Creative Cooking in a Studio?

[LSB]

As mentioned in my other post, we're planning our first DVC stay in June in an OKW studio. I'd like to plan breakfast and a couple of lunches in the room (we're driving, and will have plenty of room to pack necessary items).
Any quick and easy meal ideas you can share?

Thanks!

 

[Sherri]

Maybe you can pick up lunch meat and some mayo. and have cold cuts for lunch. For breakfast (which was the only thing we ate in our studio) we had bagels, we used the fridge for the butter and cream cheese and the toaster for the bagels. Of course we had coffee as well.

 

[DonnaL]

I've precooked ground meat and then frozen it to be used for tacos, sloppy joes, etc. I have a large insulated Thermos bag I can fit three or four good sized plastic freezer containers. I just pack that up and take as my carryon and make the two hour drive to the airport, then a two hour flight and close to an hour before we get to our resort and usually everything is still frozen. The tag on the bag says it will keep items cold for up to 24 hours. I've also premade meatballs in sauce for meatball hoagies and taken them frozen to reheat in the microwave. You could also do the same with chicken, precook it and debone it, freeze it, and then when you get there add salad dressing for chicken salad or grill it and freeze to use in a cesear salad (throw a bag of premade salad on top of your frozen stuff in your insulated bag). However, we do make a grocery stop our first evening there for things like juice, milk, fresh rolls, eggs (which can be cooked in a small plastic container in the microwave for breakfast sandwiches). Hope my suggestions helped!!!

 

[magicmama]

The suggestions from DonnaL are great! But I would like to suggest bringing an electric skillet if you are driving. It's very easy to prepare skillet type dishes with or without pre-prepared frozen food. I also bring a few small storage containers that are microwavable, ziploc type bags and a microwave steamer for pasta/vegtables. What you bring will depend on what and how much time you want to cook. Just plan carefully and you will be fine.
Enjoy!!

 

[MrsNick]

I'm rehearsing for this scenario by making my breakfast and lunch at work, with just coffee maker, mini fridge and microwave. You'd be surprised how much variety you can come up with. (Other than the croissants, these are all things I've done at work)

BREAKFAST:
Obviously, make your own coffee (I bring my own coffee grounds and half n half)
Instant oatmeal (you can add boiling water and mix, but I think it tastes better when mixed with cold water and "cooked" in the microwave).
Cold cereal and milk.
At WDW, the fresh croissants at the Beach Club Marketplace were delish, and I think they have those croissants at all the DVC marketplaces.

LUNCH:
Microwaveable soups (Campbell's Soup at Hand; Progresso Microwaveable soup); paired with a slice of bread w/peanut butter, this is a surprisingly satisfying lunch.
Pre-washed arugula (you know, the pre-bagged/pre-washed salads you buy at the supermarket) with grape tomatoes (you can wash in studio mini-sink); add some soppressata into the salad, add some salad dressing and a roll, and voila: lunch
Microwaveable Kraft Macaroni & Cheese
As a supplement to all of these: whole fruit (bananas, apples or those Florida oranges), or the supermarket sells pre-cut and pre-washed fruit (like sliced apples).
Another good supplement to lunch or for snacking: string cheese or Babybel cheese.

I like some of the other posters' ideas, and can't wait to see more. I'm always looking for new ideas for breakfast/lunch at work, which is great practice for breakfast/lunch in a DVC studio

 

[bobbiwoz]

I bought a very small grill for grilled cheese sandwiches. It doesn't take up much room and I/we enjoy them.

The plastic storage containers are handy to use as cold cereal bowls as well. The little paper ones may be strong enough but they don't hold much.

I also bring a small cutting board and a pocket knife. I almost always make a fresh fruit salad.

Bobbi

 

[Jen D]

You can buy those plastic egg cups to microwave hard or soft boiled eggs, which can be used for breakfast or also salads, tuna salad, etc.

And of course you can microwave bacon, great for breakfast but also for sandwiches.

 

[plutomastif]

we did the pb&j, easy mac, I also brought our egg mcmuffin toaster for breakfast sandwiches if your driving yourself you have many possibilities.

 

[Beca]

The skillet idea is a great one. We have also stopped and bought the pre-cut, bagged lettuce and a rotisserie chicken. We love making salads with that. You can also get instant potatoes and cans of corn or other vegetables and have a "rotisserie chicken" dinner one night.

There are LOTS of things you can do....especially if you are driving.



Beca

 

[WOW]

I am impressed, you guys sure are creative and have some really good ideas!!!!!! I can't figure out what to eat at home, yet alone on vacation!!!!

 

[jim and meesie]

Slightly off topic but I just got back from Orlando. On the flight down (Southwest from Providence, RI) I was behind a woman waiting to have our checked luggage screened. When they got to her bag (which was a HUGE suitcase) the security screeners had to open it up and hand inspect it. In it she had everything you could imagine. Definitely more than a week's worth of groceries,canned soup, mayo, ketchup, PB & J, bread, sandwich rolls, pasta, chicken cutlets, sauce, soda and on and on. Truly enough food to feed a small army. I wouldn't have been surprised to see the screeners pull out a full cooked, stuffed turkey with all the trimmings, there was that much stuff!!!! It was hysterical to see the screeners pull out one item after another (they looked suspicious on the XRay screen) for a good 5 minutes.

I honestly can't imagine that it's that much cheaper to pack it in luggage and carry it all that way rather than just make a shopping trip or have a store deliver just enough groceries for vacation. It appeared that some of the condiments were leaking and most of the food was being squished together and this was 4-5 hours before she was going to get to her resort!!!!. I'm going back down in just 2 weeks and staying at the BCV and am planning to have a small amount of groceries delivered.

 

[LSB]

Thanks for all of the great ideas! You really got me started thinking!

Now I'll be able to make out my kitchen packing list etc...having something to work on makes the wait go quicker. I really enjoy the planning part-it's a creative challenge

I'm going to borrow my MIL's electric skillet for grilled cheese sandwiches (my kids love them) and also just to see what I can come up with

Believe me I'm not planning on spending my whole vacation in the kitchenette

 

[canwegosoon]

BLT

 

[manning]

A small slow cooker, fixings for a stew from the store, turn it on in the morning, go the parks and return to a meal.

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

I played around with the microwave idea...

You can cook eggs and bacon in the microwave. I also use it and a toaster to make grilled cheese. Toast and butter the bread, slap on some cheese, hit on 70% power for 30 seconds. Almost as good as in the pan.

The small George Foremans are a good subsitute for a skillet as well and easy enough to take on a plane.

Canned goods that can be combined to make different dishes are a good way to go. I'd make taco salad dinners using canned chili & canned salsa (plus cheese, salad and chips of course). The chicken idea works great!!! For one person it was a bit much. I found myself having chicken for breakfast.

I try to have something to go with wine...usually cheese crackers and grapes.

Good quality canned soups work well too! Target has some great organic soups I'll be bringing along next time. I think the brand is Muir's.

 

[jcanary]

Most DVC's have atleast one barbeque area. I know OKW has a few of them. I usually like to pack a few pieces of aluminum foil in case we decide to grill out doors. I have cooked macroni at home and put the fixings in it for a small macroni salad to have with sandwiches, etc. Bring a small container of mayo. We always fly and I always bring my small george forman. I make grilled cheese sandwiches, chicken, a lot of stuff. When I have been in a larger villa I have been one to make home made sause and meatballs, freeze it and bring it on in my carryon. stayed frozen all the way. Remember that if you pack a small suitcase with food you will have room to bring your souvenirs home.

 

[flechette]

Wow some really wonderful idea here, for any travel situation :

I'm not a DVC member (yet - still working on hubby) but I'm copying this thread and emailing it to myself for future reference- Thank you!

 

[shellbelle1971]

On our last trip, our "neighbors" in the studio next to our 1-br asked to borrow some of our kitchen utensils one evening. Don't know what they used them for...I figured it was the least we could do for them, since our baby probably kept them awake half the night with her screaming the previous night. (She was sick.)

You might be able to borrow whatever you need for cooking from the room next to you...