Staying offsite in a condo? ***Share your easy dinner recipes!***

[MommyPoppins]

I am in the process of trying to get my DH to agree to one last trip before our annuals expire(then we are taking time off(a year or more) for a business venture). He is mostly on board, but has to see if he will even be allowed to take his vacation time in May.

So like any good Disney Wife I am planning ahead of him and looking into hotels.

I am almost 100% sure we are going to pick bonnet creek, because we can probably get a 2 bedroom for $499-$699 for 7 days. I will plan pretty much all of our meals in the room, with only a snack budget for at the parks.

So.............what should I cook?

Share your favorite QUICK and EASY plan ahead meals.

I think I will take a day before we leave and cook everything ahead of time and bring it frozen(we are only a 3 hour drive).


I'll start.

Walking Tacos.

Cook and season(with taco seasoning) ground beef ahead of time and freeze.
Small bags of fritos
lettuce
tomatoes
cheese
Any other taco ingredients you like

Reheat meat, open bag of fritos, add taco ingredients. This can be eaten on the go, at the pool, or in the room.

 

[stargazer2892]

My favorite quick lunch isn't cooked ahead but a one pot super easy Quinoa with veggies. quinoa is the only grain that's a complete protein so there's no meat to have to deal with re-heating. I use pretty much whatever frozen bag of veggies that I have half full in the freezer(corn and stir fry veggies work really well) and a handful of baby spinach (I add it at the very end so its not mush). But whatever type of veggies your family will eat works. I also sautee garlic and some onions before I add the quinoa. Normally I add about a tablespoon of Newmans Own Light Lime salad dressing and a pinch or so of red pepper flakes to give it a little more flavor. It takes 15-20 min of being ignored on the stove.
I am terrible at recipes, so everything besides the ratio of quinoa to water is an estimate, adjust according to personal preference.
Serves 4
1 Cup of quinoa
2 Cups Water
Frozen Veggies (whatever your family will eat)
2 cloves of garlic (minced)
half a shallot (minced)
1 pot with lid.
1 TBS of lime salad dressing
.5 TSP red pepper flakes
Olive Oil
On medium High heat
Sautee shallot a minute, add garlic and red pepper flakes, cook another minute.
Add quinoa, water and dressing, bring to a boil and reduce to medium low. Cook for 10 minutes.
Toss in Veggies and cook until the quinoa is done (the "tails" or germ separates from the seed will be noticeable, it will still have sort of an "al dente" bite to them.
serve in a bowl.

 

[MommyPoppins]

Thanks. I keep wanting to try quinoa, but it is so expensive that I haven't. I would have to use so much for my family of 8. But I am going to try it one day! Maybe this trip will be the time.

 

[Princess Roo]

I pre-cut chicken breasts and put them in a ziploc with Ken's Lite Caesar Dressing (could use other dressings, of course). About half a bottle for 3-4 breasts. At the condo, dump the chicken and dressing in a skillet and cook over medium, stirring occasionally, until it's done (time depends on how small you cut your pieces). Then I bring a bag of steam-in-bag veggies and either a box of couscous (cooks very quickly) or boil-in-bag rice to go with it. Not quite as easy, but very healthy and can be done in 15 minutes.

 

[The Hendies]

One of the complaints about staying at a condo is "I don't want to have to cook and clean. I'm on vacation." I agree! But I don't let a little bit of cooking and perhaps making a bed seem like "work" Heck, I almost make my own bed at a hotel! Anyway, we fly, so all food items must be purchased once we get down there. We always eat a big breakfast before going to the parks. Keeps the hungeries away for quite a while.
For dinners, we have had meatball heroes made with pre-made meatballs, one pot stir-fry with just veggies and chicken chunks, and even just hamburgers and hot dogs. I do purchase more convenience food than I would at home, but even with the lightly higher price for pre-made it is alot cheaper that eating out every meal.

 

[Princess Roo]

Sorry...duplicate!

 

[mpbest]

We stayed at Bonnet Creek last year and definitely recommend using their grills. They were super clean, gas grills. We saw them cleaning the grills regularly. You could grill just about anything and put baked potatos in the microwave, have salad and rolls. Buy prepared potato salad to serve with the meat. Using the grill would cut down on cleanup! Breakfast for dinner is quick. Pack a crock pot and dinner will be ready when you get back. Since your driving, I would even consider bringing along an electric grill if you have it. I didn't think the kitchen had alot options for serious cooking.

 

[MommyPoppins]

One of the complaints about staying at a condo is "I don't want to have to cook and clean. I'm on vacation." I agree! But I don't let a little bit of cooking and perhaps making a bed seem like "work" Heck, I almost make my own bed at a hotel! Anyway, we fly, so all food items must be purchased once we get down there. We always eat a big breakfast before going to the parks. Keeps the hungeries away for quite a while.
For dinners, we have had meatball heroes made with pre-made meatballs, one pot stir-fry with just veggies and chicken chunks, and even just hamburgers and hot dogs. I do purchase more convenience food than I would at home, but even with the lightly higher price for pre-made it is alot cheaper that eating out every meal.

I used to think that too. "No way I'm cooking on vacation!" But since our family has grown so large I realize that it's much smarter to just eat all meals at the condo. It always sucks to spend so much money at Disney and all you have to show for it is a few pounds gained.

We stayed at Bonnet Creek last year and definitely recommend using their grills. They were super clean, gas grills. We saw them cleaning the grills regularly. You could grill just about anything and put baked potatos in the microwave, have salad and rolls. Buy prepared potato salad to serve with the meat. Using the grill would cut down on cleanup! Breakfast for dinner is quick. Pack a crock pot and dinner will be ready when you get back. Since your driving, I would even consider bringing along an electric grill if you have it. I didn't think the kitchen had alot options for serious cooking.

We will definitely be using the grills!

I think I might make some breakfast sandwiches ahead of time too. I've done that before for my DH to bring to work with him. Then you can just pop them in the microwave and heat them up. A quick morning breakfast.

 

[juliebean]

Since you are driving - I'd really try to bring all the little things you can - salt, pepper, ketchup - our condo had NOTHING and it is shocking how much all the little things like salad dressing, butter, mayo etc. can add up, plus laundry soap. We went to a large Publix and I still felt like we were paying way more than reasonable. Perhaps it was just because I'm not used to buying small sizes, but it felt like a little bit of price gouging.

We did chicken & black bean tacos one night, and made enough for taco salad the next day. That was a popular one. We also grilled hamburgers and hotdogs, can't think of others - totally simple stuff! I do think it is a great way to save some money, but as the mom - I did kind of wonder when it was my turn for vacation - between cooking, washing beach towels constantly and changing diapers in public bathrooms on a regular basis!

Oh - the walking tacos - we call that frito pie - but walking tacos is much better name!

 

[MommyPoppins]

Since you are driving - I'd really try to bring all the little things you can - salt, pepper, ketchup - our condo had NOTHING and it is shocking how much all the little things like salad dressing, butter, mayo etc. can add up, plus laundry soap. We went to a large Publix and I still felt like we were paying way more than reasonable. Perhaps it was just because I'm not used to buying small sizes, but it felt like a little bit of price gouging.

We did chicken & black bean tacos one night, and made enough for taco salad the next day. That was a popular one. We also grilled hamburgers and hotdogs, can't think of others - totally simple stuff! I do think it is a great way to save some money, but as the mom - I did kind of wonder when it was my turn for vacation - between cooking, washing beach towels constantly and changing diapers in public bathrooms on a regular basis!

Oh - the walking tacos - we call that frito pie - but walking tacos is much better name!

I am a big couponer and have quite the stock pile of everything(nothing like that crazy TLC show), so I will definitely be bringing all those little things, I do not pay full price for things. So no way I could go buy all that stuff, it would kill me.

 

[livndisney]

Since you are driving - I'd really try to bring all the little things you can - salt, pepper, ketchup - our condo had NOTHING and it is shocking how much all the little things like salad dressing, butter, mayo etc. can add up, plus laundry soap. We went to a large Publix and I still felt like we were paying way more than reasonable. Perhaps it was just because I'm not used to buying small sizes, but it felt like a little bit of price gouging.

We did chicken & black bean tacos one night, and made enough for taco salad the next day. That was a popular one. We also grilled hamburgers and hotdogs, can't think of others - totally simple stuff! I do think it is a great way to save some money, but as the mom - I did kind of wonder when it was my turn for vacation - between cooking, washing beach towels constantly and changing diapers in public bathrooms on a regular basis!

Oh - the walking tacos - we call that frito pie - but walking tacos is much better name!

If you went to Publix, you were paying more. Publix is a lot more expensive that most other grocery stores. (The only things I buy at Publix are the b1g1).

Depending on where you are staying-there is a Walmart on Turkey Lake Rd, another one on not far from DTD. There is also a Winn Dixie near DTD.

 

[momto2js]

I would take your crock pot. We often put all the makings for chili in a freezer bag and then in the am we can empty the bag in to the pot, turn on low and then it is ready when you return from the park. Make and freeze cornbread muffins before you go and you are way ahead. We also do a chicken for tacos in the crock pot. I use a jar of medium salsa and 4 chicken breast. 8 hours on low and then shred and your meat is ready. We usually buy a bag of shreded cheese when we travel.

 

[MommyPoppins]

I love the crock pot idea, but I'd need to get a new one. The legs of mine are rusting out, who knows how safe that is. lol

I can see a layered crock pot lasagna, fajitas....so easy!

 

[juliebean]

If you went to Publix, you were paying more. Publix is a lot more expensive that most other grocery stores. (The only things I buy at Publix are the b1g1).

Depending on where you are staying-there is a Walmart on Turkey Lake Rd, another one on not far from DTD. There is also a Winn Dixie near DTD.

Good to know - it was just the nearest to the condo we rented and we don't have them in NJ, so I didn't know any better. What really drove me nuts was buying all the things that you have usually have in the cupboard and the small size detergent, etc. - I spent way more than I would have at home. But we fly and it's hard to pack all that little stuff. This time we are staying on property, but I'll keep the Walmart in mind for future visits. Thx!

 

[MSSANDRA]

We do condo cooking at the beach and it really is not hard.

A new crock pot is a great idea!

So simple. We like to cook: a beef roast with potato and carrots, a pork roast and then shred and add bar-b-q sauce for sandwiches, chicken with cream of chicken soup (cook rice to go with it).
Just put in before you leave for the parks and dinner is ready!!!

Also have taken frozen:
Pasta sauce (cook pasta when you are ready to eat)
Chicken cooked with the broth (boil and add noodles when you are ready to eat) for chicken noodles

Other quick meals:
hot dogs
make your own pizzas
Anything on the grill
Breakfast for dinner

For lunch we find that taking special breads and nicer fixings helps keep down the getting board of sandwiches.

Stop at the store on arrival for ice cream treats, take some homemade cookies or brownies.

Count on a few ready made meals, we like stoffers, still cheaper than eating out and no work!!!!

 

[The Hendies]

If you use crock pot liners, clean up is a breeze!

 

[MommyPoppins]

Yeah I like the idea of the crock pot liners. I will do that for sure.

We were planning on getting some nice bread and sub fixings and our fav. meats and cheeses for lunch so we didn't feel left out. lol

 

[crazyredhead]

I was going to suggest a crockpot but I see that someone beat me to it.

Few other easy crockpot ideas:

boneless chicken breast on the bottom of the crockpot with a bottle of BBQ sauce poured over it (I use Sweet Baby Ray's). When you get home it will be so tender that you can shredd it with a fork. Serve on a roll, over mashed potatoes or on a salad with corn tortilla strips and ranch dressing.

Baked potato bar. Purchase all of the fixings for loaded baked potatoes and keep them in the fridge in individual bowls so that they are ready when you get home. Scrub potatoes, rub with with olive oil and sprinkle sea salt on them. Place in the crockpot BUT leave the cover slightly askew. If you close the lid tightly they will be soggy. If you allow some air to get to them they will be perfectly crispy on the outside like at a steak house.

2 NY strip steaks (or any other cut of steak) place in the crockpot and then put in 1 sliced onion. Cover with 1 large can of diced tomatoes and 1 can of crushed tomatoes. Serve over egg noodles with a side salad and bread.

We are driving down in April and staying off site at a house with 7 other family members (in addition to my 5). I am thinking of bringing my crockpot with me from NH.

 

[disykat]

I've never cooked at Disney, but I've eaten meals in lots of vacation condos/cabins. That said, I don't "cook." We're convenience food all the way on vacation!

Frozen meals for a family, bagged salad, bags of frozen vegies that steam, etc. We also do boxed macaroni and cheese, canned chili for chili dogs, etc.

 

[aprilfoolwed]

We did tacos, spaghetti, and hot dogs.

Then one night we bought a rotisserie chicken, bag of salad and loaf of Italian Bread. Simple, yummy and way less expensive than eating out.

This time, I think I'll buy some frozen skillet meals to make. My family keeps those on hand for crazy nights at home, and I think they will work well in the house we're renting.

I'll gladly pay a little more for convenience foods while on vacation - because it still beats eating out all the time.

Other things that could be easy are chili, calzones (make with pizza dough), mac-n-cheese, grilled chicken (if you have a grill there!), frozen pizzas....

I don't know that I will tote our crock pot with us, but that opens up a lot of options there.

I also like cooking those tiny, thin pork chops in the skillet with just some Italian dressing. fast & easy!