• The TUGBBS forums are completely free and open to the public and exist as the absolute best place for owners to get help and advice about their timeshares for more than 30 years!

    Join Tens of Thousands of other Owners just like you here to get any and all Timeshare questions answered 24 hours a day!
  • TUG started 31 years ago in October 1993 as a group of regular Timeshare owners just like you!

    Read about our 31st anniversary: Happy 31st Birthday TUG!
  • TUG has a YouTube Channel to produce weekly short informative videos on popular Timeshare topics!

    Free memberships for every 50 subscribers!

    Visit TUG on Youtube!
  • TUG has now saved timeshare owners more than $24,000,000 dollars just by finding us in time to rescind a new Timeshare purchase! A truly incredible milestone!

    Read more here: TUG saves owners more than $24 Million dollars
  • Sign up to get the TUG Newsletter for free!

    Tens of thousands of subscribing owners! A weekly recap of the best Timeshare resort reviews and the most popular topics discussed by owners!
  • Our official "end my sales presentation early" T-shirts are available again! Also come with the option for a free membership extension with purchase to offset the cost!

    All T-shirt options here!
  • A few of the most common links here on the forums for newbies and guests!

Dinner with a limited kitchen ideas

mdurette

mdurette

Sighting Expert & TUG Review Crew: Expert
TUG Member
Joined
Jul 2, 2008
Messages
7,718
Reaction score
5,348
Location
New England
I just realized that an upcoming stay in Newport has a limited kitchen. I called the resort to see what was supplied for cooking.

Microwave, electric skillet, toaster oven. Also has a personal size convention counter top oven. (he said not large enough for a pizza)


We will be driving, so the crock pot will come along with us. But, even if I make meatballs at home to take - I'm stuck with how to boil the pasta!

Any suggestions would be appreciated.
 
Last edited:
When we went through a 2-month kitchen reno, the crockpot was my best friend. There are wonderful recipes on-line, from lasagna to pot roasts. I tried one for chicken cordon bleu that was fantastic! One-pot dinners!

Dori
 
http://www.wikihow.com/Microwave-Pasta

http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/microwave_spaghetti_44920
This uses a tea kettle to boil the water first. Pour boiling water over spaghetti, then microwave for x minutes until cooked.
You could also microwave the water in a measuring cup.

Here is a crock pot "fancy mac & cheese" recipe, made with 3 different cheeses, that is delicious. The penne pasta cooks in the crock pot, along with the cheeses. (When I need to speed things up, I boil the penne, then toss into the crock pot with the cheeses.)
http://www.eatwisconsincheese.com/recipes/2882/three-cheese-penne
 
Last edited:
I just returned from a timeshare stay with a full kitchen and five adults. We had 8 plates and 8 salad plates. We had the worst time having clean plates, we were washing dishes in between courses. I have stayed in that Newport resort, good luck to you.
 
Look for the "as seen on TV" pasta boat, we got one from Bed Bath & Beyond. Dont cook it as long as the directions say, we do about 14 min, it continues to cook after you strain off the water due to being microwaved. It worked for our son at college, his entire cooking repetoire consists of micro foods.

PS, cut the pizza before heating in the toaster oven.


Sent from my iPad Mini 4 using Tapatalk
 
Stir fry and rice on the skillet (or do the rice in the microwave)

Personal size pizzas in the toaster oven
or personal quesadillas

Cook up beans and tortillas on the skillet and have other fixings for tacos or burritos

Burgers in the toaster oven (we would do veggie burgers)

Chili in the crock pot, or bring some buns and make it sloppy joes

Pasta primavera, pasta e fagioli or similar on the skillet
 
Chicken tacos in the crockpot. Make sides of rice & beans in microwave.

Pulled pork in the crockpot. Veggie in microwave.

Italian Beef sandwiches in the crockpot. Veggie in microwave.
 
Since you will be driving, I would prepare some main dishes that freeze well, freeze them in ziplock back, and pack them tightly in an ice chest with ice.

Then in the morning, put a frozen main dish into the crockpot before you leave, to cook, while you are out for the day. Add bagged salad and bread and you have a good meal.
 
Thanks all for your suggestions so far and the recipes.

Denise - interesting idea about freezing meals and then just letting them thaw/warm in the crock pot. Never would have even thought of that!


I was thinking that maybe I would borrow my mothers induction burner and a small pot. (DH isn't going to be impressed, he already rolls his eyes when I pack up 1/2 food in the kitchen when we drive - now I'm going to be lugging pots and pans!!!)
 
I think that's actually a pretty good set-up. Also, while some people scorn them, we have good luck with Hamburger Helper type meals made with ground turkey, that could be done quickly in the skillet. Add a fresh salad and you're good to go.

I've also done a balsamic chicken in the crock pot, and lasagna, too. You can make great pulled pork BBQ in the crock pot, and then just make a quick coleslaw and buy buns.

You'll be fine!
 
Meal,Ideas

Bring some potatoes to make microwave baked .
cook mushrooms and red/ yellow peppers zucchini etc in skillet

Buy a precooked roasted chicken at grocery store .

This plus the rice and crock pot should get you through .
*****

When you are down to leftovers - use in 8 or 10 inch flour tortillas with any cheese and roll / close- and then brown in the electric skillet . Make until the left over chicken ,rice and veggies are all used up . Can be eaten as dinner ,lunch ,or as a snack .
 
amycurl said:
You'll be fine!
Click to expand...

You're right .... I know I will be fine, because heck...I would be content with a can of soup for dinner :)

Its feeding extremely picky child. She likes everything plain, no sauces, no seasoning. grilled, baked or broiled is how she likes things. That gets a bit harder with crock pots and skillet dishes.

It will all work out, especially if a bring a burner and pot with me (and learn how to cook pasta in the microwave!)

Thanks all.
 
Have you thought about seeing if there is an outdoor grill? Or bring a small 8 " grill with you

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk
 
It's just my husband and I right now but after spending a fortune on food eating out in Quebec City the past few days- and for very little food/meals- we bought a few frozen meals (lean cuisines, etc) for our Vermont timeshare and with a few glasses of wine and an ice cream sandwich afterwards we are happy campers. LOL!

Our son is coming at the end of the week so I bought a pork roast (for pulled pork for the crock pot that is stocked here) and a piece of marinated salmon for myself since I do not eat meat.

I am at a loss as to what you should do to boil pasta.
 
Last edited:
Have you tried Bob Evans refrigerated mashed potatoes? We buy them all the time to complement crockpot meals at our lake house. Just nuke them for 3-5 minutes and voila!

Also, FYI, you CAN freeze both rice and pasta. Most people don't do it because it's so easy to boil it. For the pasta, just cook it as usual, drain it, add some oil to it and toss it, then add to a gallon sized baggie. When you need it, just put the baggie in some water (in the fridge or on the counter) and it'll thaw out in a few hours. You can microwave it, too, if you want to get it hotter, but I usually just pour hot pasta sauce over the thawed pasta.

Of course, if you plan on eating pasta every meal, you might want to invest in a microwave pasta cooker.

http://www.amazon.com/Sistema-Micro..._UL160_SR160,160_&refRID=0WBDT0TX15EHY100A4S2
 
mdurette said:
Its feeding extremely picky child. She likes everything plain, no sauces, no seasoning. grilled, baked or broiled is how she likes things. That gets a bit harder with crock pots and skillet dishes.
Click to expand...

I would bring a foreman grill...there are so many simple plain things you can cook on it
 
Spam musubi?? :rolleyes:
 
Ok all - I'm still amazed at how limited this kitchen will be, but I think I have it covered. I can work with the electric skillet - but was stumped for things that required more of a "pot" like rice and pasta. A walk through target and a realized they now make ready to serve rice (frozen or shelf) Just need to microwave) and I found an electric burner on amazon prime for less than $12.

Breakfast and lunch easy enough.

Thanks all for your suggestions, even the spam.....made me remember a great trip to Hawaii and I first tried that at some shabby road side shack. It was yummy. But, that was more than 10 years ago and I have yet to buy a can of spam and probably never will! Guess it is just a vacation thing :)
 
sstug said:
I would bring a foreman grill...there are so many simple plain things you can cook on it
Click to expand...

Forgot...my Panini maker has grill plates. That would work also! grilled chicken and steak for the kid. that works!
 
You can fill up the electric skillet with water and cook your pasta right in that. Electric skillets are really versatile.
 
mdurette said:
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Click to expand...

Bottle of good Zinfandel or Chianti.

Sodas for the kids.

Pizzas delivered. (Who does not like cheese pizza?) Personal pans, and everyone can order their own.

Good movie (optional).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top