Timeshare cooking needs to be quick and easy, use few ingredients, and taste good. So many people ask, “Do you really cook when you go on vacation?” Probably a lot of people don’t, because they don’t like to cook, or it takes too much time, or just because, after all, they are on vacation!
But eating out 3 meals every day gets expensive. After doing that for a week or two, trust me, you’ll get tired of it and wish you had your crockpot (which many resorts do provide if you ask). Also, feeding a family of 5 or 6 is obviously a lot pricier than feeding a couple. And, of course, sometimes kids are really picky, and if the restaurant mac and cheese doesn’t taste like Kraft’s, then you’re in trouble!
If you’ve been reading Timeshare Tidbits for any length of time, you know that about every month we feature a Timeshare Cooking article. We’ve done breakfast and dinners, among other things, and some of our readers are asking about lunches. The truth is, we’re not real good with lunches.
Often we buy deli ham or turkey and buns, a bag of chips, and that’s it. Sometimes we do pizza, which we don’t mind eating cold if we’re going out for the day—just pop it in the mini-cooler with some fruit, and there’s your lunch. Another quick idea, which we picked up from our daughter and son-in-law when we were in Hawaii together, is good old PB&J sandwiches. All you need is a loaf of bread and some of that peanut butter that already has the jelly swirled in it. You can take it along for the day, and it doesn’t need refrigeration, in most cases. That’s really keeping it simple, but since it’s something most of us never eat as adults, it tastes really good!
Now, if you want something a little nicer to eat in the condo, you can always brown some ground beef and mix in a can of Manwich to make Sloppy Joes—or try a Hamburger Helper meal. No, these aren’t the healthiest meals, but they’re better than greasy fries and burgers and they cost a lot less money. Grilled cheese and canned soup would fit into this category, too.
If you have a bit more time (maybe it’s raining) try this recipe for lunch, an appetizer or snack:
Ham and Cheese Mini-snacks
1 8-oz. tube crescent rolls
2 T. softened margarine
2 tsp. mustard
1 C. deli ham, chopped
2. T. crumbled bacon bits
1/3 C. chopped onion
1/3 C. chopped green pepper
1 C. shredded cheddar cheese
Unroll crescent dough and pat down into a 13 x 9 rectangle on baking sheet or pan. Crimp edges of the dough. In a bowl, combine margarine and mustard and spread evenly over dough. Top with remaining ingredients, finishing with cheese. Bake in pre-heated 375 degree oven for 18-20 minutes. Cut with knife or pizza wheel and serve warm. Makes about 12-18 squares, depending on how big you cut them.
These snacks are quite versatile and could even substitute for a ham sandwich. We’ve even eaten them for breakfast!
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