family for T-Day. My mom is in Costa Rica this year and my baby bro will be in Arizona with his wife’s family.

This year will be a blend of Home For the Holidays and getting away as thankfully Thanksgiving is one of the two days per year my son’s work is closed. I am grateful to have him at the family get together, he has missed quite a few having a starter job with no vacation opportunities. So, I’m not off the hook from cooking for the big dinner and I’ll be packing for a road trip, as well.

Because I have a large family (even if a few are missing) we do a potluck style dinner with the host usually providing the bird and everyone else the sides. I am almost always the one providing the vegetable. I used to do the mashed potatoes, too, but other than the obvious reason of not eating potatoes anymore, my family stopped trusting me to the job after the year I hid a head of cauliflower in them. No one noticed, I probably shouldn’t have said anything…

So, this year it’s Brussels sprouts. Because I will be hiking Thursday morning before the big feast, I prep in advance in the dish, cover with foil and stick in the fridge so I can just pop it in the oven Thursday afternoon. I mentioned this dish in my post Mandarin Ginger Brussels Slaw and you can vary the oil to suit your tastes. Bacon fat or coconut oil work well, too. Just bake at 350 degrees until the sprouts are soft, about 20 minutes.

And as for my road trip, I tend to pack a cooler with food and plan to eat out once of twice. I spent the last few nights making things that pack nicely in the cooler like my Basil Sausage Egg Muffins and my Pumpkin Spice Porridge.

When not as worried about carrying weight in a pack, I will throw together ingredients such as canned salmon, kalamata olives, oregano, mushrooms, rice noodles and olive oil for a meal that is as easy as boiling water for the noodles and can be prepared all in one pot.

I’ll be taking another one I made up for my road trip this summer to Colorado based on my coleslaw recipe . You just toss canned chicken, sunflower seeds (not pictured), lemon juice, coleslaw, tarragon and olive oil into a gallon Ziploc bag, shake and eat.

I’ll pack some fruit and nut butter and vegetables with guacamole (that will go in the jar).

There are more ideas for packing a paleo cooler on my page, Day Hiking Paleo. Hopefully, tonight I’ll be baking some Garlic Cilantro Crackers and Double Chocolate Banana Bread, as well. Gotta use up that stash of aged bananas in the freezer!

Repurposed coconut oil jars make great ice blocks for the cooler, FYI.

Well, I hope all of you will be spending tomorrow with family and friends and are feeling thankful for all that you have. Don’t be afraid to tell those close to you how much they mean to you and cherish the time that you have with them.

And don’t forget to #OptOutside on Friday!

This was the hike I did last year on Thanksgiving morning: Mt. Pilchuck T-Day. What a beautiful day! I don’t think things will be that nice this year but it will still be good to get outdoors. You may find me at one of these hikes doing a little preburn before the weekend: