We don't want to go up in smoke! -- someone help us with cooking tips!

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Hi everyone,

We have our first DVC trip planned and will be staying in a 2BR villa. At home, we have one of those downdraft cooktops and we grill almost everything! (fish, steak, etc...) It has just occurred to us that this approach will probably not work in our villa as it will smoke up the entire floor!

Can someone point this culinarily challenged family to some super easy, nutritious recipes we could cook in our villa... something that would -work well the take-it-easy attitude we'd like to maintain on vacation!

Thanks a bunch. We don't want to be known as the first family to set off the smoke alarms at BCV!!

 

[bres@westernMA]

Broiling is always an alternative. Over the years, we have had pretty good luck baking meals such as lasagna, chicken pies or chix fingers and fries (purchased at a local grocery store) or grilling burgers and ‘dogs on the charcoal grills at OKW. I do not know if there are grills avail at BCV!
Finally, a meal as simple as PB&J or deli sandwiches is always welcome after dining out for a few days.

 

[Geebs]

it sounds like it would be difficult, but this one really isn't. We actually cook a filget mignon roast. I don't remember the temp and time (you can check with a butcher..they will help) the great thing about it, is that you can just stick it in the oven for about an hour or so and just leave it. you could take a swim during the cooking time. a nice salad and some bread and you are all set, maybe even a veggie.
some people may think its expensive, but think the one we had cost $80, but fed 16 people. Not too bad.

 

[Disneyaholic]

If you're that used to grilling your food, maybe a small investment in a George Foreman grill would be worth your while. I don't have one, but have heard that they work great, indoors or out!

 

[Tigger7570]

We usually grocery shop our first day and I like to pick up boneless chicken and marinate with Italian dressing. I just put the chicken in the glass dish, pour the dressing over and let it marinate then cook it at 350 for about 45 min. depending on the thickness. My family loves salad so you can make it or buy the bagged salad and add what you want. Either bake or nuke potatoes or do rice. I also pick up steak, easy to broil. I also pick up a cooked whole chicken for one night. Depending on how much cooking you want to do, there's plenty of easy things. Hope this helps.

 

[Johnnie Fedora]

The DVC kitchens are equiped with an exhaust hood, but it doesn't truly exhaust to the outside. It filters and returns the air to the kitchen. I would probably stay away from grilling anything that would result in a smokey situation, hamburgers, etc. Fish or leaner meats might work well in the broiler. Dont forget to by foil to line the brioler pan, it helps with cleanup. Our last trip we got a workout trying to clean the broiler with that little sponge.

Enjoy your first trip.

 

[Ilovedisney]

We usually make some breaded fried chicken cutlets, which are also great left over on a sandwich the next day. You can also make spaghetti and meatballs, or just a boglenese sauce (meat sauce), then make chicken parmigiani with the leftover cutlets and sauce another day. Broiled fish is another good choice (flounder or tuna). You can also add some deli ham and some swiss on top of the chicken cutlet and broil it until the cheese melts, preparing a makeshift cordon bleu. A pot roast is also easy,
especially if you can bring along a small crock pot, this way you can leave it cooking all day and have a meal when you get home from the parks. A roast beef, or roast filet mignon as Geebs said, is a good choice since it does not take too long to prepare and you can do some swimming or napping while it is cooking. Meat loaf is another good meal that does not take too much cooking time. All of these meals go a long way also, and don't
require you to buy too many spices and ingredients. Have a great vacation and bon appetit!