PLEASE help with quick dinner ideals!!

[Jonell]

We're leaving Sept 2nd for BWV. My plan is to cook in the villa 6 out of the 8 nights we're there. I need some ideals for quick meals. I want something I can prepare in under 45 mins. I've already started a shopping list so I will know exactley what to buy when we get there. So far I have meals like spaghetti and meatsauce and fajitas. Any suggestions? Thanks

 

[SmilingGrump]

If you're hitting a Costco, then look for their ready made pulled pork. We can't get it here in Canada, but found it in Arizona and we could eat that for lunch and dinner!

Other quick dinner suggestions:
Individual Pizzas - use mini pitas, flavoured tomato sauce/paste, meats, cheese - everyone gets to make their own - prep time 10 min, cook time 15min (we prefer these because they're healthier then the frozen pizzas and we prefer them on pita bread because it's closer to the real Italian pizza we got addicted to in Napali)

Roasted Chicken Salad - buy a roasted chicken (or 2) at the supermarket, Shred when cool and mix with a salad, add a bit of raspberry vinegrette (sliced almonds and mandarin orange slices if you have them, but that's tougher when on the road) and you've got a salad that even I will eat! (use any left over chicken for sandwiches)

Tacos - chicken or beef (can use any left over chicken from above)

Sandwiches - get the family to make their own, YOU'RE ON VACATION TOO!


** Disclaimer ** You may notice that there is a lack of bacon in any of my suggestions, which is odd considering I'm a male. It has been my experience that cooking bacon while on vacation attracts a gathering of other males, which is great for comaradre, but they eat all your bacon and drink your beer.

 

[DVCconvert]

Under 45 minutes...

Don't know why they call it hamburg helper....it tastes great all by itself!!

 

[kikiq]

On our last WDW trip, we found Birds' Eye Voila frozen meal at Publix on sale. It was highly recommended by the assistant manager and a customer. Bought the garlic chicken and the garlic shrimp, the chicken is better. It's not bad, a lot of veges and if you want more meat, you can add some roasted chicken. We liked it so much that we buy the big size from Costco at home.

 

[dgaston]

Fan of Voila dinners, and also Buitoni frozen meals. We like Stouffer's lasagna with salad, and one of my favorites, if you have a car is to order sauce, salad and breadsticks from Olive Gardens take-out menu. Cook your own pasta and it's a great meal.

I buy the pre-cooked bacon, and do eggs in the microwave (we stay in studios a lot). Fresh fruit for snacks, some cheese and crackers and veggies for appetizers. Publix stocks Boar's Head deli if that matters to you.

HTH

 

[laura-k]

You didn't say how many people your having -
I like the lasagna idea with salad and maybe a loaf of French bread for garlic toast or cheese bread- then use the cheese again and you could get a pre-made chicken and some mushrooms or veggies, ect...and do quesadilla's ,maybe with cornbread ( store bought or those little jiffy mixes)then My kids used to like the hamburger helper taco (the one with the rice )melt some cheese on top and eat with chips I would use your leftover chicken for this you could throw on some canned corn or black beans and salsa kinda like a Chipoltee bowl-
The other thing I used to do is a bag of popcorn chicken ,then warm some sweet and sour sauce in the microwave toss it together in a large bowl and serve over rice -There are always pre-made (loyds or curleys ect...) ribs you can heat up in oven with potato of some sort
When the kids where in sports all the time, I was always on the look-out for a hot dinner ,you could throw together in about a half hour a couple nights a week -
As the pp mentioned the Costco ready made pulled pork is pretty good too
if you go someplace like that ,they have a alott of pretty good pre packaged quick things-
Some I wouldn't normally get but easy stuff -It's your vacation too-
I hope you find a suggestion in here you can use -

 

[Strawberry's mom&dad]

Microwaved baked potatoes
Or smaller oven baked potatoes with the following toppings:
Chili
Sloppy joe's
salsa
Steamed vegies
taco filling
my all time favorite is creamed corn

 

[robertdangelo]

We use www.gardengrocer.com and have our groceries delivered to our villa. We like the Bertolli Frozen complete Skillet Meals. They are fast, tasty and cleanup is quick.
Have Fun!

 

[wbl2745]

Oooh! These are great ideas! I'm going to keep them in mind for our next DVC vacation!

 

[Laurabearz]

We like getting a whole roaster chicken... eat it for one or two meals and then pick at it for a couple of days

Our other favorite is a Stoffers Lasagna with a salad

Grilled cheese and soup

 

[com_op_2000]

Try a one pot meal:
Soup or Stew
Just throw everything in one pot, let it simmer for awhile, and go watch an in-room movie.

 

[Jonell]

Thanks guys, these are great ideals. . There will be four of us on this trip...Myself, DH, DS9, and my mom. I have never cooked in the villa before, but we are on a tight budget this trip. Also, my mom thinks she will be tired after the parks and not want to get dressed to go out for dinner. I do think it will be nice to get back to the villa and eat a quick dinner and maybe just relax with a glass of wine or stroll down to the boardwalk. Any suggestions on the best priced place to grocery shop near WDW?

 

[DVCconvert]

Any suggestions on the best priced place to grocery shop near WDW?

Winn Dixie or Publix...but NOT Goodings.

 

[Donna M]

You can't beat Buitoni or similar frozen meals for getting a quick dinner, 10ish minutes. We think they taste very good too and there's only one pan to clean! They are on my list for April.

 

[thepops]

almost anything in a crock pot... set it up int he morning and let it cook while you're at the parks. Come home and dinner is (mostly) done!

 

[dzorn]

large pack boneless chicken
italian dressing
jar alfredo sauce
box of penne pasta or linguine
brocolli
two bags salad (one ceasar one mixed)

Large pack of boneless chicken breast marinated in italian dressing.

Marinate over night. Bake in oven till done.

1st night baked chicken with veggies or desired sides

lunch chicken ceasar salad

dinner diced chicken in pasta alfredo sauce with broccoli

Mixed salad with the italian dressing any other night or lunch

Sloppy joes are also go for a couple meals. If staying longer make once then freeze some and thaw later in the week.

Denise in MI

 

[pennst8r]

I just did this for the first time at HHI. I have a great Chicken and Rice Burrito recipe that is easy to make, if you'd like it -just PM me. I buy a roasted chicken at the store to use in it--one less step.

We did a pasta night, and grilled 2 nights. I was big on marinating something during the day and cooking it at night. Chicken teriyaki is one of my picky boys' favorites.

I will say I didn't like some of the utinsels they have--really flimsy and would bend when you're stirring. I think I'll pack a few for next time. BBQ tools weren't in the villa--had to be brought to us, and took almost 2 hours and multiple calls. I'll ask for them a day ahead next time.

 

[Tramp68]

Bring a crock pot....Fill with ribs and BBQ sauce to almost cover. Let cook on low for 6-8 hours. Takes 2 minutes to prepare and serve.

Sausage and pepper in the crock pot works just as well.

Use crockpot to cook frozen meatballs and pepperoni in Sauce and then make meatball sub/hero/wedge whatever your area calls the big sandwiches...

Chili in the crockpot with some store bought cornbread!

etc...

 

[Candace]

Buy a 2-3 pound chuck roast, pour in two cans of Campbell's beef broth, salt and garlic powder (we like lots of garlic). Cook on low temperature all day if you will be out in the parks, or about 3 hours on 325 degrees if you are at the villa. Use as a roast, rice or potatoes, green beans or peas meal the first go round. Then use for sub sandwiches the next day with horseradish sauce (or whatever you like). The meat is soooo tender when cooked slowly. Very easy and delicious! I have used Publix, Walmart and Winn-Dixie to shop, but I much prefer to order my groceries online and have them delivered from GardenGrocer. Have fun!

 

[DutchsMommy]

Not sure if you are a casserole fan, but if you are it is seriously the easiest meal around. Brown ground beef, add cooked pasta (shell is good), frozen peas, shredded cheese, cream mushroom soup and cook 350 for 30 mins. You can switch up prettymuch in the recipe to whatever you like. Also, similar is 'spaghetti alltogether' where you use spag sauce, broken up spaghetti (break it before you cook it - it cooks faster) and the cheese. Good with garlic bread. I also like (and this may just be me being weird) getting wraps and cooking up casserole (or hamburger helper) and then putting it into a wrap to eat...kinda like a burrito. We also like perogies as a fast meal - boil them til they float, put them on a cookie sheet lined with tinfoil (spray w/ pam helps to stop sticking) put shredded chees over and bake for 7 mins ish. Good served w/ sour cream and ketchup.