November 14, 2009

Around the World this Thanksgiving

Leading up to Thanksgiving, I've been thinking a lot about all the foods we've tried along our travel road, some exotic and wonderful and some strange enough to bring tears to the eyes of our little ones. And even though we've had so many amazing dishes along the way, when it comes to holiday cooking, I'm still whipping up the same old feast. Tradition is a funny thing...no matter how much you like or dislike it, it is really hard to break. I've never been a big fan of any of the Thanksgiving traditional foods, and yet every year I find myself in the kichen roasting the turkey and rapidly stirring the gravy. This year, I've decided to review some of the best and worst dishes we've tasted in our travels and incorporate some of them into my Thanksgiving feast...giving thanks, essentially, to travel. And, to share them with our readers as a little T-day gift, maybe this year the Crescent rolls or green bean salad can take a little holiday break!

Thmubs Up!
1. Put the Lime in the Coconut
One of the kids favorite dishes we've tasted on the road (or in the case I should say on the sea) originates in the tropical South Pacific. We first tasted Coconut Bread while on production filming Travel With Kids Hawaii. The Polynesian Cultural Center was grilling up the coconut bread in an outdoor oven and the kids went back for seconds, thirds, fourths...eventually the lovely hula girl came over with the recipe. I'm still not sure if she thought the boys would love to eat it at home or she wanted to save what was left of hers. It's got a mild coconut flavor and would be a great accommpaniment to a more exotic Thanksgiving holiday. For more information on Oahu and for other fabulous Hawaiian recipes, get the Travel With Kids Hawaii: The Island of Oahu DVD









2. Oui Monsieur!
On our trip to Paris, the kids fell in love with a staple sandwhich in France, the Croque Monsieur. It's a ham and cheese sandwich ala France, which means of course add lots of fat so it's entirely yummy! They actually coat the bread in butter and then dip it into a egg mixture before frying it up and let me tell you it's tres magnifique! This could be a great appetizer on T-day - cut into smaller squares of course! To take a virtual trip to Paris or to get other French recipes (including one for crepes, which was another favorite for our family), get Travel With Kids Paris.








3. Easy Peezy!
The national dish of Costa Rica is called Cosada and not only do our kids love it (we make it slightly different than the one we tried while on location in Costa Rica), but its easy and cheap! It's basically a mixture of beans, rice and tomatoes, and we throw in onions and cilantro for a little spice! I think we'll use this as a night before T-day recipe with some homemade tortillas, which the boys love to roll out! Find these recipes and learn more about Costa Rica on our brand new Travel With Kids Costa Rica DVD








May Make the Never List!
1. When most people think of luaus in Hawaii, they think of poi, the Hawaiian version of mashed potatoes, which are a grey mash of taro root. Surprisingly, the boys gave the poi the thumbs up. However, the blanc flavor and strange texture would put it on most people's never list, especially for holidays. However, we could make a variation involving squash or yams with lots of butter that may be just what the hula girl ordered, but experimenting on that will have to wait for next year.

2. Bangers and Mash...British food is not know for its culinary genius, so it's no surprise that heading up our list of not-to-be-served at our round the world holiday is this English staple. It's basically a mash of potatoes and beef smushed into a casserole dish and covered with brown sauce. Made correctly, and with some additional spice, it may make a good regular dish, but not for this T-day. However, when we were in production in London, the boys loved the tradition of afternoon tea, especially high tea with scones, cookies, little sandwiches and lots of treats. While we have fun putting on tea at home, holiday food is filling enough without adding another meal for the day. To find out more about Afternoon Tea or take a virtual trip to London, visit


So, I'm finding there are clever ways to incorporate all my new found recipes into traditional meals, creating new traditions; hopefully ones that my boys will pass on to their own kids. And, with all the places we've visited filming for Travel With Kids, the list could be endless. I am so thankful for all the opportunities we have had to explore this beautiful globe and all the interesting cultures on it, and by incorporating some of these recipes, I have the chance to say thank you.

So, now that you know how I'm, going to be changing my T-day up a bit this year, let me know what you do to celebrate. Any special meals or customs? And please, let me know if you use any of the recipes and how they turned out.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving from our family to yours.

September 28, 2009

New York - Culinary Cornucopia

I always loved that commercial where the cowboy said, "Where is this other salsa made...New York City?" Except that NYC sounded more exciting to me than camping out on the range with the cow hands. And wouldn't some of the best salsa in the States come from a place with "towns" named after countries from all over the world due to the cornucopia of immigrants there? Recently I got a chance to put my excellent food theory to the test on a trip filming Travel With Kids: New York.

Of course, the foods I was sampling weren't exactly considered gourmet (I was with kids after all), but its amazing how great a hot dog can taste from a cart in Central Park or a slice of pizza from the right Ray's Pizza. The kids found it fascinating too...a culinary feast for the senses to be sure. A visit to the Natural History museum topped with a stroll through Central Park eating hot dogs. Soaking in the surreal lights of Times Square after lifting off with chicken nuggets at Mars 2112...out of this world! Bargaining our way through the stalls of Chinatown (and bypassing the dead ducks hanging in the windows) to sit at an outdoor cafe scarfing pizza and sorbet in Little Italy. New York has it all...food and otherwise. We visited all the famous monuments...Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, FAO Schwartz, the U.N. as well as a few less visited. I think the kids favorite attraction was the subway though. Not a bad deal...$1 for endless entertainment. Kids or no kids, New York is a magical destination. So, I ask you...what are your favorite New York pairings...cinnamon almonds and FAO Schwartz, hot pretzel and Rockefeller ice skating, rocket pops and a stroll through Central Park Zoo? Delight us with your culinary duos! To see what we did on our trip to New York, visit TravelWithKids.tv or for a quick sample visit us on YouTube/TravelWithKids

July 30, 2009

Travel With Kids London

London is a great place for a family vacation. With its wide array of activities and attractions, there's something to interest everyone from kids to grandparents. Click the link below to get some great tips on planning a family vacation in London.
For more information on traveling to London or to make a virtual trip with your family, go to

July 15, 2009

Central and South America - Adventure for Kids too!

In today's travel climate, budget is a huge determining factor on deciding where to go. Central and South America have long been an adventure traveler's delight and low prices are a major reason why. And now, with the Internet and cel phones making remote places seem not that remote, and so many transportation and accommodation option, families are finding the lower Americas a great alternative to that same old USA vacation. In the off-the-beaten path locations like these, you can expect to find mid-range hotels for as little as $30-70/night...even less if you are willing to give up amenities like private bathrooms, air conditioning, location, etc. Spending a little more will offer uniwue opportunities like beachfront locations and remote nature lodges.

Some of our favorite Travel With Kids destinations have been in the Central and South America regions. Adventures that come to mind immdeiately - watching lava actually oozing down the side of Arenal Volcano from our hotel room in Costa Rica; finding bugs, bugs and more bugs on hikes through the Amazon Rainforest in Peru; hiking the last bit of the Inca Trail for the most brilliant view over Machu Picchu in Peru (and riding the fancy train to the trail head!); and watching turtles lay eggs on the beach of the Mayan Riviera in Mexico.

Combining adventure, nature and a budget these Central and South American options have given our family memories to last a lifetime and now they're more accessible than ever.

How We Got There:
We flew TACA Airlines to Costa Rica and Peru - They had great rates and the staff was superb with the kids!

Where We Stayed:
Arenal Observatory Lodge in Arenal, Costa Rica
Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel - Aguas Calientes, Peru
Refugio Amazonas - Amazon Rainforest, Peru
Zahra Beach Bungalows in Tulum, Mexico

To help you plan, check out our family travel documentary series:
Travel With Kids Mexico: The Yucatan & Mayan Riviera
Travel With Kids Costa Rica - due out Summer, 2009
Travel With Kids Peru - due out Summer, 2009

March 27, 2009

Moms Stay Free at FDR Resorts Jamaica

We stayed at both Pebbles and FDR While filming for our Travel With Kids Jamaica DVD available soon. They place was fantastic with VACATION NANNIES! Check it out.

FDR RESORTS, JAMAICA - MOM’S STAY FREE IN MAY 2009

Runaway Bay, Jamaica – In appreciation of Mother’s, FDR Resorts, owners and operators of the family oriented Franklyn D. Resort & Spa and Pebbles Resort on Jamaica’s north coast are thrilled to announce that Mother’s will Stay Free at their Resorts for the month of May. As a Thank You for all that they do, Mom’s vacationing at the Resorts - 1st May through 5th June, 2009 with their family will Stay for Free! Both FDR Resorts offer 2 Bedroom Suites which translate to more comfort for vacationing families and they are the only Resorts in the Caribbean whose prices include a dedicated Vacation Nanny for each family. She is the family’s Vacation Assistant and will spend as little or as much time with the family, helping out with the small hassles from rinsing out the kids swimsuits, ensuring the kids are fed and bathed to assisting Mom and Dad with planning out their daily activities, etc. With Mom Staying Free and a Vacation Nanny to help out, there is no better way to spend a family vacation and returning home feeling well rested and rejuvenated.

www.fdrholidays.com

March 23, 2009

New Travel With Kids Titles Coming Soon

Travel With Kids DVD series continues to expand. New titles set for release soon include Ireland, Florida and Caribbean Cruise. Jamaica, Costa Rica and Alaska are in post production. Check back soon for updates.

Travel With Kids to air in Poland

Poland has picked up season two of the Travel With Kids television series from Janson Media. See the mention in this press release
Here

Travel With Kids On Twitter

Well, we finally decided to start the Travel With Kids Twitter page. Figure the kids will be teenagers soon and we dont want to seem like old fuddie duddies. Yes, they are in kindergarten and 2nd grade, but we're trying to stay ahead of the technology with these kids! You can follow us on Twitter at Travel_WithKids