One of the biggest advantages to renting a vacation home for a getaway is having a kitchen where you can cook your own meals. While kitchen styles vary and kitchen supplies do as well, most vacation rental hosts spend a great deal of attention on kitchen amenities. Spend a little time checking out those kitchen images on the listings before you click Book! Not only does making meals “at home” on vacation cut costs, but you get to be creative when cooking on vacation and it makes the visit more memorable.
Have you ever gotten home from a getaway and realize all the restaurants you just visited blurred together? Wait, which place had the risotto and which place had the watered down drinks? Hard to keep track when every meal is spent dining out. And in some secluded destinations dining options can be fairly slim. Try cooking on your next trip, checkout three recipes that will take you through breakfast, dinner and dessert. Each recipe is curated with vacation rental kitchens and short grocery lists in mind.
Whether it’s a cute city loft, a beach bungalow, or a snowy farmhouse in the mountains, a vacation rental kitchen can be a gamble. Pro Tip #1: Find out what amenities your destination will be outfitted with before you arrive. You may of heard of the term “Semi-Homemade,” this concept combines store-bought and quick-convenience style ingredients with some homemade techniques for stress-free cooking at home…or on vacation. Keep this concept in mind while you’re cooking on vacation. Fuel your stay from morning to night with this easy to make menu, each recipe allows for variation and creativity.
Mug Omelets, Breakfast On the Go on Vacation
Most vacation rentals offer at the very least a microwave in their kitchenettes. Believe it or not you can enjoy a delicious and affordable start to your day with the microwave in your air bnb. Learning how to make breakfast in the microwave will make your mornings on vacation time so much easier, and you’ll be able to serve yourself a hot breakfast in just a few minutes. This all means you will have more time to get out and explore your destination. The best part of “mug style breakfasts” is that they can be mixed up in a single mug, require little clean up, and the variations are endless.
You can visit your vacation destination’s local farmers market or produce stands to find fresh, seasonal and sometimes regionally unique ingredients. One of the easiest meals to make in a microwave is a Cheesy Herb Mug Omelet. So, go ahead and sleep in a little later and enjoy a piping hot mug of breakfast along with your coffee…after all, you’re on vacation! It’s as easy as cracking a couple of eggs, whisking together a few add-ins, and letting the microwave to do its magic. Make your Mug Omelet your own, customize the add-ins to meet your dietary wants and needs.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon chopped scallion or any herbs of your choice
- 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano, if you have it on hand
- 1 tablespoon whole milk (or half and half)
- 2 eggs
- Pinch of salt
- Pinch of ground black pepper
- 1/4 cup grated cheddar cheese
Instructions
In a large microwave-safe mug, combine the butter, scallion, and oregano and microwave for 15 seconds, or until the butter has melted. Add the milk (or half and half) and eggs and whisk with a fork until frothy. Stir in the salt, pepper, and sprinkle in the cheese. Microwave your mug for another minute, or until the egg is firm and set. Using a kitchen towel carefully pull your mug out of the microwave, allow to cool for one minute, and enjoy with a cup of coffee!
Skillet Pizzas, Only One Dinner Dish to Wash on Vacation
After a packed day of exploring, hiking, shopping, and taking insta-worthy selfies a Ricotta Veggie Skillet Pizza is hearty and filling. It’s not likely that a fancy pizza stone will be stocked in every vacation rental home, but an oven-safe skillet should do just fine for this easy recipe. A cast iron skillet is preferred. Pro Tip #2: Bring your own cast iron skillet from home if you’re unsure, it’s just one pan and can tuck away in your trunk easily.
Pre-made dough from a local grocery store works great for this recipe and makes prep simple and quick. The toppings can be simple or elaborate, you decide! Customize your Skillet Pizza, make a different one each time you do this. Most importantly the clean up is minimal and a quick cooking time means you’ll be eating dinner in the comfort of your vacation rental soon! Pro Tip #3: For the best quality crust, be sure to start with a screaming hot skillet…read instructions below:
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup ricotta cheese
- 1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese (or any hard cheese of your choice)
- Dash of garlic powder, if you have it on hand
- 1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil (or melted unsalted butter works too), plus more for pan and drizzling
- Pinch of salt
- Pinch of ground black pepper
- 1 pound store-bought pizza dough
- 1 cup finely chopped fresh veggies of your choice, any veggies will work!
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 500 degrees, with a 10-inch heatproof skillet (preferably cast iron) on the lower rack. Once the oven reaches temperature, let the skillet continue to heat for 5-8 minutes. Meanwhile, in a bowl, stir together cheeses, garlic powder, oil or butter, salt and pepper. Stretch or roll dough to a rough 12-inch round. Using a heat proof pot holder carefully remove the screaming hot skillet from the oven and drizzle it with oil or butter. Lay the dough into a hot skillet, you’ll hear searing, carefully push up the edges using a spoon. Place the skillet back in the oven and bake for about 1-2 minutes.
Remove from the oven; top with ricotta cheese mixture, then add the chopped veggies, drizzle with oil or butter. Final step, place the skillet back in the oven and bake pizza until bubbling golden on top, about 12-15 minutes. Let cool for 2 minutes, then slice and enjoy!
S’mores Toasty, Sweet Memories Made with Dessert on Vacation
Every vacation is made complete with sweets at the end of the night. Adults and kids alike love to indulge on vacation time and with just a few ingredients you can make a memorable dessert. Most vacation rentals come equipped with an oven, an outdoor grill, or at least a mini toaster oven and that’s all you need for this treat. A delicious S’mores Toasty is the perfect addition to a mountain getaway or any getaway really…They’re outdoorsy themed, but if the weather or space won’t allow for an actual campfire you can still get that nostalgic s’mores flavor fix with this recipe. Pro Tip #4: Be sure you have napkins on hand, you will need them!
Ingredients
- 1 (24-inch) baguette, halved lengthwise
- Chocolate hazelnut spread (or peanut butter works well too)
- 1 1/4 cups marshmallow fluff
- Dash of ground cinnamon, if you have it on hand
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees (or start a medium low flamed grill). Scoop out some of the soft bready insides of the baguette halves to create a hollow boat. Evenly coat each baguette halve with the chocolate hazelnut spread, then dollop one side of the baguette with marshmallow fluff and sprinkle the other side with ground cinnamon. Sandwich the two halves and wrap your S’mores Toasty in foil. Bake (or grill) until warmed through, about 10 minutes. Pro Tip #5: Peel back the foil just enough to hold your treat and keep your fingers sticky-free.
Vacation Rental Kitchens Make Your Stay Easy, More Affordable, and More Memorable
White Fence Farm Rentals offers three vacation rental options: The Farmhouse, The Downtown Boone House, and The Appalachian House. Each rental comes equipped with a kitchen to meet your vacation cooking needs. Email or call us at 828-964-2618 with any questions you have about our vacation rental kitchens. We look forward to hosting your stay soon!
Shop Local Supplies & Enjoy Cooking on Vacation
Earth Fare, Located in Downtown Boone, NC | Phone: (828) 528-4226 | 178 West King Street, Boone, NC 28607
Boone’s Year Round Farmers Markets (check out the link to see when and where) | (828) 386-1537
Goober Peas Country Store | 1773 NC Highway 194 North, Boone, NC 28607
Written by Andrea Morton, Creative Blogging + Marketing Strategies
