Vacation Condo Cooking

[3DisneyBuggs]

We're not going to Disney but there is a new Publix that opened near our beach vacation this summer. Our villa has a full kitchen so I plan on cooking most of our meals. We'll be in Myrtle Beach and last time we went there weren't many restaurants that we really liked. Breakfast and lunch is easy but dinners always give me trouble. What woukd you cook for a week on a beach vacation. And is anything really good at Publix? I love that the Orlando ones have Krispy Kreme, thats my only must buy each time we go.

 

[rnorwo1]

I've only been in a Publix on vacation, but it seemed like a very nice store with lots of pre-prepared items.

We almost always rent VRBO homes and cook on vacations, even when we are doing road trips and aren't in one place for more than a few nights at a time. The money savings are huge, after sight seeing most of the day I don't want to get dressed and go out (and mange 3 boys in a restaurant), and I don't gain nearly as much weight! However, it is vacation, so I don't want to spend a lot of time cooking. So, I go into vacation mode shopping, when I allow more expensive, convenience foods, and some unhealthy indulgences.

When we are driving somewhere, I like to bring stuff that is already prepared. So, I may have steaks frozen in marinade, lasagna in One of those disposable aluminum pans, things like that. If we are flying, then we will go to the grocery store and get things that can be grilled (most condos have grills), like chicken breasts, Bubba Burgers, steaks, hot dogs, etc. We will then grill everything all at once, so we are eating left overs and not cooking every day, and I'll just get some frozen vegetables, salad fixings, etc to go with them. Other things I've gotten are frozen or deli pizzas, rotisserie chickens, things like that. My kids love fried cheese mozzarella sticks, so Im good with that kind of stuff being dinner on vacation. Tacos, spaghetti, anything with ground meat would be easy to make (and, if you're driving, you could pre-make the meat and freeze it in ziplock bags, making it even easier).

I also find that we never need as much food as I think we will, so don't over plan! Have a great time!

 

[barkley]

(and, if you're driving, you could pre-make the meat and freeze it in ziplock bags, making it even easier).

if you're driving you can also save money by bringing your own spices, marinades, condiments, foil......all stuff that can add a good chunk of change to a grocery trip.

I'm also for easy stuff that gets grilled, usually some deli salads, taco/burrito/nacho makings (I make a big batch of the meat and season it-then people can make their own item with the taco shells, tortillas, tortilla chips, canned nacho cheese, canned refried beans, salsa, taco sauce I have on hand). watermelon sliced up works great for desserts, and I get ice cream to put in the freezer as well (you can grab some cones-take along a scooper). ds loves Italian food so I just get one of those big party size frozen lasagnas along with some garlic bread. I like lighter stuff on vacation so I splurge and get a few premade individual salads.

 

[msmayor]

Things you can grill...burgers, dogs, chicken, etc. and prepared salads/garden salads. Fresh fruit. Things that just don't take a lot of prep time or cookin.

 

[Lvsdisney]

Pre cooked chicken (rotisserie style) and potato or macaroni salad
Grilled hamburger (frozen patties, easy prep!) and hot dogs on the grill
Frozen meatballs , heat up in a sauce pan with sauce and serve with spaghetti

 

[bookgirl]

We've done a few condo stays. #1, find out if the condo provides any staples. Lack of salt, pepper, sugar, spices/ and coffee can add a ton of money to your food budget while traveling.

We usually do

A build your own pasta meal (fix two kinds of pasta we usually do some long pasta and some kind of ravioli with ground beef and chicken and red and white sauce all separate)

A crock pot meal if available (roast, salsa chicken, pork loin)

One take out fried chicken (either KFC type or Supermarket Deli) or Pizza Meal (take out, we're not much into frozen pizza)

One or two burger/sandwich nights with chips

All the breakfasts eggs, meat, biscuits/gravy, frozen pancakes or waffles

We make big meals so leftovers can be lunch or another dinner

Snacks and desserts are all packaged, cause while I will cook on vacation, I don't like to bake of vacation.

We make Kool-Aid and buy bottled water. Sometimes we get soda but water or flavored water make up the bulk of our liquids while at the condo.

We usually will also buy some kind of fresh fruit.

 

[Judique]

Condo cooking on vacation is when I like to splurge and get steaks, good seafood and things I don't prepare often at home. At home we are so busy and we grab a lot of quick foods. I figure I'm still saving money over dining out. And, steak, baked potato, mushrooms and onions and a nice salad is very easily prepared.

Chicken is pretty easy.If there is an oven roast it and maybe serve with some prepared sides from the market. Shrimp salad. Crab cakes. Good burgers. I like to stay simple and not get too complicated also.

 

[DisneyHardin]

We always do cooking in our condo when we go to the beach. We grill out at least a couple nights - burgers or chicken breasts are our favorites. The condo we stayed in last year had a crock-pot and so I did bbq in that one night. I try to stick to simple things that don't take too much time to prepare like tacos, spaghetti, chicken and rice casserole, etc.

 

[Mrs. Ciz]

Condo cooking on vacation is when I like to splurge and get steaks, good seafood and things I don't prepare often at home. At home we are so busy and we grab a lot of quick foods. I figure I'm still saving money over dining out. And, steak, baked potato, mushrooms and onions and a nice salad is very easily prepared.

Chicken is pretty easy.If there is an oven roast it and maybe serve with some prepared sides from the market. Shrimp salad. Crab cakes. Good burgers. I like to stay simple and not get too complicated also.

I feel the same way. I don't always want to cook on vacation, but I also don't want to just eat my regular super quick go to weekday meals either. I like to splurge a little and make easy things that we don't eat often...treats for "on vacation". Tom Jones Shrimp is a perfect example. Serve it with a salad and plenty of crusty bread for dipping in the sauce. Just set the large casserole dish full of it in the middle of the table and go at it!

Tom Jones Shrimp: (serves 4)
1 lb shrimp (fresh unpeeled)
1 TBS ground pepper
1.5 tsp salt
lemon juice (1 lemon or 3 TBS)
1 TBS Worcestershire sauce
several shakes of hot pepper sauce
1 clove minced garlic
3 TBS olive oil
3 TBS butter

- preheat oven to 350
- wash shrimp & place in casserole dish
- mix sauce & pour over shrimp
- dot with butter
- bake 20 minutes
- serve with bread for dipping

We've also done Low Country Shrimp Boils. Needed to bring along or borrow a huge steamer pot for it. We threw in:
shrimp, polish sausage, potatoes, corn on cob, old bay... (you can also add crabs, mussels or clams as well). Once it has steamed, we line the kitchen sink with newspaper and dump it in. It goes great with bloody marys. Yummy and fun!

 

[Marionnette]

Condo cooking on vacation is when I like to splurge and get steaks, good seafood and things I don't prepare often at home. At home we are so busy and we grab a lot of quick foods. I figure I'm still saving money over dining out. And, steak, baked potato, mushrooms and onions and a nice salad is very easily prepared.

Chicken is pretty easy.If there is an oven roast it and maybe serve with some prepared sides from the market. Shrimp salad. Crab cakes. Good burgers. I like to stay simple and not get too complicated also.

And I'm just the opposite! I cook a lot of adventurous, healthy recipes at home but when we're on vacation, I was a break from all of that chopping, searing, saucing, etc. So, I take the simple route that allows me to relax a bit in the evening. Mostly grilled foods and crock pot cooking.

Something that works really well for us is to have a nice selection of appetizers on hand for everyone to pick on while dinner is being prepared. I get back to the condo about half an hour before the rest of the group, take my shower and then begin putting out the appetizers while everyone else showers. Then we all munch (and drink wine) while we get the meal ready and the table set.