Finding Joy in My Kitchen: Eating Well {& Cheap} on Vacation

If you are just joining us, we are in part 2 of our series about eating well {& cheap} on vacation. In part 1 we talked about planning ahead, asking 5 questions that will help us determine our food needs for the trip.

Today, we’re starting to think about meals that work well on the road. After determining answers to the first 5 questions, it’s time to think about your menu plan. Here are the top three things to consider when choosing recipes:

Recipes should fit well together. Choose recipes that use a similar set of ingredients in different ways, allowing you to maximize and stretch your ingredients. This includes planning to use leftovers well!
Recipes should be easy to prepare & clean up. This is not the time for elaborate ingredient lists, complicated preparation instructions or trying something new. Stick to recipes that you can almost make without a recipe.
Recipes should include in-season ingredients. This will help you be able to purchase ingredients at your destination and keep costs low.

Easy Breakfast Ideas

For the cook to have a lazy morning, you’ll want easy breakfasts. Crockpot ones work really well, as do those that you can make up ahead of time and just add fresh ingredients. Egg bakes are particularly wonderful because they make great use of leftovers from dinner the night before!

French Toast – Use this Cinnamon Raisin Bread and whip up some homemade French Toast. You can even bake it in the oven if no griddle is available.
Oatmeal Cinnamon Pancakes – Our favorite pancake mix -- Just be sure you have a griddle. Serve with Berry Sauce.
Blueberry Breakfast Cake – Like a muffin, but better because you don’t have to clean the muffin tin!
Granola Bar – Make up a batch or two of granola, serve with Berry Sauce, fresh berries, milk and/or yogurt.
Berry Baked Oatmeal – A great way to start a busy day, this baked oatmeal can make good use of whatever fresh produce is in season!
Crockpot Breakfast Casserole – Makes breakfast in the morning a pinch.
Leftover Egg Bake – Cleans out the refrigerator!
Breakfast Potatoes & Scrambled Eggs – You can even toss this inside a tortilla for a wrap.

Simple Eat In or Out Lunches

When it comes to lunches, simple is key. You’ll want to spend your time with family and/or friends, and not in the kitchen! A few ideas for eat in or for a picnic lunch include:

Sandwich Bar – Make your favorite loaves of bread, bring a bunch of fixings and have everyone build their own sandwiches. Try this moist Carrot Bread or Wheat Buttermilk Bread. Switch things up by using a bun – Italian Herb or Whole Wheat.
Grilled Cheese – If you are eating in, take your favorite bread and make a grilled cheese.
Toasted Sandwiches – Have a campfire? Wrap up a sandwich and toast. Yum-o.
Fun Fillings for Sandwiches or Wraps – Use egg salad, chicken salad, roasted vegetable spread, or roasted red pepper spread for a fun lunch.
Cheese & Crackers with Veggies & Fruit
Hummus & Veggies or Pitas
Chips & Salsa
Popcorn
Yogurt with fruit (& granola)

Fast & Filling Dinners

Some vacation days involve being busy outdoors all day long. Your crew comes back hungry and tired, so dinners need to be quick to prepare and filling to replenish all that energy expended all day.

Crockpot Baked Potato Bar – Nothing beats coming back to dinner waiting for you!
Fajitas – Grab some tortillas, grill up your favorite meat, sauté onions and peppers, top with avocado, tomato and your favorite salsa. Serve with chips.
Crockpot Chicken Cheesesteaks – Serve on your favorite bun.
Crockpot Teriyaki Chicken Legs – Serves a bunch and chicken legs are cheap! Leftovers go well in wraps for lunch, or will be used as a topping for baked potatoes.
Crockpot BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches – Heck, you’re on vacation. Grab a bottle of BBQ sauce and pour it over a pork roast that has been cooking in your crockpot. If you want, you can make your own BBQ – or better yet, find a locally made BBQ to try.
BBQ - Toss your favorite meat or fish onto the BBQ, boil up some corn and sauté up or roast up some veggies. Or, use potato packets.
Build your own pasta or rice bar – Top some whole wheat pasta (or brown rice), with grilled meat (leftovers from BBQ night work well), beans, cheese, leftover roasted or cooked veggies, tomatoes, etc. Great for a clean-out-the-fridge night.
Spaghetti – Quick, filling and a family favorite. Use leftover tortillas topped with cheese for an easy cheesy flatbread.

Fun Desserts & Snacks

Desserts and snacks make vacation fun, right?

S’mores – Make a campfire and enjoy! You can also easily make these in the oven if you don’t have a campfire. Try the blonde version for fun.
Shortcake – Some pound cake topped with a berry sauce of your choosing and whipped cream.
Ice Cream – Find a good local source, or buy a flavor or two from your local grocery store. Keep it in the freezer at your rental and enjoy.
Granola Bars – Chewy or crunchy, take your pick.
Chex-Mix – Easy snack for game playing!
Cookies – Choose your favorite; we love this Great Harvest Bakery Oatmeal Cookie Recipe and Frog Prince’s Excellent Cookies.
Parfaits – Yogurt or ice cream with fruit and granola
Smoothies – If you have a blender! Use that yogurt & fruit in a fun treat.

Our Vacation Menu

On our last trip, this was our menu:

Breakfasts
Oatmeal Cinnamon Pancakes with Berry Sauce
Breakfast Casserole using leftover fajita fillings
Berry Baked Oatmeal
Clean Out the Fridge Egg Bake using leftover potato bar fixings

Lunches
Sandwich Bar with fresh fruit & veggies

Dinners
Smokehouse Maple Chicken Fajitas, Chips & Salsa
BBQ – Burgers, Corn on the Cob, Grilled Veggies (carrots, peppers, asparagus, mushrooms, tomatoes, zucchini, etc)
Crockpot Baked Potato Bar
Wild Rice Stuffed Peppers, Grilled Chicken or Fish

Desserts
S’mores, Ice Cream & Shortcake