Healthy Across America Road Trip. Cleveland, Ohio to Scranton, PA!

Today felt like the longest drive yet because we knew what was waiting for us on the other end, family. Karen and I grew up in a small town outside of Scranton, Pennsylvania. It was only natural to make home a stop on our trip. We pulled up around 4:30 pm to hugs and kisses and niece and nephew snuggles. What could be better?

The day started in Cleveland with a HUGE breakfast made my Jim, our B&B innkeeper. Jim was quite the cook, and to our very happy surprise Jim was also a fan of sourcing local ingredients. He made local organic scrambled eggs, bacon from the famous Cleveland West End Farmers Market, pancakes from scratch (not from a box, he boasted) A big bowl of gorgeous fruit, homemade banana bread, fruit preserves and organic butter. There was enough food on the table to feed 10 people, but we made a pretty good dent in it.

Remnants of Jim's breakfast.

Originally, we wanted to spend a bit of time in Cleveland, but we were so eager to see family that we decided to hit the road right after breakfast. In the car we snacked on some apples from the Green City Market in Chicago and peanut butter that we still had left over from our original provisions. 4 hours later, and about 6 Karen playlists later, we were home.

My nephew Jonah jumped into my arms with an, “Oh Auntie, I missed you so much.” I cried. My niece Nyah was napping on the couch after a very tiring sleep over with Jonah the night before, so I had to be patient and wait for her snuggle.

How could you not want to run home to these faces? (this photo is from Christmas, they don't dress up like this just for Auntie's arrival… although… maybe that should be a new tradition!)

Mom outdid herself as usual. The star of the dinner was a roasted tenderloin from the Farmers Market. My mom has been buying her meat from the same farmer since I was a kid. Our freezer is usually full of pasture raised organic beef and chicken and around this time of year the supply is beginning to dwindle. I was thrilled there was a tenderloin left! She paired with it gorgeous snap peas and asparagus, an arugula salad with roasted beets and goat cheese and a potato gratin. A small portion of the decadent gratin rounded out the meal beautifully.

Arugula Beet Salad and Roasted Tenderloin

Snap Peas, Asparagus, and Decadent Potatoes

Meanwhile, across town… (more like, over the mountains, through the woods, and down into the valley) Karen made up for past indulgences with a home cooked meal of butternut squash, sauteed spinach and garlic, and Sunday chicken Parmesan with her families infamous sauce.

Food always tastes better at home, it's as if you can taste the love stirred right into every dish.

So… we are off to our final destination Boston!! 1 day left, and due to yesterdays kindness from family we think we may just make it on budget!

Final tally tomorrow… stay tuned. Boston… Here. We. Come.