Taking the Kitchen With You

The Chicks in the Kitchen have been traveling! The Southern Lights Writers Conference was amazing. We both learned so much and had the opportunity to talk to an editor and an agent about the romance business.

Abigail:
What a great weekend, right?

Lis’Anne:
Amazing weekend!
I’m finally recuperated enough to get back to work. 🙂

Abigail:
Traveling is so much fun, but how expensive is the eating?

Lis’Anne:
OMGosh…I can’t believe I spent $15 on a cheeseburger and french fries. How ridiculous was that?

Abigail:
I paid $6 for a cheese onion soup, but it was totally worth it. So yummy. *laugh*

Lis’Anne:
And the fries were cold. 😛 The cheeseburger was awesome, but not $15 awesome.

Abigail:
Oh, NO! Okay, so what’s a frugal chick to do?

Lis’Anne:
What IS a frugal chick to do? Take the kitchen with her?

Abigail:
Why yes! Take the kitchen with her! First, I know you don’t eat breakfast.

Lis’Anne:
No…my breakfast is my coffee filled with International Delights.

Abigail:
HA!
I do, but I like to do it in my own way, at my own time, and BEFORE brushing my teeth. Can’t do that if I have to eat at a restaurant.

Lis’Anne:
Had I been thinking I would’ve taken all my favorite coffee ingredients with me.

Abigail:
I was thinking! I got some bagels, some spreadable cheese, hard boiled eggs, and grapes.

Lis’Anne:
You used your smarts. 🙂

Abigail:
Totally. My favorite part of checking into the hotel room?

Lis’Anne:
Was?

Abigail:
“Is there a fridge in this room?”
“No, but I can bring you one.”
Seriously thought bell boy Tommy was joking.

Lis’Anne:
LOL…how awesome was that!

Abigail:
the second component to being a frugal travel chick? An electric griddle.

Lis’Anne:
Yes! It was an easy travel accessory, too.

Abigail:
I invited everyone to our room for pancakes with the intention of serving everyone at 8:30. I wanted to wake up at 7:45 to wash, dress, heat up the griddle and make some pancakes so they’d be ready to go at 8:30.

Lis’Anne:
What happened to thwart your well-laid plans?

Abigail:
Instead, I woke up at 8:30 to a pounding on my door and yelled a lot of expletives.

Lis’Anne:
Yikes! LOL But you had everything ready by the time I got down to your room.

Abigail:

I sent Jess and Val to the car to get the griddle while I made the batter.

Lis’Anne:
Ah ha! I wondered since I was supposed to go get it…

Abigail:
I know, what were you thinking taking a shower instead? *grin*

Lis’Anne:
LOL…I don’t know…maybe I shouldn’t stink up your room?
The smell of the apple pancakes was amazing!

Abigail:
And it’s so easy to make! When I was checking out, the bell boy (not Tommy) joked that I had everything on the cart, including the kitchen!

Lis’Anne:
You’ll have to share the recipe…my family wants to try it after I told them how good they were. 🙂
How many people did you feed? And how much do you think we all saved?

Abigail:
Let’s see… *counting* I think only six. I was expecting more, but I thought more folks would be staying overnight at the hotel.

Lis’Anne:
I think the typical cost of breakfast at the hotel was around $12 not including tax and tip. What’s 12 x 6? *grin*

Abigail:
Oy, that math thing again. 72.

Lis’Anne:
LOL…NO MATH! Add tax and tip.

Abigail:
The cost of the batter and the apples was probably $10. The syrup would be another $3 (it was donated). I already had plates and forks and I made everyone get their own drinks. Oh, and the eggs and milk used, add another $2.

Lis’Anne:
Egads! You saved us a fortune and was so very generous to provide it!

Abigail:
Crazy, isn’t it? I could have fed ten; there was leftover uncooked batter and pancakes.

Lis’Anne:
It was definitely worth it and a great time was had by all 🙂

Abigail:
Even though they were late and slightly singed.

Lis’Anne:
Mine wasn’t! I thought they were the best pancakes I’ve ever had. seriously 😀

Abigail:
Wow, I really better post the recipe.

Lis’Anne:
If you don’t, I’m tracking you down… :-
I couldn’t have imagined a better way to enjoy each others’ company one more time before saying good-bye.

Abigail:
It was fun. As is evidenced by everyone smiling in the pictures.

Lis’Anne:
Good luck cleaning it up!

Abigail:
Oh, that part was a piece of… uh… pancake! *laugh*

So how do you keep your food costs down when you travel?