Wisconsin Colby Cheese

A friend of mine had a layover in Atlanta over the weekend. His trip started in Wisconsin, where his brother just moved, and included touring cheese farms and discovering why Wisconsians wear cheese hats. I went to the airport to hang out with him during his layover. Not the most glamourous setting, but it was great seeing him.

And I got a little cheese out of it. Wisconsin Colby Jalapeno cheese to be exact. It was wrapped in a bag in his carry-on, and was mistaken for a C4 explosive by TSA at security. The TSA woman swabbed it and everything. Thankfully, it was just cheese. Although it may cause explosions in some people, it wasn't going to blow up the plane.


I also learned a new little fact. Colby cheese is colby cheese because it was created in Colby, Wisconsin. It reminds me of Vidalia onions, which come from Vidalia, Georgia. The European Union has protected food names. Part of it protects the product and the producer, and part of it helps consumers know what it is they are consuming. Not a bad idea I think.

Coconut Twix

On roadtrips, pit stops are definitely the most redeeming part for me.
It's a reason to go in and pick out a snack or a little treat for the road.
Heading to Slide Rock Park in Sedona, AZ, we stopped by a cute gas station and convenient store. Looking over their selection I saw something I hadn't seen before....coconut Twix!
I love the trend of candy companies now making coconut chocolate goodies! I love the coconut M&Ms, but my favorite has been the coconut cream Hershey Kisses! Too good. I devoured the bag in a week!

I know coconut is a love/hate item. I fall completely in the love category. One of the things I like most about the Kisses is that there is real shredded coconut inside. The M&Ms and Twix are coconut flavored.

We threw these into the cooler and munched on them before and after slipping and sliding around Slide Rock Park. This is a crazy place! Lots of people, lots of kids, lots of noise and laughing...a little too much for me at first, until I got in the water and started slipping around myself. I ended up with ripped shorts, a huge bruise on my elbow from a wicked fall, and a stitch in my side from laughing so hard. We ventured upstream and the walk paid off; we scampered over lovely rocks to a magnificent pool of water, perfect for diving off and coming up floating in the cold, clear water. Ahhh.

Backpacking Food

On Saturday, I'm heading out west.

I'll be in Arizonia for 6 days. Three nights will be at the Grand Canyon. We'll be taking the Hermit Trail and spending two nights in the canyon.

My last overnight hiking trip was several years ago, when I climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro. We had an entire team of porters and guides and...an excellent cook...who made the journey a lot less stressful and a lot more lively. Breakfast and dinner were hot meals served straight from the pot; lunch was a bagged affair that always included a candy bar. It was great.

This time, though, no cook. No porters. No guides. Just a backpack, a friend, and a travel stove. During my two hours shopping adventure at REI last night, I picked up a freeze dried package meal (Cheese Enchilada Rancho) and a dessert (Apple Cinnamon Streusel). The plan for the rest of the food is to go grocery shopping in Phoenix upon arrival and stock up.

But then the question arises, what to stock up on? What can be carried, is nonperishable and needs only a small heat source to be super tasty (cause this girl needs good food)? Thankfully, there are a few good blogs I've found for recipes and ideas.

http://www.wildbackpacker.com/backpacking-food/
http://www.backpackingchef.com/index.html
http://www.trailcooking.com/

Hitthetrail.com has been a great all-round resource for hiking in the Grand Canyon. At least, it has made me feel more prepared for the experience.

I'm looking forward to trying the freeze dried meal! It's a little like mixing potions and making mud pies!