Flickr Photo Credit: Ninja Poodles

I think this is a super cheap but fun idea for dinner at the hostel.

Make one or two yummy heart warming soups and have a bunch of toppings available to spoon over the top. If you feel the need, include some bruschetta and a bottle of wine. I wrote an article on Wise Bread with ideas for more unusual soup garnishes, if you need extra inspiration. This is a  fun group participation travel dinner that’s sure to help you make friends on stay on budget with your travel dollars. Experiment with unusual sandwich ideas to include with the meal if you have a few extra dollars to spend.

Affordable soup recipes to consider:

• Mediterranean avgolemono soup
• Southwest pumpkin soup
• Old-fashioned split pea soup
• Meat lover’s cheeseburger soup
• Cajun healing soup
• Tomato basil soup
• Cabbage and barley soup

This post was submitted to the September 2, 2009 edition of Wanderfood Wednesday, the weekly travel themed food writer’s carnival.

Flickr Photo Credit: Ninja Poodles

In almost any country we’ve ever been in, the following items have always been available. . .  Sliced bread, butter and cheese. Throw in some lunch meat and a slice of tomato . . . meal complete!

It may not be the fanciest meal option when sharing a hostel kitchen, but the ingredient list is minimal. This is particularly helpful when you are changing locations every other day and do not want to spend a large chunk of your daily travel budget on items you will need to leave behind. If you are looking for something more elaborate however, you can check here for more sandwich ingredient ideas.

Flickr Photo Credit: Jetalone

Looking to pull off a night of affordable romance on the road?  

Needed: drugstore candle, bottle of wine, package of pasta, small bottle of olive oil, grated Parmesan, sauce option of choice, salad ingredients and a nice quality vinegar to go with the leftover olive oil.

Congratulations! you’ve pulled off a fairly decent night on the town . . . if you’re staying somewhere with kitchen facilities at least. A candlelight pasta dinner with green salad and vinaigrette is a nice break from street food and the hectic pace of traveling. If you are a couple on a long term travel agenda, you’ll need this from time to time.

Flickr Photo Credit: Moriza

With a huge loaf of French, Italian or similar type of bread and a selection of pot-luck filling options (peppers, sliced cheese, meats, condiments, etc.), this can make for a really fun gathering.

I was at a PTA meeting once where they did this. Everyone had a great time, and no one had to break from their budget goals. Add some fruit or other crunchy snack, some beverage options and paper products.

Your fellow travelers at the hostel will appreciate your throwing this evening activity together. Here are some additional sandwich ideas if you really feel like going the extra mile.

Have any pics or details from a dinner party you had on the road? We’d love to know about them.

This sandwich discussion was submitted to the September 23, 2009 edition of Wanderfood Wednesday.

Flickr Photo Credit: Blmurch

We hope to have this category grow to include some really nice yet simple meal ideas for use while traveling. For now, here are two quick ideas to have a little atmosphere with your nourishment.

In the park.

For this, you’ll need at least one collapsible travel cup, slim travel corkscrew, multipurpose tool, and if possible the large plastic cover from a coffee can (these are light, take up little pack space, and can be used as a plate or cutting surface). If you see a park or piazza that sparks your interest and it’s close to lunch time, hit the market and get the following items for an impromptu picnic. Wine, specialty cheese, bread or croissants, and fruit. Slice the fruit using the multipurpose tool and coffee can lid, spread the cheese on the bread, and uncork the wine. Simple romance at little more than a moment’s notice.

Flickr Photo Credit: Krossbow

Potato buffet.

This next idea is for an evening when you are at a hostel with kitchen access. Get a bag of baking potatoes and various topper options available at your location such as cheese sauce, broccoli, bacon, sour cream, chili, beans, scallions, etc. Scrub and bake the potatoes and set out the topper options with a spoon or two. Select an appropriate beverage for the evening. This idea would also be great if you have gotten to know your fellow hostel buddies. Everyone can bring an item or two  and join in for an easy social gathering at the end of the day. Here are more potato ideas for inspiration.

This post is part of the August 19, 2009 Wanderfood Wednesday carnival.