meal for first night at vacation house

[Anonymous]

If you wanted a hot meal, I'd do something like Angel hair pasta and a jar of good tomato sauce or a jar of pesto and precut veggies and hummus for appetizers. Those salami and cheese sticks for appetizers, too. Olives. Side salad and garlic bread if you need more.

The first person in starts the water boiling for pasta while everyone else unpacks the car.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If bringing something frozen to heat up and bagged salad has worked in the past, is making something healthier frozen to heat up an option?

Lentil bolognese?

A big pot of some kind of vegetable heavy soup and sandwich fixings?

It might help if you tell us what “healthier” means to you? People define it so differently.

This is an odd suggestion

I didn't make that suggestion, but if you bring an instant pot down with you, that is one of the easiest dinners to make. You basically dump everything in (including the pasta, sauce, and enough veggie broth to cook the pasta) turn the pot on and set it for around 5 min. Once it's done, release the pressure and you're ready to eat.

I did make the suggestion. OP seemed to be saying that pasta worked for her family, but she wanted something healthier, and faster.

I wouldn't make it there. I'd just grab a container from the freezer. Stick it in the microwave, boil some pasta, and dinner is on the table.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:KFC

Or Popeyes if possible. 30 piece family pack.

[Anonymous]

My friends and I sometimes go away for a long weekend that starts late on a Friday and we do charcuterie/antipasti type spread. Olives, peppers, cheese, some bread, hummus, grape leaves, some good salami, etc. and some grapes and/or figs. It is so easy, delicious, and a little special. That’s my suggestion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If bringing something frozen to heat up and bagged salad has worked in the past, is making something healthier frozen to heat up an option?

Lentil bolognese?

A big pot of some kind of vegetable heavy soup and sandwich fixings?

It might help if you tell us what “healthier” means to you? People define it so differently.

I agree with the commenter that said lentil bolognese is such an off the wall suggestion. Like I can’t imagine spending time making a whole fancy dinner like that to then freeze and take with me to reheat on vacation at 9-10pm. Did you just make this or something because I can’t really fathom how this very specific random dish was what was suggested here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If bringing something frozen to heat up and bagged salad has worked in the past, is making something healthier frozen to heat up an option?

Lentil bolognese?

A big pot of some kind of vegetable heavy soup and sandwich fixings?

It might help if you tell us what “healthier” means to you? People define it so differently.

I agree with the commenter that said lentil bolognese is such an off the wall suggestion. Like I can’t imagine spending time making a whole fancy dinner like that to then freeze and take with me to reheat on vacation at 9-10pm. Did you just make this or something because I can’t really fathom how this very specific random dish was what was suggested here.

Yeah, that poster dropped lentil Bolognese like it was as common as macaroni and cheese. Posters on this site are so weird, but never fail to entertain me!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We’re headed to the beach in a couple of weeks. Spouse now has to work the day of departure so we can’t start the drive until 3pm and won’t arrive at the rental until close to 9pm.

I think most restaurants will be closed by then, so I plan to pack food for dinner that night. In the past I’d have brought a frozen lasagna and bagged salad, but we’re trying to eat healthier, and I know the vacation will have plenty of other times we arent, so I’d prefer to start out on a lighter note.

I know I could pack sandwiches but that idea bores me. I dont want to stop for dinner on the drive down both bc we’ll be eager to get there and bc the roadside options will be crap.

Any ideas? Thanks for your suggestions.

Make RSVPs to dine out.

[Anonymous]

I am the lentil bolognese poster! I feel the need to come defend myself.

OP seemed to say in the beginning that frozen lasagna and salad had worked well, but she wanted something healthier. I kind of assumed she'd want something faster too, because I know I would at that time of the night, and even reheating a lasagna takes a while.

So, I thought of another freezer meal that's much faster to reheat than lasagna, and that people who consider lasagna unhealthy, might think was healthier? I picked another red sauce pasta dish, because red sauce pasta dishes had worked for them in the past. I didn't suggest mac and cheese, because I assumed the objection to lasagna was the cheese.

In our house, lentil bolognese is something I make in large batches and freeze so that on a busy weeknight, I can have a pasta dinner on the table in minutes. It might not be something OP has made, but it's not hard to find a recipe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am the lentil bolognese poster! I feel the need to come defend myself.

OP seemed to say in the beginning that frozen lasagna and salad had worked well, but she wanted something healthier. I kind of assumed she'd want something faster too, because I know I would at that time of the night, and even reheating a lasagna takes a while.

So, I thought of another freezer meal that's much faster to reheat than lasagna, and that people who consider lasagna unhealthy, might think was healthier? I picked another red sauce pasta dish, because red sauce pasta dishes had worked for them in the past. I didn't suggest mac and cheese, because I assumed the objection to lasagna was the cheese.

In our house, lentil bolognese is something I make in large batches and freeze so that on a busy weeknight, I can have a pasta dinner on the table in minutes. It might not be something OP has made, but it's not hard to find a recipe.

it’s not a normal meal to suggest. It’s a meal personal to you but I would guess most people haven’t even heard of it/had it before. It was a weird suggestion-just own it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am the lentil bolognese poster! I feel the need to come defend myself.

OP seemed to say in the beginning that frozen lasagna and salad had worked well, but she wanted something healthier. I kind of assumed she'd want something faster too, because I know I would at that time of the night, and even reheating a lasagna takes a while.

So, I thought of another freezer meal that's much faster to reheat than lasagna, and that people who consider lasagna unhealthy, might think was healthier? I picked another red sauce pasta dish, because red sauce pasta dishes had worked for them in the past. I didn't suggest mac and cheese, because I assumed the objection to lasagna was the cheese.

In our house, lentil bolognese is something I make in large batches and freeze so that on a busy weeknight, I can have a pasta dinner on the table in minutes. It might not be something OP has made, but it's not hard to find a recipe.

it’s not a normal meal to suggest. It’s a meal personal to you but I would guess most people haven’t even heard of it/had it before. It was a weird suggestion-just own it.

That's why people come on the food board, to find recipes that they haven't heard of before. To get suggestions that they hadn't thought of.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am the lentil bolognese poster! I feel the need to come defend myself.

OP seemed to say in the beginning that frozen lasagna and salad had worked well, but she wanted something healthier. I kind of assumed she'd want something faster too, because I know I would at that time of the night, and even reheating a lasagna takes a while.

So, I thought of another freezer meal that's much faster to reheat than lasagna, and that people who consider lasagna unhealthy, might think was healthier? I picked another red sauce pasta dish, because red sauce pasta dishes had worked for them in the past. I didn't suggest mac and cheese, because I assumed the objection to lasagna was the cheese.

In our house, lentil bolognese is something I make in large batches and freeze so that on a busy weeknight, I can have a pasta dinner on the table in minutes. It might not be something OP has made, but it's not hard to find a recipe.

it’s not a normal meal to suggest. It’s a meal personal to you but I would guess most people haven’t even heard of it/had it before. It was a weird suggestion-just own it.

That's why people come on the food board, to find recipes that they haven't heard of before. To get suggestions that they hadn't thought of.

For packing in the car to transport on a 6 hour long drive and then reheat late at night? No. Generally yes people come for new recipes but in this context it was out of place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am the lentil bolognese poster! I feel the need to come defend myself.

OP seemed to say in the beginning that frozen lasagna and salad had worked well, but she wanted something healthier. I kind of assumed she'd want something faster too, because I know I would at that time of the night, and even reheating a lasagna takes a while.

So, I thought of another freezer meal that's much faster to reheat than lasagna, and that people who consider lasagna unhealthy, might think was healthier? I picked another red sauce pasta dish, because red sauce pasta dishes had worked for them in the past. I didn't suggest mac and cheese, because I assumed the objection to lasagna was the cheese.

In our house, lentil bolognese is something I make in large batches and freeze so that on a busy weeknight, I can have a pasta dinner on the table in minutes. It might not be something OP has made, but it's not hard to find a recipe.

Makes perfect sense given the OP’s criteria, PP. I’m not a huge fan of lentils and tomato sauce together, but I love lentil soup/stew with garlic, onion, carrots, potatoes, and spinach/kale/chard, served with lemon juice and pepper. So easy to reheat and great with bread for the extra hungry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am the lentil bolognese poster! I feel the need to come defend myself.

OP seemed to say in the beginning that frozen lasagna and salad had worked well, but she wanted something healthier. I kind of assumed she'd want something faster too, because I know I would at that time of the night, and even reheating a lasagna takes a while.

So, I thought of another freezer meal that's much faster to reheat than lasagna, and that people who consider lasagna unhealthy, might think was healthier? I picked another red sauce pasta dish, because red sauce pasta dishes had worked for them in the past. I didn't suggest mac and cheese, because I assumed the objection to lasagna was the cheese.

In our house, lentil bolognese is something I make in large batches and freeze so that on a busy weeknight, I can have a pasta dinner on the table in minutes. It might not be something OP has made, but it's not hard to find a recipe.

it’s not a normal meal to suggest. It’s a meal personal to you but I would guess most people haven’t even heard of it/had it before. It was a weird suggestion-just own it.

That's why people come on the food board, to find recipes that they haven't heard of before. To get suggestions that they hadn't thought of.

For packing in the car to transport on a 6 hour long drive and then reheat late at night? No. Generally yes people come for new recipes but in this context it was out of place.

I am confused. Why would someone who wanted a healthy meal to transports in a car and reheat upon arrival, post asking for recipes they already had?

Why are you so offended by the suggestion of a pasta sauce?

[Anonymous]

OP received tons of suggestions. They will survive. But if posters are concernd, maybe OP can come back and report what they ended up doing. It's like y'all never go on vacation or something.

[Anonymous]

Make ahead:

- Greek pasta salad: cooked rotini, cucumbers, black olives, feta cheese, and greek vinaigrette. - Grilled chicken sandwiches.

Done.