Vacation food ideas

[oblio]

We are doing a group lake house vacation in a couple weeks. I suck at food things, I would eat cereal every night if left to my own devices. People are listing things they are contributing (grilling foods, sandwhich foods, some salads). Anyone have any good ideas for me for semi-easy group foods to bring on vacation?

[witchypoo]

i would bring nibbles - trail mix, fruit leather, crackers and cheese, sliced pepperoni, chopped veggies and fruit.  also, if a grill is available, bring marshmallows, graham crackers, and chocolate.  everyone acts like a 5 year old when s'mores are available.

is there a freezer?  otter pops.

[nadra24]

Like meal-type food? Taco/burrito bars are great for crowds. If you have leftovers, scramble some eggs and make breakfast burritos.

[Gomie]

If you have a TJ's - bring Cowboy Bark. They'll love you forever and ever.

If they're doing grilling meats, sandwich stuff and salads you can always bring sides like baked beans, corn, etc.

[caribougrrl]

how many days?  I think you should offer to bring cereal and milk!

and other breakfast things if no one's jumped on that:  some selection of bacon, sausage, eggs, sliced bread, fruit, bagels, cream cheese...

[teetime]

Are you each supposed to take a meal or just bring stuff so you collectively have a full house?

If not by meal, offer what you're good at ... stock up on several boxes of cereal, milk, some muffins (homemade if you feel up to it but if not just buy them), bagels, cream cheese, banana bread. Unless you're there just a few days, there will be people wanting a simple breakfast and you'll have it covered.

Ooops ... caribou beat me to it.

[caribougrrl]

Ooops ... caribou beat me to it.

great minds... 

[rocketgirl]

WE used to get the really good deli meats and cheeses, and the fancy breads for sandwiches.  Stuff we wouldn't typically keep in the house at home.  Otherwise, water (if the local tap water sucked), soda, alcohol, some chips, granola bars and the like.  We tended to eat dinner out, lunch in, and call a granola bar breakfast.

[cgraz]

For stuff you can make ahead for meals - grilled chicken breasts, and meatballs. Those are things you can grab and make a sandwich with, throw chicken on a salad, heat up meatballs with anything. My family has this Hawaiian meatball recipe that we bring on EVERY major trip like that and it is bananas how much everyone loves them. The recipe can be doubled if needed, and they also freeze well. Seriously, they are so good and perfect for this kind of thing. People will fall over themselves to thank you. They will beg you for the recipe.

The recipe is actually a throwback to Ye Olde CH, as it was included in Maven's cookbook.

3 lbs ground beef
2 1/2 cups bread crumbs
2 eggs, slightly beaten
2 tbsp minced onion (dried)
3 tsp salt
1 tsp paprika
1/2 cup milk
2 tbsp oil
2 tbsp flour
1 bottle Heinz Chili Sauce (12 oz)
1 cup water
1 tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp dry mustard

Combine ground beef, bread crumbs, eggs, onion, salt, paprika, and
milk in large bowl; mix until well blended. Shape into small
meatballs. Brown in oil, part at a time, and remove. Stir flour into
drippings; cook stirring constantly. Stir in Chili Sauce and water.
Continue cooking, scraping pan, 1 minute. Stir in brown sugar and
mustard. Place meatballs in sauce, cover and simmer 30 minutes.
(Instead of putting meatballs back in pan, I put meatballs in my
crockpot and pour sauce over them, and slow cook further.)

[oblio]

We'll be there 3 nights and other folks are taking care of dinners the first two.
Lol, caribou.
I've never heard of cowboy bark, I'll have to google it. And I'll def be giving that meatball recipe a try, yum!
Thanks for all the great suggestions! Someone's bringing a ninja and I'm currently obsessed with avocado margaritas, so that's on the list.

[caribougrrl]

We'll be there 3 nights and other folks are taking care of dinners the first two.
Lol, caribou.
I've never heard of cowboy bark, I'll have to google it. And I'll def be giving that meatball recipe a try, yum!
Thanks for all the great suggestions! Someone's bringing a ninja and I'm currently obsessed with avocado margaritas, so that's on the list.

tell me about avocado margaritas

[oblio]

I had one at a restaurant, I haven't tried to recreate it at home yet, so this recipe is untested, but it sounds similar and it's what i'm going to try. It was creamy with a hint of sweet and really delicious!!

In a blender:
- 2 cups crushed ice
- 6 oz. regular well tequila of your choice
- 1 avocado, peeled, sliced, and pitted
- 2 oz. triple sec
- 4 oz. lime juice or some agave nectar
- couple sprigs of cilantro

[caribougrrl]

I had one at a restaurant, I haven't tried to recreate it at home yet, so this recipe is untested, but it sounds similar and it's what i'm going to try. It was creamy with a hint of sweet and really delicious!!

In a blender:
- 2 cups crushed ice
- 6 oz. regular well tequila of your choice
- 1 avocado, peeled, sliced, and pitted
- 2 oz. triple sec
- 4 oz. lime juice or some agave nectar
- couple sprigs of cilantro

I like the looks of that.

[oblio]

I like the looks of that.

I like the looks of that.

I like the looks of that.

I tried this recipe tonight and it wasn't as good as I had at the restaurant and got me in love with it and I'm not sure what to do to recreate it. I would def go with the agave over the lime juice, though.

[caribougrrl]

I tried this recipe tonight and it wasn't as good as I had at the restaurant and got me in love with it and I'm not sure what to do to recreate it. I would def go with the agave over the lime juice, though.

maybe you should plan for regular margaritas and make guacamole out of the avocados

[rocketgirl]

I can't help you with the margaritas, but I recently ate citrus avocado gelato and it was yummy.

[ihop]

We vacation with another family every year and share cooking.

Breakfast - egg casseroles are a hit - make them the night before and people can eat whenever they want.  And I second the bagels, cream cheese, fruit salad.
Lunch - definitely sandwiches but other easy things are grilled shrimp and salad, chicken salad, etc.

And yes to the snack food - cheese, crackers, olives, etc.  Yum!

Have fun!