Today we are celebrating 5 years of Family Food and Travel. It feels both crazy and exciting at the same time. It’s a milestone I had never thought about on this day in 2012 when I hit publish on my very first blog post “One Sniff and I was Transported” when I was searching for an outlet for my love of writing. I had always wanted to write a novel, publish a cookbook, create a travel journal and a non-fiction tell-all with tips on travelling with and raising twins. A close friend at the time suggested I write on a blog and then one day I could put those ideas together into a book if I wanted. It seemed like the perfect way to capture what I was thinking and feeling and get started without sitting down to tackle writing hundreds of pages with twin toddlers and a full time job.
From that first post, so much has changed. My twin babies are now in Grade One, my marriage disintegrated, I got divorced, started dating and found love again. I’ve changed my travels from Greece and Kenya to Florida, upstate NY, Ontario and Prince Edward Island. I’ve taken my boys on two cruises, travelled through 6 U.S. States, 3 Canadian Provinces, Mexico and the Caribbean. We’ve logged thousands of kilometres and loved every minute of it.
I’ve baked, grilled and created so many recipes. I’ve shared family favourites and new experiences creating a collection of recipes that I’m proud to share with the world. While my photography has certainly improved over the last 5 years my sweet tooth has not subsided! Whether you stop by for my cupcakes or a new family recipe we’re so glad you came, pinned and tried them at home. It’s amazing to me that so many of you have created a recipe I’ve recommended.
Celebrating 5 Years of Family Food and Travel
To celebrate we thought we’d share some of our favourite moments of the last 5 years. From recipes, to travel and musings on motherhood we hope you like these posts as much as we do!
Motherhood
Motherhood has truly been the greatest gift and experience I’ve ever been a part of. From those first weeks pregnant to delivering twins at 32 weeks to the amazing young men my boys have become it’s hard to believe all of the experiences we’ve had. From their first airplane trip to first steps I marvel at their resiliency and strength. I love their laughter and sense of humour and appreciate every snuggle and hug I get. It’s so easy to forget the hard times. the stitches, the tears and the pain. I chose these posts as my favourites because I believe the speak to the heart of motherhood – the joys, the struggles and the laughter!
Finding Out I was Pregnant with Twins
10 Things I Miss About My Life Pre-Kids
10 Things No One Tells You About Being a Mom
The Mom Juggle: Why Work-Life Balance Doesn’t Exist
Recipes
How do you pick from thousands of recipes a few favourites? I chose our most popular round-up, and our family favourites that we make time and again. I often pull up the recipe on the site to cook from at home. That means these recipes get used often. Whether I’m preparing to feed a crowd Spaghetti and Meatballs or I’m rushed and throwing chicken in the slow cooker you will find these recipes fit easily into your weekly meal plans. Plus I’ve included a yummy muffin and a perfectly delicious cupcake. All the food groups, right?
Homemade Spaghetti and Meatballs
Slow Cooker Chicken with Hoisin Sauce
Travel
We love travel so much that you cannot utter the word “hotel” at our house for fear that my boys will start packing to go! My love for travel came from my childhood road trips and I’ve always wanted to instil that in my boys. I dream of taking them to every continent in the world (still have 5 more to go!) and allowing them to experience different foods, cultures, languages and landscapes. It’s so important to me to get out and explore and learn about myself in the process. Plus, what better family time than in the car with everyone for a long road trip? Choosing our favourite travel posts was the hardest of all because we have loved everywhere we have gone. So, I chose some tips, Canadian, European and American locations.
5 Tips for Road Trips with Kids
Things to Do in Brackley Beach, PEI
Remembering the Beaches of Normandy
Visiting Gatlinburg, Tennessee
What fun this post has been to write. It’s been a trip down memory lane and a chance to share some of why I love Family Food and Travel so much. I thank all of you for reading, connecting over social media and for allowing me to keep doing this 5 years later. Here’s to the next 5 years!
Celebrating 5 Years of Family Food and Travel Giveaway
Writing about my appreciation for my readers is one thing, but thank you all is quite another. While there will be only one winner, I am excited to offer a $100 USD PayPal Giveaway open to readers Worldwide and ending on May 30, 2017. Contest rules are included in the form. Good luck, and thank you!
Disclosure: This post is not sponsored. It is provided and the giveaway is funded by Family Food and Travel.
The 25 Amazing Camping Recipes! Some are really neat and I am always looking for new camping foods for my family!
My favourite posts are the recipes, I like to see what’s new and what other’s are making and I like to try new dishes!!
My favourite post is S is for Santorini, since i enjoy to travel.
25 Amazing Camping Recipes! I will be trying them out and switching them to gluten free. I have a booth at the farmers market ,All Gluten free. Thanks for the post!
That Slow Cooker Chicken with Hoisin Sauce has been a recipe used many times in this house!
My favourite is the recipes because I love to learn new ideas and try new things!
I love slow cooker recipes and you shared an amazing chicken dinner that my family now calls a favourite. Love your site.
i liked the recipes one bcuz i love cooking, my dad recently got diagnosed with lung n brain cancer and more recently found out that he doesnt have long but during his treatments eating was an issue bcuz the radiation and chemo made him feel sick so finding good food that was easy to eat and would help settle his stomach made a big difference
Quinoa and Cranberry Muffins. I have been trying to eat healthier and that recipe sounded amazing. It’s still on my recipes- to-make list!
I am a big fan of the recipes! There is a wide variety of them and they sound so tasty!
I commented on “The Best Lemon Desserts”.
My favorite post is about camping recipes. I have family members who love to go camping and would enjoy these recipes.
Commented at https://familyfoodandtravel.com/2016/01/chocolate-covered-cherry-cupcakes.html
I love the post on quinoa recipes! I love quinoa and love ideas on how to add it to my recipes!
I liked the Slow Cooker Chicken with Hoisin Sauce post the best because I use my slow cooker all the time!
I loved the post The 25 Amazing Camping Recipes, since we love to camp and are always looking for new recipes to try out.
Left a comment on The Best Lemon Desserts.
I love The Best Lemon Desserts one, thank you for everything. I need some new medicine for my puppy. You are awesome :)
All these healthy interesting recipes that I can make at home!
I love the traveling posts because we love to travel and I’m always looking for new places to explore.
My favorite was the 25 Amazing Camping Recipes because we usually end up eating “camping food” you buy in stores and those things never taste good. They’re mainly just salt.
Bleh!
thanks!
So true Debbie!
I really loved the recipe posts especially the Quinoa and Cranberry Muffins. Im a huge breakfast food person, but I want it somewhat healthy, and this sounds perfect for me.s
They are a delicious recipe – enjoy!
5 tips for Road Trips with Kids because I could have done with these tips many times on road trips with my kids :)
My favourite posts are the recipes. I am always looking for new recipes to try out for my family of very fussy eaters.
I identified with your blog post on Visiting Toronto with Kids since I live in Toronto!
Recipes, i am always looking for new ways to prepare meals.
I love the travelling posts the most of all since I feel that it’s such a wonderful way to bond as a family and meeting new people and experiencing new places and experiences is one of the best gifts in life.
The recipes are the best
Finding out you were having twins!! Because I am a twin mom! I always love meeting other twin moms because there’s just some things that only twin moms understand! Lol My twins are 15 years old right now and I know when I found out I was in shock and just cried lol. But I’ve had so much fun with them!
My favourite posts are the recipes always wanting to bring new tasty foods to the table keeps dinner fun.
I always love trying new recipes so I loved the Slow Cooker Chicken with Hoisin Sauce one. I love Asian inspired dishes so that recipe really caught my attention.
my favourite is the recipes because it is what i search for on blogs most often. I might not comment, but I bookmark and take note of recipes that I like!
Travel: 5 Tips for Road Trips with Kids – it was helpful and concise.
I love the recipes. I love reading and finding new ones that I like to try.
I use my slow cooker so much that I should have 2! so I must say I love all slow cooker recipes!
The featured post that I was able to identify with is your Homemade Spaghetti & Meatballs Recipe. I actually bookmarked it because it is so easy and sounds pretty great (minus the basel leaf, but that’s a personal choice). Why do I identify with it? Well, I have a very close relationship with food – especially good old-fashioned one pot specialties. Thanks for sharing the recipe!
btw: I use Pantene Italian bread crumbs. :) https://familyfoodandtravel.com/2016/08/spaghetti-and-meatballs-recipe.html
I like the Visiting Gatlinburg Tennessee post. It has been a few years since I have been there so I am ready to go back. So many fun things to do!
I commented on Chocolate Covered Bacon Cupcakes.
I identified with the 5 tips for traveling with kids!! We always pack waaay more than we need to, because I would much rather have it and not need it, than need it and not have it!
The Pink Marble cupcakes post. I really like cute/fun food, and my kids would love it if I made them for them.
I am always on the lookout for new recipes.I really enjoyed the Camping ones.So lloking forward to the coming summer!
25 Amazing Camping Recipes because I like to make food for camping.
The Truth About Parenting Twins. I thought it was a fascinating post about what parents go through. I really enjoyed reading it! :)
25 Camping Recipes because I love to cook when camping
My favorite are recipes, especially Homemade Spaghetti and Meatballs! It reminds me of growing up.
I commented on Guinness and Beef Stew! Yum!
I would definitely say the Quinoa and Cranberry Muffins post. Anything sweet healthy and delicious immediately has my heart.
I liked the motherhood posts especially 10 Things No One Tells You About Being a Mom. It’s important to share these important life lessons with moms and moms to be!
bless me paypal gods
I like 5 tips for road trips with the kids. I think as adults we forget to “stop often”.. we just want to reach our destination. But kids need to get out of that car & run around!
My favourite is the recipes because I love to try new recipe! The Slow Cooker Chicken with Hoisin Sauce looks so good.
I love the post about Gaitlinburg, TN. It’s a place I went a lot as a child with my parents. I’d love to take my boys this summer.
My daughter just turned 13 & she is quite a good little chef, so I like finding new recipes for her!
I like the 25 Amazing Camping Recipes post as I am never sure WHAT to bring so this was very helpful to me to plan and find new ideas
Pink Marble Cupcakes.. I love to bake and always looking for new colorful things to surprise my family with….
The recipes as I love to cook.
All of your recipes! I love to cook and bake and I will be stealing some of these recipes.
love the post on quinoa recipes
I love the recipes! Especially the Slow Cooker Chicken Hoisin Sauce because I use my slow cooker all the time. It is great finding new recipes!