meals at our pool home

[HunnyPots]

For those of you that have stayed in a rented home and prepared some of your own meals, what did you cook? We will do all our breakfasts so that's pretty simple but only a few dinners. Probably no lunches. I don't want to over-buy on groceries and have to throw a bunch of stuff out when we leave.
We will have access to a gas grill so dh wants to cook out when he can. We are flying so I can't pack food from home. Also, easy clean-up is a must!
Any tips or ideas would be appreciated!

 

[isla bonita]

Tin foil is your friend. I use it for everything. Not a lot of clean up. Veggies, fish so on.

Salad in a bag another one of my good friends.

As easy as I can make it for myself. Not a lot of clean up but good eats.

 

[encinc]

I'll be watching this thread for suggestions.

I often buy prepackaged convenience foods while we're away. Not something we eat at home, but I figure it's probably at least as nutritious as most restaurant food. Things like fajita kits or frozen lasagna (although depending on the time of year you are traveling, you may not want the oven on for long enough to cook a lasagna.

Salad in a bag is a great idea. I also like to have those precut carrots on hand for quick snacks.

 

[stepnut]

Spaghetti, garlic bread and salad
chicken stir fry (the frozen ones where you add fresh chicken)
broiled meats (steak, pork chops, chicken breast) , potatoes, veggies...
frozen family size stouffers meals
frozen pizza

Really not a whole lot different from what I cook at home. I'm a very simple, inelegant cook. Nothing fancy, time consuming or complicated.

 

[dougsmom98]

We made a frozen lasagna and garlic bread that last time we were at a rental home and that worked really well. We don't do a lot of cooking while on vacation, but we do eat a lot of take out (pizza, Chinese...) and the leftovers end up being lunch the next day. This year, my DH and I have decided to buy a large Giordanos pizza for ourselves on our first night at the villa, because the pizza is very good and very filling. We ordered a medium the night before we left last year, and we couldn't finish it and hated to throw it away. If we order it early this time, we will have plenty of leftovers for the rest of the week. I am not one to plan and buy for too many meals because like you said, you don't want to have to throw it out at the end of the week. The grocery stores are pretty close by and you can run out and get what you feel like eating for dinner.

 

[Frothy]

We just buy what we would normally buy. We're fortunate in that we always drive so can take any groceries home with us but I wouldn't worry too much about leaving food. I bet you have to throw stuff out at home every week anyway so why worry when you go on vacation. Much better to have too much than too little... and it's surprising how many snacks you go through sitting by the pool. Enjoy yourself... you deserve it.

 

[HeatherC]

We like to grill...everything...that way I don't have anything to clean up. LOL

London Broil or Chicken Breasts on the Grill are great. We also throw on some veggies and potatoes and have a better meal than we would if we ordered pizza. And it requires very little effort....I usually have a cocktail while dinner is being prepared.

We also grill extra so we have extras for snacking the next day. Cold london broil is great over a salad the next day with some fresh bread.

Have a great trip!

 

[Darcy03231]

On the first night there we made a tossed salad, pasta salad and potato salad that was big enough for 2-3 nights and then just made more as we ran out.

1st night - hamburgers & hotdogs on the grill, pasta salad/potato salad/tossed salad
2nd night - chicken on the grill, pasta salad/potato salad/tossed salad
3rd night - Lasagne w/garlic bread and salad
4th night - chicken casserole (I made it on night 3 and just put it in the fridge so it was ready to cook when we got back from the parks).
5th night - Ate out (Pizza)
6th night - Chicken and broccoli w/penne pasta alfredo
7th night - Pullled pork sandwiches (I brought a crock pot), pasta salad/potato salad/tossed salad.
8th night - Spaghetti & Meatballs, garlic bread, tossed salad
9th night - Ate out (dd's 16th birthday - really nice restaurant)
10th night - hamburgers & hotdogs on the grill, pasta salad/potato salad/tossed salad
11th night - chicken on the grill, pasta salad/potato salad/tossed salad
12th night - Ate out (Chinese buffet)
13th night - Mexican Shepard's Pie (made it on night 12 and just put it in the fridge so it was ready to cook when we got back from the parks) & tossed salad.
14th night - Steak on the grill, pasta salad/potato salad/tossed salad
15th night - Pork chops on the grill, pasta salad/potato salad/tossed salad

 

[Disneymaniacs]

On the first night there we made a tossed salad, pasta salad and potato salad that was big enough for 2-3 nights and then just made more as we ran out.

1st night - hamburgers & hotdogs on the grill, pasta salad/potato salad/tossed salad
2nd night - chicken on the grill, pasta salad/potato salad/tossed salad
3rd night - Lasagne w/garlic bread and salad
4th night - chicken casserole (I made it on night 3 and just put it in the fridge so it was ready to cook when we got back from the parks).
5th night - Ate out (Pizza)
6th night - Chicken and broccoli w/penne pasta alfredo
7th night - Pullled pork sandwiches (I brought a crock pot), pasta salad/potato salad/tossed salad.
8th night - Spaghetti & Meatballs, garlic bread, tossed salad
9th night - Ate out (dd's 16th birthday - really nice restaurant)
10th night - hamburgers & hotdogs on the grill, pasta salad/potato salad/tossed salad
11th night - chicken on the grill, pasta salad/potato salad/tossed salad
12th night - Ate out (Chinese buffet)
13th night - Mexican Shepard's Pie (made it on night 12 and just put it in the fridge so it was ready to cook when we got back from the parks) & tossed salad.
14th night - Steak on the grill, pasta salad/potato salad/tossed salad
15th night - Pork chops on the grill, pasta salad/potato salad/tossed salad

Great menus! We cook the very same things when we are there but I never thought of making a few large salads to last a few days- that is a great idea.
Mexican Shepard's Pie- sounds so good, what's in it and would you please share the recipe?

 

[Darcy03231]

MEXICAN SHEPARDS PIE

1.5 lbs ground beef (or turkey)
1 pkg of taco seasoning
1 cup shredded cheese (I use mexican)
1 pkg frozen corn (I thaw it)
Mashed potatoes (I make my own using 5-6 lg potatoes. You can use instant and make enough for 6-8 servings).
Sour cream (optional)
Salsa (optional)

Brown ground beef and drain. Add taco seasoning and enough water to "melt" it into the meat (about a 1/4 cup). Layer in the bottom of a 2 qt casserole (when traveling I used the disposable casserole pans). Layer in shredded cheese, corn and potatoes. Cook at 350° for 30 min. Serve with sour cream and salsa.

I serve it with tossed salad. Very easy to do and you can make it ahead of time and freeze it. If frozen I take it out of the freezer in the morning and let it thaw before cooking. The other one I like when traveling is:

WICKED CHICKEN

1 pkg stove top stuffing
1 pkg frozen peas (I thaw them)
2 small cans of mushrooms
Cream of Chicken soup
2/3 can milk
3 cups of cooked chunked chicken (I make extra when I grill chicken and use it for the casserole. You can also used the precooked frozen chicken strips)

Grease a 2 qt casserole. Layer in enough dry stuffing to cover the bottom. Layer in peas, mushrooms and chicken. Mix the soup with 2/3 soup can of milk and pour over the casserole. Make the remaining stuffing according to the package directions and layer on top. Cook at 350° for 30 min.

If you don't like peas you can subsitute other vegetables. I've done it and it comes out fine, my family just really likes peas. I've also substituted cream of mushroom or cream of celery soup and its come out fine.

 

[123Disney]

These are really great ideas. Can't wait to hear more!
We use the bag of premade meatballs for two meals. The first day we will make spagetti and the next day use the left overs for meatball sandwiches.

 

[kty]

another suggestion would be delivery. we had chinese delivered. We also did some take out - called restaurants on way out of park and picked food up without a wait on the way to the townhome. we did outback, redlobster to name a few.....that way when we returned to townhome, we put on jammies, ate already cooked hot food, and relaxed on sofa, watched tv, etc. we LOVED it

 

[PattnFmly]

We also usually easy things. We like to get the "flat hams" that just go in a skillet and have with potatoes and veggies. We also love to have kielbasa and macaroni and cheese. We go the boxed route on vacation ...

 

[HunnyPots]

another suggestion would be delivery. we had chinese delivered. We also did some take out - called restaurants on way out of park and picked food up without a wait on the way to the townhome. we did outback, redlobster to name a few.....that way when we returned to townhome, we put on jammies, ate already cooked hot food, and relaxed on sofa, watched tv, etc. we LOVED it

Chinese delivery? That would be my dh's idea of heaven! Do you remember the name of the place? Or are there many in the area that deliver?
Thanks!

 

[kty]

When we stayed at WH, there was a whole packet that the owner had sitting in the foyer. There were a few different chinese places that delivered. We had menus for quite a few of the local delivery places including giordano's, other pizza places, sub shops, etc. I think most owners have this information ready for the guests. if not, and you are staying at wh, I think information can be obtained from the pool house/game room area.

 

[ALnRYSmom]

My kids love pasta, so we will make a big pot the first night and just replenish as needed. Sprinkle a good sized handful of cheese on a plate of pasta - heat it in the microwave for about 30 seconds and cheesy pasta is served. I get cubed ham to add a little protein and serve a side of some veggie. Canned while on vacation, fresh at home. We will also get some bagged salads and frozen meals that can be microwaved, cuts down on the heat. Breakfast is easy. DD will want cereal, DH and DS will cook scrambled eggs and I will have toast with jam, fruit and coffee. Lunches at the condo will consist of hot dogs or sandwiches. I plan to make this as little work as possible and save some money at the same time.

 

[raestr]

There are 6 of us and we will be staying at Windsor Hills next time. We drive to WDW, so I am lucky that I can take what I need and not have to stop at the grocery store while on vacation. I plan to cook some ground beef ahead of time and freeze it. That way, it will help keep the cooler cold and all I have to do is add a jar of spaghetti sauce to it on spaghetti night. I also have to take some canned green beans. Green beans are one vegetable my children are sure to eat. They eat other vegetables, but not consistently. I will also take some Stouffers frozen family size meals.

I also plan to make a casserole or two ahead of time and just take them down in the cooler. I have 2 Pyrex glass dishes with lids that will come in handy for that. I don't want to prepare very much while on vacation. Three of my children still prefer to eat their cereal dry:, so they can eat that in the car on the way to the parks. I also like those Pillsbury Scramblers that you can put in the toaster. Toaster Strudels and frozen waffles are good, too. I will make eggs a morning or two while we are there. I am also avoiding things that require condiments like hamburgers and hot dogs. I don't want to take a lot of jars or bottles. Also, we will probably eat hamburgers or hot dogs for lunch some days we eat in the parks and I don't want to have to eat those too many times in one week. I like them both, but too much of one thing gets old quick.

And we will take lots of snacks, fruit, bottled water, etc. too. Freeze your bottled water and it will be nice and cold when you get ready to drink it the next day in the park. If you plan to make tea or coffee, take bottled water for that too. Florida water has a definite taste to it and outsiders usually don't like it.

This is a good thread.