Saturday, May 29, 2010

Vactation Meals - The Results

After encouragement from you all, I made a menu for our vacation meals and began meal prep. To be honest, by the time we were ready to leave, I was wondering if it was worth it. The week before we left seemed VERY busy! I know it was my own fault. My perfectionist tendencies kicked in on full gear. Not only did I want to make all our vacation food, but I wanted it to be all our favorite foods, and all made from scratch! I also wanted to leave the house perfectly clean and catch up with the garden work. It was a recipe for one tired crabby Mama who needed a vacation!

I would definitely prepare meals for vacation again but I would aim for a more balanced approach. We could have eaten boxed cereal, or survived with hot dogs and baked beans one night. Or possibly if I would have gotten some help for a day so that I wasn't trying to do extra cooking and care for children. Anyway, we all survived, and maybe the extra work made the results sweeter.

Because we really did enjoy our vacation meals! We took a tremendous amount of food. I wish I would have thought to take a picture. We had a huge ice chest with the cold/frozen items and two boxes with dry and baked goods. Somehow we managed to eat nearly all the food in the week. With lots of exercise and fresh air, we needed three hearty meals and some snacks every day.

The only cooking I did all week, besides putting something in the oven, was scrambling eggs, cooking pasta and rice, grilling, frying french toast and some fresh fish. It was very enjoyable to have a week off from any major cooking or baking. Most days we headed out early (our children were so excited that they woke up early EVERY morning. Only two mornings did they sleep in until 7:00!) and were back to our house for lunch and naps in the heat of the day. For our children, this schedule worked well but a couple days, we did take a little lunch with us. Nearly all our meals were eaten on the wonderful balcony with the fresh ocean breezes stirring the appetite! The only food purchases we made were for ice cream, fresh fish, fresh strawberries, and a cake mix which my husband baked for my birthday!
Here is a run down of our week's menu.

Breakfast:
Hard boiled eggs, sliced apples, granola bars (on the road meal)
Biscuits and sausage gravy
Breakfast burritos
Bagels and cream cheese, scrambled eggs
Waffles with peanut butter
French toast
Scrambled eggs with leftover steak
Clean-out-the-fridge morning with a yummy fried rice/egg conglomeration
Lunch:
Turkey wraps, carrots, cookies (on the road meal)
Hamburgers, rolls, cheese ball
Chicken-broccoli-alfredo calzones
Hard boiled eggs, carrots, pretzels, cookies (on the road)
Leftovers
Meatballs and spaghetti, fresh strawberries
Chicken salad wraps
Balona, cheese, crackers (on the road)

Supper: (that is what we call it!)
Poppy seed chicken and salad
Stromboli and salad
Japanese chicken and rice
Grilled steak, cheesy potatoes, green beans
Enchiladas and salad
Fish fry and baked corn
Leftovers from the week
Maybe this will give you some ideas for your vacation meals - just don't do as I did and try to do it all!

9 comments :

  1. Sounds like you had a lovely time and ate well too;)

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  2. Your energy inspires me but makes me tired at the same time!! We are leaving for vacation in 2 wks. and I'm trying to decide if I'll make and take food along. We are a family of eight, with 3 teenagers, so the amount of food this family consumes is outrageous! We will be in motels 2 nights before we arrive at our cabin, so I'm afraid keeping things frozen till we get there might be a challenge. Also, we probably won't have the room for alot of extra food. We love eating out, although it is costly and not as healthy, I need a vacation and that means from cooking also!! Thanks for your meal suggestions. We might have to try one or so! ~Yvonne H.

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  3. Your meals sound fantastic and what a great view from that porch!

    I'll be trying out some of those recipes. Thanks!

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  4. I think you've thoroughly spoiled them! LOL I'd do a little more beans and wieners and mac 'n cheese. BUT, when the kids get older, I'd tell them each they are responsible for a dinner or lunch apiece 'cause mom is on vacation, too. Ha Ha!

    Glad y'all had such a good time. ~Liz

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  5. Great ideas! I looked at your breakfast burrito recipe and I may give that one a try.

    I admit, other than snacks in the car, we eat out on trips. We had home cooked meals last summer, only because we were staying at folks' homes. But I think if we ever stay in at a place with a kitchen, I'll prepare some foods.

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  6. Your holiday sounds wonderful. did you rent a house? what a beautiful place. BTW. I love your blog and healthy life, your cooking is amazing. I've been shocked recently by 'frugal' blogs where Americans think they are saving money byt 'couponing' but they are being duped by big businesses into buying junk food. Your frugal and healthy way of life is inspiring. Love and prayers to you. Jane/Frugal Queen. xxx

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  7. Thanks for all your kind words! Yeah, my husband fully admits he is spoiled! And I want to keep it that way!

    We had a Wonderful rental house! The kitchen was awesome! Better then my own! One of the advantages of vacationing in May is that the cost was a third the price in July! Plus no crowds and perfect weather - not too hot or too cold!

    God is SO good! I don't deserve the blessings He pours out on us!
    Gina

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  8. Gina you are amazing. I loved reading your vacation posts and am so happy you shared the wonderful experience with us. How is your son's shoulder now?

    We went to Cincinatti last weekend and I barely had enough energy to meal plan, bake, and clean the house before we left. I was happy not to cook on our vacation & we did eat out alot. My goal is to at least bring more baked items with us and I have lots of road food ideas from your posts.

    Thanks for the inspiration as always ;)

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  9. Sarah -
    Thanks for asking about our son. He is doing very well! The dr thinks he had a muscle tear but it seems to be healing well. He is using his arm almost normally now though it seems to be weak.

    Gina

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