Who’s tired of having to Stay-At-Home? We dream of all those travel destinations we want to visit. Or those places that we just can’t forget. And it’s great to revel in those memories with things that remind us of those places. Use this post to plan a travel inspired night in.

Middle-Eastern Inspired Dinner

Stay-At-Home and still experience the tastes of the Middle East. How about eating a dinner inspired by the United Arab Emirates:

Beef Koftas with Roasted Vegetable Bulgar Wheat and Yogurt

• red onion
• ground cumin
• small bunch of mint
• ground beef
• Chermoula Spice
• yogurt

For the complete ingredients list and the full recipe, click here.

Maybe you’re interested in a meat-free option. This next recipe isn’t vegan, though you can substitute the cheese.

Roasted Veg and Lentil Jumble with Feta, Toasted Almonds and Herby Drizzle

• sweet potato
• rose harissa paste
• small bunch of corriander
• garlic
• ground cumin
• almonds

For the complete ingredients list and the full recipe, click here.

Really Feel Like You’re There

Make it even more unique by sitting on pillows on the floor and using a low table if you have one. Do it just like the image below. Light an Oud scented candle and be transported far away. (Scented wood chips soaked in the fragrance oil are commonly burned in the Middle East and Northern Africa.)  

Caribbean-Inspired Cocktail

This cocktail is inspired by my West Indian heritage and trips to St. Kitts & Nevis:

Sorrel Cocktail

• dried red sorrel buds (flowers in the hibiscus family)
• lime juice
• rum

For the complete ingredients list and the full recipe, click here.

Really Feel Like You’re There

Add some music from a steel drum band to complete the atmosphere. Check out a video here. For a familiar song played on the steel drums, click here.

Southern U.S.-Inspired Dessert

This dessert is inspired by the southern United States. It’s not so bad having to Stay-At-Home when you’re biting into a pecan sweet potato pie. This recipe reminds me of my trip to Texas, USA:

East Texas Pecan Sweet Potato Pie

• sweet potato
• ground cinnamon
• chopped pecans

For the complete ingredients list and the full recipe, click here.

Really Feel Like You’re There

End your dessert with a Made-in-Texas drink, Dr. Pepper soda.

Movie

Movies are the perfect Stay-At-Home activity. Making it travel inspired is even better.

Jurassic Park

Maybe you don’t look at this as a travel movie. Think about the filming location though. It was filmed in the beautiful Hawaiian islands of Kauai and Oahu.

Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol

This movie was filmed in places like Budapest, Mumbai, Prague, Dubai and Moscow. That’s not even the complete list of locations.

Game

Maybe a movie isn’t your perfect Stay-At-Home go-to. There are lots of games available to cure your wanderlust.

Having to Stay-At-Home is tough. Make it better with some of the ideas and tips above. Let me know in the comments if you plan on trying any of these.

Note: Top image is Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates