You can cut down on stops and expenses by making your own travel snacks. There are savory and sweet recipes that are not only delicious, but also easy to make. You can even have your kids help you make no-bake chocolate clusters. Additionally, you can package the clusters, granola and trail mix in individual bags for each traveler in your car.
Burger Bread
- These burgers have all of the taste without the mess. Set your oven to preheat at 375 degrees Fahrenheit. In a skillet, add enough olive oil to coat the bottom of the pan and saute one small diced onion. Set aside the sauteed onion in a small bowl. Use the same skillet to brown 1 1/2 lbs ground beef. Drain any excess oil from the pan and add the onion back into the skillet. Stir well. Roll out two premade pizza dough on greased cookie sheets. Divide beef mixture over one half of each of the two pizza doughs. Fold the dough over the filling and crimp the edges closed with a fork. You can add cheese on top of the meat mixture. Bake for 15 or 20 minutes. The bread can be placed in a cooler for long trips or packed in lunchboxes for shorter trips.
Chocolate Clusters
- The chocolate clusters are a no-bake snack that your kids can help you make. In a large saucepan, warm 1/2 cup milk and 8 tablespoons butter. Once the butter is melted, stir in 1 1/3 cups sugar and 1/2 cups chocolate chips and allow the mixture to come to a boil. Turn the heat to low and allow to cook for one more minute. Turn off the burner and add 1/2 cup peanut butter and a teaspoon of vanilla. Stir the ingredients until well blended. In another bowl, place 4 cups of granola. Pour the chocolate mixture into the granola. Mix together with your hands, then form small clusters. Place the clusters on a waxed-paper-lined cookie sheet, cover and refrigerate for three or four hours. This makes 4 dozen cookies.
Granola Bars
- You can make granola bars in as little as half an hour. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. In a bowl, combine three cups of rolled oats with about a cup of shaved coconut, sliced or chopped nuts of your choice, dried fruit and chocolate chips to taste. Add 1 1/2 cups of sweetened condensed milk. Mix the ingredients well, adding more condensed milk as needed. Pour the mixture into a 9-by-13 pan and bake for 20 minutes.
Trail Mix
- Mix your favorite trail mix ingredients in a large bowl and scoop them out into small snack size bags. Chocolate chips, dry roasted peanuts, sunflower seeds, dried fruit and coconut shavings are a few examples of what you can use in your own trail mix. Avoid using chocolate or peanut butter chips in warm weather. The chips can melt and create a mess of your trail mix.
