Meal Inspiration

As I surf the inter-webs sometimes ideas leap into my brain. In a Bon Appetit "Road Trip Week" article, by Rick Matinez,  he remembers tacos his parents brought along for their road journey. My kids'  memories would be of Triscuits and Easy Cheese, our warm weather road trip staples. In our defense we got a lot more creative after our arrival. During our vacations to Disneyland we would rent a hotel with a small fridge and a microwave. It was long before the days of prerequisite free hotel breakfasts, so we  brought our  Black + Decker toaster oven. It was almost like having our own secret kitchen. Breakfasts of toasted bagels with cream cheese or peanut butter were favorites. On a couple of days we bought very inexpensive Pan Dulce and orange juice from the Mexican Market next door. Trying to usher four kids around the market was like herding cats, so i promised them they could split  two packages of Pinguinos if they were good. Dinner items included hot dogs, frozen pizza and macaroni - cheese. For the vegetable-fruit meal components we bought snack packs of carrots, celery and sliced apples. We had the best times and did not bust the bank.

We decided on a small road trip to a local park today so I used Mr. Martinez taco for frugal inspiration. I put together some breakfast tacos and a thermos of coffee for less than three bucks. We drove past the Starbucks and headed to the park. Happy weekend!

Frugal Breakfast Taco

Oh I wish I were !

Yesterday I had another childhood fantasy fulfilled. I got to see the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile! A fellow employee had spotted the mobile earlier in the day at a hotel in Mill Valley so I started the hunt for the giant hotdog on a bun. I reasoned that there had to be an event nearby that was hosting the Wiernermobile. I cruised the internet, checked the Kraftfoods.com website with no success. My hopes dwindled as the day went by. On the way home I was already starting to get into the weekend mode, looking forward to dinner and drinks, when there it was - parked on the fringe of the Northgate Mall tucked behind a tree that partially concealed it. I swung a left turn into the mall, parked, pulled out the trusty point-and-shoot and snapped a few. There were a couple of other crazy people standing around checking out the rig. No occupants or promotion was going on. Just then a clean cut kid with a cell phone camera walked up. I thought to myself this advertising icon must be multi generational, not just a passing memory of my faded youth. As I snapped a few more photos’s the young man opened the side door boarded, started it up and drove away. Bye big hot dog, until we meet again.



I researched the Wienermobile and found the following facts. The original model debuted in 1936. There is a fleet of mobiles than travel around to promote Oscar Mayer. Each unit has its own vanity license plate. The one I spotted was WNR MBLE.



Most of the celebrities I’ve seen have been a little less large in person that on the screen. The Wienermobile is just the opposite, larger that expected. So if anyone sees it driving around Northern California, shoot me a email! I sure would love to have a wienerwhistle.

Join me if you will in song. Oh I wish I was an Oscar Mayer wiener that is truly what I’d like to be. Cause if I were an Oscar Mayer wiener everyone would be in love with me.