Foodie Friday: Why I Farm Roadtrip, August

August was an interesting month on the Why I Farm Roadtrip - food and famer wise. In today's post I'm sharing a few of the yummy (and not so yummy) things I enjoyed as I traveled through New England.

My go to Starbucks drink is still the Pink Drink (a Strawberry Acai Refresher with coconut milk and light ice). I'm curious how many gallons of this deliciousness I sipped as I transcribed audio from all the fantastic farmers I interviewed. I should have started keeping track of this sort of thing from the beginning of the trip just for fun.

Thanks to Twitter, I learned about National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day as I was traveling through New England. Since I was thousands of miles away from Barbara at The Chick Wire, I had to settle for a couple of cookies from McDonald's.

After a great morning with the Millers exploring their farm, Walnut Kitchen Homestead, I followed them to the farmers market where they sell their pork each week. It was a hot afternoon, so I had to sneak across the street for this tasty treat. Frozen yogurt with wildberry topping hit the spot!

Some nights, supper doesn't exactly happen. When I'm on the go, it's really hard to discipline myself to eat real meals. Instead I often snack. The night after I visited Walnut Kitchen Homestead, that was the case. 

I tried Fairlife milk for the first time in August. I'm not a big chocolate milk person, so it wasn't really my thing. I hope to try white milk soon to see if I like that better. Regardless, I think it's to cool to learn about the technology that is being used to give us more choices in food. 

Although I don't remember what state I was in, I remember stopping for Chinese food particularly because I was missing Ryan. Kind of silly, but oh well. Our first date was at a Chinese restaurant, and in the last two years have sampled at least Egg Drop Soup and Crab Rangoon from nearly every Chinese place in Ames.

If you've been following my Foodie Friday blog posts, you know I've been trying to get a Strawberry Milkshake in each state. By the time I got to New Hampshire, I'd been seeing lots of these Friendly's restaurants. I decided it looked like the perfect spot for a classic Strawberry Milkshake. Wrong. Super fake strawberry flavor, and pretty pricey. Unfortunately, I have to say this has been the biggest food disappointment of the Why I Farm Roadtrip so far.

I was really bummed I had such rainy weather most of the time I was in New Hampshire. On one particular gloomy evening I decided to treat myself to a hot meal at The Red Blazer. I just ordered chicken soup, the stuffed mushroom appetizer and a local cider. I wasn't a huge fan of the seafood stuffing, but I picked out the mushrooms and slurped down the warm soup no problem. 

This is a typical car picnic. When I have time to stop and eat lunch, it usually looks something like this. Cup of soup from a local grocery store, crackers, and a Powerade or tea.

I have quite the collection of Maple Syrup by now. This cute little bottle came from my friends at New Hampshire Farm Bureau. I haven't tasted it yet, but I hope to have a big breakfast one day once the Why I Farm Roadtrip is over to compare all the samples I've collected from around the country!

That's it for August's Foodie Friday. Come back for a recap of all the yummy things from September. In the mean time, let me know if you have a favorite restaurant or product I need to try while I'm traveling. Thanks for reading! 

Foodie Friday: Why I Farm Roadtrip, July

It's been a while since I've shared a Foodie Friday post, but don't you worry - I've been eating just fine! Maybe I can even blame my lack of blog posts on food coma. Anyway, here's a look at the tastes of July.

I love BBQ. After driving all over West Virginia trying to avoid flooded out areas, I was tired and hungry. I was so excited when I found this Dickey's Barbecue Pit. This loaded potato with pulled pork, cheese, green onions, butter, sour cream, and onion rings hit the spot. After a big meal and a Big Yellow Cup of caffeine I was ready to hit the road again. 

Right before I checked in for the holiday weekend with Hope Reigns, I stopped at Maloney's for a quick bite. The burger was pretty good and the server was very nice. It was definitely one of those places I stuck out like a sore thumb because I wasn't local, but by now I'm used to it. 

A lot of times, my budget limits my dinner choices to fast food. But, I've learned that eating at McDonald's doesn't mean you have to order a greasy burger and fries every time. Their Chicken Bacon Ranch salad isn't bad. Plus, since it's salad I can set up my computer for #AgChat, use their free wifi, and eat slowly without worrying about my food getting cold.

But, sometimes you need desert. If you time it right, you can get hot chocolate chip cookies at McDonald's too. They're the perfect way to wrap up a fun night of #AgChat.

Unfortunately, there are some companies that spend lots of time and money creating fear about food and agriculture. I don't need to point fingers or name names, but rather I like to shine a light on companies that are vocal about their support of farmers. I'm thankful Culver's supports the industry that is near and dear to my heart. I'm also thankful for their hot, delicious cheese curds that never disappoint.

After meeting the Haydens and Kiah from Kentucky Beef at the Owensboro Farmers' Market, we went out to lunch at Old Hickory Bar-B-Q. We had lots of laughs and I decided to try a couple of dishes I'd never heard of before. First was burgoo. It's a soup that's kind of like chili, kind of like stew. It's hard to describe, but it was yummy. I also ordered a chopped mutton sandwich. Maybe it was because of the sauce, but it wasn't as different as I'd expected.

Ah, yes. July was the month I discovered Starbucks had the most consistently reliable internet. I may becoming desensitized to caffeine in the process, but at least I'm getting more work done.

When I was home in Ames for a quick repacking session Ryan and I went out to Panera for soup. He got french onion like usual, but I forget what kind I got. I do remember, it was the perfect way to warm up on a chilly, drizzly day.

Coconut cream pie from the church ladies at the county fair in McCook, Nebraska. Yum. I don't really need to say anything else, do I?

You can't go to Nebraska and not order a Runza (or three). Be careful, they're always super hot, but it was a welcomed change in my fast food diet.

Since I started spending a lot more time at Starbucks, of course I had to figure out how to get the most bang for my buck. My regular order became a Trenta Pink Drink (Strawberry Acai Refresher with coconut milk), light ice. For about five bucks I had a nice cool drink to sip and fast internet for as long as I could stand to sit still.

As I shared in this blog post, my budget relies on buying things like fruit roll ups and granola bars in bulk from the grocery store. It's so much cheaper to buy a package than each snack one by one at the check out or Starbucks. This particular box came from Ryan, so they always made me smile.

When I was traveling through Nebraska, a surprise message pinged into my Instagram inbox. It was Jesse Harding, a Farm Broadcaster in Kearney, Nebraska. Although we'd never met before, we quickly bonded over our love for agriculture and telling stories. After we visited Deb Gangwish for a Why I Farm interview, Jesse, a couple friends and I went out to Angus Burgers & Shakes. You just can't beat a juicy burger, piping hot fries and a local beer. 

Just down the street from Angus is a wine bar. After Jesse interviewed me for her radio segment, we talked more about ag, travel and life over a nice white wine. 

At the end of July, I flew out to Boston to join my Iowa State Ag Business Club teammates for a couple days of Ag Econ Quiz Bowl. While we were all together we decided to splurge on breakfast in the city. I don't know that I've ever had salad for breakfast before, but I really liked the dressing and I needed it to balance out the hearty slice of quiche.

I'm pretty sure the last meal I had in July was a whole container of ice cream. All in the name of supporting my dairy farmer friends of course.

That's a wrap for July's Foodie Friday. Stay tuned for more photos from August's delicious adventures.

Foodie Friday: Why I Farm Roadtrip, June

I'm still enjoying eating my way through the Why I Farm Roadtrip. I love getting a taste of each place I visit, and there are several places I want to go back for seconds. Here's a look at the tastes of June.

I was so lucky to be able to meet up with Elizabeth Burns-Thompson while I was in Washington D.C. for American Agri-Women Fly In. We were both pretty busy with events on The Hill, but we snuck away for a quick lunch from the food trucks on The Mall one day! After lots of debating, we both ended up getting phillys. So delicious!

While I was in D.C. I had the chance to meet amazing women in agriculture from several states. One of the ladies from North Carolina, Amy Harris Robinette, shared this beef jerky from her own farm with me. It was the perfect travel snack!

I have cheat days more often than I would like to admit. When I was in Maryland visiting Robert Black of Catochin Orchard, I couldn't resist this Mint Chocolate Chip fudge. Perfect, melt in your mouth deliciousness!

When I visited my cousin, Neva, I tried all kinds of new foods. The first night I spent with her, I tried a crab roll. It was so good, but very rich and filling. Quite a treat!

This crab covered pretzel is another sea food treat I enjoyed while visiting my cousin Neva in Pennsylvania. She says it's a big hit with her kids too. 

Neva and her husband, Keith, spoiled me. I cracked crabs for the first time in my life with them one afternoon in Baltimore. It was such a unique experience! I had no idea this is how crab is normally served. They bring out a big tray, you select how many of what size you want, and they come back with this! No plates, just a paper covered table, a little hammer, and a bucket for all the pieces you're done with. I don't think I've ever worked this hard for my food before, but it was totally worth it. 

I couldn't drive through Hershey, Pennsylvania without a stop at the Hershey factory. The free little tour was great, even by myself, and there were so many souvenirs to choose from. I'm on a really tight budget, so I didn't buy any knickknacks or t-shirts, but I did get this free mini chocolate bar after the tour. I'm always up for a sweet treat!

One particularly lonely and frustrating day in Pennsylvania, I decided to treat myself to a BLT from Soda Jerk Diner & Dairy Bar in Hummelstown. The sandwich and corn nuggets were exactly what I needed to turn my day around. (That and a phone call that led to visit Haldeman Farms.)

I rarely pass up an opportunity to have ice cream, so I got a scoop while I was at the diner in Pennsylvania. I think it was black raspberry or something. It was good, but not great and by the time it came, I was excited to hit the road for my next Why I Farm interview.

On hot summer days, it's really hard for me to pass a Sonic without ordering a Cherry Limeade. They're just so delicious! Pro tip: Order light ice to get more bang for your buck.

Like I said last month, when I started this adventure I decided I needed to sample a Strawberry Shake in each state. This one was from my visit with Tad Kuntz at Masonic Villages Farm Market in Pennsylvania. One of the more expensive milkshakes I've had, but so delicious!

A few weeks before the Why I Farm Roadtrip began, I learned about dehydrated fruit. Unlike dried fruit, which I'd had before, these fruit slices are crispy. It's a great snack, and helps me eat a little healthier while on the go. Since I'm in a different place every night, it's hard to buy and keep fresh produce. So far I've had pears, peaches, strawberries and apples. I've liked them all!

When I was in Delaware McCafe Frappes were on sale for a dollar. Since it was cheaper than my usual order, I figured I'd give it a try. Too sweet for my liking. I'll stick to my vanilla iced coffee.

If you follow me on Snapchat or Twitter, you probably saw I stopped at Dogfish Head in Milton, Delaware while I was out east. I had a great tour of the brewery and it was inspiring to hear Sam's entrepreneurial story. Of course, after I learned all about their beer, a taste test was necessary! Festina Peshe was my favorite. 

After some fantastic beer samples and a great walking tour, it was lunch time at Dogfish Head. I opted for this pulled pork from the food truck on site. Pretty yummy!

Also in Delaware, I visited the Georgetown Farmers Market. I was able to visit with two vendors (Little Wagon Produce and Smiths) about why they farm and enjoyed a black cherry soda from one of the food trucks. It was a great little stop.

The Georgetown Farmers Market is held in a green space right next to 16 Mile Brewery. I was feeling adventurous so I stopped in to taste a beer. When I saw a watermelon beer on the menu, I had to give it a try. I was surprised how much it actually smelled and tasted like watermelon!

My Virginia strawberry milkshake came from Richlands Dairy Farm. After a hot, but wonderful farm tour and Why I Farm interview this was just what I needed! 

That's it for June's Foodie Friday! Check back next week to see some of the yummy things I had in July. Thanks for reading!

Foodie Friday: Why I Farm Roadtrip, May

I confess, I'm that girl that takes a photo of just about every meal and snack I've had so far on the Why I Farm Roadtrip. I love trying the local flavors and I don't want to forget all the unique experiences I've had in each state. Starting from the beginning, here's a look at the tastes of May.

One of the Why I Farm Roadtrip visits I had was with blueberry farmers from Michigan. The Bowerman family has a beautiful farm market full of doughnuts, pies and preserves. They sent this jar with me as a souvenir. I enjoyed it while I was staying with Jennifer Osterholt in Ohio. It was delicious!

Barbara Siemen of The Chick Wire still holds the record as one of the best cooks I've visited so far. When I arrived, she had fresh pastries, banana bread and cookies to share. My stomach is growling just looking at the pictures again! 

I tried to make Barbara's cookies last, but I'm afraid to admit how many I ate before I even left her county. They were the perfect balance of softness and chewiness.

When I visited Fort Wayne, Indiana, the lovely folks at the tourism bureau gave me tickets to "Summer Nights at the Embassy." There was a great band, and unique food and drinks for sale. This Mac & Cheese with pulled pork had a little kick to it and hit the spot after a long day of traveling.

Summer Nights at the Embassy was just the start of great food I had in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The next day, I went to Tolon, a newer restaurant in the area. My burger and homemade chips were fantastic. Advice: If you see something on the menu with bacon jam, order it. You won't be disappointed.

To wrap up a great visit to Fort Wayne, I was able to visit the Joseph Decuis farm and restaurant. This is by far the nicest restaurant I've been to while on the road. It was so fascinating to learn about the veggies, pork, and Wagyu beef that were part of my meal. To top it off, our fantastic waitress let me sample a few beers from a popular local brewery, Sun King. Unfortunately I didn't get a photo, but the Mangalista Cracklins' were great. Treat yourself to an order of those!

Early in the road trip I decided I needed to try a strawberry shake in every state. When I can't find a local place, Chick-fil-A is my go to. You can see the real strawberries and it doesn't taste syrupy. Mmm!

That's it for May's Foodie Friday! Check back next week to see a few of the yummy things I had in June. Thanks for reading!