My parents are off on holiday this week. They’re taking the caravan to Italy and tootling round their favourite parts of the country for 5 whole weeks. So, as you can imagine, mum has been frantically packing for ages, to make sure they’ve got all their creature comforts, while they’re away.
But why should you be interested in my parents’ holiday plans? Because we have an ongoing family joke. Every year, when mum and dad go to Italy, there’s one ingredient my mum never fails to pack.
Sainsbury’s gravy powder.
Yes, Italy. The land of culinary excellence. And mum can’t make it through the holiday without her gravy powder. “Old habits die hard,” as she said, when I was winding her up about it this week.
And it got me thinking.
Which food can’t you do without? If you were off camping somewhere, what would you have to make sure you had packed?
I had to think long and hard. But for me, it’s got to be Marmite. If not for me, then for the toddler, who can’t seem to get through the day without a serving of the infamous love-it / hate-it spread.
What’s your emergency holiday food?
I’d love to hear from you!
Thanks
Clare
When we were in California for 3 months we took marmite and Yorkshire tea. I wish I’d taken oxo cubes as well. Then my dad came out just before Christmas with some small chocolate santas for my new American friends. I’m afraid they never got to try them as I pigged the lot. Boy did I miss British chocolate!!!
When we were little, we lived in Texas for a year. My mum really missed Dairy Milk and – also! – gravy powder.
My uncle in the UK was a superstar and sent her through a huge parcel with them in. Unfortunately he didn’t count on the Texan weather and, by the time it arrived, everything was a congealed mass.
Not quite so tasty…!
But it was definitely the thought that counted.
Marmite and custard powder were the two things I always stocked up on when home visiting from the US. And yes, I missed British chocolate, too, until I discovered… Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. They’re fab! I miss those now that I’m back in the UK, but you can find them over here in a few delis and international food stores if you’re lucky.
A jar of Nescafe is always in my case when we go to Greece.
When I went to the States with my partner’s family about 12 years ago his mum and nanna took a carrier bag full of tea bags, they just couldn’t cope without them!
We never go away anywhere without taking Eleven O’Clock Rooibos teabags, because unless you are visiting South Africa, it will not be found!
I didn’t know what Rooibos was either, but I’ve been doing some research, and found out that it was the Afrikaans word for “red bush”.
I wanted to investigate because any tea that is named after the time that you’re supposed to drink it has to be cool!
Now, I’ve had Tetley’s new Red Bush tea, and very nice it is too, and it looks like you can get 11 O’clock tea from the Dragonfly Tea website.
Everyday I learn something new. Thanks veg box recipes!!
i am from barcelona and i live in oxford with my english boyfriend
whenever we come back from holidays in spain we bring back as much goodies as we can fit in our luggage…… does that count?!?
my favourite thingsi couldn’t do without: extra virgin olive oil, jamón serrano, manchego cheese, biscottes, catalan biscuits
and of course he comes back home with at least a couple of new teas he just discovered arund!!
I have friends overseas and when ever they ask for a parcel from home one of the most important things to pack is Mrs Ball’s Chutney its amazing how one misses certain foods even when we are away from home for a little bit and don’t have those things.
Well, I’ve not heard of that one, but maybe I should have?!
What’s in it, Amy?
Hope that business is going well : )