With a little bit of sweet and salty goodness in every bite, GORP is a snack mix that my family devours every time we make it. Lucky for all of us, it’s an easy hassle-free trail mix to make.
GORP is the classic trail mix you probably recall from childhood and I’m happy to report that it’s just as tasty as I remembered. Whether it’s for a quick road trip, a movie night, or a longer camping trip, GORP has long been a favorite for all of us.
What Is GORP?
GORP is an acronym for “good old raisins and peanuts” which was, according to some, the very first trail mix. Chocolate is traditionally included in most recipes for GORP. Today, GORP and trail mix are more or less synonymous.
I grew up munching on GORP whenever my family was road tripping. Some variation of this recipe was always our trail mix of choice. Typically, my family made their trail mix with peanuts, raisins, and m&ms or chocolate chips.
I’ve been traveling a lot over the past 6 weeks and am constantly in need of quick, easy, and tasty snacks to enjoy on the go. There are so many pre-packaged snacks available these days but GORP has remained the travel-friendly snack I reach for the most.
GORP
Trail mix is the perfect sweet and salty snack for long driving days, or for days spent on the go exploring a new city.
GORP probably became THE travel food (and the snack hikers took on long trails) because it’s easy to pack and carry and doesn’t spoil. Luckily, it also happens to be pretty nutritious for a convenience food!
The blend of dried fruit for energy and nuts for protein and fat helps keep hunger at bay and keeps you going all travel day long.
That said, GORP is also one of my favorite snacks for a night-in or to have in my bag on a long day of running errands. Easy to proportion into ziploc bags or small serving containers, this trail mix is also ideal for packing in lunches and tucking into backpacks.
This handy square canister of snack mix has a regular place in my camper kitchen and we all reach for it often. I have probably mixed together a batch of GORP at least once if not twice a week all summer long.
Have you heard of a Dirty Banana? I hadn’t until I sailed with Princess Cruises and I have to admit that the name alone made me laugh. Hard. However, the milkshake-like cocktail proved irresistible.
Spoiler alert: adult milkshakes are now on my favorites list. What’s not to love about a frozen drink/dessert combination?
Dirty Banana
This is a Caribbean inspired cocktail that tastes more like a milkshake than a cocktail. This is a super fun treat whether you’re cruising through a dream vacation or kicked back on your own back porch at home.
The Dirty Banana is absolutely unforgettable. And lucky for me? It’s easy enough to make at home in just minutes.
It’s almost too easy. Start by adding ice to the blender. Then add a splash of rum, kahlua, and coffee liqueur, 1/2 a banana, a splash of heavy cream, and a drizzle of chocolate syrup. Hit blend and pour it into a glass. Top with whipped cream and sip happily.
The ingredient list might sound long, but you’re only adding a small splash of each liquor and the flavor that is delivered when they’re combined is fantastic.
Oh! I almost forgot. You can make a Not-So-Dirty Banana drink for the non-drinkers and the kids. Just skip the alcohol and add either 1/4 cup of milk or 1/4 cup of cold coffee. (I like both versions!)
Easy Peasy and absolutely delicious too! I probably shouldn’t have introduced my kids to this one, because it’s been dessert every night for a week.
And no, I have not been making one for myself each night along with them. But if anyone wants to visit me and give me an excuse to blend some more of these, I’m game.
Pulled Pork Tater Tot Nachos start with piping hot cheesy tater tots that are piled high with crispy pulled pork. This dinner is a guaranteed two-thumbs-up meal in our house.
Pulled Pork Tater Tots
All of my kids would probably choose pulled pork as their favorite meal, especially when it’s served in tacos, enchiladas, pulled pork mac and cheese, or hot and crispy, like in these street tacos.
When my oldest son Sam turned 13, Sean and I took him on a special trip all by himself. We flew to San Francisco and spent a few days exploring the city. (Scroll down to the bottom for a peek into that trip.) These pulled pork tater tots were inspired by a favorite meal from that trip.
Pulled Pork Totchos
Along the way, we found some great foods to eat. It was Sam’s first trip “just for fun” and he loved it. It’s always a lot of fun to travel and visit family around the country, but the joy of exploring an entirely new place is great in a different way.
Naturally, I put together a list of restaurants to check out while we were there. Sam’s favorite food during the trip turned out a tie between Tater Tot Nachos from Tacorea and Tostadas De Caracoles (snails baked on seasoned croutons with parsley aioli) from Zarzuela.
Can you even believe that my kid tried snails for the first time and absolutely loved them? At any rate, when I decided to recreate his favorite thing from the trip to share with you, the tater tot nachos were the obvious choice.
